The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Lyman White, 1800-1880
Title: Stencil and ornament
collection
Dates: 1818-ca.1900
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 04x22
Quantity: 6 boxes (ca. 3 cu.ft.)
Location: 18 H 3-5
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Lyman White was born in
Lyman’s brother Samuel Dexter White (1804-1836) also
became an ornamental painter, as did Samuel’s son Jarvis Dexter White (March
30, 1830-1915). Jarvis served his
apprenticeship with John Green, Jr. Both
Lyman and his nephew Jarvis worked as varnishers for
the Chickering Piano Company for many years.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A large assortment of
stencils, as well as other designs, to be used in decorating furniture. Some of the designs have been pricked or
perforated in order to transfer the outline to another surface. Many of the stencils show signs of having
been used with bronzing powders. The
designs include arrows, stars, shells, some mythological scenes, and name stencils
for the piano makers Chickering & Sons and Hallet Davis & Co.
Also with the collection is a wooden box which held various stenciling
supplies, and a cone-shaped rock which was probably used for mixing paints. The stenciling supplies have been removed
from the wooden box and housed separately.
Among the supplies are bronzing powders, a container with combs which
were probably used for graining, a pad, a stone, a brush, a knife, a burnishing
tool, and some other miscellaneous supplies and tools.
Lyman White’s certificate of membership in the
Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association is part of this collection, as is
Jarvis White’s certificate of completion of his apprenticeship, as attested by
the Massachusetts Mechanic Association. As
well, the collection includes two printers’ style sheets, showing a variety of
border patterns; a photo of Lyman White; price lists from Moody, Webster, &
Co.’s Papier Mache works
and from Robert Mayer & Co. for bronzing powders; printed plates from
French books showing ornamental designs, part of an ad for the Massachusetts
Charitable Mechanic Association’s tenth exhibition; an advertising booklet of Chickering & Sons’ piano-fortes (printed 1857); two
drawings done by Lyman White in 1818; and a few other prints and newspaper
articles.
ORGANIZATION
Stencils and drawings that were framed together or that
were in folders together have been kept together.
PROVENANCE
Transferred from the museum
collection.
RELATED
MATERIAL:
The museum collection includes a chair painted and
stenciled by Lyman White, museum accession number 2003.0043. The chair was made between 1825 and
1840. Some of the stencils in this
collection match the decorations on the chair.
This collection was acquired at the same time as the chair.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
White, Jarvis Dexter,
1830-1915.
Gebelein, George Christian,
1878-1945.
Topics:
Chickering & Sons.
Hallett Davis and Company (
Moody, Webster,
& Co.
Stencil work – Patterns.
Stencils and stencil cutting.
Decoration and ornament.
Furniture painting –
Tools.
Printing – Specimens.
Stencils (images).
Price lists.
Decorative
painters.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 18 H
3-5
04x22.1 stencil:
four arcs around a cross formed of leaves
04x22.2 stencil:
bellflowers
04x22.3 stencil:
scalloped designs with twiggy design in between
04x22.4 stencil:
half of a sunburst, with an arrow and flowers
04x22.5 stencil:
a flower-like design, the petals scalloped as in .3 (but smaller)
04x22.6 stencil:
a star-burst
04x22.7 stencil:
an oval sunburst
04x22.8 stencil:
circle of arcs with flowers inside
04x22.9 stencil:
a circle of arcs, evidently meant to highlight the design in .8
04x22.10-13 stencils:
a series of shells, with a copy of the completed design
04x22.14 stencil: a circle of scalloped designs,
with twiggy designs in between, complements .3
04x22.15 stencil: a round saw-tooth design
(which could complement a design like that in .14)
04x22.16 pinpricking:
drawing with an obelisk, bow and arrow, and leaves
04x22.17 stencil:
a circular design similar to .14 but with a saw-tooth circle in the middle
04x22.22 stencil:
floral pattern
04x22.23a-b stencils:
arrows
04x22.24-.25 pinprick designs: round patterns flanked by
decorative scrollwork, probably meant for chair backs
04x22.26-.27 Stencil
and design: shells, similar to .10-.13 [see also .29-.31]
04x22.28 stencils:
a circle of stars, different sized circles, and two bean shapes
04x22.29-.31 stencils
and design: shells, to be used with .26-.27
04x22.37 stencil:
two arcs and two commas
04x22.38 stencil:
a series of arcs
04x22.39 stencil:
a leaf
04x22.40 pinpricking:
cartouche
04x22.41 pinpricking:
Native American with a bow
04x22.42 stencil:
a drawing compass
04x22.43-44 pinpricking:
overlapping circles and ovals
04x22.45 stencil:
resembles a carrot with leaves
04x22.46 stencil:
circles of various sizes, a half moon, and a lima bean
04x22.47 print
of
04x22.48 stencil:
right angle
04x22.49 pinpricking:
urn in middle of scroll work
04x22.50 scrap of paper, with a design cut off
one end, and another design stenciled onto the paper
04x22.51 stencil:
plumes, with a pencil sketch
04x22.52 stencil:
series of lines
04x22.53 folder
labeled “Variety,” which contained numbers .37-.52
04x22.54 stencil:
arcs with arrow
04x22.60 folder labeled: Border for the top of a
center table, with gilt stripes outside of the bronze work, used on a rosewood
stained center table, 1825,” items .61-.65 were in this folder (see also
.124a-i)
04x22.61 stencil:
series of leaves
04x22.62 stencil:
series of arcs and other design features
04x22.63 stencil:
two arcs around a flower
04x22.64 stencil:
series of scalloped designs arranged in a circle
04x22.65 stencil:
straight lines radiating out from the middle of a circle
04x22.66a-b folder labeled: “Variety of ornaments for
bronzing & otherwise,” items .67-.120 were inside this folder
04x22.67 pinpricking: series of feathers and
circles, part of which is drawn and part only pricked
04x22.68 stencil:
series of arcs inside a rope border
04x22.69 stencil:
series of arcs, probably meant to be used with .70
04x22.70 stencil:
series of arcs with floral design in the middle
04x22.71 stencil:
series of arcs
04x22.72 stencil:
single straight line
04x22.73 pinpricking: circle with schools and an
arrow, part of which is drawn and part only pricked
04x22.74 pinpricking: elaborate series of
designs, part of which is drawn and part only pricked
04x22.75-77 stencils:
series of arcs
04x22.78 pinpricked
design: eagle with shield, a lyre, roses, and scroll work, partly pricked
04x22.79 pinpricked
design: various ornaments
04x22.80 stencil:
straight line of saw-tooth patterns
04x22.81 printed
embossed piece of paper
04x22.82 stencil:
a line
04x22.83-84 printed
embossed pieces of paper, same design on both but with different colors
04x22.85-88 stencils:
lines
04x22.89 stencil:
design
04x22.90 pinpricked
design: arrow
04x22.91 scrap of paper out of one end of which a design was cut
04x22.92 stencil:
arrow
04x22.93 stencil:
three sides of a box
04x22.94 stencil:
two crescents
04x22.95 stencil:
a little round design
04x22.96 stencil:
commas and arcs
04x22.97 stencil:
three sides of a box
04x22.98 stencil:
two crescents
04x22.99 stencil:
short line
04x22.100 stencil:
scalloped shapes in a cross, with a pencil design
04x22.101-102 stencils:
arc
04x22.103 stencil:
two commas and two half arrows
04x22.104 stencil:
circular saw-tooth design with a floral motif in center
04x22.105 stencil:
two arcs
04x22.106 stencil:
three little scalloped designs, joined in the middle
04x22.107 stencil:
a little floral design
04x22.108 stencil:
an arc
04x22.109 scrap
of paper
04x22.110 stencils:
floral design inside an arc and a little round design
04x22.111 stencil:
series of small circles
04x22.112 stencil:
circular saw-tooth design with floral design in middle
04x22.113 drawing:
ornamental work
04x22.114 scrap
of paper left over from cutting out a design
04x22.115 stencil:
arcs with circles and a floral design
04x22.116 scrap
of paper left over from cutting out a design
04x22.117 transfer decal: Chickering
and Sons Imported Upright Piano Foprte, Patented July
1868,
04x22.118-120 scraps
of paper
04x22.121a folder
labeled “Designs for Nameboards,” .121b-k were inside
this
04x22.121b-k designs, stencils, and pinprickings
found in .121a, including ornamental scrollwork and half an oval sunburst
04x22.122a broadside for a concert turned into a
folder labeled “Ornaments for Name Boards,” items .122b-r were found inside
this
04x22.122b-k designs, stencils, and pinprickings
(mostly the latter) found in .122a, including ornamental scrollwork, a right
angle, and a compartment
.122b is a pinpricked
design labeled “Apothecary drawer”;
.122p: print of “Sampson
[sic] Slaying the Lion”;
.122q: print from work
of Salvator Rosa, showing a lad and a monk (see also
.124i);
.122r: print of a man
and woman under a trellis, she with lute by her side and he holding a wreath
above her head
04x22.123a folder
which held items .123b-e
04x22.123b stencil: rectangle outlines by decorative
leaves, labeled “used on ground name board”
04x22.123c stencil:
same design as .123b, but not labeled
04x22.123d drawing:
decorative leaves and scrolls
04x22.123e scrap
of paper, “died in” written on one side
04x22.124a folder labeled “Center ornament used on
the top of rosewood stained center table, 1825,” .124b-j were in this folder (see also
.60-.65)
04x22.124b-c stencils:
arcs
04x22.124d stencil:
straight lines forming an eight-pointed star
04x22.124e stencil:
a little decorative leaf
04x22.124f print entitled “The Shipwreck,” showing a
man and a woman embracing, has a verse
04x22.124g print showing a girl sitting by a brook
and reading a book, with a verse, the name John L. Taylor (printed on the
paper, not written), and dated 1837
04x22.124h print entitled “Leila,” depicts a girl
playing a guitar, seated next to a man, with a woman bringing a tray to the
rusticated table at which the man is seated
04x22.124i print
of boy and monk, labeled Salvator Rosa (same as
.122q)
04x22.124j scrap of blue paper
04x22.125a folder
labeled “Ornaments,” items .125b-i were in this folder
04x22.125b-f pinpricked designs: an assortment of designs,
including a kneeling person and scrolls
04x22.125g drawing
of man with large circle
04x22.125h scrap of blue paper
04x22.125i printed
label for “Best Lead Pencils for Drawing”
04x22.126a folder
labeled “Shell Ornaments,” items .126b-e were in this folder
04x22.126b-e stencils:
parts of various shells
04x22.128a folder,
unlabeled, contained items .128b-g
04x22.128b stencil:
long arrow
04x22.128c lettered
sign: “Square Grand.”
04x22.128d lettered
sign: “Hallet, Davis & Co.,
04x22.128e-g stenciled
labels reading “Hallet, Davis & Co.,
04x22.130a folder, unlabeled, made out of green
embossed paper, contained items .130b-t: found inside the folder: the notation
B [inside a square] 363, a print of an urn holding flowers and flanked by
decorative scroll work and cornucopias, and a transfer decal for Chickering & Sons, the same as described in .117
04x22.130b-t various
prints and designs:
.130b seal of the state of
.130c coat of arms surmounted by a crown, bears
mottos “Dieu et Mon Droit”
and “E Pluribus Unum”;
.130d fleur de lis;
.130e seal of the city of
.130f seal, perhaps of a state, Native American in
the middle;
.130g label on green paper: cupid flying over a
city, surrounded by ornamental scrollwork;
.130h print of a nude woman (a goddess?) pulling an
arrow out of a quiver, with a verse;
.130i page from Penny Magazine with picture and
description of the Warwick Vase; stuck to the page is a textile label on green
paper with decorative shells and scrollwork and a woman in classical garb;
.130j editorial cartoon, “The Log Cabin Tumbled
in, The Empire State Redeemed,” with rooster on top of a barrel of Whig
principles, and a raccoon caught by its tail, from the New Hampshire Argus and
Spectator, vol. 18;
.130k goddess(?) riding
horse that has a fish tail, a grid has been drawn on top of the design;
.130l four heads, including woman in medieval
headdress and man in wide-brimmed hat;
.130m title page from “Original Poetic Effusions …
from the pen of A.S.C.,”
.130n print of ornamental scrollwork with title
“Keepsake 1833”;
.130o print of dog firing a toy
cannon;
.130p trade card of D. Russell, Boston, advertising
professional and visiting cards, decorated with urn filled with flowers and
fruits;
.130q title page from “The Rover: A Weekly Magazine
of Select Tales,” 1843, with picture of sailboat framed by flowers;
.130r drawings of three designs: an eagle with a
shield, a scrolled page with leaves,
and an assortment of tools(?);
.130s scrap of an invitation to a ball, on other
side is written: “Width of name board for upright”;
.130t print of a lion, no. 1
04x22.131a folder labeled “Ornament used on old
fashioned iron plate at Chickerings,” folder
contained items .131b-l
04x22.131b-k assorted
stencils
04x22.131l pinpricked
design
04x22.132a a group of pages sewn together, “
04x22.132b-q stencils and guide lines, stencils include
arcs, straight lines, right angles, and decorative scrollwork
04x22.133a folder
labeled “Ornament for Bronzing,” contained items .133b-f
04x22.133b-f assorted
stencils, including a flying(?) woman and designs to
make a lyre
04x22.134a folder
labeled “Ornaments for a fancy border,” contained items .134b-p
04x22.134b-p assorted
stencils, including flowers and leaves
04x22.135-.137 three
different pinpricked designs; .137 may have been for a name board
04x22.138 pinpricking
04x22.139-.141 three
different stencils, .140 and .141 may have been used together
04x22.142 a
stencil, perhaps meant to be used with .140-.141
04x22.143 stencil:
plumes
04x22.144 pinpricking
04x22.145 stencil:
plumes, may have been used for a name board
04x22.146 stencil:
stylized flower and leaves
04x22.147 stencil:
series of short lines
04x22.148 template,
probably for a name board
04x22.149 pinpricking
labeled “Center of chair back,” ornamental scrollwork
04x22.150 stencil:
sun flanked by two flowers, with carrot-shapes
04x22.151 drawing
of ornamental leaves labeled “Used on pillar of a painted table”
04x22.152 colored design showing moon and stars
between two cornucopias; on back is written the colors to be used
04x22.153 pencil
sketch of a design very similar to that in .152, labeled “Chair back center”
04x22.154 stencil:
circular design with flower petals(?)
04x22.155 pencil sketch of a lion, signed Lyman
White, 1818 (on paper watermarked Whatman, 1805)
04x22.156-.159 four
sketches of various ornamental designs
04x22.160-.162 three
sketches of various ornamental designs
04x22.163 stencil:
shapes with four lobes
04x22.164 folder labeled “Ornament for bronzing
shell ornament (nothing was inside this folder)
04x22.165 pencil
sketch of ornamental scroll work
04x22.166 pinpricking
of ornamental scroll work
04x22.167-168 two
sketches of ornamental scroll work
04x22.169 stencil:
arcs
04x22.170 stencil:
two short lines of different widths and lengths
04x22.171-173 sketches
of ornamental scroll work, .171 is labeled
04x22.174 stencil:
arcs
04x22.175 pinpricking
of ornamental scroll work
04x22.176 stencil:
part of a lyre
04x22.177 pinpricking of ornamental scroll work,
part missing, probably intended to outline a name board
04x22.178 pen
and ink drawing of ornamental scrollwork
04x22.179 stencil
of sunburst pattern
04x22.180 outline
drawing, perhaps for a name board
04x22.181 stencil:
line pointed at both ends
04x22.182 pencil
sketches of ornamental designs
04x22.183 template,
probably for a name board
04x22.184 pencil
sketch of ornamental designs
04x22.185 pinpricked
drawing of what appears to be the capital of a column, with a cross
04x22.186a drawing
of a design labeled “Apothecary Drawers”
04x22.186b design
similar to .186a, but is pinpricked, also labeled “Apothecary Drawer”
04x22.187 pinpricking:
cloud-like shapes
04x22.188 pinpricking:
griffins on either side of a shield
04x22.189 printed
rectangular template, perhaps for a name board
04x22.190 stencil:
swirls
04x22.191 pinpricking
04x22.192a-b drawings
of decorative scroll work, with mythological creatures
04x22.193-.196 various
decorative drawings, .195 has the colors noted; .196 includes birds
04x22.197 drawing
of decorative frieze
04x22.198 drawing of a frame, labeled “From a
drawing in a M.S. in the
04x22.199 pinpricking
of a swirled design
04x22.200 stencil:
head of Christ, on which is written “But he answered him nothing”
04x22.201a drawing of a group of musical instruments,
labeled “Used on a pannel [sic] of this size, on the
front of a small organ. Made by Eben Goodrich, 1826”
04x22.201b-e pinpricked drawing of music and two lutes,
plus template and stencils for the same design
04x22.202 pinpricked
drawing of organ and brass instruments
04x22.203 drawing of design “to be used on name
board (1838),” with ornamental scroll work and eagle bearing a shield
04x22.204 pinpricked
drawing labeled “Ornament,” showing music and musical instruments
04x22.205 transfer
decal reading “Patent, Chickering.
04x22.206 transfer
decal: “Chickering & Sons, No. [blank space],
04x22.207 same
as .205
04x22.208 drawing of “Grand Gold Medal of Honor
awarded to Chickering & Sons, Exposition Universale, Paris, 1867”
04x22.209 sketch of round design reading “Chickering & Sons.
04x22.210 transfer
decal for Currier & Co.,
04x22.211-212 stenciled
designs reading “Chickering.
04x22.213-214 two different stenciled designs
reading “Chickering & Sons.”
04x22.215 stenciled
designs reading “
04x22.216 same
as .214
04x22.217 advertisement for Chickering
& Sons’ Piano-forte Manufactory,
04x22.218-.219 drawings
of circles with eagles on top (two different designs)
04x22.220 drawing of a medal labeled “With the
Decoration of the Cross of the Legion of Honor”
04x22.221 template
for some decoration
04x22.222 drawing
of a small crown
04x22.223 stenciled designs reading “Chickering & Sons” [note: extremely fragile, do not
attempt to remove]
04x22.224 drawing
of a chair with heavily carved legs and back
04x22.225 drawing
of a chair
04x22.226 drawing
of a work table or desk
04x22.227 drawing of a grave marker for Lyman
White, to be made of granite, with dimensions indicated
04x22.228 drawing
of a man’s nose and mouth
04x22.229 drawing of a “pattern for window
curtain,” or window shade, includes a basket of flowers
04x22.230 drawing
of a Greek or Roman soldier pulling a bow, signed Lyman White, 1818
04x22.231 decorative
designs, including part of a Greek key pattern
04x22.232 drawing
of a design in the Renaissance style
04x22.233 drawing
of an eagle atop a rectangle, with an anchor next to it
04x22.234 print of a stage coach drawn by four
horses, labeled Augusta Stage Office, taken from a newspaper (ads are on back)
04x22.235 label(?) bearing a design of military paraphernalia, with
the word
04x22.236 print
of the “Principal Entrance,
04x22.237 embossed
label, showing a lion, the goods were “warranted strong”
04x22.238 newspaper
cartoon of “The Reporter,” showing a man writing
04x22.239 part of the circular advertising “The
Tenth Exhibition” of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, held
after 1865, a drawing depicts Faneuil and Quincy
Halls,
04x22.240 a
print of Mr. Gottschalk, sitting at a Chickering piano
04x22.241 printed photograph of the Massachusetts
Nautical Schoolship Nantucket, probably 20th
century
04x22.242 photograph of a man, identified elsewhere
as Lyman White, labeled on back G.W. Black,
04x22.243 bill from J.T. Brown & Co.,
Pharmacists, for various drugs, including extract of dandelion, no date
04x22.244a-f letter from Wm. W. Field, New York City, to
Jarvis White, in care of Chickering & Sons,
04x22.245 Robert Mayer & Co.,
04x22.246 printed page: Recueil
d’ornaments et de
decorations, no. 37: Ecussons, showing three
decorative designs
04x22.247 newspaper page from Zion’s Herald,
04x22.248 advertising book: “Chickering
& Sons’ Piano-Fortes at the Exhibitions of 1856,” printed in
04x22.249 a
series of newspaper clippings, from around 1900, different topics
04x22.252 certificate from the Massachusetts
Mechanic Association testifying that Jarvis D. White has finished his
apprenticeship with John Green, Jr., signed by J. Chickering,
president, W.C. Bond, vice president, and Fred Simpson, secretary,
04x22.18 stencil:
circle in center, flanked by decorative plumes and arrows
04x22.19 stencil:
labeled “Chair top, 1825,” with a pattern of circles and lines (see also .35)
04x22.20 stencil:
pattern of arcs and stylized flowers
04x22.21 stencil:
arcs with rope border
04x22.32 stencil:
labeled “
04x22.33 stencil:
labeled “Border for chair top,” a lattice design
04x22.34 stencil:
lattice border with a decorative oval in the center
04x22.35 stencil:
lattice border
04x22.36 stencil:
labeled “Ornament used on tops of chairs,” same as .19, see also .129c-d
04x22.55 folder labeled “Ornament gilded and
scratched on the back & front of rosewood stained sofa or couch, 1825,” items
.56-.59 were in this folder
04x22.56-.59 four of related design motifs, all of which have been pinpricked, .58 and .59 are
curved
04x22.127a folder
labeled “
04x22.127b large pinpricked design: goddess
04x22.127c medium
pinpricked design:
04x22.127d pinpricking,
similar to .127c
04x22.127e drawing
of
04x22.127f print
used as basis for .127b
04x22.129a folder made from a page of Scientific
American. items .129b-f were found inside this folder
04x22.129b stencil: labeled “Border – a strip to be
put on the edge of the cheek(?), stripe of gold,”
lattice pattern
04x22.129c stencil: labeled “
04x22.129d stencil,
larger version of .129c
04x22.129e-f stencils:
wing shape and petal shapes
04x22.250 certificate of membership for Lyman
White, chair and ornamental painter, in the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic
Association,
04x22.251 printer’s
style sheet for a number of different border patterns
04x22.253 photograph
of an unknown man
04x22.254-256 printed plates from Etudes Elementairs de Lavis, plates 3,
8, 38, showing a variety of ornamented designs
04x22.257-.259 printed plates from Encyclopedie des Arts & Metiers,
showing a variety of ornaments
04x22.260 printer’s
style sheet, showing a variety of border designs
04x22.261 printed price sheet from Moody, Webster,
& Co.’s Papier Mache
Works,
04x22.262 portfolio in which some of the stencils
were found, bound in marbled covers, with leather spine and corners, warped and
worn
04x22.263 cone-shaped
stone, probably used for mixing paints.
04x22.264 wooden box which held the contents of
An assortment of items found in the wooden box now
housed in Box 5, plus the lid of that wooden box (it was detached). A print of the Statue of Liberty is attached
to the underside of the box lid. Among
the items found in the wooden box were a cigar box, several packets of bronzing
powders, a metal container holding combs which were probably used for graining,
solder, a pad, a stone, pencil leads, a small stencil for L. White, a brush, a
small knife with a wooden handle, a burnishing tool, and other supplies used
for stenciling and decorating furniture.
In 1938, Samuel White of East Sandwich, Mass., sent some of the bronzing
powders to George Gebelein, the