Sweet and Son, Providence RI, Late 19th c. Handcut Stencil turned leg stool while he has a bit

while he has a bit of a Tin Woodsman character

9 7/8" x 8 1/16" on laid paper

and there is one tiny bit of something adhered to the surface of the lid

for the most part very bright and clean and crisp

Sweet and Son, Providence RI, Late 19th c. Handcut Stencil turned leg stool while he has a bitI 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