Miniature toleware tin box with hinged, domed lid fitted with a hasp at front and a pull ring at top. Red painted ground. Red striping separates upper and lower panels on front: above is a yellow ground with a stylized foliate design of red and green; below are yellow banana-like crescents which continue on box ends.
Strong paint losses overall, cracking and flaking. The left rear hinge is detached, despite the attempt to resolder it. Solder joint at right rear corner of lid is broken and joint separated.
Object ID
G.98.14.3
Place of Origin
Probably Southeastern PA
Credit
Gift of Drs. Irwina and M. Susan Richman, Heritage Center Collection
Tole painted tin box with hinged, domed lid fitted with a hasp at front and a large ring pull at top. Red painted ground overall except underside. Front painted with a stylized design of yellow and black leaves with a pink and white flower at each end. Ends have a "twisted rope" decoration in an X configuration. Lid top has similar twisted design of black and yellow bordering a central foliate design of yellow and black.
Interior solder repairs on hinges and pull ring. Extensive points of paint loss due to chips, scratches and other abrasions. Lid is especially weathered with oxidized paint. Inside strongly oxidized at bottom and sides.
Object ID
G.98.12.5
Place of Origin
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
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 box of softwood constuction covered by German newsprint outside and a coarse blue-green paper inside. Glued over the newsprint are strips of straw of various tones arranged in geometrical designs on domed lid and sides in a technique very similar to marquetry. Newsprint visible on underside as well as where straw pieces are missing. Lid has hinge of coarse linen under laminate. Bent wire hook on lid fits into wire loop on box front.
Provenance
Collected by donor in Lancaster Co. According authority Clarke Hess, these boxes are plentiful, but not usually with newspaper lining. Clarke owns two of these boxes, both with Lancaster German language newsprint, and believes these boxes were made 1820-1840 in PA.
John Tannehill, expert in iron, reports someone told him these boxes were made in prisons.
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
Heavy iron key, reported to be a key to the old Lancaster County jail located at Prince and West King Streets. Key has a round shaft with a swell near the center and several decorative rings and score marks. Paddle-like extension near tip for throwing the tumblers of lock. Handle is shaped like an oval ring.
Good condition overall with pitting over surface. Wear is evident overall, especially along shaft where decorative rings are diminished. Gold paint remains in corners and crevices.
Object ID
G.02.49
Notes
There were two office visits by men presenting a key purported to be the Lancaster Jail key:
1. Walter Hager McGovern, Jr., age 68, a descendant of a Hager who was sheriff of Lancaster Co. File on handle was "XXVI". It was slightly longer and heavier than ours (G.02.49.1).
2. Kevin Perrett of Reading presented a copy of a notarized statement by Rosanna E. Rohrer of Lancaster who sold him the key. She obtained the key from her grandfather Capt. Edward Edgerly, former mayor of the City (1878-80). It was stamped "J.F. REMLY" four times on the handle, was 8 5/8" long with the same configuration at the working end as ours and had knurled rings on shaft.
Yellow earthenware lobe-paneled spittoon decorated with streaked and spattered dark brown manganese under a clear lead glaze. Oval drain hole on side. Underside has impressed maker's name in block letters: "Eagle/ Porcelain Works / Lancaster City, PA / Henry Gast, S.Q. St. "
Figural tobacco jar with container and lid both forming the bust of an Arab, a dark-skinned, bearded man with head dress. Hollow-molded earthenware, painted and clear-glazed overall except for most of face.
Underside has impressed number "7671."
Provenance
Descent to Sarah Muench from family (likely Aunt Alice Potter Fordney, an antiques dealer).
Some small chips on bottom edge and surfaces that meet between lid and base. Larger chip beginning to break at base section's proper left side at top edge. Light crazing. Wear and soil on base; interior has minor soil.
Object ID
G.04.23.14
Credit
Gift of Sarah Muench, Heritage Center Collection, LancasterHistory.org
Octagonal tin tray with straight sides projecting out at about 45 degrees; rolled edge. Center seam. On red-painted ground is a large central decoration of black and yellow fruit and foliate motifs. Tray sides have repeating pattern of loose S-scrolls in yellow. Underside of tray is black. Three inscriptions: "Elizabeth Altland 1862" in German script at one end; name repeats at opposite end in English script with differing date of "1862." At center seam is "Matilda Altland." Also, white tape with "HJK" (donor).
Probably border area between Adams and York Counties.
Decoration attributed to Altland family.
Provenance
Clarke Hess stated (Sept 2011) Altland families concentrated in border area between Adams and York Counties. Some were also gunmakers.
Tinsmith Mark Hammond examined tray on 8-29-05 and observed that early sheets of tin were 10" x 14", necessitating a seam across bottom. "Double size" sheets of 20" x 14" he thinks were available c. 1830s, although these large sheets would have been more expensive.
Touch-up paint decoration evident. Multiple drops of unknown liquid have resulted in small round paint voids on one side of tray. Strong wear on rim. Underside has many scratches and strong wear.
Object ID
G.86.6.2
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Shield-shaped matchsafe of 1/8" thick softwood back and a half cup shaped holder for matches attached to bottom with nails. Holder's exterior is coated with remains of black abrasive used for striking matches. Back board is printed with decorative borders and advertising text in black ink: "Compliments of/ Philip Schum, Son & Co.,/ 150 S. Water St., Lancaster./ Well-known Manufacturers of/ Genuine Coverlets,/ Counterpanes, Blankets,/ Carpets, Stocking Yarn, etc." Along left side of back is "Lancaster Dyeing/ Establishment" and along right side is "Dealers in all kinds/ of COAL." Maker's name printed along bottom: "(S)tanford & Gage(?) (I)thaca, N.Y." Hanging hole at top. No finish on wood.
Provenance
Philip Schum (1814-1880) coverlets date from c. 1856-1880. He expanded to additional merchandise over the years. His family continued the business after his 1880 death.
