Case, Needle

Object Name:

Case, Needle

Object ID:

1945.016.03

Creator:

Parker, NathanielJeweler; Peirce, John (1788-1846); Parker & PeirceJeweler

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

circa 1809

Description:

Needle Case. Attributed to Parker & Peirce, Boston, MA, 1809. Silver; two pieces, including a cap and body. Cross-section of case is oval with pointed ends. Cap and body are fluted their entire lengths. Inscribed on end of cap in upper and lower case script letters: "MMitchel." Inscribed on collar of body in upper and lower case script letters: "MrsRowson's / Academy / 1809. / Excellence / in / Embroidery" ["rs," of Mrs, are raised and have two dots underneath]. Stamped on bottom of body, "[P&]P", in upper case Roman letters, within an oval mark.
OBJECT REGISTER:
Body -- 2.5" x 0.437 "x 0.187", 0.15 oz, 0.14 troy oz, 4.21 grams.
Cap -- 1" x 0.5" x 0.25", 0.06 oz, 0.06 troy oz, 1.78 grams.

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

W-0.5 L-3.125 D-0.25 inches

Provenance:

In Jane Giffen's 1970 article about Mrs. Rowson's Academy, the author suggests that Miss Mitchell may have been awarded this silver needlecase for her embroidery of "The Landing of Columbus in America" (1945.016.01).

The collection of needlework, drawings, and related objects owned by Margaret Mitchell was left to Jeannie M. Bradford (1844-1895) of Francestown, NH, by her mother, Jane Bradford (1819-1889), the daughter of Margaret Mitchell. Jeannie Bradford bequeathed the collection to her friend, Mary F. Gilchrist (1842-1903). Mary Gilchrist bequeathed the collection to her nephew, Harry W. Gilchrist (1868-1937) of Meredith, NH. Mattie Estella Bean Gilchrist (1865-1954), the wife of the Harry W. Gilchrist donated the collection to the New Hampshire Historical Society on July 13, 1945.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mattie Estella Bean Gilchrist, in Memory of Harry Wilbur Gilchrist

People:

Mitchell, Margaret (1784-1867), Rowson, Susanna (1764-1824), Bradford, Jane (1819-1889), Bradford, Jeannie M. (1844-1895), Gilchrist, Mary F. (1842-1903), Gilchrist, Harry W. (1868-1937), Gilchrist, Mattie Estella Bean (1865-1954)