Love-ly Antique Paper Lace Valentine old maid one looking rather flirty and

one looking rather flirty and the other more pensive and perhaps mildly concerned

9 1/2" x 6 3/4" and in very good condition

I have to think this was made by a metalworker as a whimsy of sorts--perhaps as a present for a cobbler

each one a little different

and the little bust with stool legs stacks perfectly atop the ball in cage

Love-ly Antique Paper Lace Valentine old maid one looking rather flirty andI look at a whole lot of antique valentines, including many incorporating paper lace and die cuts, though it's really a rare one of the latter sort that wins me (usually too much fussiness clutter) but this is one of the rare ones. Just lovely. And I do believe it's always the right time for a valentine. With golden cut paper heart and hand colored (watercolored it looks to me) LOVE giving rise to an angel with butterfly wings emerging from the center