Object of the Month: April 2025

Work Box: Walnut, fabric, metal, paper, 19^th Century

Gift of great nieces and nephew of Blanch Veary - Ann, Jill, Lindsey and Joe

Chosen by: Shani Collis, Collections Access Officer

This box belonged to Blanche Veary.

Her family had moved to Leicester for work in the C19th. The Vearys were engineers and shopkeepers. Blanche's father, John Veary, owned a painting & decorating shop on Nedham Street and her mother ran a nursing home in their house on Melbourne Road. Blanche worked in various factories in Leicester including Corah's.

She was an accomplished knitter (she made hand knitted items for Joseph Johnson’s) and proficient needlewoman. The workbox contains a variety of patent needle cases, small enamel boxes, button hook, metal whistles and charms as well as little boxes of small haberdashery items.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout April at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.