Summary
Alternative Name(s): Hair Pin Jar, Trinket Box, Pin Box, Casket
Cut glass and silver hair pin box, used by Christina Dorothy McKenzie (1863-1948) to store hair pins on her dressing table at 'Craigilea', Dons Road, Newham (near Hanging Rock, Victoria, purchased 1888 and sold around 2006).
The hair pin box is depicted in the F. Lassetter & Co. Ltd catalogue 'Lassetter's Commercial Review', no. 26, 1911. It was described as a 'cut glass trinket box' with sterling silver top. Its three sizes sold for 8/6, 10/6 and 12/6. Lassetter then sold products via a mail order catalogue and a retail store in Sydney. Other products for the dressing table had similar materials and design, such as a 'toilet box', hat brushes, hair brushes and 'puff boxes'.
Similar 'silver mounted hair pin jars' are also depicted in the 1907 Army & Navy Stores Catalogue, p.1156.
Physical Description
Rectangular glass box, in cut glass style, with a pressed silver metal lid. The glass is 'cut' into a pattern of octagons. The glass base has slightly enlarged lower corners. It is plain on the underside. The lid is not hinged. The centre of the lid has a raised, blank section that could be used for a monogram or initials. In this case it has been crudely scratched with what appears to be an 'M' and horizontal lines. The side of the lid has a pressed number.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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User
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Date Made
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Inscriptions
Number impressed on side of lid: 'RD b07671'.
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Classification
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Category
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Type of item
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References
Australia in the Good Old Days, Facsimile Pages from Lassetter's Commercial Review, no. 26, 1911, Ure Smith, Sydney, 1976, p.78. Yesterday's Shopping: The Army & Navy Stores Catalogue 1907, David & Charles Reprints, Latimer Trend & Co. Ltd, Whitstable, UK, p.1156.
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Keywords
Personal Grooming, Hair Pins, Hair Styles, Containers, Glass Products, Rural Life