Help identifying an old item found after friends dad went to a nursing home

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DoreenK

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Hello all,
I was wondering if any of you know exactly what this is. My friends dad recently went to a nursing home and when we were cleaning out his house in Ohio, we found this in the basement. We are thinking it is a sick call cabinet. Any opinions?? Any idea how old it might be? It is just so beautiful. Thanks! Doreen



(I hope these links work :))
 
Doreen, that’s absolutely beautiful. Yes, it’s a sick call set but it looks like it may have been custom-made. I do not recall any being sold that looked like this - usually it’s a Crucifix that is hollowed out. And it looks quite old too.

You are very fortunate to have this in your possession. Take good care of it. It’s a real beauty!
 
I think it’s beautiful too! The bottom of the cabinet opens down where the hearts are painted and inside attached are two metal candle holders. We are just so curious as to the history of it. My friend has no clue where it came from. Just like you said - everyone we ask has “never seen one like this before”. The only thing we can come up with is that maybe when he was in WWII he bought it over there somewhere… Thanks again!!
 
DoreenK said:
I think it’s beautiful too! The bottom of the cabinet opens down where the hearts are painted and inside attached are two metal candle holders. We are just so curious as to the history of it. My friend has no clue where it came from. Just like you said - everyone we ask has “never seen one like this before”. The only thing we can come up with is that maybe when he was in WWII he bought it over there somewhere… Thanks again!!
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The only other one I’ve seen like it was [thread=262329]posted here a a while back[/thread].

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Thanks! It does resemble that one! The cabinet is quite large and has a wire on the back to hang it on the wall. Anyone know where these originated?
 
DoreenK said:
I think it’s beautiful too! The bottom of the cabinet opens down where the hearts are painted and inside attached are two metal candle holders. We are just so curious as to the history of it. My friend has no clue where it came from. Just like you said - everyone we ask has “never seen one like this before”. The only thing we can come up with is that maybe when he was in WWII he bought it over there somewhere… Thanks again!!
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From the photo, the picture seems to be in a somewhat unusual style. Something about the style strikes me as familiar, but I don’t know why.

Anyway, a few questions come to mind:

(1) what is the ethnic background of the gentleman? His wife?
(2) where did the gentleman serve in WWII?
(3) there are two small pieces of printed paper (parchment?) on the table, each showing a wood-cut. What language is the text written in? Is there a “printed in” notation on the reverse?
 
What an interesting item!

I couldn’t read the printing on the two sheets-too small-but the left one that’s partially folded has a picture of St. Lucy *. The other picture looks like St. Louise de Marillac, the co-foundress of the Daughters of Charity.

Yes, I’d be curious as to where the man served in WW II. Germany or Italy, perhaps?

Keep us posted!*
 
He is Italian and served in Germany. Yes, the first picture says Santa Lucia 1931 under it. The other card is a picture of Blessed Louise De Marillac and then goes on to tell about her. On the back of the card it has her prayer, the prayer of Blessed Louise, and the Prayer to the Angel Guardian. At the bottom it says that it was printed by The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. Of course, the cards may not have come with the box, but may have been placed in there at some point. I should have also mentioned, that the glass on the cabinet is painted from inside. I can’t find any makers marks anywhere on the cabinet.
 
My parents had one of these and I just loved it. After I was married and out of the house it suddenly “disappeared” and I’ve never seen it since 😦

How I wish I had known they were getting rid of it, I’d have bought it off of them!
 
I guess I should also mention that he has Alzheimer’s and that is why we are unable to ask him. 😦 It’s so sad. There were so many things found at the house that my friend would love to be able to ask him about.
 
Looking at this again, in light of the further information, I noticed that there is text in English (… “Thy Holy Name” but I cannot make out the first words) under the glass. That would likely rule out its having been acquired in Europe during WWII. So, too, does the date on the Santa Lucia card. The picture of the Holy Family has almost an art-deco look to it, (which would date it before WWII) but I still can’t place the style with any certainty.
 
I went back and took a longer look at the inscription below the Holy Family image: it says, "Blessed Be Thy Holy Name’. The flash from the camera ‘bounced’ off the glass, so it obscured the first part of the words.
 
Anyone have an ideas on where I can further my research? I’d like to try and determine where it was made and the age! Thanks! Doreen
 
When I went home for Easter my mother gave me my great-grandmother’s sick call box. I am going to take it to one our priests to learn more about it. Among the many items in the box, there is a little brush with long bristles.
 
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