DESCRIPTION: This is a wallpaper hat box with provenance from Boston, Massachusetts circa 1830s. It was very fashionable in the mid 19th century to have paper and bandboxes of every fashion and size. Milliners, dry goods dealers, shoe dealers, medicine manufacturers, and most business that sold retail goods used paper and bandboxes. The most elaborate paper and bandboxes were covered in wallpaper on the outside and paper on the inside. The wallpaper hat box has large "hearts" that circle the outside. The hearts are formed with leaves and vines against a watery aqua background of wide strips. On the outside rim of the lid, there is different paper with a cable chain that is complimentary. The lid on the wallpaper hat box has the miilliners label “Stephen Olney” and address “No. 26 Washington Street, Boston” (see photos). The maker’s label is also on the inside of the lid: “Mark Worthley” and address “119 Washington Street, Boston” (see photos). Both the milliner and the wallpaper box maker had shops that were on the same street. The maker of the wallpaper box "Mark Worthley” was written up in the "Strangers Guide in the City of Boston" published in 1848 (see photos). The two page paper will accompany the wallpaper hat box. MEASUREMENTS: 15 1/2 inches high, 11 inches wide and 35 inches round in circumference.

Wallpaper hat box has age appropriate wear and patina.