Green suede leather coin purse with machine-stitched seams on both sides. Flap folds down and closes with a silver snap and silver bead loops along edges.
Black knitted purse with vertical bands of clear beading, narrowing toward top where there are two horizontal strips of beading. Silver--colored metal frame with design of swirls. Bud-shaped clasps snap to open or close. Chain-link hand strap. Fabric lining is turquoise blue.
Blue suede leather coin purse with matching leather finger strap stitched at both ends on the back. Silver diamond-shapped snap on front in center of curved flap.
Knitted purse with vertical bands of gold beading, wide at bottom and narrowing toward top where beading is solid. Side loop gold bead fringes. Gold-colored metal frame with design of swirls. Bud-shaped clasps snap to open or close. Chain-link hand strap.
Some green corrosion on frame. Satin lining fragile with tears. Some missing beads on fringes. Some wear on bead on fringe and lower area of purse. Small envelope of detached beads.
Object ID
2012.008.4
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Black knitted beaded drawstring bag. Purse is a single fabric, seamed on both sides. Trapezoid-shaped bag with alternating columns of narrow and wider vertical columns of black beads. Fringe of beaded loops at bottom. Beaded drawstring drawn through 8 beaded loops and knotted on one side to from hand strap.
a: Fine mesh purse with painted floral pattern. 1/2-inch ruffle of delicate mesh along bottom edge. Pale green satin lining. Purse is attached to a decorated gold-colored metal frame. Ball clasp closure. Gold figure-8 chain link hand strap.
b: A round beveled mirror inside bag is backed with gold-colored metal.
Black painted canvas knapsack with "F. / 1st. P.V. / J. Conner" stencilled in white on outside. Belonged to John Conner of Co. F, 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers (Three Months), a company which originated in April 1861 from the Lancaster Fencibles.
Canvas with black waterproof finishe on outside. Machine sewn, squared corners with flaps at top sides that can be tied together to cover top opening. On back are four strips under which belts can be slid. Belt like a "Y"--two ends with holes from one strip that has 2 buckles at its end.
33" x 23.25" hemmed piece, centered along one long (33") edge and sewn to top back of case. Two 8.5-inch strips of twill tape sewn 7 inches apart in center of both 23.25" edges so this piece can fold over, completly covering the case and can be secured with ties.
Foldable eyeglasses with D-shaped blue-tinted lenses and similar side panel lenses. Worn by Amos Ellmaker (1787-1851) and are seen in portrait.
Provenance
Amos Ellmaker (1787-1851) wore these glasses, including during his sitting for accomplished Lancaster portrait painter Jacob Eichholtz. Amso graduated from Princeton before embarking on a long and successful career as both an officer in the army and a lawyer; rising to positions such as State Representative and Attorney General of the Commonwealth. Amos almost became a state senator as well, but lost to the future president, James Buchanan.