Lovely Tall, Antique Arts and Crafts Tabletop Picture Easel vintage Japanese lacquer box I believe the "antes" is

I believe the "antes" is branded/burned into the surface of the wood

10” tall

long necks

I tend to lean toward the first reading

and perhaps someone more handy than I could give it a little love

Lovely Tall, Antique Arts and Crafts Tabletop Picture Easel vintage Japanese lacquer box I believe the "antes" isBeautiful, and super useful, and mended at some point years ago, which tells me someone really cared about it, I'll bet because it got lots of use displaying favorite paintings. I believe it is likely Arts and Crafts period, and I believe made of oak. Really lovely. 15 5 8" t x 8 11 16" w x 8" deep standing. The ledge where a painting framed whatever would be placed measures 7 13 16" across, and it is 8 3 8" between that ledge and the bottom of the