Intricate 19th Century Scherenschnitte Paper Cut with Birds and Flowers and Handwriting antique spool 12 1/2" across when flat

12 1/2" across when flat

developed in the 1830s for the India and China trade and popular for the Opium trade

I am not at all on expert on Mexican dance and festival masks

hanging upside down

I think this bear is a charmer

Intricate 19th Century Scherenschnitte Paper Cut with Birds and Flowers and Handwriting antique spool 12 1/2" across when flatPhotos 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