$1,700
Sold
sold
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Description
11" (28 cm.) box. diam. 6" man. A round light-wood box is covered with early transfer-print
paper and its interior is lavishly fitted with a fantasy scene of a man on horseback surrounded
by a dream of flowers and buds. The box is lined with woven puffy flax threads accented with
silk flowers,buds,and leaves,and curly tinsel trim,and in the center is positioned a man with
papier-mache head,hands and feet,and cloth wrapped body,wearing brown cotton jacket,tall
black hat,and silk flax trousers; his white horse is made of still more flax threads. Condition:
generally excellent,paper worn on lid. Comments: probably English,early 1800s,the flax and
silk threadwork was a popular parlor craft of the era,occasionally resulting in splendid
arrangements such as this,which were presented as Valentine gifts; the work is discussed in
Janet Johl's Still More About Dolls,pages 79-81. Value Points: beautifully-preserved with
strong colors well-intact,imaginative design of horse is especially delightful. Ex-Collection
Marianne Bodmer from where it was acquired by Estelle Johnston.