Polly Este's Rewards of Merit, Southborough, MA, 1827! japanese ikebana vase with part of old paper

with part of old paper label on the bottom half and one small split near the edge of the lid on one side

in an ugly newer frame

The wood on the dog side is a bit lighter in color

dense on the front and sparser on the reverse

5 1/2" x 4 3/8" x 1 1/8"

Polly Este's Rewards of Merit, Southborough, MA, 1827! japanese ikebana vase with part of old paperIt's a rare day that I come across a reward of merit or three as early as these, and even less frequently do I come across an entirely handmade one. Clearly Polly Este, or someone who loved her, was proud of her accomplishments, managing to keep these safe and sound and together for just about 200 years. I have a definitive record for Polly, born Aug. 30, 1818 in Southborough, Massachusetts, daughter of Solomon Este. She married Henry Sumner Wheeler