C. 1890s J.L. Hammett Boston Frobel Kindergarten Blocks, Gift No. 4 Japanese monkey 2 3/4" tall

2 3/4" tall

kept meeting notes and contact information for members while also occasionally slipping in one of these

which lend a lot of subtlety and also make it feel lush and visceral in person

and then (I think) feet of sorts carved at bottom

sword raised or at rest

C. 1890s J.L. Hammett Boston Frobel Kindergarten Blocks, Gift No. 4 Japanese monkey 2 3/4" tallI've had a couple of sets of very early Milton Bradley Froebel kindergarten blocks in the shop, but this is the first set I've found with a J. L Hammett Boston label, which makes them even rarer. The J. L Hammett company was formed in 1863 by John Hammett, credited with inventing the chalkboard eraser, as well as "slating paint" that extended the life of classroom slates. In 1890, Hammett sold the company to a group of Massachusetts investors, and in