Sewing box
Classification:
Date:
1850-1900
Medium:
Wood, tortoise shell, brass, textile, mother-of-pearl, plastic, silver, metal, ivory
Dimensions:
overall (box): 3 3/8 x 8 7/8 x 6 3/4 in. ( 8.6 x 22.5 x 17.1 cm )
Description:
Rectangular wooden sewing box with rounded corners, flat (only slightly curved) hinged lid decorated with boullé work (inlaid marquetry of brass and tortoise shell, stained red), brass medallion with engraved decoration at very center, brass beading around edge of lid and bottom of box, and boulle work escutcheon; inside lid, blue silk gathered at center, fastened with medallion with colored picture of triumphal arch framed by brass edge and blue silk loops; tray covered in blue silk, divided into four compartments at edges and larger compartment at center, containing pair of scissors, needlebook with mother-of-pearl covers and blue felt pages holding 11 needles and 1 pin, mother-of-pearl holder for orange and green thread in the shape of square cross, molded plastic sewing implement in the shape of witch-like figure, mother-of-pearl bobbin and other spinnerette, plastic egg-shaped container, key, and metal thimble; under tray, metal spike wrapped in paper, ivory folding knife with several blades, one silver knife, four silver spoons of various sizes, one silver serving utensil, and one flat silver utensil.
Credit Line:
Gift of Lucille de Luze Foley, 1941
Object Number:
INV.8234a-v
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
39159
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Sewing box
Classification:
Date:
1830-1840
Medium:
Wood, tortoise shell, metal, cardboard, paper, textile, ivory, wax, gilding
Dimensions:
overall (box): 4 1/4 x 8 7/8 x 6 1/2 in. ( 10.8 x 22.5 x 16.5 cm )
Description:
Rectangular wooden sewing box with tortoise shell (mottled brown and yellow) veneer, with hinged lid, concave (Cavetto) molding, and spherical feet; inside lid, blue satin puckered into regular pattern; inside, cardboard tray covered with pale green paper with gilt edges, with large central compartment surrounded by smaller compartments, containing three wooden spools, one with gold thread, mother-of-pearl bobbin, two ivory bobbins, wax pear with gilded leaves, narrow book of chamois leaves with blue cover, six-pointed ivory thread winder with blue thread, colorless pressed glass scent bottle with metal cap, wooden form, metal thimble and ribbon winder in specially cut mounts, red and green stuffed pincushion, narrow mother-of-pearl case with tweezers and three ivory sticks, and 52 orange circles; in central tray, set of metal scissors and knife slotted into loops, and key; inside of box covered in pale green paper with padded bottom covered in pale blue satin.
Credit Line:
Gift of John Babcock Morris, Jr.
Object Number:
1941.746a-cc
Marks:
handwritten: on ivory tag attached to key: "Grand Mother Morris' / Tortoise shell Work Box"
engraved: on plate at center of lid: "M E M"
handwritten: on label glued to bottom: "J. B. MORRIS, JR."
Gallery Label:
This sewing box was owned by Mary Elizabeth Morris (1808-1851) of Yonkers, the wife of William Lewis Morris (1804-1864). It was probably a gift or a souvenir from a trip abroad.
Provenance:
According to accession records, this sewing box was originally owned by Mary Elizabeth (Babcock) Morris (1808-1851), grandmother of the donor.
Mary Elizabeth Babcock (1808-1851), who married William Lewis Morris (1805-1864); to their son John Babcock Morris (b.1839), who married Mary E. Faitoute; to their son John Babcock Morris Jr. (1881-1957), the donor.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1840
eMuseum Object ID:
39117
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Swift
Classification:
Date:
1850-1900
Medium:
Iron
Dimensions:
closed: 18 x 3 x 1 in. ( 45.7 x 7.6 x 2.5 cm )
open: 18 x 3 x 1 x 16 in. ( 45.7 x 7.6 x 2.5 x 40.6 cm )
Description:
Iron swift with cast acanthus leaf and angel head clamp; cast thread holder at top with reeded rim; sheet iron spokes; remnants of green paint throughout.
Object Number:
Z.77[dup]
Gallery Label:
Swifts were used for winding skeins or balls of yarn.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
38983
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Sewing clamp
Classification:
Date:
1800-1850
Medium:
Wood, fabric
Dimensions:
Overall: 7 1/2 x 2 in. ( 19 x 5.1 cm )
Description:
Cylindrical wooden sewing clamp with blue and white cushion on top; wooden screw with drop-shaped handle.
Object Number:
Z.71
Gallery Label:
Clamps, often crowned with a pin cushion, were screwed to the side of a table and gave sewers a free hand with which to cut or pin. During the 1850s, clamps in the form of birds, referred to as "hemming birds," were particularly popular.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
38949
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Rack of spools
Classification:
Date:
1820-1860
Medium:
Wood, iron
Dimensions:
Overall: 8 1/8 x 11 1/8 x 4 in. ( 20.6 x 28.3 x 10.2 cm )
Description:
Wooden rack with three lathe-turned poles with four egg-shaped sections separated by narrow necks; four iron skewers pierce the poles horizontally and support two spools each; set on base.
Object Number:
812b
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1860
eMuseum Object ID:
38948
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Thread winding implement
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1872
Medium:
Wood, iron, steel
Dimensions:
Overall: 19 x 9 3/4 x 8 in. ( 48.3 x 24.8 x 20.3 cm )
Description:
Cast iron and turned wood tabletop spinning wheel; cast iron clamp with wing nut and wheel with curved spokes and turned wheel handle.
Object Number:
INV.14874
Marks:
cast: into wheel rim: "J. BRYCE'S PAT. SEPT. 24, 1872"
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1877
eMuseum Object ID:
38946
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Plaiting machine
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1877
Medium:
Wood, steel, wire
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 1/4 x 18 1/4 x 10 3/4 in. ( 3.2 x 46.4 x 27.3 cm )
Description:
Rectangular base with attached molded edge; wooden strip runs lengthwise along one side with evenly spaced cuts to hold metal tines which are loosely attached to combs with wooden handles lodges at other side.
Credit Line:
Gift of William A. Robbins
Object Number:
1939.409
Marks:
typed: paper label affixed to back: "THE BOSTON PLAITER/Patented Jan 2, 1877/PRICE, $3.0 [?]/DIRECTIONS FOR USE/SIDE PLAITING- Place sections with needles in position; throw the needle to the right, or off the board. Place material to be plaited right si
Gallery Label:
This plaiting machine is equipped with directions for different kinds of plaiting.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1877
eMuseum Object ID:
38944
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Shuttle
Classification:
Date:
1800-1850
Medium:
Wood, iron
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 1 in. ( 17.1 x 3.8 x 2.5 cm )
Description:
Fruitwood boat shuttle with iron quill; ends reinforced with iron wire.
Credit Line:
Gift of Samuel V. Hoffman
Object Number:
N-190
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
38943
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Niddy noddy
Classification:
Date:
1750-1850
Medium:
Wood
Dimensions:
Overall: 18 1/4 in. (46.4 cm)
Description:
Wooden apparatus consisting of a turned columnar shaft with crossbars at each end, offset from each other by 90 degrees; used for winding yarn into skeins.
Credit Line:
Gift of Samuel V. Hoffman
Object Number:
N-206b
Marks:
typed: affixed to object: "82"
Gallery Label:
This niddy noddy was used for winding yarns into skeins.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
38906
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Cards for wool
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1860-1890
Medium:
Wood, metal, leather
Dimensions:
Overall: 9 x 10 x 5/8 in. ( 22.9 x 25.4 x 1.6 cm )
Description:
Two rectangular wooden panels with handles; inner surface of each flat panel is covered with a dense field of small bent wires held by a leather backing.
Credit Line:
Gift of Miss Lizette MacGregor
Object Number:
1964.38ab
Marks:
stamped: on the back of each panel: "PLINY EARLE & BROTHERS/LEICESTER, MASSACHUSETTS/No. 6/COTTON"
Gallery Label:
The carding process is one step in the preparation of fibers such as cotton for spinning.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1890
eMuseum Object ID:
38905
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
















