"Sweet Sixteen" 19th C Graphite Portrait of Young Woman with Ringlets for the vanity but also pretty fun to

but also pretty fun to roll or throw around

At some point it must have been a thing to repurpose old wooden spools this way

It features dark brown bands against a mottled tan ground

I'm constantly amazed by the patience and care invested by the makers of objects like this

"Sweet Sixteen" 19th C Graphite Portrait of Young Woman with Ringlets for the vanity but also pretty fun toThis lovely young woman, with her perfectly arched brows and ringlets and pursed lips, looks to me perhaps not entirely delighted to be the "sweet sixteen" of the hand written title below. Rather, to me, she looks as if she might be at least partially mourning the loss of her childhood. I love this about her, and everything about this portrait really, just right in its original round frame with glass and hanging loop at top. C. 1860s 70s I would