Stiletto or bodkin of turned bone, fitted in a conical basket-weave holder or sheath.
Stiletto (A) has ball-shaped head with hole in it, then narrowing to a neck with additional swells and narrowing until it tapers from midsection down to a sharp point.
Holder (B) is an elongated cone made with a brown reed-like material woven onto ribs like a basket. Handle is a twisted form of the same material, shaped in a double loop configuration.
It is assumed that this pair of otems were originally dwsigned for each other.
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.
Bodkin of bone is a flattened needle with one rounded end and one end with a blunt point. Slot of 5/8" in length is cut into body near rounded end. This tool is used for threading ribbons, etc. through casings, fabric tubes or loops.
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 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 32 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 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." Donor's sticker with "Kiker" is at bottom corner.
Inside covers printed in red on brown-colored paper. Paper packet of 3/9 needles affixed to left side; pasted to right side is a swatch of dark loose-weave fabric displaying an arrangement of seven variously sized needles.
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.
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.
Miniature cruet set of four bottles and caddy, clear glass and non-ferrous base metal.
Four tall vial-like, clear glass bottles, one with its metal cap. Bottles appear to be mold-blown, cylindrical and have a pronounced ring extending outward at mid point, a long narrowing neck and flared lip. Bottles fit into a rotating metal carrying ring at midpoint of caddy, suspended by their glass protruding ring. An oval ring handle on stem with threaded end fits into female-threaded pedestal base which flares out toward bottom.
A raised letter "W" appears twice underneath base.
Provenance
Descent to Sarah Muench from family, perhaps her Aunt Alice Potter Fordney, an antiques dealer.
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.
Six-piece sewing kit, composed of a clam-shell-type, blue leather case with stamped gold trim. Case has eight sides and lid is hinged with spring activated clasp. Interior has ivory-colored velvet in bottom section and satin on lid. Bottom section has recessed cavities that conform to the shape of each of the following sewing equipment:
1. Scissors, polished steel blades, gold-plated non-ferrous metal handles, marked "NOGENT" and "34" on blades. Gold finish is worn. Length: 4" Perhaps made by Nogent in France
2. Thimble, gold finish, bottom 1/3 of sides has diamond shapes on a ground of wavy lines. Unmarked.
3. Awl or stiletto, round steel shaft set onto handle of gold-plated non-ferrous metal. Gold finish worn. Length: 3.75"
4. Crochet-type hook, round steel shaft w/ minute hook at end, set onto handle as above. Gold finish worn. Length: 3.875"
5. Flat needle/bodkin for threading ribbon, etc.; slot and adjacent hole at one end and near point at other. Gold finish worn on non-ferrous metal. Fits into elastic loop in case. Length: 2.25"
6. Needle case of gold-plated non-ferrous metal, conventional shape. Main body has 0.5"-long fitted cap. The flattened sides are stamped with a pattern of wavy lines. Length: 2" Width: 0.25" Thickness: 0.125"
Inscriptions: No marking noted on anything except for scissors, "NOGENT." Internet search reveals Nogent as a cutlery factory near the village of Nogent in NW France. Although this factory seems to have begun in 1923, the area around Nogent has been a "cradle of cutlery making" for three centuries.
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.
Tin candle mold with 2 rows of 4, mounted on a raised rectangular base. The 8 molds incline toward each other at their tips and are soldered together for strength. Wire finger ring attached to one side of base and large looped strap handle at other side.
Provenance
Provenance before donor is unknown. Transferred from Heritage Center, December 2012.
Wrought iron can opener fashioned from .25" thick flat iron bar. Long flat handle ends with a scrolled-under terminal; other end is a bifurcated functional head with curving fulcrum and sharpened blade.
Stamped on top surface of handle in large letters is "P.E.WILL." See Notes
Minor pitting and corrosion, but surface is generally smooth and polished. Blad has considerable wear.
Object ID
P.00.43.1
Notes
MG-332, Folder 1 has materials about P.E. Will, noting he erected a shop in 1892. His obituary states "Phares E. Will died at his home in Penryn on Monday am aged 65 yres. 5 mos. and 1 day. He was ill with pneumonia for his last 2 weeks. He was a blacksmith for more than 40 years.
Will was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Penryn. He is survived by wife Sarah Jane Williams Will, also his father Elias P. Will and brother Thaddeus of Lititz. He was buried in Penryn cemetery.
There is an image of the blacksmith shop & residence in Folder #1, insert #49.
Findagrave gives bio: "P. E. Will operated a blacksmith shop in Penryn, PA. He was renowned In Lancaster County as one of the best craftsman around the area. He made hand-forged tools such as meat forks, cooking turners, ladles, tobacco shears, and tobacco spears. His tools were stamped "P E Will" and are highly sought at auctions.
Mr. Will also sold Studebaker wagons from his shop. His shop was clean and orderly. At his shop all the race horses which ran on the Speedwell track were shod. Will also shod horses at Mount Gretna for the National Guard who camped there.
He had a rack/cage for shoeing unruly horses which he invented. He used a special foot rest for the horses instead of holding the horses hoof on his knee. In a 1926 interview, Mr. Will stated that he had placed more than 200,000 shoes on horses during his career as a blacksmith.
Mr. Will was also known as an author and local historian. He was a contributer of Penryn news."
Family links:
Parents:
Elias P Will (1846 - 1936)
Annie B Eberly Will (1851 - 1927)
Place of Origin
Penryn, Penn Twp.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Flat tin 6-pointed star pattern or template with1/2" diameter hole at center. Used for creating raised, sculpted plushwork (see Amish Arts by Patricia Herr, pp. 44-55).
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.
Folding rule of boxwood with brass hinges and ends. One-foot rule has a brass hinge every three inches, resulting in a compact unit of four wood lengths. Both sides of rule are calibrated with inches; both read from right to left.
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.
Finely crafted miniature copper teakettle with tinned interior. Classic late 18th-early 19th c. kettle shape with round body, goose neck spout, hinged arched handle and fitted domed lid with globular knop.
Keyed/dovetail joint at back side. Handle attached to riveted tabs with elongated tomahawk bases. Fits in oval tin box G.00.03.2.
Lancaster County or region
Provenance
Ownership by donor's father, William A. Heitshu. Donor believes she was told teakettle was a salesman's sample.
