Charming 19th C. Turned Leg Cricket Stool with Surprise Bird Silhouette handmade mickey mouse on the flip side of

on the flip side of the drum

including a red stripe that highlights what appears to be a row of three buttons

so know for sure it is French--and of course Rene is a clue

emphatically blushing

with raised gold painted detailing and lovely portrait of a red haired woman at center

Charming 19th C. Turned Leg Cricket Stool with Surprise Bird Silhouette handmade mickey mouse on the flip side ofThe form of this stool, combined with its red paint, drew me to it, but then I noticed the subtle outline of a bird on the top and was completely sold. I'm not quite sure if the bird was inlaid or just incised very finely and then painted stained a slightly stronger red but of it feels now like this happy surprise, as if placed there just for the delight of the user. And then around the perimeter top edge of the stool is a pattern painted in gold I