Match stick dome top jewelry chest made by inmates of Lancaster County Prison, purportedly in the1950's, for Helen, the wife of guard Harry J. Shaub (1899-1980).
Constructed of 1/4" plywood, with some solid wood & cardboard. Exterior covered with a layer of matchsticks glued on in geometrical patterns similar to marquetry. Dark brown-stained matchsticks create a diamond on the hinged lift lid and all four sides. Inside top diamond is "HELEN" with letters conforming to diamond shape.
Glued-up matchstick form a handle at lid front as well as 3/4-length drawer front below. Built out at base with matchsticks to create a skirting as well as 4 protruding feet. Interiors of both the drawer and th top compartment under lid have padded upholstery done with a yellow satin-woven fabric.
Provenance
Harry J. Shaub was a Lancaster Co. Prison Guard according to City Directories through 1950. The 1952 Directory, and henceforth, lists him as a maintenance man or mechanic (at the US Naval Base Bainbridge, Md). Thus, this chest would NOT have been made later than c. 1950, perhaps as a departing gift for Harry's wife Helen.
Repairs needed. Overall soil, especially interior upholstery; fabric torn at left front on top compartment; broken retaining ribbon; missing cover on underside of lid. Missing matchstick base and rear proper right foot.
Dogtags reading, "Ripple, Paul / 13202280 / Harold Ripple / 152 Wilson Dr / Lancaster, PA"
Metal chain (formerly gold in color , now fading) with small decorated plate: above the possible medical corps insignia (caduceus underneath a large letter A) the plate reads "2nd Lt. PH Ripple" and below, "MA-AUS"
Badge. Blue trim, golden underlay, a blue oillamp[?] crossed by blue and gold sword.
Badge. Blue and white with blue three-pointed symbol in center.
Badges. Similar V-shaped badges. One with black trim, olive green center, more frayed (perhaps older). The other has a navy blue faded trim with a beige center and is in excellent condition.
Hand-carved pipe. Bowl is carved from wood in the shape of a railroad engine and painted red. On bottom is engraved, "1951" on the side of car is engraved, "I. Bear RR"
Green floral rim features several Mount Joy buildings (in order, clockwise from bottom left: "Old Fire House," "Red Lion Hotel," "first industry - 1829," "Cedar Hill Female Seminary- 1839, " "Old Post Office." Bottom of rim reads, "A Voyage through the century." Center reads "Mount Joy Centennial / May 26 - May 30 / 1851 - 1951 / Good Ship Mount Joy" around an image of a many-sailed ship crossing an ocean.
Back readsThis plate commemorates the incorporation / of the borough of Mount Joy in 1851. It is re- / produced on the 100th anniversary in 1951. / Prior to 1851, six small villages were in / existence, Mountjoy (Rohrerstown), Richland, / Mountjoy Continued (Wallickstown), Mountjoy Extended, Richland and Mountjoy Connected, and Richland Extension, / The name of Mount Joy was the name of a seventeenth century Irish Ship."
Hand towel, white with Herringbone weave. Images in blue, red, and yellow printed on towel. These images include, in center, a man in suit carrying drinks and with dice falling from his pockets. The face of a young woman apears in a window. The scene is surrounded by a border of martini glasses and dice. The figures are presumably African American people with their blue (dark) skin and caricatured features.
Pennsylvania Auxiliary Police Minuteman Uniform consisting of (a)pair of white cotton gloves with braided ornament on back; (b)gray cotton shirt; (c)wool slacks with black trim, (f)holster and belt made of black leather, (e)clip-on tie, set of 9 pieces of insignia all used by Harry Hogan
a: White cotton finger gloves. Small or medium for a man--they would stretch.
b: Shirt (15" collar); Gray, 100% combed cotton long-sleeved button down shirt with 2 front pockets with single button tab and two shoulder tabs with single buttons. Badge buttress above left chest pocket. Upper left sleeve, sewn on is blue and yellow keystone with "PENNA MINUTE MEN" with PA state seal embroidered on it. Sewn on below: "Aux Police" patch. Ink stamp on front lower left: 695 SSBT 279. Black clip-on tie (18" long; 1.75" wide).
571 36 16 (with '2' superscript)
c. Uniform slacks, gray wool with 1-in. black strip sewn down the length of both outside legs. 2 front diagonal pockets. Right read has 1 pocket with a 6" opening (5.25" deep) and a narrow second pocket below it with a 3/25" opening (6.5"). Left rear has a 6"x5.25" pocket. Pocket linings are a durable and strong fabric (white/off-white in color). 8" front zipper has metal teeth. Label says: "United States Testing Co., Inc."
d. 8 extra decals to be sewn on. Blue and gold: 3 keystones with PA state seal and "Penna Minute Men". 2 strips : "Aux. Police." 3 navy & Army green chevrons with 2 stripes/v-shaped.
e. Black leather belt and gun holster. 39.5" long x 2" wide leather belt has removable buckle, snap cover container, and piece to hold ten bullets and swivel revolver hold with strap that snaps closed. This piece has 2 metal 'D' loops at the top.
