Box, Spice

Object Name:

Box, Spice

Object ID:

1972.073 a-f

Creator:

Patent Package Co.Manufacturer

Place of Origin:

Newark, NJ

Date:

1858

Description:

Spice cans, set of six, with contents. Cylindrical wooden boxes with removable covers. Tin-plate bands around edge of cover and around bottom edge of body. Body made of thin sheet of wood that overlaps with scarf joint. Shiny finish on wood on outside, raw finish on inside. Bottom piece of wood raw on both sides.

A. Allspice. Height: 2.71", lid diameter 2.7", weight 1.4 oz. Condition good. Length of overlap ~1.1". Thickness of side in single layer: 0.07". Height of bottom section: 2.6". Inside depth: 2.5". Wood bottom piece held in place by metal band that has turned-over edge; edge width 0.08". Metal band soldered at overlap joint, ~0.4". Several holes pierced in side of metal band. Metal held in place by protruding pierced lip on inside. Upward curved black ink stenciled label: "ALLSPICE". "ALLSPICE" label stenciled on top of lid. Metal band on edge of lid that fits around circumference, then turns downward ~0.2" and fits tightly over side of base section. Sheet metal overlaps at solder joint. Overlap 0.43" wide. Appears to be number "8" slightly stamped into wood surface on bottom of box. Apparent marks stamped lightly into bottom surface.

B. Cloves. Height: 2.7", lid diameter 2.7", weight 2.6 oz. Condition good. Scarf joint, ~1" wide. Tin-plate band on bottom with turned-over edge to hold wooden bottom in place. Soldered overlap joint to hold metal band. Band height: ~0.36". Overlap on bottom: 0.08". Black stenciled label curving up slightly: "CLOVES". Similar label on top of lid. Tin-plate band around edge of top, turned over edge and extends 0.1" over top surface. Then undercut, extending downward 0.3". Fits tightly around sides. Soldered overlap joint. Several small holes around it in bottom metal band to hold it in place. Powder in box ~0.8" deep; fine and fairly uniform, medium-dark brown in color. Stamped in center, two concentric sets of letters in circular pattern on bottom of box. On outside of one circle: "PAT AUG [31] 1858". Above and inside "PAT" is "NEW [JERSEY]. More characters around circular stamp: "PACKAGE C" in part of larger circle.

C. Ginger. Height 2.8", lid diameter 2.7", weight 1.35 oz. Condition good. Medium-brown thin strip of wood with overlap joint forming cylinder to create sides. Wall thickness 0.69". Scarf joint overlaps ~1". Tin-plate band on bottom with turned-over edge to hold wooden bottom in place. Soldered overlap joint to hold metal band. Several holes pierced in side of metal band. Metal held in place by protruding pierced lip on inside. Band height: ~0.36". Overlap on bottom: 0.08". Black stenciled label curving up slightly: "GINGER". Same label on cover. Tin-plate band around edge of top, turned over edge, extending 0.1" over top surface. Then undercut, extending downward 0.3". Fits tightly around sides. Soldered overlap joint. Several small holes around it in bottom metal band to hold it in place. Two concentric circles on bottom slightly stamped, outside as before: "PAT [ ] AUG 31 18[58]"; around top edge: "PATENT PACKAGE CO. On top: "NEWARK". On bottom of inner circle: "NEW JERSEY". Stamped information derived from four different stamps.

D. Cinnamon. Height 2.8", diameter 2.7", weight 1.3 oz. Condition good. Medium-brown thin strip of wood with overlap joint forming cylinder to create sides. Wall thickness 0.65". Scarf joint overlaps ~1". Tin-plate band on bottom with turned-over edge to hold wooden bottom in place. Soldered overlap joint to hold metal band. Several holes pierced in side of metal band. Metal held in place by protruding pierced lip on inside. Band height: ~0.36". Overlap on bottom: 0.08". Black stenciled label curving up slightly: "CINNAMON". Same label on cover. Tin-plate band around edge of top, turned over edge and extends 0.1" over top surface. Then undercut, extending downward 0.3". Fits tightly around sides. Soldered overlap joint. Several small holes around it in bottom metal band to hold it in place. Two concentric circles on bottom slightly stamped, outside as before: "PAT [ ] AUG 31 18[58]"; around top edge: "PATENT PACKAGE CO." On top: "NEWARK". On bottom of inner circle: "NEW JERSEY".

E. Pepper. Height 2.7", lid diameter 3.3", weight 2.0 oz. Medium-brown thin strip of wood with overlap joint forming cylinder to create sides. Wall thickness 0.77". Scarf joint overlaps ~1". Tin-plate band on bottom with turned-over edge to hold wooden bottom in place. Soldered overlap joint to hold metal band. Several holes pierced in side of metal band. Metal held in place by protruding pierced lip on inside. Band height: ~0.36". Overlap on bottom: 0.08". Black stenciled label curving up slightly: "PEPPER". Same label on cover. Tin-plate band around edge of top, turned over edge and extends 0.1" over top surface, then undercut, extending downward 0.3". Fits tightly around sides. Soldered overlap joint. Tin plate dark and corroded. Several small holes around it in bottom metal band to hold it in place. Two concentric circles on bottom slightly stamped, outside as before: "PAT [ ] AUG 31 18[58]"; around top edge: "PATENT PACKAGE CO. On top: "NEWARK". On bottom of inner circle: "NEW JERSEY". Stamp lighter than others, everything visible.

F. Mustard. Height 2.8", diameter 2.7", weight 1.4 oz. Medium-brown thin strip of wood with overlap joint forming cylinder to create sides. Wall thickness 0.7". Scarf joint overlaps ~1". Tin-plate band on bottom with turned-over edge to hold wooden bottom in place. Soldered overlap joint to hold metal band. Several holes pierced in side of metal band. Metal held in place by protruding pierced lip on inside. Band height: ~0.36". Overlap on bottom: 0.08". Black stenciled label curving up slightly: "MUSTARD". Same label for cover. Tin-plate band around edge of top, turned over edge and extends 0.1" over top surface. Then undercut, extending downward 0.3". Fits tightly around sides. Soldered overlap joint. Several small holes around it in bottom metal band to hold it in place. Two concentric circles on bottom slightly stamped, outside as before: "PAT [ ] AUG 31 18[58]"; around top edge: "PATENT PACKAGE CO. On top: "NEWARK". On bottom of inner circle: "NEW JERSEY". Wall thickness 0.72".

Material:

Wood
Metal
Tin

Dimensions:

H-2.8 Dia-2.7 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Leonard K. Dodge

Subjects:

Spices