Case of Stuffed Birds, Striking and Evocative Albumen Stereoview. c. 1870, John Soule, Boston grain painted miniature table and given out as party

and given out as party favors at his "Party of Life" birthday events--at the Paradise Garage (1984) and the Palladium (1985 & 86)

This is a newer

and also a real radiance and pop to the fruit in the right light (more so than my photos convey

or a bunch of other jewels and precious things

very clean and dry

Case of Stuffed Birds, Striking and Evocative Albumen Stereoview. c. 1870, John Soule, Boston grain painted miniature table and given out as partyIt was the owls that first drew me to this c. 1870 stereoview, but then, with the help of the caption "Case of stuffed birds" printed below, I realized that these owls were housed in dense diorama populated by many many other species of birds (the closer one looks, the more one finds; they're tucked in there everywhere!) And so to me this feels as if an embodiment of the magic of an owl and its world, wonders only exposed with the power of night