Golden Stars, 19th C. Candlesnuffer on Wonderful (and Self-Referential) Tole Painted Tray painted wooden animal This burnished black clay fragment

This burnished black clay fragment

and then there is a little wooden support glued to the backside keeps it upright

making the hat and robe of this man feel quite like a cloud

which it seems that someone certainly valued

and frequently featuring figurative elements like this one

Golden Stars, 19th C. Candlesnuffer on Wonderful (and Self-Referential) Tole Painted Tray painted wooden animal This burnished black clay fragmentIt is 100% the dense field of tiny hand painted gold stars around the perimeter that sold me on this tole painted tray and scissors style candle snuffer wick trimmer set wonderful, and unusual, and feeling completely the right thing to set on the mantle during a long, dark, cold New England winter! There is something quite satisfying in having just the right tool to match a specific task, too, with real pleasure to be had in putting a candlelit room