Gridded Wooden Spool Holder from Old Mill hand-carvedrattle whimsy But it is the expression

But it is the expression on the face of the man at the center upon which I think the painting hinges-- elusive

the other I think a bat (a little cat-like too)

Each dish features the Lyon coat of arms as well as a gold painted rim

Executed in pencil and colored pencil on "basket"  or card

and by the end of the 19th century the magic lantern was overtaken by the cinematograph

Gridded Wooden Spool Holder from Old Mill hand-carvedrattle whimsy But it is the expressionFrom what I understand, this came from an old New England mill, and I'd guess would have been mounted on the wall, holding large spools of thread. And indeed, at the bases of most of the wooden dowels some threads remain, mostly wool from what I can tell. I just think it's a great object, and could be put to all sorts of creative and pragmatic uses. The board itself shows old white paint on front and back, while the dowels are unpainted. There are