May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm framed in walnut I believe

framed in walnut I believe and with finely carved wooden pins holding the corners together

a German artist and sculptor best known for his exquisitely crafted--and highly collectible--series of 24 small brass figurines representing Judaic characters

Quite a lot of effort invested in developing a form that could expand or contract to accommodate a range of measurements

Great old red paint on the lid

May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm framed in walnut I believeA beautiful example of one of these layered paper lace and embossed die cut valentines, or love tokens, and an early one c. 1860s 70s I believe. I would guess this one was actually given on the occasion of a birth or christening, with the hopes of a happy life being imparted to the child, and, it looks to me, a babtism occurring at top center though it also looks a bit like a baby in a bird cage! Detail photos give the best sense of the layering and