katyelliott.com » found objects

Decorative Fireplace Fitting

Katy Elliott — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:44:35 +0000

While I was working on polishing the antique brass andirons; Greg remembered we had this brass fitting that needed to be cleaned up. With a bit of scrubbing a beautiful decorative fitting appeared.

The fitting sits to the right of our fireplace, we’ve assumed it went to a former gas line? But how did it work? Did an additional line come out of the fitting to light the fireplace?

Any ideas? We would love to hear your comments!

Finding Concealed Objects In Den

Katy Elliott — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:01:46 +0000

I thought it was time to round up the objects we found in our den on the second floor. We found most of the objects when we removed the ceiling because of water damage. This past spring we replaced it, see here.

In the ceiling we found fabric, tools and shoes. While we were stripping the paint off the molding we discovered an old cigar and hair pins in the cavity between the old and new mantel piece. We believe the mantel was originally two fields and then a decorative mantel was later attached.

It’s really common to find objects like this in older homes in New England. An old folklore of hiding shoes in the walls was thought to ward off evil and bring good luck. “Concealment shoes” are so common that the The Northampton (UK) Museum maintains an international index.

About half the shoes registered in the concealment index are children’s shoes. Women’s shoes are more common than men’s. Shoes are almost invariably well worn, perhaps because the donor didn’t want to waste an expensive new shoe on the project, or perhaps because a well-worn shoe is more likely to retain the shape of the wearer’s foot and hence his spirit. Though shoes are the common denominator, more than two hundred different personal possessions–coins, spoons, pots, goblets, food, knives, toys, gloves, pipes, even chicken and cat bones–have been found hidden with them. (Wayland Historic Society)

Many preservationist suggest putting the shoes back after repairs are completed. I’m planning on creating shadow boxes of all the objects for each room in the house. This way the objects will stay with the house but we can also enjoy them.

In this room we also removed hundred layers of paint and wallpaper off the walls. We found two wallpapers—a floral and an older piece was a stripe. The wallpaper was scattered around the room and the largest area was near a window but was badly damaged (see below).

Above and below objects we found in the room with a photo of where we discovered each collection.

We found the leather, tools, fabric and a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes on the left side of the room near the chimney below the lathe.

A “concealed shoe” and fabric found together.

The shoe and fabric were found on the right side of the room closer to the front window.

Objects we found in the cavity between the new mantel and base.

The mantel in the den being stripped where we found the cigar and pins.

Top layer of wallpaper found near front window.

Two layers of wallpaper found between the window and center beam

A view of the wallpaper found.

Newspaper Insulation

Katy Elliott — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:12:05 +0000

Over the weekend Greg and I gutted one of the rotten corners of the house. The rotten part is an addition that extends out the backside of the original house. In the walls we found old newspapers from October 28th, 1942 used as insulation.

On the cover of The Boston Post headlines read, Beat Back New JAP Drive In Solomons, Rationing Of Butter Is Certain, 40,000 Register For Oil Rations. In 1942, The United States was in the middle of World War II (1939-1945) and times were extremely tough.

In January 1942, tires were one of the first products to be rationed because supplies of national rubber were unavailable. “Soon afterward, passenger automobiles, typewriters, sugar, gasoline, bicycles, footwear, silk, nylon, fuel oil, coffee, stoves, meat, lard, shortening and oils, cheese, butter, margarine, processed foods, dried fruits, canned milk, firewood and coal, jams, jellies, and fruit butter were rationed by November 1943″ (wikipedia).

It’s crazy to think what life would have been like 68 years ago. No butter? I would have freaked. I can’t even imagine how frightened they were of the upcoming winter with the threat of necessities being rationed. I guess why not try insulating the walls with newspapers?

Found Objects: Bones in Basement

Katy Elliott — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:37:00 +0000

I know a lot you are going to be really grossed out or disturbed by this post. We found these bones in our basement while renovating the space. Actually let me rephrase that: Greg found these bones while digging in the basement. He collected a whole box of bones in all different sizes and shapes. We don’t think they are human. Maybe they are? Remember my house in over 257 years old. Finding bones is pretty common in old homes. Kinda cool right?

Found Objects: Hair Pins, Wood Matches, and an Old Cigar

Katy Elliott — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:08:00 +0000

We have been working on stripping the paint from our mantel in the den over the last few weeks. The mantel piece was pretty loose so we decided to take it off and reattach it properly. Behind the mantel there was a little space where objects had rolled back into. The area was full of hair pins, real wood matches, the smallest nails we have ever seen, and an old cigar. In the foreground of the top photo check out the strange plastic stick with numerous holes. No idea what it could be? We trying to figure out a date on the objects. I guess if I found out when they made real wood matches maybe I could date the other objects?

Found Objects: Book for Brides Newspaper

Katy Elliott — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:14:00 +0000

We found old newspapers underneath an old floorboard in a closet on the first floor or the house. We seem to have about 3 newspapers dating around May 11, 1956. I fell in love with section from the Daily Evening called, “Book for Brides and The Young Homemaker.” There are all kinds of funny articles on etiquette, bras, singer sewing machines, and pretty much ways to please your husband. Scary! Fun to poke through and read. To check out more shots I took check out my flickr page here.