Collections record Beta

Sewing or Spool Box

1938-01-22

Two tiered mahogany wood sewing or spool box. Bottom tier has a drawer with large round wooden handle in center. There is a flat surface with a small rectangular mirror that also extends outward from box just above this large drawer. There is a small round ivory handle to extend the surface outward. Within the bottom drawer were found the following items: two business cards for "A. A. Lord," likely Augustus Aurelian Lord, who studied at the Litchfield Female Academy before becoming a businessman in Litchfield; two newspaper clippings, one dated 1838 and listing news headlines such as the abolition of the slave trade in Portugal and abolition efforts in Washington, D.C.; and a small cloth drawstring pouch containing 12 small clasps on a cardboard backing. The cards and clippings were transferred to the LHS archival collection. There is also a paper label reading "This piece was given to the Litchfield Historical Society by the Misses Mary F. and Kate L. Lord, November 1933." The top tier has holes lined with ivory on each side of box with removable top, which fits over four ivory caps. Inside the top tier was found two small wooden spools (one with string). There are ivory caps at all four corners of each tier (8 total) and in center of box at top is a round pin cushion - elevated off of top of box slightly. Small round feet on bottom of box.

mid-late 19th century

6 1/2" high x 5 1/2" wide x 7" deep

• cotton
• ivory
• mirror
• wood