Wonderful Antique Handmade Bobbin Lace Woman with Scythe vintage sewing box My guess is that the

My guess is that the bottom of the ashtray was once the printing plate used by Squire to produce business or calling cards

8" t x 5 5/8" w x x 1/8"d

or on its own in a windowsill or on a bedside table

with 12 interlocking rings and 72 square plaques

Wonderful Antique Handmade Bobbin Lace Woman with Scythe vintage sewing box My guess is that theThis special thing is a piece of late 19th century figural Italian Cantu lace, entirely made by hand. At the center is this wonderful raised appliqud woman holding a scythe, with a patch of wheat before her, flowers and a butterfly at her back, and perhaps the shade of a few leafy branches overhead, all set amid this great net like ground. Perhaps it was once part of a tablecloth decoration, I'm not sure, but now I'd treat it as the work of art it is