Mysterious and Very Wonderful Small Metal Cutouts, Presumed 19th Century French (Copy) linen gauze with tiny spots of brown

with tiny spots of brown to perfectly portray the skin and subtle darkening here and there to suggest bruises

but also perhaps the perfect Christmas tree topper

and maybe there's a pile of sea mosses gathered just outisde the frame of this painting

1940s hand-painted wooden cutout used to be a door stop

and a structure built into the side of the bank at left

Mysterious and Very Wonderful Small Metal Cutouts, Presumed 19th Century French (Copy) linen gauze with tiny spots of brownThese are completely wonderful, but I do not know their original purpose. Perhaps they were votive offerings? I found an image of a pair of French embroidery scissors c. 1850s with one handle very similar in silhouette to the man here, down to his extended hand. And of course the dainty crossed feet of the marvelously silhouetted woman remind me very much of antique machinist made ladies legs calipers. They all feel a bit as if miniature templates for