Impossibly Intricate Pair of 19th Century Pennsylvania Scherenschnittes: Weeping Willow and Flowering Urn antique design object protective creature watching over one

protective creature watching over one

with its age and the care taken in the individual paper cuttings quite palpable

I'd keep him out of the hot sun

with the head carved of a separate piece of wood and fitted into the body

but I really like looking at it

Impossibly Intricate Pair of 19th Century Pennsylvania Scherenschnittes: Weeping Willow and Flowering Urn antique design object protective creature watching over oneI purchased these two from a dealer in Pennsylvania, which I believe is where they originated. Early mid 19th century I believe, and surely created as momento mori, perhaps as components of a larger piece. I can't even wrap my head around anyone could cut paper with this degree of fineness and precision; they're tiny! It looks to me that the weeping willow was all cut from one piece, while it seems there may be one or two adhered flowers on the urn