Lush Victorian Sea Moss Composition with Cut Paper Urn, Mid 19th Century, Period Oak Frame spill It looks to me that

It looks to me that there are at least four different hardwoods used and they are all pretty spectacular

and what I believe was a combination of ink and graphite drawing the hair

with no foxing

but overall terrific condition

with surface patina (including some grime that could be cleaned off though I wouldn't touch it) and what feels like some softening to its edges from handling

Lush Victorian Sea Moss Composition with Cut Paper Urn, Mid 19th Century, Period Oak Frame spill It looks to me thatOccasionally I'll see a Victorian dried flower composition with a cut paper element, but I don't believe I've ever seen a sea moss picture like this before, with that black paper urn evoking a theorem painting stencil as well as a cut paper silhouette portrait, and I think locating it c. 1850s or so. I love sea moss pressings of all sorts (including for the fact that sea moss gathering represented an acceptable way for young women to get out in nature