Fabulous 1950s Folk Art Woven Paper Over Wood Rattlesnake on Cardboard lava or a a dance card

or a a dance card for a very active dancer

as labelled in the photos

Plus a fantastic dry wood patina

While one certainly sees much more dramatic (Frankenstein-ian

the perfect board for serving cheese

Fabulous 1950s Folk Art Woven Paper Over Wood Rattlesnake on Cardboard lava or a a dance cardA note on the back of this wonderful snake tells us that it was made in spring or early summer 1957 at a YMCA in Washington DC as the bottom of a pipe rack which definitely makes me wish I could see the whole pipe rack, and also makes me think the classes at that particular YMCA must have been pretty amazing. It appears that the snake was carved of wood then very painstaking decorated with layers of brown and black cut paper, laid down layer by layer,