Glove stretcher is cast, nickel-plated brass (?). Made of two opposing lengths of tapered, rounded metal, spring operated. Dog's leg shape tool has handle cast with raised, scrolled decoration. Opposite end is tapered so it fits into glove fingers for stretching after being heated. The larger end of the taper is inset with lead for holding heat.
Inscriptions: "THE / FOSTER GLOVE STRETCHER" is on one handle and the other has "PATENTED JULY 27, 1888."
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.
Flat shaped tool is constructed of two sheet brass sides riveted together at the handle end, allowing a flat triangular iron blade that is sandwiched between to slide out at the other end for cutting. Blade slides via a small riveted guide that slides along a slot in the brass sides. Cutter's brass sides have a fleur-de-lis-shaped handle and scalloped sides and each slot has a measuriing scale numbered from one to ten.
Inscription: The sliding guide on both sides of the slot reads "D.M.CO. / PAT SEPT. 3, 72 / BPT.CONN."
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.
Button-hole cutter, creaser or marking tool is silver plated ferrous metal.
In form of a miniature spoon with a blade instead of a bowl. Blade is eye-shaped with raised midline extending from tip to tip. Edges of blade are fairly sharp. Handle end has the bust of a crowned femal monarch with long flowing hair and necklace above a decorative base of scrolls surrounding a cabochon. Shaft of tool is similar to an architectural column. Entire handle is made of two identical halves, cast and joined with side seams visible.
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.
Some tarnish overall. Large dent in one cabochon and small dent in the other.
Object ID
G.05.15.19
Notes
See another example of this ring found on internet in this file. Iguala is a town near the renowned silvermaking town of Taxco (near the west coast of Mexico) where William Spratling, in the 1930s, famously reinstituted the silver industry and craftsmanship that had died centuries before.
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection