Bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with molded rim and base, hooked rectangular thumb piece, and flat extension burnt to the rimless domed lid; five-knuckle hinge. Face of handle stamped "LITRE" sideways in incuse serif letters; wedge extension, front edge of lid, neck, and top of inside rim are covered with verification marks, including small raised serif letters, larger serif letters in circles, and fleurs-de-lis; top and bottom of front edge lid have larger circular verification stamps. Flat bottom struck once with arched rectangular touchmark of "BOURDILLON. / A ANGERS". One of an assembled set of five metric measures, DL*67.0321-.0325.
Two folded sheets of paper forming a small four-page booklet. Typed on cover: "Sans Souci" / Savenay / Loire Inferieure / France / Six O'clock Dinner / May 26, 1919. Inside page has typed menu including "Cocktail des Mademoiselle American." Third and fourth pages have "Autographs" and addresses handwritten in pencil and purple ink. "Jewel Roan" written in purple ink on cover. Due to a typographical error, Mary Llewellyn Roane was known as Jewel L. Roan during her WWI service.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, cutaway collar and molded base. Stamped on face of handle "DECILITRE" sideways in raised serif letters overstruck with two letters in circles, and on top with an indiscernible number of small letters; on body with an imperial crown at front and eight large letters around neck; on collar with nine more letters; and along top of inside rim with more small letters. Flat bottom struck once with touchmark "TRIVELLI / A SAUMUR". One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.
Small Angers type shouldered flagon or pichet with an almost flat, flared base, nine-lobed shell or anthemion thumb piece, and upturned wedge extension burnt to the ridged, heart-shaped, pouted lid. Numerous pairs of incised lines around cupped rim, body and flared base. Strap handle with stepped thumbrest and short square terminal. Handle face engraved "P:G". Bottom underside struck with two partial touchmarks, "U(?)*ALLA[IN]" surrounding an imperial crown in a bead-bordered surround and crowned interlocking "C"s above "ANGERS" in a circle.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, sloped collar and molded base; incised around collar and bottom of body. Stamped on face of handle "DOUBLE / CENTILITRE" sideways in incuse serif letters; to left of handle with small clasped hands in an oval and "199"; on front of neck with four small letters; around collar and neck with an indiscernible number of raised letters in circles; and indiscernible numbers of small letters along top of inside rim and top of handle. Flat bottom struck once with touchmark "V-P" in a lozenge or diamond shape. One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, sloped collar and molded base; incised around collar, neck and above base. Stamped on front of body "DEMI / LITRE" in incuse serif letters; on front of neck "199", clasped hands in an oval and a small "H"; on face of handle with another clasped hands mark; and on top of rim with four raised serif letters and one small square. Flat bottom struck once with a touchmark of a crowned shield containing a key flanked by the letters "GG". One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.
Maker is Georges Gras of Angers, France; working 1897-1925.
This silver and brass portable octagonal horizontal sundial is calibrated from V to XII to VII with the hour divided into two parts (there are three hour scales). A curved brass gnomon that folds down rises from the base. A piece of the gnomon slides to adjust from 30 to 55 degrees latitude, but it is no longer possible to lock this piece into position. A compass is at the foot of the dial. Another compass star is on the underside but has no needle.The compass needle and compass stars may be nineteenth century replacements. There are only six points on the compass stars, and these do not line up with the eight compass points engraved on the top of the case. The brass compass casing is attached to the dial with screws. The casing and another peg enable the dial to lie on a flat surface. There is a lunar volvelle on the underside of the sundial, used to assist in converting from lunar to solar time. The sundial was kept in a leather sleeve, which is stored in a separate bag along with a cardboard box.
The French dial is signed at the center: Bourgaud (/) Nantes.
According to a letter from Byron Arkebauer, the agent for vendor Mrs. Betty Schmidt, the instrument was plowed up on a farm near Montezuma, Indiana, about 1860. It was found by "Dr. Elisia Cannon".
It is quite possible that the Dr. Cannon mentioned by the vendor was the North Carolina-born Quaker physician Elisha Betts Cannon (1830-1883) who, in 1850, lived with his parents Horace F. and G. B. Cannon in Montezuma, Indiana. Horace Cannon also was a physician and known as an abolitionist. By 1860, E.B. Cannon had married and set up his own household in Montezuma and would soon enlist in the Union army.Both E.B. Cannon and his brother, Joseph G. Cannon (1836-1926) moved to Illinois. Joseph, a lawyer, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1873, and became Speaker of the House in 1903 (the Cannon Office Building in Washington, D.C.is named for him).
The instrument was purchased in 1964.
References:
Accession file 255932
Personal Communication,Sara Schechner, January 11, 2022. Dr. Schechner not only commented on the hour scals and the compass of the dial, but provided an approximate date.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, sloped collar and molded base; incised around collar and above base. Stamped on front of body "DEMI / DEC[ILITRE]" in incuse serif letters; on front of neck with a small imperial crown and four small letters; on face of handle with another small imperial crown above "199" sideways; to right of handle with three raised letters in circles; and along top of inside rim and top of handle with an indiscernible number of small letters. Flat bottom struck once with touchmark "GV" in a lozenge or diamond shape. One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, sloped collar and molded base; incised around collar and above base. Handle stamped on face "DOUBLE / DECILITRE" sideways in incuse serif letters and on top with a small "E"; collar stamped with an imperial crown to left of handle and 19 raised serif letters. Flat bottom struck once with partial touchmark "[???]LLARDR[??] / [??]NGER[?]". One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.
Two paper passes with black print and "Official Hospital Center Savenay" stamp in purple ink. One pass (a) is filled out for Jewel Roan, June 20, 1919, to visit Nantes. The other (b) is filled out for Miss J. Roan, June 1919, to visit LaBaule. Due to a typographical error, Mary Llewellyn Roane was known as Jewel L. Roan during her WWI service.
Unlidded pitcher with small, pinched spout, tall cylindrical collar and globular body on an applied base or foot ring. Hollow, D- or ear-shaped scroll handle is relief-decorated on face with an anthemion at top, rope or cable band running length, and a ridged design at the pointed lower terminal. Molding at rim and neck; pairs of incised lines below rim and around midbody. No marks.
Lidless, bracket-handled, cylindrical metric measure with a spouted, sloped collar and molded base; incised around collar and bottom of body. Stamped on front of body "CENTILITRE" in incuse serif letters below a small clasped hands in a circle and "199"; on face of handle with another small clasped hands; and along top of inside rim with an indiscernible number of small raised letters. Flat bottom struck once with touchmark "VC" in a lozenge or diamond shape. One of an assembled set of eight metric measures, DL*67.0326-.0333.