Name/Title
Elephant Toiletry SetEntry/Object ID
1965.01.02Description
It has a mirror and two perfume bottles. The bottles held in French ormolu design. The "Fancies" rest on a cast iron elephant that stands on a brass plated base. The perfume bottles are "electric blue" and the bottle design is cut glass with cut stoppers with a beveled mirror. It was a gift for the 50th wedding anniversary of Barthalemew and Hannah (Warth) Fleming by Henry and Henrietta Fitzhugh.
Bartholemew and Hannah Fleming threw a splendid party for their 50th wedding anniversary in 1883. Their nearly 200 guests lavished them with gifts including a gold-headed cane, several gold coins, a cashmere dress, and this luxurious French perfume set given by town founders Henry and Henrietta Fitzhugh. The bronze elephant symbolized the exotic opulence Westerners were experiencing in their Indian colonies. The Fitzhughs may have acquired it on their “Grand Tour,” a popular European vacation for American aristocrats. The Flemings were some of their first neighbors and had become very prosperous, operating Ravenswood’s first ferry, wharf boat (floating warehouse), lumber mill and schoolhouse.Acquisition
Accession
1982.12Source or Donor
City of RavenswoodMade/Created
Date made
circa Nov 14, 1883Notes
date is roughly when the set was given to the Flemings, not when it was made.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Set, ToiletNomenclature Sub-Class
Hygiene ObjectsNomenclature Class
Toilet ArticlesNomenclature Category
Category 03: Personal ObjectsRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Fitzhugh Family
