A Gift of Affection, Victorian Paper Lace and Die Cut Valentine with Excellent Color and Faces early 20th century art The holes are the right

The holes are the right size for standard pens and pencils

and I believe very old

and lacquered with tree resin

But the pipe cleaner tail remains and he’s structurally it's in solid shape

Hand-carved of earthenware and finished with enamel glaze over white slip

A Gift of Affection, Victorian Paper Lace and Die Cut Valentine with Excellent Color and Faces early 20th century art The holes are the rightA handful of Victorian paper lace valentines today, because 'tis almost the season, and what a lovely thing to give to a beloved, including oneself. I'm fussy about ones I like, choosing these several from more than a hundred 19th c. examples I had the joy of perusing last weekend which had been collected over many years by a major Maine based paper dealer, whose collection was not long ago acquired by another Maine dealer and friend. And I must say