Incredible Pair of Ornate Antique Double Ball in Cage Whimsies, with Stand peach who apparently appeared to Juan

who apparently appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill

a studio ceramicist from Keene New Hampshire (very near where I found this) who studied at Southern Oregon State College

and on the lower right appears to be a signature in red--a rarity among pith paintings as I understand it

such that one is sure to stretch those socks just the right amount

though I might just treat it as a beautiful object to hang--and perhaps impetus to start a collection of hanging pin cushions so as to build a whole wall of them

Incredible Pair of Ornate Antique Double Ball in Cage Whimsies, with Stand peach who apparently appeared to JuanThese I do believe are just about the most spectacular whimsies I've seen, and certainly had in my possession. Each was carved from one piece of wood, with either two or three small balls inside of each ones two cagesthe taller with carved fists at either end, the shorter with crosshatched patterns that for some reason remind me of pineapples! Ornately detailed all over, they make me think of bons bons rolled in fancy paper and cinched with bows at