Antique "Father" Mourning Cabinet Card red and black lidded lacquer box and the hand-written two-sided cards--accounting

and the hand-written two-sided cards--accounting for every month and possibility for how the dates fall--are easily removed

which makes its back stand up straight (and perhaps it once made a squeak

and in fact I purchased a whole salad set at an estate sale just to get them

these terrific hand-thrown red glazed small serving bowls are contemporary

also in pencil

Antique "Father" Mourning Cabinet Card red and black lidded lacquer box and the hand-written two-sided cards--accountingBetween the hand cut letters spelling Father, the funerary wreath surrounding a photograph of him, and the sheaf of wheat below tied with a ribbon that runs just to the very edge of the picture frame, this one just struck me as quite a tender and beautiful mourning photo. And I love his very white beard too! I found a few records of the Hamilton photo studio in Shenandahoah, Iowa between 1902 and the early 20s, and would guess this dates close to the