Little Church: Great Old Gold Painted Architectural Ball in Cage Whimsy with Cross handmade vintage pottery I find this exquisitely beautiful

I find this exquisitely beautiful

I find it completely charming

Some irregularity to the shape of the slate

especially ones cut into the shapes of hearts and opening up to reveal handwritten messages inside

but no mark on it

Little Church: Great Old Gold Painted Architectural Ball in Cage Whimsy with Cross handmade vintage pottery I find this exquisitely beautifulI was excited to find this one in southern Maine this past week. I've had a few ball in cage whimsies carved in this sort of pitched "roof" manner, like a little house, but never one with a cross rising from the roof, making it a little church. And perfectly painted in a now nicely mellowed gold. Excellent. 5 5 16" t x 1 1 2" x 1 1 8". Excellent condition. Earlyish 20th century I believe.