Red Lipped Lovers, Wonderful PA Stumpwork Embroidery on Velvet Pillow bud vase with iris depicting faces with stylized features

depicting faces with stylized features and often quite dramatic expressions

as even carving a two-link chain seems like a miracle to me

I would guess intended to make them look Christmas-y

and when laid on its side it looks almost like a piece of architecture

with this elongated body on very short legs

Red Lipped Lovers, Wonderful PA Stumpwork Embroidery on Velvet Pillow bud vase with iris depicting faces with stylized featuresThis one made me super happy when I found it in New Hampshire, though I'd guess Pennsylvania Amish in origin, c. 1930s or so I believe; a valentine of a pillow if I ever saw one! The mix of colors is quite fantastic, really popping against the dark gray velvet ground, but what I love most is the bright red of this Dutch couple's lips, made a bit surreal by what I'd guess is some fading to the blue of their eyes and caps. With lush big tulips on lime