Rare Mid 19th Century "Infant's Alphabet" With Two Handmade Additions to Make Complete pins somewhat appropriately

somewhat appropriately

and I'd bet that was the case with this one

but the piece—made entirely of strands of hair painstakingly looped and knotted around and through a wire armature—comprises a cross for the bottom layer

and a couple of old well repaired splits in the lid

The gold/brown--not quite gold

Rare Mid 19th Century "Infant's Alphabet" With Two Handmade Additions to Make Complete pins somewhat appropriatelyTo my eye a complete charming thing, and I've never seen another set like this somewhat akin to antique carved bone alphabets, meant to teach spelling, but in this case a paper alphabet with hand colored pictures to boot. The label on the lid of the turned wooden box reads "Infant's Alphabet", with the image of a girl holding doll at center. Inside, 28 rounds cut of heavy paper card, with letters of the alphabet on one side and hand colored engraved