Beautifully Carved Antique Hanging Ball in Cage Whimsy (Letter Opener?) black and white painte then hand-painted (there are remnants

then hand-painted (there are remnants of one hand as well

with these giant cat-like blue eyes

I don't spend a ton of time looking at jewelry

and many years in it yet

one can almost hear the cicada singing away

Beautifully Carved Antique Hanging Ball in Cage Whimsy (Letter Opener?) black and white painte then hand-painted (there are remnantsI've just listed a bunch of whimsies all from one source; this one is different. I found it in New Hampshire and believe it walnut, super finely done and I believe antique. It's a bit of a curious one, too, with tapering end, which suggests use as a letter opener or page turner? And a hanging loop at the other end, which I suppose would allow one to hang it around one's neck, though I'd likely hang it from a nail on the wall instead. Really lovely. 9