Paper covered domed lid wooden box. Sheet iron hinges and latch, leather lashes. Interior covered in both English and German language newspapers of Lancaster County
Roughly fashioned polychromed softwood miniature trinket box of rectangular form. Domed lid hollowed out underneath and ends fitted with conforming caps. Wire hinges and wire loop at front with missing tin hasp. Corresponding wire loop for hasp on box front. Box sides constructed of rabbet joints secured by two wood pegs at front and two at back. Beveled bottom board attached with two pegs and extends beyond box sides. Top and four sides each have a floral motif of dark green, cream, ochre and red all on a tan ground. Glossy varnish overall except for bottom and interior. Indecipherable initials painted on bottom.
Probably Lancaster County
Provenance
Purchased by donor at Lancaster County sale. At least four other examples known. See example in collection #1973.003.2
Possible maker is Peter Brubacher (1816-1898), shoemaker and woodworker in Clay Township.
Trinket box of softwood constuction covered by German newsprint outside and a coarse blue-green paper inside. Glued over the newsprint are strips of straw of various tones arranged in geometrical designs on domed lid and sides in a technique very similar to marquetry. Newsprint visible on underside as well as where straw pieces are missing. Lid has hinge of coarse linen under laminate. Bent wire hook on lid fits into wire loop on box front.
Provenance
Collected by donor in Lancaster Co. According authority Clarke Hess, these boxes are plentiful, but not usually with newspaper lining. Clarke owns two of these boxes, both with Lancaster German language newsprint, and believes these boxes were made 1820-1840 in PA.
John Tannehill, expert in iron, reports someone told him these boxes were made in prisons.
This journal article recounts the experience of two Salisbury Township residents, Freland Phillips and John Buzzard, who were involved in a battle in Wyoming with Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in 1867. They were part of an Army detachment from Fort Kearney that was assigned to protect men who cut wood for the fort.When attacked, the soldiers took cover in a corral made from the wood of wagon boxes and were able to hold off the Indians until help arrived. This incident occurred during what was called the" Red Cloud War."
Letter in which James Buchanan replies to Gabriel Hiester’s request for a date to attend to business and/or legal matters in Lancaster, PA. Buchanan describes how he cannot leave Washington until a final disposition shall be made on the tariff, which is a subject of great interest in PA and to the Union. He continues to describe that the Senate may amend the bill and that it will return to the House for concurrence and that he must be present for any votes. 26 April 1828.
James Buchanan Papers, Penn State University Libraries,
https://libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/1458.htm
Related Item Notes
James Buchanan Collection (MG0096) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/lhdo3760
James Buchanan Family Papers
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph Collection
Curatorial Collection
Wheatland Collection
Wheatland Mansion
Notes
May 2020 PastPerfect Conversion
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pa.
Other Number
MG-0096, Folder 076
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Digitization of the James Buchanan Collection was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 201808013051, 2019-2020.
