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Bandbox (USA)
This is a Bandbox. It is dated ca. 1830 and we acquired it in 1913. Its medium is block-printed on paper, pasteboard support. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.
Please Do Feed the Squirrels
If you’ve been reading Object of the Day blogs you have probably read past articles on bandboxes. Popular in the United States from around 1800-1850, these were made of pasteboard and covered with either a wallpaper or a specially printed bandbox paper. The original intent was to store and transport men’s collar bands, but soon evolved and began serving as hat boxes and general carryalls. The boxes of greatest historical interest were produced in the 1830s, with many containing scenes of historical interest such as innovations in transportation and entertainment venues. So when I came across this box with a pair of squirrels I was perplexed.
A little research revealed that while squirrels are indigenous to North America and were quite predominant across the eastern United States in the early 1800s, urban growth and dwindling trees made squirrels a rarity in American cities by the mid-nineteenth century. On the chance occasion when a squirrel was spotted it quickly attracted crowds of people, fascinated by its antics. Squirrels were said to add beauty and interest to city life, and were seen as a way to help city dwellers reconnect with nature.
Recognizing the importance of green spaces within the urban environment, cities began shipping squirrels into city parks to encourage greater resident participation, and to help beautify and enliven these oases. In 1847 Philadelphia shipped three squirrels to Franklin Square, one of the original public parks in downtown Philadelphia, and provided them with food and shelter. In 1877 New York City imported a few dozen pairs of squirrels to Central Park, supplied them with houses, and even handed out bags of peanuts to visitors to encourage feeding.
It is hard to imagine a place like Central Park without squirrels. Not only do they entertain people but dogs as well. Needless to say these squirrel populations have flourished and today environmentalists have the opposite problem, looking for natural ways to control these populations.
This object was
donated by
Alexander Wilson Drake.
It is credited Gift of Alexander Wilson Drake.
- Sidewall, The Wayside
- machine-printed.
- Gift of Aimée and Rosamond Lamb.
- 1973-2-10
- Sidewall (France)
- block printed on handmade paper.
- Museum purchase from the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition....
- 1994-101-13
- Demitasse Spoon with a Squirrel Spoon
- silver.
- Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
- 1996-56-30
Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Sidewall, Acorn
- applied ground walnut shells on paper backing.
- Gift of Carnegie Fabrics.
- 2013-44-3
- Sidewall, Acorn
- digital print.
- Gift of Francesco Simeti.
- 2000-62-2
- Drawing, Design for a Motif with Tree Trunk, Leaf, and Acorn
- graphite, brush and black gouache on cream paper.
- Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
- 1963-39-875
Its dimensions are
44.5 x 36.5 x 30.5 cm (17 1/2 x 14 3/8 x 12 in.)
Cite this object as
Bandbox (USA); block-printed on paper, pasteboard support; 44.5 x 36.5 x 30.5 cm (17 1/2 x 14 3/8 x 12 in.); Gift of Alexander Wilson Drake; 1913-9-1-a,b
