Hol(e)y: c. 1870s Punch Paper "Lacework" Cross in Adirondack Frame welded caterpillar represents souls in purgatory who

represents souls in purgatory who require the assistance of the both the living and the divine to ameliorate their sufferings

black ink on what I believe is wove paper

or one could wrap that handle with a ribbon or wire and hang it on the wall

The leather on this one is soft and just beautifully aged

then fits very snugly back into his nicely constructed old slide top box

Hol(e)y: c. 1870s Punch Paper "Lacework" Cross in Adirondack Frame welded caterpillar represents souls in purgatory whoI've certainly bought and sold a good number of antique perforated punch paper embroideries, but this is the first piece of paper "lacework" I've had, which was created by very carefully cutting away from a large piece of perforated paper to form the shape of a cross and complex interior pattern including many dozens more (tiny) crosses. Rather miraculous, really! Most examples of these I've found seem to date to the 1870s, so I presume this one does