Donkey with Panniers
A special thank you goes to James Mitchell of Mitchell’s Jewelers Ltd in Arlington Heights, Illinois for restoring this item to it originally condition. This
company has 7 generations of experience in the art of jewelry making and they also do custom work and repairs. They are located at 10 North Dunton in downtown Arlington Heights.
We highly recommend this firm for jewelry purchases or repairs to items such as Avery needle cases.
Needle case after the back leg was repaired
Needle case before the back leg was repaired
Design Representation
Design Details
Needle Case Type: |
Figural (not listed on design registration as a needle case) |
Patent/Registered to: |
J. M. Farnol – Birmingham |
Patent/Design Representation #: |
Ornamental Class1: Metal: #341072 |
Patent/Design Registration Date: |
October 8, 1879 |
Location of Patent/Design Registration: |
The National Archives (TNA) - Kew, UK |
Reference #: |
TNA Representation - BT 43/45/341072
TNA Register - BT 44/4/341072 |
Dimensions: |
10.5 x 5.5 x 8 |
Material: |
Brass |
Name Variations: |
a) W. Avery & Son - Redditch
b) Unmarked (the sole source of this information is Horowitz and Mann as no example of this needle case
with this company name has been seen by the authors of this website) |
Other Variations: |
None |
Additional Photographs
Top open and closed views
Bottom Avery signature detail
Facts
The donkey is a member of the horse family and was domesticated around 5,000 years ago. They are generally used as pack animals
carrying heavy loads in packs or baskets in order to assist with the transportation of goods from one place to another. Currently there
are roughly 40 million donkeys in the world and they are predominantly found in underdeveloped countries.
History
During the Victorian period it became popular to ride a donkey especially at seaside resorts. Chromolithographic prints like the one
below of children riding a donkey were common as well. In addition, at Christmas time, St. Nicholas was often depicted with a donkey
with baskets filled with treats.
Miscellaneous
Queen Victoria’s reign was the peak period for costermongers who often used donkeys to ply their trade. A costermonger was a person
who purchased fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices, then sold them on the streets of major cities in Great Britain. Because they
were poor and didn’t have money for a stall at a market, they walked the streets with the donkey either pulling a cart or with baskets shouting
out the details of what they had for sale. At the same time in Ireland the poor gathered peat in baskets mounted on a donkey to use as
fuel to heat their cottages.
