Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

GLASS BULBS/BALLS

Date Range From

1960

Date Range To

1970

Materials

GLASS, CARDBOARD

No. Pieces

30

Height

11

Length

31.5

Width

26

Description

NATURAL COLOURED CARDBOARD BOX DECORATED WITH EVERGREEN BRANCHES, CONTAINS A DOUBLE LAYER OF CHRISTMAS BALLS OF ASSORTED DESIGNS AND COLOURS. BOTTOM TRAY HAS 6 SOLID RED, AND ONE SILVER AND BLUE GLASS BALLS. TOP TRAY HAS 18 ASSORTED GLASS BULBS. TRAYS ARE CARDBOARD, AND HAVE A CARDBOARD SHEET SEPERATING THE TWO LAYERS. BOX HAS A CLEAR CELLOPHANE TOP TO VIEW BULBS. SOME TOPS OF THE BALLS ARE BROKEN, AND OTHERS STILL HAVE METAL HANGERS.

Subjects

ART

CEREMONIAL ARTIFACT

Historical Association

DECORATIVE ARTS

History

HISTORY UNKNOWN. DATE IS APPROXIMATE. *UPDATE* IN 2018, GALT COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A RELEVANCY AUDIT OF THE MUSEUM’S BOXED TEXTILE COLLECTION WHICH INCLUDED THE EXAMINATION OF A RECORD FOR A WEDDING GOWN DONATED BY ELAINE MARTIN IN 1994. PUNDYK RE-CONNECTED WITH MARTIN ON APRIL 18TH 2018 TO SOLICIT NEW COMMENTS ON THE GOWN AS WELL AS NEW INFO ON OTHER EXISTING DONATIONS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ARTIFACT, ELAINE MARTIN SAID “THAT I DONATED AND AGAIN, I WISH I WOULDN’T HAVE, NOW THAT WE HAVE A MUSEUM OUT AT PICTURE BUTTE. BECAUSE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS CHANGE SO MUCH THAT I THOUGHT PERHAPS SOMEDAY YOU WOULD MAKE A CHRISTMAS DISPLAY HERE WITH OLD FASHIONED ORNAMENTS ON IT AND THEY COULD BE INCLUDED. IT WAS JUST TO PRESERVE HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I’M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR FAMILY. … I’M SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN[IN ACTIVE USE UNTIL THEY WERE DONATED], YES.” “- IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL, THE WHOLE SEASON… IN FACT IT’S BEEN YEARS AND YEARS SINCE WE EXCHANGED GIFTS. IT’S BEING TOGETHER THAT’S THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US. EVEN THE FOOD WE VARY, WE EITHER HAVE POTLUCK OR HAVE IT CATERED. NONE OF US WANT TO SLAVE OVER A TURKEY SO WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN LOW KEY, JUST THE EASIEST AND MOST RELAXING THAT WE CAN HAVE. I DON’T KNOW, I THINK THAT PROBABLY THOSE ORNAMENTS, I WOULD ASSUME, WERE BOUGHT IN TABER, BECAUSE THAT WAS WHEN WE LIVED ON THE FARM. THAT WAS REALLY OUR CLOSET SHOPPING. YOU KNOW WE HAD THERE WAS THE LITTLE TOWNS ALL AROUND FOR GROCERIES, MAIL AND MEAT AND STUFF BUT FOOD - FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, I’M SURE WE WOULD HAVE GONE TO TABER, AND IN THOSE DAYS WE WENT TO MEDICINE HAT TOO BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE HOSPITAL AND THE DOCTORS WERE. SO TABER OR MEDICINE HAT.” ON HER DECISION TO DONATE THE ARTIFACTS, “IT IS CERTAINLY NOTHING SENTIMENTAL. IT’S JUST PURELY PRACTICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ERA BECAUSE TIMES HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH SO RAPIDLY, THAT I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER HOW THINGS WERE. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A THOUSAND KIDS IN MAY AND JUNE COME THROUGH THE MUSEUM WITH THE TRACTOR CLUB IN PICTURE BUTTE ON FIELD TRIPS AND THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE USED TO LIVE IN TWO ROOM HOUSES WITH SEVERAL CHILDREN. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SCHOOLS USED TO HAVE A WATER PAIL AND A DIPPER, AND EVERYBODY DRANK OUT OF THE SAME DIPPER, SO KIDS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE IT PRETTY DARN LUCKY.” FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDING INTERVIEW AND INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE P19870048001.

Catalogue Number

P19970067000

Acquisition Date

1997-07

Collection

Museum

Less detail