Needle and pin case in sun bonnet form with off-white finely woven sheer cotton or silk. Rigid visor of light cardboard is covered with fabric and folds at top. Cap section is gathered at neck. Trimmed with four pink satin bows and a strawberry of emory covered with silk and embroidery on short string at crown. Metal snap closure inside visor.
Interior of visor has attached strip of twill wool with sawtooth edge. Pins and needles are inserted and stored in this fabric.
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.
Needle book made of printed heavy paper, folded to resemble a book. Advertising item lists coal business on inside.
Blue printed cover has the words "The/HOME NEEDLE/CASE" below an image of little girl with bonnet, holding roses against a floral background. Back cover has a scene of tree, pond, and house in distance. At bottom is "PRINTED IN U.S.A."
Inside at front is an affixed paper packet of needles "SHARP & SON." Five needles remaining. Right side of book interior has printed advertising message with a cartoon image of man driving an early coal truck vehicle. The business is called "UPPER LEHIGH COAL" above image and below image is "SEAMAN & MARTENS" of Atlantic City, NJ.
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.
Needle book of printed heavy paper containing needles, folded to resemble a book. Advertising item lists coal business on inside.
White printed covers have four children in 19th c. clothing on the front and four on the back. They are all involved in sewing activities. Front cover at top reads "SEWING SOCIETY/ NEEDLE BOOK" and at bottom is "Egg shaped eyes/ -And swelled centre."
Verse on back cover reads "In Your Time Of Need-/ It is Needless to look for Any Thing/ BETTER THAN ME." At the bottom is "OUR NEEDLES/ ARE THE BEST."
Inside covers printed in red on brown-colored paper. Paper packet of 1/6 needles affixed to left side; pasted to right side is a swatch of dark loose-weave fabric displaying an arrangement of six variously sized needles (large center on is missing and the 3rd from left is broken).
Near bottom is printed "Manufactured to Order by J.A. COATES & SONS, Limited." and below this is "ORRIN O. WARE./ GENERAL MERCHANDISE."
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.
Paper slightly buckled with darkening along bottom section or interior. Slight wear at edges with minor dogear damage at bottom corners. Short tear at bottom fold of book. Short fold line extends near top at fold of book. Small dent at middle of right edge of back cover. Center needle missing, one at left of center is broken.
Object ID
G.05.15.12
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Needle case of turned hardwood (maple?). Cylindrical body was turned in two pieces and strong chamfers at each blunt ends. Center band of glossy black with three scored lines at midpoint. Ends also painted black with a score line on each. Additional daubs of black paint on unpainted body.
Cylinder is hollow for holding needles. One third of body pulls off like a cap, sliding off a male extension of the 2/3 section. No contents.
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.
Needle case of cast silver is a square-bodied long container that tapers from one end to the other. Made of 2 pieces, the thickest end is the cap that fits on a male extension of the main body. The length of each side of case is constructed of identical cast pieces of silver with a soldered seam still visible.
Decorated with low-relief roses on cap; grapevine and football shape are on main body. Small panels on narrower sides have a slogan in German: "ZUM / ANDENKEN / KEINE ROSEN / OHNE DORNEN" which translates as a warning to not prick one's self with the needle. Literally, it states "Remember (there are) no roses without thorns."
Possibly Germany
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.
Needle case with needle threader, two pieces, a long metal tubular case of bronzed metal. Most of the object is the hollow tubular handle, 2.75" in length, with one rounded end and male-shaped "cap" fitting into opposite end. Handle has bery fine ribs running lengthwise on exterior. Cap end is very short with a smooth exterior. It has one rounded end while opposite end - that fits into handle - is fitted with a fine wire loop used to thread needles. The loop is mounted into red-painted wood which is in turn set into cap's hollow end. To use tool, cap is removed, reversed end for end, and reinserted into hollow handle.
On side of cap is stamped "GERMANY."
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.
Sewing kit, rectangular box shape consists of folding exterior of black-brown leather that wraps around an inner box of rigid leather covered sides that has a flap lid with snap closure. Inner box and outer wrap both covered with the same pliable black-brown leather with pink satin lining. Wrap has stitched compartments inside as well as three graduated size rectangular flaps of fabric for holding pins & needles. Top flap embroidered with pink floral design.
Box inside has empty interior except for a corner loop for holding a 1) thimble of non-ferrous, darkened metal (long oblique crack on side continues along nearly-flat top; flattened shape) and 2) an inexpensive ferrous metal scissors having stamped scrolls on handles.
Inscriptions: Paper label found in case w/ leather residue on reverse says "Shaker Chrome Leather." This was likely the name of the leather finish of this case.
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.
Needle and thread case, heart shape. Folded paper form creating six flat sections appears to be a geometric heart when closed with top strap fitted with snap closure. Exterior covered with dark blue silk with white polka dots. Interior lined with dark blue silk. Efge embroidered with button hole stitch in red.
Interior fitted with six straps of white elastic for holding small cards of thread or pieces of fabric pierced with needles and pins. Currently holds three small color-printed cards of white, blue-green and blue thread as well as one swatch of fabric with needles and pins.
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.
Pin cushion with a compressed drum shape having leather-clad fabric of reddish-brown comprising the top and bottom and a band of light red silk or satin covering the sides. About 23 pins inserted into sides, including three that have globular heads. Undetermined stuffing.
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.
Significant losses to leather, particularly at edges where it joins side band. Side band fabric is faded and worn with pin holes and one larger moth? hole of about 1/16".
Object ID
G.05.15.16
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble of miniature but conventional shape, cast, non-ferrous alloy with silvery plating.
Child-sized thimble has very indistinct indentations on domed top and upper 2/3 of sides and a plain band on lower third. Rim at bottom has a pronounced raised edge. Vertical casting seams on opposite sides. Inscriptions: Each side of plain band has raised lettering with "FOR A/ GOOD GIRL."
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.
Thimble of Mexican sterling silver (925) in classic shape but unusual construction. Sides have a vertical seam and top is capped with a domed and dimpled top. This horizontal joint is then wrapped with a band of silver.
Heavy applied decoration: upper 3/5 of sides have three flowering plants growing out of S-scrolls below and C-scrolls arranged in the lower 2/5. The scrolled decoration is applied like quilled paper. This raised decoration stands out against a black painted body.
Struck along inside of rim is "MEXICO" and "IGU---" over "92-". Other marks unclear. (See Notes) A "2" is struck on outside of body creating a circular depression.
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.
Dark overall with what appears to be black paint. All salient surfaces are worn and there are paint losses. Distortion of body and multiple places where maker has struck lettering or designs.
Object ID
G.05.15.37
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.
Place of Origin
Iguala de la Independencia, Guerrero, Mexico
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble with an open top, made of unknown non-ferrous alloy. German made. Sides are dimpled with tiny hexagons. At top is a very narrow plain band and at bottom is a raised edge. There is no top to cover finger tip.
Inscriptions: On opposite sides of the raised edge at bottom are : "GERMANY" and "9".
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.
Minimal wear; slight darkening/tarnish at upper half of exterior.
Object ID
G.05.15.44
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.
Place of Origin
Germany
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble of "Alpaca Silver" (see Notes). Similar to G.05.15.38, the sides have a vertical seam and are capped by a domed top with a waffle pattern produced by a machine. Upper half of sides have vertical rows of hand-punched dimples. Plain bottom half. Bottom edge has a raised, applied band with 10 hand-set pieces of vari-colored abalone. Solder points quite visible.
Struck inside rim is "-LPACA". Most likely made in Mexico
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.
Dents/distortion at sides as well as significant tarnish.
Object ID
G.05.15.39
Notes
Nickel silver, German silver, Argentan, new silver, nickel brass, albata, alpacca, or electrum is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named for its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver unless plated. The name "German silver" refers to its development by 19th-century German metalworkers in imitation of the Chinese alloy known as paktong (cupronickel). All modern, commercially important nickel silvers (such as those standardized under ASTM B122) contain significant amounts of zinc, and are sometimes considered a subset of brass.
Place of Origin
Mexico
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Embroidery scissors in stork form, chrome plated. Beak of bird forms the blades while bird's body leads down to feet resting on handles of oval shaped rings.
Stamped "73" on inside of each blade. One blade has "HORAWOR-"? / CUTLERY CO. / GERMANY" while other blades has "GARLAND / CUTLERY CO."
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.
Commercial circular card of glass-head straight pins. Two layers of heavy textured buff-colored paper are pressure-molded around a central disk of unknown solid substance. Pins are anchored into this paper card in a radiating configuration. Top of card has a printed circular orange band reading: "40 FINEST GLASS-HEAD PINS" with adjacent "MADE IN GERMANY" in small print. Card has missing pins; 30 steel pins with multicolored spherical glass heads remain.
Reverse side has "Kiker" hand printed in ink.
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.
Darning egg, classic shape, hardwood, painted black. No handle.
No inscriptions or other markings.
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.
Darning egg of hardwood, classic shape, painted black and set on a hollow handle of silver-plated cast metal with the facr of a woman above a cabochon flanked by C-scrolls, all above floral decoration. Both identical halves of handle were joined with a visible seam and plated with silver.
Woman's hair has whiplash curves, denoting Arts Nouveau influence.
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.
Very good condition with minor scratches on egg. Hndle is breaking at seam where attached to egg; secured with wire. Residue of white silver polish in crevices.
Object ID
G.05.15.2
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Mold-blown amber glass darning egg with fitted aluminum handle in two pieces. Handle is hollow and tapers to a rounded tip. Where affixed to glass there is a knurled grip-ring, under which is a large threading (like the base of a light bulb). A second slightly larger handle of aluminum, with conforming shape, nests over the first and screws onto the first handle.
Glass egg is embossed with "S.C. FLEXON & CO. / WILLIAMSTOWN, N.J." and "PAT. PENDING." On opposite side of egg is "Ideal" in cursive.
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.
Spool holder/dispenser, turned wooden round box with fitted, slightly domed lid. Container is pill-box shape with thin walls. Three holes of graduated size marked "40" "50" and "60" under each. Hole insets of white glass or bakelite. Vertical spindles/dowels meant to hold spools on bottom of inside are missing. Bottom covered with a dark brown, pebbled finish paper.
Fitted lid has painted and/or woodburned design (shells and sea flora?). Box has lacquered natural finish.
Large round paper label pasted to underside depicts three circular medals at center. Above the center one is "NEW YORK 1853."
At top of label is "JOHN CLARK JUNR. & CO./ MILE-END/ GLASGOW." At bottom of label is "BEST SIX CORD SPOOL COTTON/ ON BLACK SPOOLS/ THOMAS RUSSELL/ SOLE AGENT/ FOR THE UNITED STATES."
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.
Heavy crazing onlid. Small abrasions overall. Hole inset missing for #40 size hole. Three spindles on interior are broken and missing. Interior dark with oxidation. Paper on bottom has old losses from peeling.
Object ID
G.05.15.5
Place of Origin
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Needle cleaner, painted cut velvet and paper, emery sand within. Rectangular box shape; sides slope in to smaller base. Padded top covered with yellow velvet decorated with painted green flowers. Sides and base covered with a glossy tan paper.
Laid paper label pasted onto bottom has handwritten inscription in ink: "Magdelena Andrews (Ressler) received this needel(sic) cleaner in 1825 when three years of age then in 1895 gave it to her granddaughter Clara Aument."
Compare similar needle cleaner 2002.004
Lancaster County, possibly Colerain Twp.
Provenance
Inscription indicates origin as a gift to 3-yr-old Magdalena Andrews (19 Sep 1822 - 24 Nov 1897), daughter of Joseph and Marie (Mary) Andrews. Magdalena married Martin Boehm Ressler, a farmer in Strasburg. Their daughter Annie married H. Elmer Aument and had a daughter Clara P. Aument (1892 - 1974), unmarried & a clerk in Lancaster City. The needle cleaner was given to granddaughter Clara in 1895, two years before Magdalena's death. Finally given to museum by unknown donor.
Wear, soil and fading overall. Small losses of velvet. Paper is cracked, soiled and worn.
Object ID
G.87.08
Notes
Andrews family were early settlers in Colerain Twp., including a Joseph Andrews - see Ellis & Evans pp. 728, 732, 733. Census 1810-1850 show a Joseph Andrews in Colerain Twp. The 1850 Census shows Joseph & Mary in Strasburg, living next to daughter Magdalena family (Martin Ressler).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
