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.
Black-glazed pottery with wide bottom, narrow neck with molded band, wide flaring mouth. Around inside of lip-heart pattern. Back of body has ornate, double petalled (six each) flower mold. Front has oval medallion, surrounded by scrollwork.
Light tan earthenware sectional spittoon with darker "runny" slip or glaze finish. On bottom is impressed "Eagle Porcelain Works / Lancaster PA / Henry Gast S.Q. ST."
Sheet Iron tray with folded edges connected and supported by internal wire. Originally painted black with enameled floral decoration and border pattern.
Tall, elongated urn shape, gilded except for four panels of paintings. Handle like shapes at side, not connected to neck, molded ending in medallion of womans head. Design on base and acanthus leaf design around bottom of body. Two small pictures around neck each with larger painting below on body. Painting (a) Lazaroni Napolitani che mangiane macaroni. Painting (b) Il Ballo della Tarantella.
Chaffers, William. Marks and Monograms on European and Oriental Pottery and Porcelain. Borden Publishing Company: California, 1946.
Height (in)
25.062
Dimension Details
Base dimension 7 3/8" square x 1 1/2" height
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2023-05-08
Condition Notes
Some wearing of gilding on wooden base where a brass plate had been fastened with screws - plate removed in 2001 by Buchanan Foundation Executive Director, Samuel Slaymaker.
Brass plate stored in an envelope in the paper accession file
Object ID
W.1938.008.001
Notes
Annie M. Herr purchased the vase at Bailey, Banks & Biddle ca. 1865. Her step-daughter Mary Herr donated the vase and attached the brass plate.
Place of Origin
Naples, Italy
Signed Name
Raffaelo Giovine. 1826
Signature Location
bottom right
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
