Sweet and Son, Providence RI, Late 19th c. Handcut Stencil tiny sketchbook 1 1/2" across at base

1 1/2" across at base

which has been painted with black and white enamel

and these old shoe-shaped snuff boxes are such wonderful

The roman numerals of the dial appear to have been incised then darkened in graphite

Sweet and Son, Providence RI, Late 19th c. Handcut Stencil tiny sketchbook 1 1/2" across at baseI love an old stencil, particularly ones that stand on their own as interesting objects, and particularly ones incorporating good words language that makes them resonate beyond their original function. Here, in addition to being a nice little piece of Providence, RI history (Sweet appears to have opened in 1840 as a manufacturer and wholesale dealer of dry goods, first as J. B Sweet then becoming "Sweet & Son" with the addition of S. S. Sweet, the