Gold Leafed Early Miniature Painting on Laquered Papier Mache in Daguerrotype Frame alligator paint Lignum vitae is a gorgeous

Lignum vitae is a gorgeous and rather miraculous very hard wood

Photos also show a little glare

marked MBW USA on their bottoms

with one light spot at the tip of one side of the exterior egg and a crack in one half of the second to smallest egg

12 7/8" wide x 10 1/4" deep (11 1/4" including handle) x 6 1/2" tall

Gold Leafed Early Miniature Painting on Laquered Papier Mache in Daguerrotype Frame alligator paint Lignum vitae is a gorgeousA curious thing, which I purchased from a seller who knew nothing about it, but found it at an old estate. I believe it is quite an old painting, early 19th century I would guess, executed on what appears to be a gold leafed, black laquered paper mch (such as that one finds antique snuff boxes made of) surface. I think the two layered gold toned frame, with glass, is likely a later addition, as the inner frame conceals a little of the the painting,