Antique Engraved Brass Shoe Silhouette Mantel Ornament ceramic pot fairly thick walled and heavy

fairly thick walled and heavy for its size

snapping closed nicely at the top

apparently intended to provide profound thinking about the meaning of life

but I really love speculating about it

like this elephant

Antique Engraved Brass Shoe Silhouette Mantel Ornament ceramic pot fairly thick walled and heavyFrom what I understand, brass shoe and boot silhouettes of this ilk were a Victorian era thing in Great Britain, often given as wedding gifts to be placed on the mantle and meant to bring good luck. This one, with a terrific untouched patina to the brass, struck me as an especially lovely one, and features a moveable piece at front, perhaps to be raised when good luck was especially needed??!! With pin prick engraving along the top edge and toe, and a