Lovely Antique Sailor Made Knotwork Basket French astronomy but overall excellent condition

but overall excellent condition

while I believe it is a spotted dove depicted here

but the more I look at it the more I love It for the body language of the children-- the way the boy rests his arm on the table and leans in

It sure seems to me like an actual cannonball

But even if not venturing to try to solve them

Lovely Antique Sailor Made Knotwork Basket French astronomy but overall excellent conditionI'm a huge fan of antique sailor made baskets, crafted from fishing twine while out at sea and typically intended as love tokens to be delivered upon return. I love the thought of sailors doing what was essentially macrame in their spare time, and what fine work and lots of labor this one represents. I haven't found a nice example in a long time, and this one is exactly what I look for, very well done, with clean lines, and several different knotting