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Object Timeline

1913

  • We acquired this object.

1991

1994

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2015

2025

  • You found it!

Bandbox, Walking Beam Sidewheeler

This is a Bandbox. It is dated ca. 1840 and we acquired it in 1913. Its medium is block printed paper on pasteboard support. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

One of the earliest areas where you see a social influence on wallpaper are designs with innovations in mobility. As people began exploring America’s scenic wonders in the 1820s, many Americans satisfied their wanderlust with river excursions, and the Hudson valley became a major destination. It was around this time manufacturers started printing designs that featured scenes of transportation and mobility.

Some of the earliest examples of this occur on bandboxes which were an article of mobility themselves. These were produced to store & transport men’s collar bands, and were popularly used for hat boxes, and general carryalls. The boxes generally consist of a block-printed paper on a pasteboard support and were most popular in America from the 1820-40s. It is a walking beam sidewheeler that is featured prominently on this bandbox, most likely on an excursion on the Hudson River. This became the vehicle of choice for both passengers and cargo navigating the rivers and was thought by many to be the most beautiful creation of man. The walking beam sidewheeler, the first steam-powered boat developed by Robert Fulton in 1807, was thought to be the perfect vehicle for river tours. Earlier papers show trains, steam engines & balloon launches. Later you find images of automobiles and airplanes. This was inspired by the wanderlust of the new middle class, who now had the funds and leisure time to travel.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Walking Beam Sidewheeler.

This object was donated by Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson. It is credited Gift of Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson.

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Sidewall (USA)
  • block printed on machine-made paper.
  • Gift of Wiscasset Public Library.
  • 1985-36-1-a/d
  •

Its dimensions are

39.5 x 29 x 26 cm (15 9/16 x 11 7/16 x 10 1/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Bandbox, Walking Beam Sidewheeler; USA; block printed paper on pasteboard support; 39.5 x 29 x 26 cm (15 9/16 x 11 7/16 x 10 1/4 in.); Gift of Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson; 1913-45-8-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18180123/ |title=Bandbox, Walking Beam Sidewheeler |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>