Mid 19th Century American Sewing Box in Best Paper with Stencil Painted Velvet Pin Cushion baby crying which were deeply carved then

which were deeply carved then inked/painted white

Much better in person than in my not very good photos

One of the things I really love about carved wooden whimsies is their infinite variety

as owls are already rather miraculous and mystical sorts of creatures

About Heller:  The son of a famous concert pianist

Mid 19th Century American Sewing Box in Best Paper with Stencil Painted Velvet Pin Cushion baby crying which were deeply carved thenI've had a few mid 19th century papered boxes of this sort, but the patterns and bright rainbow of colors on the paper here make this one exceptional. (The bright pink and yellow combo on the interior are very excellent too.) This one was specifically made as a small sewing box, with stencil painted velvet pin cushion on the lid. Hand colored and hand printed paper over cardboard, with ribbons connecting hinged lid to body of box so that it holds open