Kitten in Birdhouse! old carved jackstraws These were made by lumberman

These were made by lumberman

The tube is only long enough to hold a fairly short stem or two--encouraging creativity

Solid brass (I believe brass rather than bronze)

The plate is marked (incised) MH on the reverse

and I would guess the watercolor dates to the early 20th century

Kitten in Birdhouse! old carved jackstraws These were made by lumbermanNo way could I resist this one. I guess it is a birdhouse this sweet little fluffy kitty has squeezed itself into, though rather a strange spot for this perch on what looks like the deck of the front porch. He or she definitely has eyes on something though! And one can definitely imagine the pleasure it gave someone to capture the moment. 4 1 2" x 2 7 8" and in good condition with a little minor curling.. I shot my photos with the photograph propped