Black Japanese box completely lacquered, inside and out, with removable lid (b) and two drawers (c,d) with metal handles that swivel 180 degrees. Top drawer is shallow, bottom drawer is deep. The rounded top front is painted with fine gold pattern, surrounded by gold border.
Various feathers painted on sides. All edges are painted gold. 3 birds painted on top with fine gold lines crossing at angles to create a mesh pattern.
Missing piece out of top part on side.
a. 100 stiff paper cards with a single black shadowed letter on one side of each card for each of the 26 letters of the English alphabet.
Measurements above for 35.75a (cards) each is 1.125 long x 1.25 wide (100 cards)
35.75b is lid
35.75c (top drawer) = 4' x 8.25" x 5/8 inch
35.75d (bottom drawer) = 4" x 8.25" x 1.5"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2003-07-17
Condition Notes
2 3/4" length gap in side of lid where a piece is missing. Piece of wood missing on inside edge of bottom drawer (35.75d). Some chipping and cracking of lacquer, pieces of veneer missing from drawer fronts. One corner foot missing from base.
Object ID
W.1935.075.a-d
Notes
Said to have been given to Buchanan by Japanese delegation
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Oblong painted sewing chest in Lehnware style featuring a burnt orange backdrop and floral designs in pink, green, white/cream, yellow, and blue. Floral design is surrounded by a painted trim of blue, pink, burnt orange, and white. Gilded trim. The base of the sewing chest has four black feet. Interior features a painted wooden tray with two black pincushions that can be removed to reveal more storage space.
Trinket box. Plain paper- and fabric-covered wood box. Shallow, rectangular box with top, paper-hinged lid that fits down over box lip on three sides. Back is crest-shaped with blue border and watercolor picture of basket of foliage and birds. Rest of ou
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 chest of dovetail construction, hinged lid, turned feet and polychrome decoration. Bottom secured with square nails. Keyhole at front; key missing. On a burnt orange ground are 5 large decals (4 of fruit and 1 of flowers) and one small decal at front center of spread eagle, shield and banner. Chest sides and top have centered line decoration of 3 concentric rectangles with hollow corners (black, ochre, white). Feet are black. Edge moldings of lid and base painted black with yellow-green double line decoration enclosing leafy scrolling vines. Interior and underside unfinished.
Inked # 00.43.1 on bottom. Two old stickers: "65603" on back and "65625" on bottom.
Attributed to Joseph Lehn (1798-1892). South of Clay, Elizabeth Township.
Provenance
Transferred from the James Buchanan Foundation where chest was "found in collection" with history/provenance.
Paint soiled and darkened. Large scar on left end of lid molding. Arc scored into top at right front of lid. Wear/abrasions overall, especially lid and base molding. Loose left front foot and paint loss of right back foot. Pristine interior. One hing screw missing.
Object ID
G.03.35.1
Place of Origin
Elizabeth Twp.
Credit
Gif ot James Buchanan Foundation, Heritage Center Collec
Circular pasteboard box. On bottom of box, in ink script, "Made by Matthias Zahm about the year 1840. Received from the estate of Godfried Zahm in the year 1888 by ? R. Goodell given to Mary S. Goodell, 1888."
This object may not be part of 1925.031 collection
Case with black lacquer finish and gilt Chinoiserie. Interior consists of multiple shelfs and storage areas. Top lid opens to reveal two closed compartments surrounding four open compartments. Front doors open to 4 drawers. Three drawers face the front below the doors.
Rubber shaving box, circular. "U.S.N." "Don't Give Up the Ship" Label on exterior reads, "This is a shaving box from the old frigate congress which the Merrimack sank." In pen on label, "Emmons"
Letter box with slant front, hinged-lid, and multi-compartment interior. Exterior is done in silver, ebony, ivory, and mahogany inlay in a cube and flower design. Interior is wood with circular inlay design with ivory, silver, jade, and red material. Key included.
Brought from Siam in the 1860s by Admiral William Reynolds, brother of General John Fulton Reynolds.
