Red and White Hand-painted Fire Exit Arrow Sign with Perfect Patina antique needlepoint The rectangular frames on each

The rectangular frames on each side hold small mirrors

The puzzle top opens and closes through three moves--first swinging out the short top piece of the lid

Holds 1/2 liter

a teacher and a student

I found this textile at probably my favorite estate sale ever in Newton

Red and White Hand-painted Fire Exit Arrow Sign with Perfect Patina antique needlepoint The rectangular frames on eachIn my younger days I spent some time as an art critic, and I can't look at this terrific Fire Exit sign now without wanting to write about it in conceptual terms, though I'm pretty certain that was not its maker's intent! But whether or not fully aware, what they definitely managed to do was to create a very singular copy of a ubiquitous utilitarian sign a gorgeously painterly version that as such also (re)invests the language of the sign with new and