Lot Essay
Conceived as companion pieces, these charming representations of children were among the most popular works Ball conceived. According to his autobiography, "My next two works were statues of Christmas and Saint Valentine's mornings, --two little girls of about eight years, both in their nightdresses, up very early; the first, to see what has been put in her stocking, and the other, playfully hiding her love-billet. These were both ordered in marble before they were completed in clay." (p. 278)