May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm showing a few old photos

showing a few old photos on the reverse side--one of two men standing on a fence and dated 1919

Each block measures 2 1/2” x 1 1/4” x 5/8”

a German artist and sculptor best known for his exquisitely crafted--and highly collectible--series of 24 small brass figurines representing Judaic characters

Quite a lot of effort invested in developing a form that could expand or contract to accommodate a range of measurements

May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm showing a few old photosA beautiful example of one of these layered paper lace and embossed die cut valentines, or love tokens, and an early one c. 1860s 70s I believe. I would guess this one was actually given on the occasion of a birth or christening, with the hopes of a happy life being imparted to the child, and, it looks to me, a babtism occurring at top center though it also looks a bit like a baby in a bird cage! Detail photos give the best sense of the layering and