Handsome, Blushing Men in Boots, Nicely Scratchy and Atmospheric 19th Century Tintype as is Rendered in pastels or cray-pas

Rendered in pastels or cray-pas I believe

with the carved pieces inside needing to be arranged just so in order for the lid to close

and perhaps he's just realized his calling as a cowboy

who could have been a brilliant child

I had it sitting on a table amid a handful of wooden objects for a bit and they were all better for the proximity

Handsome, Blushing Men in Boots, Nicely Scratchy and Atmospheric 19th Century Tintype as is Rendered in pastels or cray-pasI love how relaxed and also full of attitude these two look. And how the hand and forearm of the standing man rests on the shoulder of the seated one. I might take them as co conspirators in some scheme yet to unfold. (I've been watching Deadwood and they feel like they might be about to arrive in town, plot in hand!) With what looks to be a partial view of a dresser at near right, shirts or uniforms hanging. The dealer I purchased this from