Hol(e)y: c. 1870s Punch Paper "Lacework" Cross in Adirondack Frame American Crayon Company in an old black painted

in an old black painted solid wood frame which suits it fine

with red and white name label reading "Ralph Whipple" sewn to one edge

detailing France in many aspects and iterations

22 3/4" t x 10 7/8" w x 8 1/8" d

printed on the back surrounded by two leafy branches

Hol(e)y: c. 1870s Punch Paper "Lacework" Cross in Adirondack Frame American Crayon Company in an old black paintedI've certainly bought and sold a good number of antique perforated punch paper embroideries, but this is the first piece of paper "lacework" I've had, which was created by very carefully cutting away from a large piece of perforated paper to form the shape of a cross and complex interior pattern including many dozens more (tiny) crosses. Rather miraculous, really! Most examples of these I've found seem to date to the 1870s, so I presume this one does