Civil War Era Mauchline Ware Spool Box with Handwritten Note (Father Dickerman)

Measures:  2.5” tall, 4.5” wide

I love a piece with a story!  There is a handwritten note on the inside of the cover of this lovely spool box which reads:  "Father Dickerman give this to me. Brought it from Washington. Mary(?) Dickerman".  The reason I’m assuming this is Civil War era is that there was a diary dated 1865 belonging to John F. Dickerman which was found with the box. The diary is available as well; however, I've listed them separately so customers can purchase just the box or diary or both.

The spool box is in excellent condition. All six carved bone eyelets for thread dispensing are intact and undamaged. Inside, are six wooden pegs holding spools, along with six spools of silk thread. At the center, there's a velvet-lined thimble holder with a sterling silver Simons Bros thimble, size 8. The thimble features deep, detailed engravings around the band and is in great shape—no punctures, and it’s perfectly round. The wooden box itself is also in very good condition and has 4 pictures from Washington DC.  I have photographed all four.  A great addition to a sewing collection, Mauchline Ware collection or Civil War memorabilia display!

Mauchline Ware is so named because it was produced in or near a small town called Mauchline in Scotland.  It is made of sycamore and often had transfer photos of popular tourist destinations.  It was produced from the mid 1800’s until 1933 when the last Mauchline Ware factory was destroyed by fire.