Leather multi-compartment Wallet. Some remnants of a red printed logo on interior flap. Contained the Civil War discharge papers of William Sweigart, Private, 195th Regiment.
Black beaded purse of rectangular shape. A black silk band trims the mouth at top, enclosing the black twill-weave cotton tape drawstrings. Main body of bag has black beads mounted on a crocheted tan cotton mesh grid through which the off-white muslin interior lining is visible. Fringe at bottom has beaded openwork ending with intertwining loops.
Crocheted black cotton Miser Purse with single crochet pattern throughout. Sock-like form has one round end and the other a squared off opening that is stitched closed. All but center section of purse is decorated with rows of steel beeds incorporated during crocheting. Elongated hole in side provides access for coins and is safeguarded by two encircling, sliding rings of steel with a pierced pattern, 3/8" wide . Both ends of purse decorated with teardrop shapes suspended from small rings, similar to charm bracelet jewelry. Single cluster at round end and attached singly along with disks at blunt end, like a fringe.
Large trunk (a) with two large shelves (b, c) that lift out, and one smaller shelf (d). Exterior of the trunk has brown-striped canvas with three horizontal wood straps on the front, back, and hinged lid. There are wrought iron straps riveted at the corners of the trunk to reinforce the construction. Iron handles, one each side. Two sides covered with shipping labels.
Traveling trunk. Large chest-shaped with metal sheet strips at corners. Studded wooden bands at front, back, and top over canvas-covered wood. Two metal catches on lid, remains of leather strap. Lid is rounded. Exterior has remnants of travel destination stickers and one end cap has Henry Elliot Johnston's initials stenciled 'HEJ'.
Lancaster Borough seal is a thick disk of bronze with the seal depicted on one side and nothing but a small "T" struck at the edge of the opposite side. Sides taper slightly inward from blank side to image side, and are decorated with a center coved ring flanked by incised rings.
Image of seal on the face has a central shield divided in two with 3 sheaves of wheat at top and a rose at bottom. Vining roses surround shield. Around edge of perimeter is inscribed "SEAL OF THE BOROUGH OF LANCASTER 1781." Encircling the lettering is a decorating line of dots.
Provenance
Unknown provenance except purchase from Robert F. McMurtrie.
Hand painted feather fan with pierced bone stays and white feathers. Painted on one side is multicolor spray of flowers with perching bird.
The 20 feathers connect on back with string near midpoint. First and last bone stays are nearly as long as the feathers while remainder of stays are only 3.25" long. Fan spreads open at pivot point at bottom where a stirrup shaped wire is riveted to bottom ends of stays with mother-of-pear washers. Hanging off wire is a double length of braided silk cord, decoratively knotted near midpoint. Cord ends wrap around small beads and unbraided individual threads extend from beads to create tassels. Accompanied by small hand-lettered label: "Fan - mid 19th century."
Front bone stay is cracked and broken at three places along its length. Cellophane tape hold first break from bottom. Soil and stain overall, especially on cord.
Object ID
1980.003.8
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Silver colored, shield shaped plaque with beveled edge. Four holes, two at top and two at bottom, for mounting. Engraved with 4.5in high ornate "1" in center. A banner like ribbon, curving around it contains "L.F.D." Some black matter in all recessed areas and lines makes numbers and motifs stand out. Cast from brass, plated in white metal, possibly silver. According to accession "this was a numeral plate was taken from Clapp Jones steam fire engine #1 about 1882."