Small wooden ornaments need a clear idea because there is limited space for competing details. A distinctive outline, a repeated curve or one well-placed accent can give the piece an identity. Adding more features is not always the most effective way to make it memorable.
Think about the distance from which the object will normally be seen. Fine detail may reward close inspection but disappear across a room. The silhouette should therefore make sense before those smaller features are considered. A quick sketch at a reduced size is a useful way to explore this.
Related ornaments can share a theme while varying in height or width. Keeping one recognisable feature across the group creates continuity. The differences then give each piece its own role in the display. This can be more interesting than repeating every detail exactly.
Use the archive photograph as an example of the scale and character of a small decorative piece. Choose one visible feature to describe in words, then sketch a new interpretation of that idea. The result should be an independent design study, with the original image serving as inspiration rather than evidence of a newly completed project.