Search results

(1 - 3 of 3)

Title: Reminiscences of a fancy dress ball, in Philadelphia, February 1850
Description: View puportedly showing "Naylor's Grand Fancy Dress Party" at the Masonic Hall on February 5, 1850. Party attendees, most in costume, crowd the floor and balconies of the hall. Costumed guests include a monk holding a cross, harlequins, peasants, Native Americans, and fops. Also shows some guests displaying suggestive behavior, including nuzzling and a man holding a woman's breast. A small orchestra plays in the right of the image and guests dance in the background. Hall decorated with a tropical backdrop., Manuscript note on recto: Chinese Museum., Title partially printed on mount., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 638, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 04 H 291, Manuscript note on verso: Purchased from Charles Sussler 9/11/[19]57. Penrose fund., Name and location of ball supplied by Wainwright as cited in the Public Ledger, February 5, 1850, p. 3. Scene more likely of the Maennechor Fancy Dress Ball at the Chinese Museum announced in the Public Ledger, February 4, 1850.
Creator: Harnisch, Carl, 1800-1883, artist
Date: [1850]
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 04 H 291

Title: Pupil's polka composed and dedicated to the pupils of Hlasko's Dancing Academy by A. Tatzel, senr
Description: Sheet music cover containing an interior view showing children at dance class at the physical institute operated by Miecislaw Hlasko. A mother introduces her son to the instructor as boy-girl and girl-girl couples perform different dance steps. Parents watch the children from the dance floor and other chaperones and children sit on a long cushioned bench lining a side of the hall. Two musicians play from a raised platform adorned with a balustrade in the background. Space also includes chandeliers and a skylight., Prices printed on recto: Colored 4 1/2; Plain 3., Includes the sheet music., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 629, Gift of David Doret.
Date: [c[1857]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Sheet Music Germ 11309.F (Doret)

Title: Mason's challenge blacking. James S. Mason & Co., nos. 138 & 140 North Front Street, Philadelphia
Description: Advertisement depicting a "shoe blacking" competition between two African American shoe shiners to promote the manufactory of blacking established in 1832 by James S. Mason. Shows two African American men, portrayed in racist caricature, holding a brush, a canister of "Mason's" blacking, and a boot, while they dance on a table. An African American man fiddler sits on a stool and plays. In the foreground, a white man holds an oversized boot. A white shoe shine boy, his pack on his back, stands behind an older man holding his arm as he points at his reflection in the boot. In the left background, a troop of white Union soldiers marches in behind a parade marshal adorned in "M" insignias. The men carry a banner reading "Mason's (Original) Challenge Blacking (Philadelphia)," as well as boots, and signs spelling "M-A-S-O-N." In the right background, a crowd of spectators, including figures likely representing Germany, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and possibly France, stand and watch the competition attentively. Scene also includes boxes of Mason's Challenge Blacking. Following the death of Mason in 1888, his son Richard assumed the business which was in operation into the 20th century., Title from item., Date inferred from directory listings for the artist and engravers., Attributed by cataloger to Francis H. Schell, but possibly by Frederick B. Schell., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Creator: Schell, Francis H., 1834-1909, artist
Date: [ca. 1863]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Ph Pr - 11x14 - Advertisements - M [P.2013.51]

Main menu