Ships, Folk Art, and Whimsey in Bottles

This is a hand-carved wooden cross inside of a corked glass bottle. There is a cross standing on a wooden lap joint crosspiece base. On one side of the base is a ladder with 6 rungs and a flail with red (blood) rope. There is also a carved arrow shaped piece. On the other side is a pedestal with a square top with an "X" carved on it. There is a hammer and pliers on each side of the pedestal. Leaning against the cross is a sponge on a long pole and a spear. On the sides of the cross are two large candles or torches with red rope to simulate flames. The bottle is sealed with a cork. The seller provided the following information: "Very unusual, it belonged to my Italian Grandmother, Mary Vairo."