Thimble of sterling silver (925) in classic shape, marked by Simons Bros. Co.
Thimble sides have a honeycomb pattern of hexagons on upper half while lower half is divided into two large bands; a plain band above and band with a Greek Key motif below. Slightly domed top has conventional indentations.
Inscription: Size "12" is stamped on plain band. The Simons Bros. Co. trademark is clearly struck on inside of top, with old English "S" on a shield, surrounded by "STERLING SILVER". This mark was used since c. 1880, but was only registered in 1890. This Phila. company is still in business today. Thimble is #152 in Simons catalog.
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 except for some dark blotches of tarnish.
Object ID
G.05.15.40
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
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble of sterling silver (925) in classic shape, marked by Simons Bros. Co.
Thimble has a wide band at lower half of sides, decorated with a raised, repeating pattern of putti holding flowering plants between them; also stamped foliate decoration. Upper half of sides have a honeycomb pattern of hexagons while domed top has conventional indentations.
Inscriptions: Marked within putti band is "PAT.NOV.21,05." Simons mark is underneath top with a smaller version of the shield. "STERLING" and "10" are above shield. Shown in Simons catalog as #146.
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.
Extreme tarnish, scratches on lower band along with strong wear on all salient point of putti design. Needle scratches on interior as well.
Object ID
G.05.15.41
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
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble of sterling silver (925) in classic shape, marked by Simons Bros. Co. Sides have a honeycomb pattern of hexagons on upper half and lower half is decorated with three band of different widths having narrow, vertical faceting. Two beaded rings separate these three bands. The domed top has conventional indentations.
Inscriptions: Marked "10" on the wide lower band. Struck with Simon Bros. mark underneath top: old English "S" on a shield, surrounded by "STERLING SILVER."
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.
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
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Thimble of sterling silver (925) in classic shape, marked by Simons Bros. Co.
On lower 1/3 of thimble sides is a wide plain band. The remainder of sides is a foliate-inspired pattern in bas-relief, with the tip having a similar pattern.
Inscriptions: Marked "10" on plain band. Simons mark is underneath top; an old English "S" within a shield, surrounded by "STERLING SILVER."
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, significant tarnish in crevices, etc.
Object ID
G.05.15.43
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
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Paperweight or keepsake of carved white marble has a carved reclining sheep, done in bas relief, is lying on a narrow ledge on an inch-thick slab of marble resembling a curved top tombstone. Incised name in block letters below the sheep: "E. M. Howell." Bottom edge below name is relieved with a carved cupid's bow design.
Attributed to Charles M. Howell (4-24-1814 to 4-10-1903).
Provenance
Donor inherited two carvings from her Aunt Annie and Aunt Kate Willson. They were pupils in Charles M. Howell's Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church and he passed them out as Christmas gifts. Great grandson Dick Witmer states E.M. Howell is certainly Howell's wife Elizabeth Michael who Charles married in 1841. She died 10-22-1877.
Howell was an important in business and civic affairs. He operated a marble yard on N. Queen St. in Lancaster. Other carvings by Howell's employee,
Augustus Beck, are extant. Dick's brother Bob Witmer removed these large carvings (of lions?) that had been at the corner of a Howell residence at East Chestnut and Cherry Sts. to his home outside the city. Additional small carvings are reportedly owned by Lancaster collector Gene Charles.
Paperweight or keepsake of carved white marble has a 3-D carved reclining sheep reclining on a half-inch-thick rectangular base, secured with a screw on underside. Base has chamfered top edges. Thin sheet of red rubber glued to underside of base.
Attributed to Charles M. Howell (4-24-1814 to 4-10-1903).
Provenance
Donor inherited two carvings from her Aunt Annie and Aunt Kate Willson. They were pupils in Charles M. Howell's Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church and he passed them out as Christmas gifts.
Howell was an important in business and civic affairs. He operated a marble yard on N. Queen St. in Lancaster. Other carvings by Howell's employee,
Augustus Beck, are extant. Dick's brother Bob Witmer removed these large carvings (of lions?) that had been at the corner of a Howell residence at East Chestnut and Cherry Sts. to his home outside the city. Additional small carvings are reportedly owned by Lancaster collector Gene Charles.
