Modular Tower of Balls in Cages with Bulb On Top, Architectural Old Carved Whimsy ceramic trinket dishes very minor toning

very minor toning

It seems possible this box

Some paint as evident

and gave it special treatment by placing it in a really lovely recently purchased 19th century lemon gold frame that was waiting for the right thing and which I think honors it properly

Modular Tower of Balls in Cages with Bulb On Top, Architectural Old Carved Whimsy ceramic trinket dishes very minor toningThis is one of three old carved wooden whimsies I purchased together from a dealer in New Hampshire, all listed today, and I think quite likely all done by the same person. Among my favorite sorts of whimsies are ones I would describe as architectural this one like a tall and narrow tower, standing tall on its own, with very satisfying modular stack of four balls in four cages, making a vertical grid. And the, a final almost ball as finial at top,