(8583, 8588)
1 and 2. Helmet of the Portsmouth Veteran Fireman’s Association
America, 1898
Leather, brass, paint
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Jean Sawtelle (2011.016)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This well-used helmet is part of a substantial collection of objects in the Society’s collection associated with the crucial civic service of firefighting, from the early nineteenth century forward, including fire buckets, parade badges, and many printed materials.
(8596)
3. Pitcher commemoratingthe Battle of Moscow
Probably Staffordshire, England,ca. 1820
Pearlware
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Louise Richardson (2014)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This pitcher is decorated on both sides with rather gruesome scenes depicting the battle of Moscow fought in 1812 as part of the French invasion of Russia. “A Russian boor returning from his field sports” is depicted on the side shown here, with French soldiers impaled on his bayonet and hanging from his rifle barrel. A shard matching this pitcher was unearthed in the PortWalk site in Portsmouth, and the noted ceramic historian Louise Richardson located this intact example and generously donated it to the Society.
(8599)
4. Pair of corn-cob pitchers
England or America, 1880s
Majolica
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Miss Annie Appleton Ferree (1586, 1587)
Photo, Ralph Morang
These two pitchers are part of a small group of majolica in the Society’s collection. Majolica (an Italian word for earthenware covered with a white opaque glaze and then enhanced with additional glazes in various colors)was very popular in the last half of the nineteenth century. It was produced in substantial quantities by firms in England, Europe, and America, whose wares recalled the earlier ceramic traditions of the Italian dellaRobbia and Frenchman Bernard du Plessy. Majolica forms, as here, often imitate subjects from the natural world of flora and fauna.
(8603)
5.Wax doll
Probably Portsmouth, ca. 1810
Wax, muslin
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of HuybertiePruyn Hamlin (186)
Photo, Ralph Morang
According to a family tradition, this wax doll was made by Polly, a servant in the household of Edmund and Catherine Whipple Langdon Roberts of Portsmouth in the early nineteenth century. Her Empire-style clothing evokes the fashionable style of that era. It is extraordinary not only for its survival, but because of its association with its possible maker.
(8606)
6. Doll
Probably Portsmouth, possiblyearly 19th century
Wood, muslin; modern cardboard
Portsmouth Historical Society; lent by Mr. Harriman
Photo, Ralph Morang
A modern piece of cardboard attached to this haunting doll records that it was “found between the floor of this [John Paul Jones] house” by a Mr. Harriman. It may well date from the early nineteenth century.
(8612)
7. Doll’s red Windsor chair
New England, 1850–1900
Painted wood
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Marian Vaughn (725)
and
Cat
Probably Pennsylvania, 1850–1900
Chalkware (plaster-of-Paris)
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Mrs. J. Wesley Foye (838)
Photo, Ralph Morang
It is not uncommon for historical societies to have collections of doll furniture, often accepted on the grounds that it will “give children something to see.” This handsome Windsor chair is part of such a collection at the Society, and here it supports a chalkware cat. Chalkware, essentially plaster-of-Paris, was made in large quantities by Italian immigrant craftsmen in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the last half of the nineteenth century. After being cast in molds, the hollow forms, including stags, vases of flowers, cats, and other subjects, were painted in various colors.
(8613)
8. Beaded bag
Mohawk; Canada or New York, mid 19th century
Velvet, glass beads, cotton
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Lois Hills (877)
Photo, Ralph Morang
The decorative floral motifs on this bag, fashioned from glass trade beads, suggest that it was made by the Mohawk people of upstate New York or Canada in the middle of the nineteenth century.
(8616)
9. Charger
China, late 19th century
Enameled copper (cloisonné)
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Miss Edith Harris
Photo, Ralph Morang
Cloisonné, an ancient technique of enameling on a base metal such as copper, was popular for decorative wares in the nineteenth century. This Asian example represents a common form found in many American households.
(8621)
10.
Commemorative plate (presented to Eileen Foley, Citizen of the Year, Market Square Day, 1995)
Salmon Falls Stoneware; Dover, New Hampshire, 1995
Stoneware with cobalt blue decoration
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Eileen Foley (2015.011)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This plate, as indicated by its inscription, was given to the late Eileen Foley (1918-2016) as “Citizen on the Year” on the occasion of the popular annual street festival known as “Market Square Day.” The much-beloved Mayor Foley was a dedicated and tireless public servant who served as mayor of Portsmouth for eight terms and as a N.H. State Senator for seven terms. It was part of a group of materials given to the Society shortly before her death.
(8623)
11. Teapot
England, ca. 1800–1820
Caneware
Gift of Bertha Vaughan (1109)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Caneware is a type of yellow or buff-colored earthenware often associated with the Wedgwood firm. This unmarked teapot in the neoclassical style features applied floral sprigs and scenes of a woman and children on each side.
(8627)
12. Islamic or Persian tile
Probably Syria, 16th-17th century
Fritware with polychrome decorationunder transparent glaze
Portsmouth Historical Society; lent by Miss Pauline Bradford (1497)
Photo, Ralph Morang
An early (and continuing) loan to the Society, this fragment of a tile retains an old label that reads: “This tile is supposed to be over 600 years old. It illustrates the old Phoenician blue and purple so famous in history. Purchased at Damascus in 1872. Loaned by Miss Pauline Bradford.” Its relevance to the history of Portsmouth was not disclosed.
(8629)
13. Sport or driving goggles
Probably America, 1920s
Wire mesh, tinted glass, string
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Mabel Vaughan
Photo, Ralph Morang
Of somewhat dubious utility, these small goggles feature small areas of tinted glass that may have offered some protection against wind and other hazards at the low rates of speed characteristic of their era.
(8633)
14. Frank Jones Ales advertising tray
Vienna Art Plates, Coshocton, Ohio, 1905–15
Lithograph on tin
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Jean Sawtelle (2011.033)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Frank Jones (1832-1932) was a larger than life figure in the history of Portsmouth. Described as “both New Hampshire’s leading industrialist as well as its most powerful politician,” Jones is perhaps best remembered today for the world-famous ales he produced in Portsmouth and exported. Here, in a commercially produced bit of advertising, a jolly monk enjoys a glass of Frank Jones ale. The Jones name and logo are visible on the cask under his elbow at left and on the red sign over his shoulder at right.
(8635)
15. Fan
America or Europe, nineteenth century
Pierced mother of pearl, silver inlay, hand-painted paper
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Helen Langdon (764)
Photo, Ralph Morang
The Historical Society is home to a large collection of highly embellished and ornamental fans, primarily from the nineteenth century. These decorative devices of Asian, European, and American manufacture were highly sought-after objects in the first half of the twentieth century.
(8638)
16.Cannon ball
England, ca. 1775
Iron
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Gerard Amazeen (695)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This cannon ball came with a history of having been “fired from a British ship into the roof of a house in New Castle at the beginning of the Revolution.” No New England historical society collection is complete without such a relic of the Revolution.
(8642)
17. Cane with dog’s head
Probably New England, late 19th century
Wood, steel dagger, ivory
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Charles W. Gray (2013.032)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Thanks largely to the gift of Charles W. Gray, the Society is home to a significant collection of nineteenth-century canes of many types and materials. This example, with its realistic carved dog’s head, conceals a short dagger that can be unsheathed when needed.
(8646)
18. Wine glass
England, ca. 1750
Blown glass
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Miss Susan E. Christie (1443)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Elegant wine glasses such as this example with an inverted-bell shaped bowl and an opaque-twist stem were popular in America in the middle of the eighteenth century.
(8651)
19. Glass (Heritage Collector Seriesof Coca-Cola Company)
Libbey Glass, Toledo, Ohio, 1970s
Glass
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Tom Kaufhald (2012.013)
Photo, Ralph Morang
The American Centennial Exposition of 1876 is often credited with stimulating a revival of interest in early American architecture and decorative arts. The Bicentennial of 1976 also awakened interest in colonial and Revolutionary America. This now “vintage” drinking glass was part of a series issued by Coca-Cola for fast-foot restaurants. One of its three decorative panels features “John Paul Jones.”
(8654)
20.Creamer (“John Paul Jones,First Admiral of the US Navy”)
Old Castle [Co.], England, 1900–1920.
Porcelain with luster decoration
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Richard M. Candee (2016.7)
Photo, Ralph Morang
The John Paul Jones House in Portsmouth, home to this exhibition, is named for the hero of the U.S. Navy who is thought to have rented rooms here during at least one, and possibly, two of his visits to Portsmouth to supervise the building of vessels, including the Ranger. It is believed that he rented rooms from the Widow Purcell during his time here, and his association with this house was a major contributing factor in the effort to save the structure in the late 1910s, when it was threatened with demolition.
(8657)
21.Root club
Penobscot;Maine, 20th century
Probably birch
Portsmouth Historical Society
Photo, Ralph Morang
Often fashioned from a single birch piece, so-called root clubs (sometimes known as war clubs) of this type have been and continue to be produced by members of the Abenaki people of Maine. Although such clubs were made in the pre-contact era, this example probably dates from the twentieth century. The shaping of the roots into pointed ends and the shallow chip carving on the handle are characteristic details found on other examples.
(8660)
22.Bottle case
America or England, mid 19th century
Boxwood, blown glass
Portsmouth Historical Society (1582)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Made to protect medicinal or pleasurable beverages when in transit, such wooden cases with screw-on tops were made in England and America in the nineteenth century, and were almost always fashioned of boxwood.
(8662)
23. Pocket comb
Probably America, late 19th century
Silver, tortoiseshell
Portsmouth Historical Society (792)
Photo, Ralph Morang
Small novelties such as this pocket comb with a silver cover for the tortoiseshell comb, were popular ca. 1900. Here, the silver elements are marked “sterling,” suggesting that this was probably made in America.
(8664)
24.Porringer
Probably Boston, 1750–1800
Pewter
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of D. F. Borthwick (1026)
Photo, Ralph Morang
One of the few examples of pewter in the Society collection, this crown-handled porringer is part of a substantial group of porringers that have an unidentified maker’s mark cast into the back of the handle. Pewter scholars think that this group was made from earlier molds inherited and re-used by Boston pewterers in the second half of the eighteenth century. Pewter, principally an alloy of tin, antimony, and bismuth, was cast in expensive brass molds that were often used from generation to generation, and thus styles in pewter changed more slowly than in silver.
(8668)
25. Match holder
John Haley Bellamy (1836–1914)
Mahogany
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Charlotte V. Mackels(2015.002a)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This small whimsical object represents the work of John Haley Bellamy, a Seacoast wood carver better known for his monumental eagles than for the rooster, basket, and barrel depicted here.
(8670)
26. Weaving shuttle
New England, mid 19th century
Wood (possibly dogwood), ivory
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Mrs. James Dow (895)
Photo, Ralph Morang
This weaving shuttle has been embellished with ivory inserts featuring the initials W and B, perhaps for its owner. Many such shuttles were fashioned from dogwood, a tight-grained and durable wood.
(8672)
27. Silk-work basket of flowers (“Flower Dome”)
France, ca. 1852
Silk flowers, composition and other ornaments,
wooden base, porcelain vase, glass dome
Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Edith E. Payne (919)
Photo, Ralph Morang
By tradition, acquired in France in about 1852 byCapt. Samuel Billings of Portsmouth. It came with the following story: “Captain Samuel Billings of Portsmouth . . . was the first American sea captain to sail up the uncharted river Seine in France. [He] made the trip in the challenge that it was too dangerous a trip to undertake. However, he successfully sailed his barque, the Mary-Annah, up to the city of Rouen, arriving there on April 4, 1852. There he was given a great ovation, honored with a large bouquet and many gifts bestowed upon him by the citizens of the city. Among the gifts was this bouquet of flowers which was to be given to his 2 daughters for whom the barque was named.”
“Flower domes” containing elaborate bouquets of flowers fashioned from shells, silk, and other materials, were a popular form of household decoration in the middle of the nineteenth century, displayed on mantels and étagères. The Society also owns a second example, fashioned of shells and said to have been brought home (carefully) by Portsmouth residents after a visit to Acapulco, Mexico.