Dreadful, aren't they? I wonder how many exist today. I suspect they have fallen prey to mice, or just fallen apart. But so much work!!
Then again, as a child and adult project it is rather nice. Little ones get to admire the beans and keep their hands busy, the adult can finish it off. In case you don't care to read how to make these, note that fresh beans were used so they are easily pierced by a tapestry needle. In 1877 fresh beans with interesting patterns were more likely to be available to families.
1877 is an interesting time as it is at the starting point in agriculture where fewer people were needed to provide for the growing population due to machinery. In 1850, more than 60% of people were on the farm. In 1880 or a bit after it was more like 26% feeding a much larger population.
By Mrs. C. S. Jones, Henry T. Williams
The following article appeared some years later and explains how to make some of the same items.
At first I thought they were the same illustrations, but they are not.
1884 - The young ladies' treasure book: A complete cyclopædia of practical instruction and direction for all indoor and outdoor occupations and amusements suitable to young ladies
Nut And Seed Work.
THE beauty of some seeds and nuts has caused ingenious persons to form them into objects of use. In pursuing this work, we would advise our friends to purchase many varieties of beans, and cultivate them with a view to appropriating them to fancy work; for of the exceeding beauty of some of these seeds, few persons, comparatively, have the remotest conception.
Some of them are as beautifully mottled, spotted, marbled, and painted as the most elegant
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| I think these are the acorn and white bead chains used to make fern holders. |
mosaic-work, while their symmetrical form and highly enameled surface render them well adapted for the purpose of forming chain-work of every description.
Many nuts, too, such as the horse-chestnut, have shells of such beauty, and capable of taking such a fine polish, that when arranged tastefully they appear like highly finished wood-carvings.
Acorns may be made the medium of holding ferns in a variety of ways, either in a room, or, still better, in a greenhouse, or small window-garden, opening, perhaps, out of a back parlour or drawing-room.
The acorns are soft when new, and a hole may be readily made by slipping through them a large twine packing-needle. Thread them on wire—a large, round cut white-glass bead between every one.
Vase of Coloured Beans.
A vase we shall here describe may be made of any coloured or sized beans desired; but in selecting the beads which are to be combined with them, care must be taken to produce a tasteful combination.
The beans being soft when newly gathered, holes are easily pierced through them. Thread them through these holes on a wire, with a large round glass bead between each one.
Make first a ring for the bottom of the urn or vase, and another for the top, stringing the beans and beads upon them. The wire should be as thick as a large sized knitting needle.
After making two circles for the top and bottom, form the sides by turning a hook over on the end of the wire and fastening it to the top ring, between the beans. Pinch the wire close, with pliers, to conceal the joint. Thread this with the beans, etc., until it is sufficiently long to form the ribs of the vase, as shown in Fig. at A; to cross at the narrow part, to form the swelling part of the vase, B, and fasten again to the lower ring. This wire is then cut off with "tin-shears," and the other part formed in the same way, and both are then crossed by another, diagonally.
If the urn is large, there may be two of these on each side, making six equal sides to the urn instead of four. Where they cross at the narrow part of the vase, bind them well together with fine zephyr or thread. These bindings must not show, and fine thread-wire is better than other material for fastening.
Bend the six pieces into proper shape, by giving a regular and graceful curve ; join the wire to one of them, and carry it round the widest part of the urn, joining it with fine wire to every part where it crosses. Next put in the upper Vandykes, fastening the strung wires as before. The handles are rings of the beans and beads attached to each side, as shown in the illustration.
The beans should be of uniform size for each separate part, and the same number between each corresponding division; for instance, the bottom ring may contain thirty large beans, and the central circle fifty of medium size; then the divisions reaching between these should contain small ones, perhaps, but they must be alike in size and number. So also the Vandykes.
Fill the vase with moss, green side out, and pack soil in the centre, in which plant ferns, etc. The effect of the moss against the beautifully coloured basket is lovely, and the crystal beads glisten out of the green like so many dew-drops.
On page 139 (the above hanging fern basket) we show a hanging basket made of the nuts of the acorn, arranged in a similar manner. The acorn-nut should be held in the cup by means of the wire, and the beads for this should be either the crystal or opaque white, and of the size of a pea. Handles, made of rings of wire, are first strung with the acorns and beads, from which tassels of beads depend; one is also arranged at the bottom, and from the supports at the point where the three are joined.
