Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools I believe it is silver

I believe it is silver plate and is in very good condition

F it appears) painted in red on the front

Such a luscious vase

And then those little flowers everywhere

This one belonged James Gifford and dates to 1804

Very Fine Antique Needle Lace Crowing Bird, Framed  carved spools I believe it is silverI can't get enough of figural lace, and this particular type style of needle lace is my favorite sort (I believe Belgian in origin), with what looks like a million tiny tight knots making up the bird alone. The wonderful spiderweb like field surrounding it here suggests a nest to me, as if it might have come with open beak to feed the babies, though as the bird appears to have a comb and wattle (launching this a wonderful arch of triangles, like a