Great Antique Gold and Black Gesso Over Wood Frame with Marvelous Reverse papier mach as part of a grouping

as part of a grouping of interesting boxes

a lofty ambition for an individual of limited means

and are of a very high quality--measured by the number of layers of layers of fabric and quality of stitching

with the silk still held very taut all the way around

visions of a sugar cube and carrot eating

Great Antique Gold and Black Gesso Over Wood Frame with Marvelous Reverse papier mach as part of a groupingNot sure whether I like the front or back more on this one they are very different things! The face I love for the gold stripes against black patterning that looks very much like scales, making the whole thing feel like a snake curled into an oval to me. The reverse revealing its angle cut construction, rectangular recessed frame and black stencil painted 80 on one side reminds me of a cubist painting, including with the simple string strung across,