Mysterious and Very Wonderful Small Metal Cutouts, Presumed 19th Century French (Copy) linen gauze The sides of the vase

The sides of the vase are finished with two large circular ash ring handles which are bound with ash splints in the "Penobscot star" pattern

with tiny spots of brown to perfectly portray the skin and subtle darkening here and there to suggest bruises

as a lover of old penmanship I like the idea of having Spencerian pen nibs art one’s disposal—and this box is full not just of Ivison & Phinney nibs

1940s hand-painted wooden cutout used to be a door stop

but also precursing everything from SNL to Ali G and so much more

Mysterious and Very Wonderful Small Metal Cutouts, Presumed 19th Century French (Copy) linen gauze The sides of the vaseThese are completely wonderful, but I do not know their original purpose. Perhaps they were votive offerings? I found an image of a pair of French embroidery scissors c. 1850s with one handle very similar in silhouette to the man here, down to his extended hand. And of course the dainty crossed feet of the marvelously silhouetted woman remind me very much of antique machinist made ladies legs calipers. They all feel a bit as if miniature templates for