Box, Letter

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Stonington

Name/Title

Box, Letter

Entry/Object ID

2009.500.0428

Description

Ornate pine letter box, red and white gingham cloth lining the interior; decals (decoupage) depicting military men, equestrians, cannons, etc. with ladies in carriages. Interior lid has scene of Jesus with Samaritan woman at the well. Textile consultant Susan Jerome dates fashions depicted on exterior to the 1820s. Deborah Norman, antiques expert, observed that one of the scenes has a sign, "WA 5 miles," or "5 miles to Washington, DC," and a vignette with a house (White House?) on fire. Perhaps box was made in the 1820s or later, in memory of the War of 1812, perhaps to contain letters written from a soldier of that era.

Collection

Lighthouse Collection

Made/Created

Date made

1820 - 1840

Place

Location

United States

Notes

Date: early 19th century