Modular Tower of Balls in Cages with Bulb On Top, Architectural Old Carved Whimsy dickensian The image is printed

The image is printed

2 7/8" in diameter x 5/16" deep

and rather like it always existed

I'm guessing 1840s or 50s

About a year ago I found a sailor's cosh similar to this one in the Hudson River Valley

Modular Tower of Balls in Cages with Bulb On Top, Architectural Old Carved Whimsy dickensian The image is printedThis is one of three old carved wooden whimsies I purchased together from a dealer in New Hampshire, all listed today, and I think quite likely all done by the same person. Among my favorite sorts of whimsies are ones I would describe as architectural this one like a tall and narrow tower, standing tall on its own, with very satisfying modular stack of four balls in four cages, making a vertical grid. And the, a final almost ball as finial at top,