Antiques For The Holidays
Very Rare, Large Old German Victorian Spun Cotton Basket with Bird and Nest
Very Rare, Large Old German Victorian Spun Cotton Basket with Bird and Nest
Regular price
$2,675.00 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$2,675.00 USD
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Very Rare, Large Old German Victorian Spun Cotton Basket with Bird and Nest. Circa 1890 - 1900. It is 6" tall, 5" wide, and 3" deep from the side. The surface of the cotton nest is covered with fine glass flakes, but you can't see them in the photos. This is one of the most beautiful spun cotton ornaments that we have ever seen. The ornament is all original. The components were hand-wired into place when the nest was made; this is a really elaborate example of "cottage work." The bird is cotton, with embossed "Dresden" paper wings and tail. The "paper grass" nest contains tiny speckled cotton eggs. There are three early German hand-blown twisted glass icicles of different lengths suspended from the handle of the basket, tied on with thread. The ornament's condition is extra-fine with a little expected age wear, mostly on the holly leaves and a couple of the smaller red berries on the nest. This is an extremely interesting item with respect to the artistry and concept----a bird nest with eggs in a snowy nest with icicles overhead--yet holly leaves and berries are growing beside the nest. Is it portraying an "early Spring," or just a fantasy Christmas scene? The Victorians did love everything to do with birds
