Photos do a poor job of conveying the richness and visceral beauty of this 19th century example of Scherenschnitte, entirely cut by hand--in its presence, one can really feel the careful labor of each tiny cut in a very intimate way. (Detail photos give a better sense.) And in that intimate view of such laborious work are all the tiny imperfections too, which for me are a good bit of what make it feel so special and very human. Hearts and birds and flowers and vines, and in the negative what look like ringing bells suspended between the pairs of doves--one might think this was made in celebration of a marriage, but I've found the writing along the top left, which might speak to the occasion of its making, pretty much impossible to decipher (looks like words were written over other words, probably a layering over time.) On that side, particularly lower left, are some losses to the cutting, including a couple of buds and stems that seem to have fluttered south a bit inside the frame--to me all seeming as if to say: things fall apart. Indeed. I find it all very much of a piece and very very lovely. Feels a bit like a Rorschach test, too, to get lost in.
16 1/2" x 10 3/4" framed, under glass, as found, and certainly it has lived in this frame for a good while, though there is newer backing paper closing it up from behind and wire for hanging. Cream paper over quite a beautiful rich, deep brown, with an embossed stamp to the cream paper just right of of the center fold near the top. Old stain to upper left corner of paper and some losses to left side of cutting as evident. Earlier 19th century I believe.
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