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Swedish Immigrant Lodge Wooden "BLACK BALL" Voting Urn
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Sold For:
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Sold Date: 02/08/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source:
eBay
Category: Antiquities
This is going to take some explaining but it all is VERY interesting...so stick with us. This is about the coolest and most fascinating historic piece you're EVER going to find. It is an absolutely ONE OF A KIND, "you will never see anything like this again" piece and it crosses many collection lines. This was democracy at work! Have you ever heard the expression of being "Black Balled"? Well this fabulous piece was made by some Swedish immigrant carpenter, most likely in the 1920's, to use in voting in new members to the Gustavus II Adolphus Society in Minneapolis, MN. The members were each given 2, a black and a white, marble and when each member filed past the large urn, they dropped in their vote by adding one or the other. If a BLACK BALL was found, the man was not allowed in as a new member. The craftsmanship and ingenuity is captivating. If you have ever been in an older Minnesota Man's work shop, you would know t are jars, tins, canister and boxes of nails, screws, etc. (We've been recycling forever!) Well, this gentleman must have used every size nail in his stash! They are everyw and all have round heads. The entire working portion is contained in the upper 1/5 of structure. This carpenter found a round knot hole for the center drop site and then created pie shaped wedges that radiate out from the center. Two drawers were hand chisled out and inserted into a "tunnel". The tunnel has guides cut out in it's sides. T is also a long slide attached to the bottom of one that key's into the bottom of the other. The marbles would drop thru the top hole and into the drawers. Once the voting was complete, the drawers were then removed and the balls were tallied. The entire piece is adorned with bark covered wood and sticks. The handles are crafted of branches. The branches around the top have been notched to follow the curves. It is gnarly, bulky and every inch of arts and crafts, folk art fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Gustavus II Adolphus Society was founded in 1886 in Minneapolis, MN. Swede's were not always looked at with the greatest of favor so they banded together. They built their own lodge in 1924 on Lake Street. In 1995, they closed the lodge, sold off the contents and moved to the American Swedish Institute, also in Mpls. A full explanation can be found at: www.pihl.us/ The GustavusIIAdolphus Society-dot-org/history.htm This story should be read to truly appreciate the historic value of this piece . VERY INTERESTING! WE ARE SELLING ONE OTHER HISTORIC PIECE FOUND IN THE LODGE, FROM THE KNIGHTS OF ODEN , SO CHECK OUT OUR OTHER LISTINGS! We two sisters grew up around the lodge. (All our grandparents came from Sweden) Our grandfather and father were both past presidents, our brothers were members and our aunt, Dad's sister, is still a member of the Auxiliary. In 1995, when the contents was sold off, we scrounged thru the huge old attic, and t, in the way back corner, was this piece. (Thank goodness we did because a fire in 2004 gutted the place) Dad knew it's purpose, but it had never been used in his lifetime. He was born in 1921 (died 2001) and was a member all of his adult years. We have a lot of paper information that can be sent to authenticate the explanation. T is no exact mention of this particular piece but we have a bunch of historical info. of the Society and Lodge. Our family's name is all over in the history. Last but not least, why are we giving it up? Deb has moved it from room to room and corner to corner, in her home, since 1995. It needs to be somew w it will be cherished, cared for properly and appreciated for it's historic value. MEASUREMENTS : 30" tall, 13" upper dia. and 22" across the handles. It weighs about 35 lbs and will be about 40 lbs. when boxed. CONDITION ; The bark has slightly dried out and has shrank a little. The dark finish has been "bumped" off on some of the edges. It must have had a coat of shellac on it? It appears the "cap" on the top of one handles is gone. Otherwise...
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swedish wooden black
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