Bertha Palmer's Personal Items: Vanity Items and Fan, 1890-1910

This lot includes 28 items that were the property of Bertha Matilde Honore Palmer and each item features her initials: One fan and box, five glass jars, silver powder box, silver pin cushion, three towels, fifteen handkerchiefs, one cardboard box.

THE FAN and BOX
Mother-of-pearl sticks with a fan spread of cream lace, featuring the initials "BHP" (Bertha Honore Palmer) in the center. The fan comes with a bone box lined with blue silk and featuring the raise metal initials "BHP". There are no production marks on either piece.
Length of Fan: 10.25"
Length of Box: 10.5"

FIVE GLASS and SILVER BOTTLES
Three cylindar and two rectangle glass bottles with silver screw tops. The two rectangle bottles feature the "P" initial (for Palmer). The three cylindar bottles feature the initials "BMHP" (for Bertha Matilde Honore Palmer. All of the screw tops have silver hallmarks, but only two are legible. Those two were made in London.
Length of Three Cylindar Bottles: 4.5"
Height of Two Rectangle Bottles: 3.5"

SILVER POWDER BOX
Small circular powder box that still retains the powder-puff and powder. The lid features the initials "BMHP".
Circumference: 1.5"

SILVER PIN CUSHION
Circular silver pin cushion with pink cushion. The side of the silver part if stamped with "BHP". The silver hallmarks show this piece to be made in Birmingham, UK.
Circumference: 3"

THREE TOWELS
Off-white rectangular cotton towels featuring the embroidered initials"BMHP". Each short end of the towels feature an 8" band of thread word with fringe.
Measurements: 60" x 32"

FIFTEEN HANDKERCHIEFS
Off-white handkerchiefs with drawnwork and edged with scalloped trim. Each handkerchief features the embroidered initials: "BMHP".
Measurements: 13.5" x 13.5"

BROWN BOX
This brown box was found with the handkerchiefs and appears to show the label where the items were purchased: The Woman's Exchange of Chicago", located at 902 North Michigan Avenue.
Measurements: 8"x 8"
This lot is located in Chicago.

Condition:
THE FAN and BOX
The overall condition is good. The mother-of-pearl sticks of the fan are in very good condition while the lace has yellowed and browned with age and has several brown spots and few broken bars. The carved stick extensions that hold the lace are mostly in tact, minus one that is broken with missing parts. The box is in overall good condition with a chip on the back left side, some surface scratching, and the lid sits uneven when closed.
FIVE GLASS and SILVER BOTTLES
The overall condition is fair to good of the five bottles. All contain internal residue, one of the glass cylindars is chipped, and all are silver is tarnished.
SILVER POWDER BOX
The overall condition is good with minor surface scratches and tarnish.
SILVER PIN CUSHION
The overall condition is poor with the pin cushion fabric having worn away, plus the silver has some scratching, dents, and tarnish.
THREE TOWELS
The overall condition of the three towels is fair to good. Each towel shares the same condition issues with small brown spots, some wear in the main fabric, and some splits in the fringe.
FIFTEEN HANDKERCHIEFS
The overall condition of the handkerchiefs ranges from poor to good as each one appears to have been used and several have been mended.
BROWN BOX
The overall condition is poor as the sides are broken. This is kept more for provenance for the name of The Woman's Exchange.
Everything is sold 'As Is’. The stated overall condition of the lot is based on the assumption that the wear is consistent with age and use. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. All other condition issues are stated above. To request additional working condition photos, please email Hindman's Couture & Luxury Accessories department with the lot number. Condition is a matter of opinion of the evaluator and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Clients must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction.