Picked up this dynamitedly designed, 1920's art deco box for Berkshire Stockings a few weeks back and added it to the collection (yes, I also collect old stocking boxes!) Someone unfortunately scribbled on the lid cover, but that still doesn't detract from the beautiful illustration, color combos, and lovely brand logo lettering. There's a neat illustration inside the lid as well of the sprawling Berkshire Knitting Mills factory location in Reading, PA. If that ain't enough, the box still contains a nice, crisp sheet of embossed Berkshire Stockings tissue paper which was at one time wrapped around a fresh pair of white, size 9 1/2 stockings. One week to Valentine's Day...
4 comments:
I might be wrong, but it looks like the handwriting reads-
1. Philadelphia Orthopaedic Hospital Building
2. " " " Clinic Building
Orthopeadic was the spelling used when the hospital opened in 1867.
The handwriting doesn't detract from the box, it gives it character.
Maybe it was a gift for a lady recovering from some malady, something to cheer her up, something for her to wear when she eventually left the hospital. Maybe it was for a nurse working in the hospital, who had the misfortune of getting a run in her stocking and needed a new pair.
It is indeed an unsolvable mystery.
As to the artwork on the box, it is near perfect, the artist might have been going for the flapper look. There appears to be a faint stain on her chest, or it may have been intentional to give her a 3D look.
This is one more instance of artwork for mass produced items that deserved to be framed instead of discarded. Thanks for sharing.
That is a great illustration. The background wrapping around the leg draws the eyes to the stockings and to the concept that they wrap around your leg. It's a super clever way to turn a generic cute woman cover into something that really sells a product.
Bravo to the artist that thought that one up!
Given the writing on the box, do you think someone might have been using it to store pictures?
Yeah, I also figured somebody was using this old stocking box for photos from the hospital clinic. I'm really glad they managed to hold onto the embossed tissue. That's a really fancy touch.
The art is great, and so is the lettering. Things were so much nicer when they were done by human hands.
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