Children Around the Maypole, Lovely Antique Silver Gelatin Print c. 1910s modern carving and the raised sword against

and the raised sword against flag of the soldier below (who also looks to me quite like a French revolutionary

each one stunning in its glorious shades of gold

The dealer friend I purchased this from bought it years ago from Paula Rubenstein's shop in NYC

following the release of Walt Disney's Pinocchio in 1940

it features a hand carved wooden handle

Children Around the Maypole, Lovely Antique Silver Gelatin Print c. 1910s modern carving and the raised sword againstAlways a treat to find a picture of a Maypole dance, such a lovely thing! As I understand it, Maypole traditions stem from ancient European pagan and Roman festivals celebrating the goddess Flora, the return of spring, and the sun's increased warmth. They were banned by the Puritans for their pagan associations, but saw a revival in the 19th century, and became common components of May Day celebrations in this country in the later 19th and well into