Nettie's Momentos: c. 1830s Marbled Paper Heart and Hair Braid in Book Shaped Mirrored Box folk art ball used to detail finely incised

used to detail finely incised court scenes on the exterior sides and lid

but--originally made to ward off evil spirits

darker in the corners and around edges from where it must have been mounted in an album or framed

There is a fair amount of wear to the finish on handle end of the frame and one red bead with a chip on one side

this one a Dachshund sans rear legs

Nettie's Momentos: c. 1830s Marbled Paper Heart and Hair Braid in Book Shaped Mirrored Box folk art ball used to detail finely incisedI know this lived in the collection of the dealer I purchased it from for some 30 years or so, and was found just as it is now. The paper to which the braided hair is stitched reads "To Nettie from Hannah." And then this little woven paper love token heart, the first I believe I've seen made of hand marbled paper. I just can't resist tender little lovelies like these, and here in a velvet covered book shaped little box with perfectly aged interior