Item is cream, wool blanket, with satin trim. The tag identifies it as a “Witnedown”, having been produced in Witney, England. Witney became a popular location for the manufacturing and distribution of blankets and other wool products, beginning in the 17th century.
Wooden planes have been used for centuries by carpenters as a tool to remove thin pieces of wood and create decorative elements. They typically consist of a blade, sometimes called an iron, encased in a piece of wood and held in place by a wedge. This item is an example of a rabbet plane, sometimes spelled rebate, where a flat blade protrudes by only a very small amount.
Wooden planes have been used for centuries by carpenters as a tool to remove thin pieces of wood and create decorative elements. They typically consist of a blade, sometimes called an iron, encased in a piece of wood and held in place by a wedge. This item is an example of a moulding plane, and features two blades. Sometimes called a complex plane, the shape of the blades creates a more decorative finish on the edges of furniture or architecture. It is also referred to as a dedicated plane because it is only capable of producing one kind of moulding profile.
Item is a pewter and ceramic warming dish with a domed cover. It features a lower compartment that would have been filled with boiling water to help keep the food on the dish warm for longer.
The item is a reproduction of a typical 19th century stick broom, sometimes referred to as a besom broom. Brooms like this example fell out of favour in the 1800s due to the popularity of broomcorn as a fiber for broom making. The date of the reproduction is unknown.
The item is a circular pin with a frame of twisted brass. It holds a tintype photograph of an elderly woman wearing a broad brimmed hat. Sometimes referred to as mourning pins, jewelry that included photographs became popular in the Victorian era as a means to cherish loved ones. Photographs were incorporated into pins, pendants, lockets and cufflinks. The pin was donated in a small circular plastic container.
The item is a pair of traditional snowshoes with extremely fine rawhide webbing. Indigenous communities across Canada historically made and used snowshoes to travel on foot during the winter. These designs continue to influence the way snowshoes are produced today. There are four main styles of snowshoes: Huron, Ojibwe, Alaska, and Bear paw. Shaped like a large teardrop, this pair is an example of the Huron variety.
Item is a pair of small scissors. The handles feature a simple scalloped pattern. There is a makers mark underneath the tension screw that specifies "Rogers and Sons".
Item is a faux handled porcelain serving plate. It features gold gilt detailing around the border and central clover leaf sprig design. During the firing process of the porcelain the plate became misshapen along the edge. Sometimes referred to as "seconds", imperfect ceramics like this example would have been shipped to the colonies to sell to early settlers.