Spectacle Case Covers

Periodca. 1860 - 1880

MediumPlied silk embroidery thread on punched paper with silk lining and binding

DimensionsEach: 5.25 × 1.38 in. (13.3 × 3.5 cm)

ClassificationsNeedlework

Credit LineGift of Miss Louise Hartshorne, 1939

Object number1382

DescriptionAn unfinished eyeglasses case consisting of two elongated rectangular punched paper panels with clipped corners. The punched paper, with 24 holes per inch, is worked in plied silk thread in dark green, medium green, midnight blue, ice blue, maroon, dull salmon, rose, pale pink, brown, light brown, golden tan, pale gray, and off white. All stitching is done in a simple diagonal stitch. One panel features a large and colorful ovoid floral arrangement, while the second panel incorporates a scroll and rose motif. Both panels are backed with pale pink lightweight silk fabric, bound along all edges with narrow silk tape, and sewn with fine silk sewing thread.
Curatorial RemarksThe unknown maker of these two embroidered panels could have been any of the women living at Locustwood in the latter half of the nineteenth century. As girls, they would have learned sewing and embroidery either from adult female relatives or from a needlework instructress at a local academy, quite possibly completing traditional samplers as part of their education. Young girls who enjoyed sewing and embroidery often continued to hone and use their skills as adults as either a career or as a hobby. Small needlework projects such as a spectacles case were simple to carry around, quick to work, and once completed, became a lovely gift for a friend or relative. These two embroidered panels would have been sewn together along their edges, leaving one of the narrow ends open so the owner could insert her narrow eyeglasses, the fine silk lining protecting the spectacles from scratching. For more information on punched paper embroidery, please see accession number 1998.563.NotesMiss Louise Hartshorne, the donor, was born on 19 October 1866, a daughter of Edward Minturn Hartshorne (1837 - 1886) and Louise Wikoff Hendrickson (1839 - 1876). Brought up in Astoria, Queens, New York, her family returned to Monmouth County in the early 1870s. Edward Hartshorne and his four children made their home at Locustwood after the death of his wife in 1876. That grand house in Middletown village was built in 1830 - 1832 by his late wife's father, Charles J. Hendrickson (1805 - 1889). Locustwood became a residence for single women from the extended Hendrickson / Hartshorne family. These included Mary Matilda Hendrickson (1835 - 1893) and Ella Hendrickson (1846 - 1929), daughters of Charles J. Hendrickson, as well as Julia Wikoff (1838 - 1917), his niece. Miss Louise Hartshorne joined this group at Locustwood, and made it her home until the property was broken up and sold in 1929 after the death of her aunt Ella. The contents of Locustwood were distributed among several heirs, including Miss Louise and her sister Susannah Pelletreau Hartshorne Bennett. The two of them gave many items to the Association, sometimes individually and sometimes together. These spectacles case covers were no doubt worked by one of the women in the Locustwood household. Miss Louise lived with her sister from 1929 to Susannah's death in 1952. After that, she moved in with her niece Mary Bennett Gamwell for the last four years of her long life. Louise Hartshorne died on 20 February 1956 at the age of eighty-nine. She had served as a trustee of the Association since its inception in 1898.

Collections

Samplers & Needlework

ProvenanceBy descent in the extended Hendrickson / Hartshorne family of Locustwood, Middletown village, Monmouth County, to Miss Louise Hartshorne (1866 - 1956).