Black Cat Stalking Black Bird, Marvelous Antique Cut Paper Card with Graphite Drawing ancient pottery shard There us one clean split

There us one clean split to the short side at top right curve as documented

I believe it likely dates to the late 19th century and is dark brown with gold

Framing would stabilize it and should make that split more or less disappear

and likely once wore a dress

And especially the pair of mice

Black Cat Stalking Black Bird, Marvelous Antique Cut Paper Card with Graphite Drawing ancient pottery shard There us one clean splitMarvelous, and very exactingly executed, this is a cut paper work on on laid paper with graphite drawn details, c. late 19th century I believe. Photos give a good sense, including of the construction, with very thin strips of paper left in place crossing the body of the cat, inked black to match (and disappear against) the black paper behind. Unusual in my experience to see a combination of drawing and paper cutting scherenschnitte, quite excellent.