Sweet, Very Old Little Ball in Cage Whimsy with Rounded Ends and Black Paint engraved brass matchbox holder not visible when closed

not visible when closed

and wear/aging to the paint

as there are small holes in the fabric where stings or wires would have been attached

upon which the title -“The Open Road” (The Ship’s Highway)—is hand-written

great from head to toe--from those hand-painted black and white eyes almost on the very top of its head

Sweet, Very Old Little Ball in Cage Whimsy with Rounded Ends and Black Paint engraved brass matchbox holder not visible when closedA humble but really a wonderful little whimsy, in which the hand of its maker feels emphatically present. Quite an old one for sure, once painted black but with lots of wear that makes each of its four sides distinguished by a progressive loss of paint (and gain of warm dry wood patina.) With nice rounded ends that give it a special feel and a beautifully formed little ball inside the cage with fine carve marks all over it. 3 1 4 x 5 8 and in good