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.
Woven in bunches of five; open, diamond pattern, diagonal weaving. Top two are wrapped bands that are connected by vertical pieces, woven with a wide red ribbon and tied in a bow. Mouth is flared outward, sides are tapered more slightly. Bottom are woven
Provenance
James Buchanan- Hetty Parker- Donor's Grandmother- Mrs. T. Warren Metzger [donor]- Foundation
Crock w/ handle, redware, wheel-turned with applied strap handle.
Bulbous body is about 5" diameter at base and swells upward, curving back in to create a slight shoulder, capped with a thick, nearly vertical lip of about 3/4" high. Very dark brown manganese glaze on interior only.
Stamped "D.SWOPE & SON./ LANCASTER, PA." Father was Daniel (1812-1892) and son was George A. Swope.
"Lancaster Co. Pa. pottery," by Jeannette Lasansky, Magazine Antiques, Sept. 1982, pp. 538-547. Also her working list from 1982 Heritage Center Museum exhibit. 1869 and 1886 Directories. "The Makers of Pottery in Lancaster Co." by M. Luther Heisey, LCH
Height (in)
5.5
Width (in)
8
Diameter (in)
6.75
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-05-16
Condition Notes
Generally sound, but three hairline cracks extend across interior of bottom, two of which extend up the sides for no more than one inch. Several old chips on lip, one is larger and recent (about 2" from handle). Body is very good. Interior glaze has some spalling or chipping, esp. at bottom.
Object ID
P.01.33.1
Notes
Nice example of D. Swope letterhead in D.B. Landis Archive (P.04.14.1) in Metal Cabinet. Copy in this file.
The oldest tobacco shop in the United States, Demuth's was founded in 1770 by Christopher Demuth and remained in the family in the 1980's. With visitors such as Jasper Yeates and James Buchanan, the shop was, and still remains, a staple in the local community.
Redware jar of square body with four sides, each press-molded with the same recessed oval having raised design of C-scrolls, flowers and leaves. Corners of body are chamfered. Round neck supports a wide round mouth with protruding lip. No recess for a lid. Bottom is recessed with an impressed marking: "D. OBER,S./ POTTERY." Dark brown body has lead glaze overall. Three furniture marks on bottom from the firing.
Very small redware jar, squat ovoid shape with small foot ring and flaring rim. Orange-brown body, decorated with random slanted swaths of dark manganese. Tin glazed inside and out except for bottom 1/5 of exterior and bottom.
Unique inscription: "A Bixler" is impressed on bottom with printer's fraktur typeface.
East Earl Twp. or Brecknock Twp. Attributed to Absalom Bixler (1802-1884).
