Charming 19th C. Japanese School Child's Semamori Embroidery Practice Booklet midcentury art which translates to "Oh Noble

which translates to "Oh Noble Heart Think of Your End

holding the pen

It was definitely made quite a long time ago—the aging to the painted surface is just gorgeous—and

was delighted to find this guy yesterday at an antique shop in my neck of the woods

I'd guess is it pretty old and there is a bit of roughness to the wood in a few spots on the reaming end

Charming 19th C. Japanese School Child's Semamori Embroidery Practice Booklet midcentury art which translates to "Oh NoblePurchased from a dealer in Japan, this one is completely after my heart the work of a schoolchild learning to embroider, and specifically to embroider "semamori"emblems of protection, amulets of sorts, made to be sewn into kimono, especially those of children, warding off evil spirits. So this is sort of like a sampler, sort of like a child's sewing lessons book (for practicing seams, button holes, etc.), and with the feel of a Froebel kindergarten