The pretty original paper inside this box must have lifted the spirits of a young girl in the 19th century as she unpacked her belongings in the unfamiliar surroundings at the big house......
Underneath the brown floral paper is another.....a hexagonal blue spotty design...
A plain simple box with studs, iron lock and iron carrying handles.....nothing fancy....
When I come across pieces of history like this, I can't help but wonder what stories they might tell.
Starting life as a maid began at an early age.....the thought of a 14, 15 or 16 year old, alone, away from home, enduring the hard work of early morning starts, lighting fires, cleaning, washing and ironing then retiring late in the evening to a cold, soulless attic and a rickety iron bed would be quite incomprehensible to girls today.
No thought of work for our modern girls.....
Too pre-occupied with the celeb lifestyle, make-up, Facebook, X factor and permanently attached to a mobile phone......
How things have changed.....could they cope going back in time?
It would be very interesting.....
A working perfume bottle spray, made in France and a long crucufix....
And a sweet nursery print from the 1930's.....more additions for Sunday at Gateshead.
Hope you all have a good weekend, I'm hoping for one!
Julie x
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What a lovely piece of history, that's what I love about old things, wondering who owned them and used them. I love the nursery print as well. Good luck for the fair.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
I love nursery prints from the 20s and 30s, my childhood bedroom in Norfolk had about 7 of them, that had been in the bedrooms of my mother and father when they were little. They have huge sentimental value to me!
ReplyDeleteOohh I love the perfume bottle. I've been trying to find one for here. Great finds. The chest makes me think of Downtown Abbey. Lx
ReplyDeletelovely box...lets just be pleased that however "soft" they appear these days, our girls will never have to cope with the rigours of Victorian "downstairs" life!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your fair
xx
Oh, Julie, you nearly had me in tears with your tale of the poor, sad, lonely maid! Seriously, it must have been very hard for young girls. "Could they cope going back in time?" sounds like a new reality show! Thanks for your help earlier. Have a great weekend! Abby x
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, The box I LOVE! I have one similar, sadly the paper was ripped out though. My Grandad's sister was sent of to be a maid, after both parent's tragically died, (my Great Grand parent's!)he went in an orphanage, it just wouldn't happen now would it.
ReplyDeleteI would reccomend the Annie Sloan paint...I found it nice to work with and a good finish x
I love the box! Although it was hard work for the maids, at least they were housed and fed, back in the days when there was very little opportunity for girls to work.
ReplyDeleteAdore the trunk! So many memories wrapped up in that lining paper...
ReplyDeleteA beautiful text and BEAUTIFUL box! I too would wonder what memories that box holds and stroke it gently in the hope it might speak... :-D
ReplyDeleteDearest Julie, thank you SO much for your kind words - they mean a lot to me.
Love, Helena
some look like me, too
ReplyDeletefantastic on older objects,
that box is beautiful and your
fascinating history.
A hug
° ° SUSY