Trivia Advent Calendar

[Gene C]

They have chocolate advent calendars in the states. When I was 8, I refused to leave Toys R Us until I got one.

How did you get home?

[Thomas Kearney]

I stood in the aisle until my parents came with the Lego one. They were in the store with me the entire time.

[J. Beckert]

Welcome back to day 5 of the Trivia Advent Calendar fun! While Eva is busy wooing the Bundestag this week, I'll be filling in.

I just love going to museums. Don't you? And every-time I do, I try and turn it into a "living history" experience. Which for me means - touching their historical stuff. It's usually frowned upon, but why should they bogart all the cool stuff they have? Cordoned off areas, chains and "Alarm will sound" signs mean nothing to me in my pursuit of connecting, on a personal level, with historical things. This is why I'm banned from any future tours at the Surratt Tavern without a chaperone, a leash and a shock collar, but it gives me an immense, intrinsic satisfaction. Today's installment highlights one of my many achievements.

Take a look and see if you can figure out what it is and where I violated decorum to get this shot.    

[RJNorton]

In the past you have posted that you have been to Hildene, so I will ask if you can tell us if this is from Hildene?

[Eva Elisabeth]

As for the "what" - black painted wood, carved rose decor - a mourning picture frame?

[J. Beckert]

Roger - yes
Eva - no

[Eva Elisabeth]

No in all points? (No black painted wood, no carved rose? No frame of any other kind?)
Looks like it's lying on a mattress. Is that where one would usually find the item?

[J. Beckert]

Sorry, Eva. It is carved wood and it does appear to be a rose design. Can't say if it is painted black, but it looks black. That's a pretty close shot. It is where it would be easily seen. Or touched, if you will.

[RJNorton]

Astronomy was a lifelong interest of Robert T. Lincoln. Is it related to this?

[Thomas Kearney]

It's the top of a rocking chair.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Joe - still I wonder - is it a frame? Or - what about the mattress - somehow a bed-related item?

It is where it would be easily seen. Or touched, if you will.

[J. Beckert]

Sorry, Roger. It's not related to astonomy.

It's not a rocking chair, Thomas, but it is a piece of furniture.

Eva - it's not a mattress or bed. Technically not a "frame" in the picture frame sense, but it is a border.

[Thomas Kearney]

A sofa

[RJNorton]

Is it (whatever it is) from this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9qWSDjwXxY

[L Verge]

To parrot Thomas (who has a habit of doing that to others), the back ornamentation of the sofa - or a chair - in the parlor or study at Hildene?