Antique Architectural Ornament Mold: Bat-like Curve! lacquer box with scholars Based on the context in

Based on the context in which I found it

date to the 1880s or so

and the sun's a cheerful shade of yellow

These sweet old little wooden stands and ladder were once part of a Schoenut "Humpty Dumpty Circus" set --which is worth looking up as the clowns and articulated animals in the old sets are AMAZING

and indeed these paintings always feel a bit like momento mori

Antique Architectural Ornament Mold: Bat-like Curve! lacquer box with scholars Based on the context inI see a lot of old wooden industrial molds but only occasionally do I across across ones like this, filled with a pitch wood resin mold material, and used for casting ornaments for architecture, molding and picture frames. This is the smallest of several I'm listing, which photographs don't quite do justice (I've shot it a couple of different light situations to try to give a sense) the mold itself has a really visceral presence, feeling like a cross