19th Century Folk Art Yarn Winder Whimsy in Blown Glass Bottle wooden letter as this one very much

as this one very much is--with the shoe

And adding up to quite a portrait of a time and place

but look at how much effort went into that cap and blue wool sailor's suit

From an old estate in Cambridge

19th Century Folk Art Yarn Winder Whimsy in Blown Glass Bottle wooden letter as this one very muchI've had much fancier bottle whimsies, but I think the more humble (though still completely baffling to me!) yarn winder types are my favorite of all. This one is 19th century, with carved wooden stopper (walnut I think?), held forever in place by a cross bar just below the neck. With two "yarn winders" inside, held to the central post one horizontal, one vertical, both wound with yellow and white yarn with the post standing on four arched feet. The