Collections record Beta

Collection Record Detail

Object Name

Work Box

Object Number

1938-01-37

Description

Oblong work box with lobate curved sides and 1/4" base. Black japanned work finish. Front has gilt and painted flowers with mother of pearl inlay for buds. Star shaped silvered key plate. Top inlaid with random chips of mother of pearl with gilt circles between. Crude square painting of flowers with round corner, pale green background with spray of dark flowers. Interior top - red and gilt paper lined sides, mock tortoise shell frames to mirror having C & S scroll cut out. In bottom - work tray lifts out. Tray has gold paper with gilt dots on bottom. Sides and interior covered with gold and blue printed pink paper embossed to give texture. Two brass handles on side. Six compartments open in front from red plush fitted covers to five compartments with smaller open ones in center. Ivory knobs on two tops. Interior bottom lined with gilt and red printed paper.

Provenance

The Litchfield Manufacturing Company was founded in 1850 by Dr. Josiah G. Beckwith, a local physician and druggist who operated a medical practice and pharmacy on South Street in the building currently occupied by the Post Office. After founding the company Beckwith acquired the property on South Street along the Bantam River that a decade earlier had been used first by Wadsworth, Lounsbury, and Turner, and later by Julius Peck & Co., to manufacture shelf clocks. At the time Beckwith acquired the building it measured 80 feet by 50 feet and was three stories high. In 1851 the Litchfield Manufacturing Company was incorporated and several investors, including circus owner P.T. Barnum, joined the Board of Directors. The company manufactured papier-mache goods such as small tables, card cases, fire screens, portfolios, small boxes, vases and clock cases as well as metal nails, ornamental hinges and clasps for everything from trunks to daguerreotype cases. Trained papier-mache workers from England and Germany were brought to Litchfield to work for the Company and train local men and women in the technique. At its peak, the factory employed over 50 people. The success was short lived however. In 1854, P.T. Barnum persuaded the board to move the factory to East Bridgeport. A year later, due to financial difficulties, the factory closed.