Kit, Sewing

Description

Steam-bent maple box and lid bands with swallowtails (four on carrier, one on lid) secured with copper tacks. Bottom header is white pine as top probably is but inside of top covered by blue satin and outside by a starburst intarsia design of walnut and cherry. Copper shoe pegs hold top and bottom in place. Carrier fitted with a steam-bent hickory handle to which is attached (with wood screws) a cherry molding sawn to match the curve of the handle. The inside of the box is lined with blue satin and is fitted with a pincushion and strawberry emery in blue velvet, a poplarware needle case, and a molded piece of bee's wax.

Notes

The box was purchased by the museum at auction in 1972. The auction records indicate that the box was acquired from Hancock and was believed to have been made by one of the “last of the clockmakers.” The box probably dates to circa 1850, but later the original header was removed and replaced with the intarsia design, and the handle added, possibly by Brother Ricardo Belden who worked on clocks at Mount Lebanon and Hancock.