Bookends.

Obviously. It's sprung forward.

I found this on Google images. The Dante bust is a bookend usually matched with another one of Beatrice. You can buy them on eBay. Beatrice was a pretty young lady that Dante admired from afar and who inspired some of his writings.

... a bust of Dante, a print of Breton's "The Song of the Lark", a wonderful old clock, nicely polished furniture: this is a family with pride and expectations, even as the photographer describes them as slum-dwellers. Hope they all lived long and prospered.

I do like how the doll seems to be lovingly gazing at the photos above. However, a random doll perched as a prop, is a bit odd, and creepy to me, but certainly interesting. The fact that I even suggested that a doll was gazing is also a bit odd to me as well.

I also wonder why the "curvy" clock has the face outside, and a coffin door? It seems very out of the ordinary for the time, and shapes presented. I am however curious as of where it is now.

The woodwork on the shelf above is very bad, and I love it. That shows a lot of initiative, and goes to show that we are capable of so much outside of our general studies. The answer so often heard is, "I don't know how to do that". Well, step up to the plate and learn. That's how you evolve. I give this person much credit for finishing the project and hopefully improving their skills moving forward.

[Thank God you're here to guide us. - Dave]

Interesting that they have two clocks that are almost identical. Wonder if they are parting out one to fix the other, or if they repair clocks to supplement their income.

Of course we recognize FDR, but who is the other person? The VP, or the local governor perhaps?

[Might the name under his likeness hold a clue? - Dave]

Yes, I saw the name, but needed my glasses (and a peek around the frame to make out "For Vice President." Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Dave.

The narrative describes Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise or Heaven, while allegorically the poem represents the soul's journey toward God.