Bandbox, Made by Hannah Davis, 1832

Summary

Hannah Davis (1784-1863), a Jaffrey, New Hampshire, entrepreneur, created colorful, wallpaper-covered bandboxes. Davis sold many of her bandboxes to the young, migrant women who worked in the textile mills in the surrounding New England villages. Davis's attractive and affordable bandboxes were ideal for the millworkers. The boxes could hold clothing and accessories and they served as useful storage cases when the women traveled home.

Hannah Davis (1784-1863), a Jaffrey, New Hampshire, entrepreneur, created colorful, wallpaper-covered bandboxes. Davis sold many of her bandboxes to the young, migrant women who worked in the textile mills in the surrounding New England villages. Davis's attractive and affordable bandboxes were ideal for the millworkers. The boxes could hold clothing and accessories and they served as useful storage cases when the women traveled home.

Artifact

Bandbox (Container)

Date Made

1832

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2001.0.18.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wood (Plant Material)
Wallpaper
Newspaper

Color

Green
Blue
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 10.75 in

Width: 16.5 in

Length: 13 in

Inscriptions

Maker tag on inside lid: WARRANTED / NAILED / BAND-BOXES / MADE / BY HANNAH DAVIS / JAFFREY, N.H.

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