Early Woven Paper Heart and Hand (with Extra Long Fingers) in Presumed Original Frame Adirondack frame nicely carved from one piece

nicely carved from one piece of wood

for myself

or an array of small bites including good anchovies or sardines

in perfect contract to the curvaceous profile of his face

Early Woven Paper Heart and Hand (with Extra Long Fingers) in Presumed Original Frame Adirondack frame nicely carved from one pieceI've looked at quite a lot of antique love tokens including many cut and woven paper hearts, but rarer to find an early heart and hand combined, and I don't think I've ever seen a hand with such long and slender fingers! This is for sure an early one, c. 1820s 30s, very finely cut and woven, and in what I believe is its original frame, backed with beautiful hand marbled paper. There is some toning, particularly to that first long finger, but over 200