Object lesson box
E. J. Arnold & Son Ltd
Category
Education objects
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood, glass, cork, paper, plastic, honeycomb, wax, heather and insect
Measurements
Box - 304 mm (width); 75 mm (height); 229 mm (depth)
Place of origin
Leeds
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 670967
Summary
A wooden case with a hinged glass lid framed in wood. The case fastens with a metal hook and eye. The interior of the case is divided into six compartments. The largest compartment contains sheets of honeycomb. The compartment above this is labelled 'Metamorphosis Of A Honeybee (Apis Mellifica)'. This compartment is divided into ten sub compartments which are labelled and contain glass phials as follows: 1. Egg; 2. Lavae; 3. Cocoon; 4. Nympha; 5. Imago; 6. Wax Scales; 7. Honey; 8. Pollen; 9. Propolis; 10. Ant. Each of the phials has a cork stopper and some, but not all, contain what is described on their respective labels. Another compartment contains three glass phials, with cork stoppers, which are labelled as follows: 19. Sheet Wax; 20. Wax Foundation; 21. Natural Wax. Another compartment contains three identical phials which are labelled: 22. Bleached Wax; 23. Paper of Hornet; 24. Heather. Another compartment has three circular recesses which each contain a circular plastic lidded box. The compartment is labelled as follows: 11. Queen Bee; 12. Worker Bee; 13. Drone Bee; 14. Hornet; 16. Wasp; 15. Bumble Bee. The left-hand circular box contains three bees which are labelled as follows: 12. Worker Bee; 11. Queen Bee; 13. Drone Bee. The middle circular box contains a label which reads: 14. Hornet which is attached to a Hornet; 16. Wasp, and there is a wasp. The right-hand circular box contains a broken bumble bee; 15. Bumble Bee. Inside a square compartment with glass top and bottom is a piece of honeycomb and two objects. The compartment is labelled 17. Empty Comb-work and 18. Queen Cell. Five of the compartments are removable. The manufacturers label has become torn and detached from a 'wall' separating compartments. The case also contains a fifteen page booklet entitled 'Bee-Life'. Total number of items is 33.
Marks and inscriptions
On the cover of the booklet: 'THE 'A.L.'// NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS.// Edited by ALFONZO GARDINER.// CASE NO.2.// BEE-LIFE.// [C]OMPLETE, including Packing Case, 13/6 nett.// [ARN]OLD and SON, Ltd., Educational Publishers// LEEDS AND GLASGOW.'
Makers and roles
E. J. Arnold & Son Ltd, engraver and publisher