Curiously Posed Woman with Parasol and Raised Hand, Antique RPPC rick hintz several pages of penmanship practice

several pages of penmanship practice ("quarrelsome people are dangerous companions"--twice for good measure

the same must go for bookends

1885 at lower right

I really like the form and disposition of it

Each post measures 20 7/8" l x 1 1/4" in diameter

Curiously Posed Woman with Parasol and Raised Hand, Antique RPPC rick hintz several pages of penmanship practiceIt took me quite a while to figure out what was going on in this portrait, which is part of why I like it! At first I thought it was some sort of rod she holds, pointing off to the left but I finally realized it is the handle of a parasol, tipped 90 degrees to its side. (Adding the confusion is what I presume is the rolled cuff of the right sleeve, which looks almost like a brace attached to her arm.) And then this curious gesture she makes with her