Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools This one belonged James Gifford

This one belonged James Gifford and dates to 1804

And then those little flowers everywhere

Perhaps it's because I was listening to the impeachment hearings when I spotted it

This Japanese hand-carved cedar (Cryptomeria) horny toad is totally amazing for the manner in which its carved form brilliantly corresponds to the patterns in the grain of the wood

and the wonderfully detailed grass upon which she stands in her tiny black shoes

Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools This one belonged James GiffordI can't get enough of figural lace, and this particular type style of needle lace is my favorite sort (I believe Belgian in origin), with what looks like a million tiny tight knots making up the bird alone. The wonderful spiderweb like field surrounding it here suggests a nest to me, as if it might have come with open beak to feed the babies, though as the bird appears to have a comb and wattle (launching this a wonderful arch of triangles, like a