Set of tatting tools, nickel silver plated steel, has four pieces. Each piece has in common the shaped and decorated portions, the handles of the three tools and the needle case body. This feature is a flattened octagonal shape in cross-section, with successive divots ground out with a round grinding wheel. Handles and case all taper along their length.
A. Needle case is 2.75" long and .375" wide. At the heavier end of case is a fitted cap that slides onto a smaller male extension protruding from main body. Seam visible along sides where both halves of case have been joined.
B. Hook on handle is 4" long and .25" wide. Tapers from handle end down to where shaft is attached. Shaft has ball-and-ring at handle, a slight swell along length and a minute hook at tip.
C. Awl is 3.625" long and .25" wide. Same handle as above. Shaft is similar in shape except heavier and shorter and has a sharp tip.
D. Threading tool(?) is 3" long and .5" long. Same handle as above. Shaft is shorter and has a large open loop in a teardrop shape.
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.
Set of 3 steel tatting hooks, no handles. All are similar with round, tapering shanks that terminate in tiny hooks of differing sizes. Theaded at other end for fitting into a handle, now missing. Double ring turnings adjacent to threads.
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.
Small tool with thin curving blade set into a turned wood handle and brass ferrule. Saber-like blade is brass, having a small slot cut into bottom edge near tip.
Used for warping a loom by pulling warp ends through the reed.
Cast silver wax holder in shape of a small walnut. Identical halves of nut are attached at one end and partially open at the other. Interior is filled with beeswax for drawing thread through, and multiple score marks are evident in wax. Hanging ring at fixed end.
Molded cake of beeswax for waxing thread. Oval shape, flat bottom and domed top has molded raised image of a person milking a cow. Perimeter of oval has border of lobed scallops. Surface of wax cake is speckled with black particles of paint or similar substance.
Tobacco spear iron tip. Hollow spear point fits onto a now-missing wooden shaft and is used to spear several tobacco plant that would be hung for drying.
Lignum vitae lead-dressing stick. odd shaped heavy wooden tool has flat bottom, flat front end and long round handle on opposite end. Dark lignum vitae wood, natural finish with white paint at various places on handle.
Lead dressing stick is used to "dress" or shape, flatten, and smooth sheet lead.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son
Long, thin length of octagonal bar with striking head at one end and other end with four-fluted, slightly enlarged tip. Known for making holes in masonry by hand.
Marked "BALTIMORE 3/?". along side.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son
Long, thin length of octagonal bar with striking head at one end and other end with four-fluted, slightly enlarged tip. Known for making holes in masonry by hand.
Marked "BALTIMORE 3/?". along side.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son