Miniature reeded sewing basket of rectangular form but bottom rounding in and down to a stepped oval foot ring anchored onto a solid softwood oval base. Top has high arched handle rising above a strut lashed across center from rim to rim. Hinged to this strut are two lift lids furnished with ring closures at ends. Lift lids have light cardboard glued to undersides, one missing.
Tops of lids are decorated with applied balls of wool onto silk leaves or flowers, now nearly unrecognizable.
Decoration on lids is very worn with one detached wool ball kept in basket with other small sheets of wool batting. Inside bottom of basket has residue and remains of fabric and paper. Cardboard liner under one lift lid is missing. Ring missing on one lid where needed for closure.
Large pincushion, top fabric is a light brown velvet; bottom fabric is a stiff, glazed red fabric. The outline of the cushion is a scalloped edge to which has been added a protruding, stiff rust-colored fabric. Beaded fringes further adorn this edging.
The greatest effort is spent on decorating the top with a garish assortment of various types of clear bead roping and massed up "flowers" with added colored beads of green, red, amber, and blue. Snaking beadwork running across the center is a stem or vine terminating with beaded leaves. Additional beaded leaves are clustered around the scalloped perimeter of top. Various pins inserted into top, including one with a clear spiraling glass head and two with berry shaped heads of twisted red yarns and gold threads. Stuffing is quite heavy and dense.
Provenance
The pincushion was owned by the donor's grandmother.
Floral applique block quilt of cotton. Sixteen 15" floral applique blocks of flowers on white ground. Flowers have blooms of various greens & browns appliqued together to create two different designs that alternate block by block. Flowers branch out in curves with leaves of black & green print and intricate flower buds.
Sashing, 2.5" wide, separates blocks with white strips edged with thin green strips. Inner border of 1-inch wide brown strip encloses blocks. In large outer border of white with mitered corners are graceful grapevines of grape clusters, leaves of the same green & black print as leaves in centerfield,and tendrils of chain stitch embroidery. Wide red binding w/ mitered corners wraps to back and is hand stitched. White cotton back of four panels. Thin cotton batting.
Hand-quilted with a grid in centerfield except for bold cable that is superimposed on sashing and brown inner border. Outer border has slanting parallel lines. One distinctive round flower 2.5" in diameter with 10 petals is found in outer border near one corner, near edge.
Card originally sewn on quilt (handwritten in ink): "Quilt made by Rebecca Rynard of Line Lexington Penna. 90 yrs ago - it has taken many 1st prizes at the State Fairs in both Montgomery Co & Bucks Co - Penna." Below is "Property of M.D.S. Elwell 524 Cedar Lane Swarthmore(?)"
Provenance
Wheatland record states history of ownership is unknown between maker and donor. Research shows most Rynards lived in Cumberland Co.
Soil and multiple scattered stains overall, esp. on back. Significant holes on front. Wide binding is worn at edge and fraying. Many seams deteriorating and separated.
Bisque fired vase with figurine. Unglazed, white bodied ceramic vase with figure. Colored with with pearlescent paint and gold enamel. The bowl of the case is shell like with floiate scrolls on the rim and a rough rock-like component oppposite the figure. The figure is a boy in romantic costume of white shirt, blue waistcoat or vest, pink cravat or tie, salmon breeches, white stockings, gold shoes, and large straw hat with blue bow. On bottom is number 51 in red and number 5 in varnish.
Bisque fired white ceramic bowl-shaped vase with figure of a girl. Colored with pastel, pearlescent paint and gold enamel. Bowl is ornate, shel shped with foliate scrolls on rim and rock-like form opposite of figure. Base is blue, rock-like in texture with foliate scrolls. Girls is in romanticiized dress of white top with full sleeves, green skirt with pink underskirt or flounce, gold shoes, salmon sash, pink vest and large tan hat with salmon feather. Number 40 or Y O painted in gold and number 5 in varnish on bottom.
Small lift-lid desk of walnut, Aesthetic Style, has green baize inset into lid's center panel. Gallery at top rear is missing, leaving only its dark outline and screw holes. Upper section of desk overhangs base, with applied decorative raised panels at front and sides faced with burl veneer. Desk interior has pigeon holes at rear.
Base has 3 drawers and pull-out shelf at right side, and double panel construction on 3 other sides. Base has applied decoration of shaped brackets at top (under overhang) and bottom of sides of front. Applied turned bosses and bulls-eyes. Sits on 4 molded low block feet at corners.
Provenance
Desk reportedly belonged to James Buchanan Henry II (1875-1961).
Desk top finish worn and marred with holes and stains. Baize worn with holes and edge losses. Desk lid warped.
Back right corner of desk top broken off and missing. Top drawer front missing applied edge molding at left side. Left side near front has ten-inch-long crack. Right rear block foot mostly missing, despite nails indicating attempted repair.
Object ID
2013.008.018
Credit
Gift of the Family of Eleanor N. Henry (John D. McNeill Jr., Mary Catherine Henry West, James Buchanan Henry IV, and Elizabeth Henry Richardson)
All cotton quilt, on point blocks have pieced 8-point star blocks that alternate with blocks of a woven pattern blue with a grid of white lines. Stars are small scale floral print of pink with tiny white flowers. White ground is a very loose weave composed of multiple pieced panels. White outside border is 11" wide on one end and 7.5" wide on the other three.
Hand-quilted with white thread in a small scale grid aligned with blocks.
Back is a loose weave arranged with wide strips of white alternating with strips of a large, bold red print of branches and large flowers. Six white strips are 8.5 - 9" wide; 5 printed strips and 7.5" wide. Back is brought forward to front to created binding. Thin battiing.
Inscription: On front quilt corner is "HM6? handwritten in ink.
Overall fading and deterioration, especially in pink floral print which is consistently riddled with small holes where white flowers have deteriorated. Some small holes in blue fabric, 1/8"-1/4" big with fraying. General soil, scattered stains and acid burn, especially at fold lines and borders, as well as sections of back..
Three gold coins. #1. $5.00 piece. Front has Indian head with 13 stars, 'Liberty', '1912' around edge. Reverse side has 'United States of America', 'Five Dollars' around edge. Eagle, 'E. Pluribus Unum', 'In God We Trust'.
History of ownership is unknown. Coins were found inside the Shreiner tallcase clock at Wheatland that was donated by the Cameron E. Lane Estate in 1965.
Part of a four-piece dress. Jacket: Short sleeves with cuffs. Dark blue velvet fully-lined in cream-colored silk with batting between two fabrics. 2 small leather-lined pockets on left inside. Hand-stiched strip on linging at lower edge right front. 3 hooks and thread-covered eyes at waist front. Parallel lines of sticthing on body at sleeve openings and at waist and on 3 bands around neck as well as front and silk at opening. Blue velvet strips have buttons in back and at tabbed ends on front. 4 tabbed front closure peices have buttons. Machine and hand-stitching.
Figurine of a family; a bearded father wearing blue robe seated on upholstered arm chair with scroll carved arm rests. Father holding the hand of infant held by mother wearing bustled bodice and skirt.
