John Lewis Krimmel (1786-1821), a German-born painter who traveled throughout the Mid-Atlantic region from his base in Philadelphia recorded items and activities in daily life. This page from his sketchbook illustrates household metal and ceramic wares and offers a visual reference for our exhibition.   Notice the japanned tea canister in the upper center, a pierced conical lantern, and a rectangular spice box like the objects on display.

 

Selected References

Blinn, Leroy J.  A Practical Work-Shop Companion for Tin, Sheet-Iron, and Copper-Plate Workers.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Herny Carey Baird & Co., 1902.

A Book of prices of Journeymen’s Wages for MAKING TIN-WARE agreed upon by the Master Tinplate Workers of the City of Philadelphia at a meeting held the 18th of April, 1796.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (no publisher), 1796.

Brazer, Esther Stevens.  Early American Decoration.  Springfield, Mass.: Pond-Ekberg Co., 1940 and 1961.

Butts, I.  The Tinman’s Manual and Builder’s and Mechanic’s Handbook.  Boston, Mass.: I.R. Butts & Co., 1860.

Dover Stamping Copmany, Manufacturers and Dealers in Tinner’s Hard Ware & Furnishing Goods.  Boston, Mass.:  Holis & Gunn, 1869; reprinted Princeton, New Jersey:  The Pyne Press, 1971.  (trade catalogue)

Jones, Yvonne.  Japanned Papier Mache and Tinware c. 1740-1940.  Woodbridge, U.K.:  Antique Collectors’ Club, 2012.

Martin, Gina and Lois Tucker.  American Painted Tinware A Guide to Its Identification, vols. 1-4.  Cooperstown, New York:  Historical Society of Early American Decoration, Inc., 1996-2007.

Quantrill, Thomas H.  The Mechanic’s Calculator and Tinman’s Guide.  Washington, D.C.:  Thomas Quantrill, 1847.

Wagner, Ann K.  “Pierced, Punched, Painted:  Decorated Tinware from Winterthur,” in Brandywine River Museum Antiques Show Catalogue, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania:  Brandywine River Museum, May 2012, pp. 5-12.

Wagner, Ann, with Mary McGinn and Lauren Fair, “Scratching the Surface of American Painted Tinware,” in Antiques & Fine Art, vol. xii, no. 2, (Autumn/Winter 2012), pp. 189-191.

Waterman, Nathaniel.  Catalogue of Useful Housekeeping Articles, Boston, Massachusetts, 1843.  (trade catalogue)