Excerpt of Franklin's Remarks at 1787 Constitutional Convention, Poignant 19th C. Penmanship Exercise portable chest I believe the hand-written text

I believe the hand-written text at upper left of this drawing reads "coiffure de opium Perle"--meaning opium pearl hairstyle--and indeed it is the combination of lace and pearls on her head

but I find it entirely congruent with the seascape represented

In one of the cages inside the larger cage are two little balls

4 5/8" xs 3 1/2"

One could also certainly put a hanger on the exterior and hang it open on the wall--really striking

Excerpt of Franklin's Remarks at 1787 Constitutional Convention, Poignant 19th C. Penmanship Exercise portable chest I believe the hand-written textI purchased this one from an antiquarian book and all sorts of interesting things on paper dealer based in the Albany area, at a very good antiques show where I found not a single other thing I felt like committing to. Of course I'm always looking for beautifully executed early penmanship examples, which this very much is (look at details; what a lot of strokes of the pen on each letter! and quite a reminder of why everyone was forced to write with