Huge Sewing Box

I purchased this sewing box at auction so I know nothing of its provenance. It is 3 ft tall and each 'door' is 17". The fabric on the outside of the case isn't quite as bright as my photo is showing it to be. Does this seem like it might be a homemade item? From the 40s maybe? Thank you for any insight!

 

I wonder if the costumes are stylizations of Slovakian costumes, possibly Hungarian. The floral motifs certainly look to be from those parts.
Nice box Deux Coeurs.

 

Thanks!

 

it's lovely !!!

 

That's a folding sewing screen, they were a popular project right around the 1920s, though could certainly have been made later as well - my grandfather made one for my grandmother around then, know my aunt still had it in the '70s...

~Cheryl

 

Thank you! I appreciate the info!

 

I was going to say - probably well-done homebrew.

 

Just poking around a little bit, the earliest instructions I found were from 1914:





~Cheryl

 

Isn't that fun? I'd think this has two eras of fabric. The back the original and the interior sometime 1940s or a bit later.

Debora

 

I was wondering about that!

 

Darn, ended up diving into a rabbit-hole - while most of the instructions I found are from the 1910s and '20s, also found one shown in an 1896 publication, as well as one commercially made in bamboo, also from 1896, and wood-framed from 1910. Also finding mention of different sewing screens, including a large chintz covered one intended to serve the added function of hiding the bedroom wash basin, and a single panel covered with denim, and quite a few like yours as Industrial Arts student class projects.

Eyes hurt, must stop investigating further, and am fighting creative urge to make one for myself in honor of Grandpa...


1896:




1896 (from 'Youth's Journal'):

1910:




1905 (from 'Good Housekeeping'):



1908 (from 'Bright Ideas'):

1923 (from 'Teaching of the Industrial Arts in Elementary School'):







~Cheryl

 

Wow, Cheryl! This is AWESOME! Very much appreciated. Some rabbit holes are good

 

Great little item! I had one once. Probably sold it! I've forgotten all about it! Loved the info on it!
Leslie

 

I look at them and think "it's too bad they're so darned small; my gear would never fit."