Oval tin box (A) with fitted, domed lid (B). Box has two raised bands on sides. Flat bottom of box is soldered to sides. Lid created by soldering a hammered, rounded oval top onto a 1/2" oval band. Interior of both A and B is tinned.
Used as a container for the miniature tea kettle G.00.03.1.
Lancaster County or region
Provenance
Ownership by donor's father, William A. Heitshu. Donor believes oval box was original container for teakettle.
Exterior surface has vestiges of an original finish, now oxidized with areas of corrosion. Abrasions over much of surface. Interior moderately rusted and corroded.
Object ID
G.00.03.2a-b
Credit
Gift of Martha Munster, Heritage Center Collection
Small brown leather covered wooden sewing box with compartmented interior. Leather-hinged lift lid with metal clasp at front, now detached at both clasp and hinge. Underside of lid has 3 leather strap holders, each holding a paper packet of needles. Gold-stamped mark at top center of underside is "CROSS/ LONDON".
Interior has additional fitted lid covering the front section of 3 small compartments. On top of cover are two leather loop holders. Small right rear compartment has fabric-covered padded bottom. Contents include two Bakelite? buttons, nine mother of pearl buttons, two cards of fabric covered buttons, a spool of brown thread and two early black safety pins. Each corner on bottom of box has a brass stud foot.
Very worn, particularly the exterior leather which is strongly abraded with cracks and losses at corners and edges. Leather hinge and clasp are both detached. Two dark circular stains on lid top.
Object ID
1977.007.2
Place of Origin
New York, New York
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Box of mourning pins. Paper matchbox covered in dark gray paper has top, fitted lid with a paper label. Label is priinted with scrolls at corners and a football shaped reserve at center has "80 MOURNING PINS / ASST / Germany." Black head pins with blue shafts within. Less than half this number remain.
Used for securing black clothing such as veils and hats during the time of mourning a death.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Tiny box with fitted lid, light cardboard covered in glossy white paper. Printed on lid top in blue is: "LOUIS WEBER & SON / GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS / 15-17 NO. QUEEN ST. / LANCASTER, PENNA." Above this is a shield with spread eagle and a banner underneath with "ESTABLISHED 19??".
Louis Weber was in the jewelry business on N. Queen St. since the 19th century. It was at 165 N. Queen that his son George R. Weber apparently took over the business and took on a new name -- Louis Weber & Son. This was the listing in the 1905-06 City Directory. By the next year in the 1907-08 Directory, the business was relocated to 15-17 N. Queen Street, the address printed on the box lid.
Dispatch case of Major John Hubley; walnut construction.
On top, inlay shell in an oval with green background, all within an 2 fine-line band border. Metal outlined key on front center. 2 movable metal handles, one on each end. Entire wood panel in lid folds out to reveal a mirror secured by a swivel tab. A metal ring for pulling panel down/ Circular inlay designs on green background in center of closed lid portion. Intricate spiral adorn edges of all 8 sections and green felt-lined tray. 2 narrow divisions hold slide-in tops with metal pull rings fit into compartment. Portion that holds 2 small drawers can be lifted out to reveal .5" storage area. The entire lower portion can be lifted out. Bottom covered with black felt.
Voting box, nailed butt joint construction, pine, original varnish finish, in gold lettering, "Post 118 / GAR / Swamp Angel" Box fitted with bracket to hold miniature wooden cannon barrel with original gold paint decoration, Canon swivels on bracket and has an extension that acts as a stopper for the hole where balls are placed into drawer to vote.
Match stick dome top jewelry chest made by inmates of Lancaster County Prison, purportedly in the1950's, for Helen, the wife of guard Harry J. Shaub (1899-1980).
Constructed of 1/4" plywood, with some solid wood & cardboard. Exterior covered with a layer of matchsticks glued on in geometrical patterns similar to marquetry. Dark brown-stained matchsticks create a diamond on the hinged lift lid and all four sides. Inside top diamond is "HELEN" with letters conforming to diamond shape.
Glued-up matchstick form a handle at lid front as well as 3/4-length drawer front below. Built out at base with matchsticks to create a skirting as well as 4 protruding feet. Interiors of both the drawer and th top compartment under lid have padded upholstery done with a yellow satin-woven fabric.
Provenance
Harry J. Shaub was a Lancaster Co. Prison Guard according to City Directories through 1950. The 1952 Directory, and henceforth, lists him as a maintenance man or mechanic (at the US Naval Base Bainbridge, Md). Thus, this chest would NOT have been made later than c. 1950, perhaps as a departing gift for Harry's wife Helen.
Repairs needed. Overall soil, especially interior upholstery; fabric torn at left front on top compartment; broken retaining ribbon; missing cover on underside of lid. Missing matchstick base and rear proper right foot.
