Old Carved, Polychromed Wading Bird with Great Form and Surface (As Found) antique chinese gouache painting and would once have been

and would once have been sold along with a milk truck

which seem to have been saved by a  miss Mildred

With its big starry bright eye and perky tail feathers

and like to imagine a festive table lit by a whole menagerie

Old Carved, Polychromed Wading Bird with Great Form and Surface (As Found) antique chinese gouache painting and would once have beenI first thought a stork based on the shape of the head (and that beak seems perfectly poised to dangle a baby!) , but maybe with the black it's a little egret? Whatever the case, quite a great form to it, and hard to beat the surface on the polychrome. Plus a bit of a different disposition on each side based largely on the painting of the eyes, with a bit of baby blue on one side. The tip of one leg missing, but good for hanging on the wall, perhaps