Flintlock long rifle by Melchoir Fordney has a 44-inch octagonal rifled barrel, 44 caliber, with tooling & brass insets has "M Fordney" on top near lock. Elaborately relief-carved full-length curly maple stock has engraved mounts: side plate (w/ squared ends), trigger guard (few did this), butt plate, muzzle cap and rear ramrod pipes. Cheek side of stock has a silver inlaid double eagle; engraved oval silver plate on top of stock behind lock. Engraved brass patch box with horse head terminal is of the later Lancaster type due to exposed wood between lid and upper & lower plates. Hickory ramrod.
The top of the barrel is signed "M Fordney" in script. The engraved lock is marked "DREPPERD", a lock used by many Lancaster gunmakers. See NOTES.
Trigger and lock rusted. Minor wear on wood and brass. Long crack in stock under barrel has amateur glue repair (seen when ramrod removed).
Object ID
P.77.04
Notes
See:
The PA-Kentucky Rifle, Kauffman, pp. 229-231.
Joe Kindig, Jr., Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle..., pp. 130 ff. (this rifle on p. 136).
Reprint of Lancaster Examiner and Herald, Wed, Oct. 21, 1846; 1847 "Report of the Trial & Conviction of John Haggerty..."
H.J. Kauffman writes Fordney was 1st listed as a gunmaker on Lancaster Borough's tax lists in 1813 (an 1846 news article states 1811 and gives his genealogy). His shop was in the 5th block of So. Queen where he worked until his tragic death in 1846 at the hands of an axe-wielding neighbor. Fordney created guns in a unique style with old-style carving and engraved patterns that were "cut deeply and profusely," comparable to some of the best in Pa.
Kindig notes Fordney was first listed as a gunmaker on tax list of 1811 in Lancaster. In 1835 he and his wife agreed to separate and in 1839 he sold his home on S. Queen St. While apparently living elsewhere in town in 1846, his death occurred at the hands of a neighbor, John Haggerty, a religious fanatic who was incensed because Fordney was living with a common-law wife. He attacked Fordney outside, then inside, his gun shop, killing him with blows to the head with an axe.
Kindig states Fordney was one of the finest Lancaster gunsmiths, making "distinctive rifles that are particularly outstanding for their engraving." He likely engraved "more extensively" than any other gunmakers during the Golden Age; he was one of a few who engraved the trigger guard. HJ Kauffman notes his wood carving is also exceptional.
This was one of four guns stolen from a wall case Aug. 17, 2000 by workmen in the Masonic Lodge, but later recovered.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Copper Teakettle has large 7-quart round body, domed lid with brass button knob attached to a metal base visible inside. Goose-neck spout. One vertical dove-tailed seam opposite spout, straight seam along top of spout and short seam underneath. Dove-tailed bottom. Arched handle hinged at chordal sector tab bases with three rivets each.
Maker's mark on top center of handle within serrated rectangular reserve: "7 JOHN.GETZ 7"
Made by John Getz (working 1801-1840).
Provenance
See 2009 materials sent by Shelley Horvath Poston (dau. of Don Horvath).
Copper has many dents and scratches. Significant 3 1/2" series of dents down the side opposite the spout and one under lid finial. Heavily soldered repair joint at base of spout.
Object ID
P.80.115
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Copper tea kettle, classic form with gooseneck spout, high dome lid, marked strap handle hinged on "plinth w/ serifs" tab bases. Lid fitted with a crudely fashioned replaced iron or steel mushroom-shaped finial, bent to one side.
Vertical dove-tailed seam on side opposite spout, top seam running length of spout. Dove-tailed bottom.
Tarnished with numerous dents and scratches over body. Two very heavy dents at shoulder, opposite each other and one on bottom. Finial knob bent to one side. Two significant cracks on proper right side at shoulder and one on back.
Object ID
P.01.48.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Large copper teakettle with rounded body, goose-neck spout and hinged handle having a medium arc, mounted on shaped flanges with three rivets. The domed lid has a small brass mushroom knob (replaced). Dovetailed seams on bottom and vertical seam on side opposite spout. Seamed repair to spout tip.
"F. STEINMAN" is stamped on the handle within a reserve.
Provenance
Transferred from Heritage Center Collection, Dec. 2012
Jack Brubaker, The Steinmans of Lancaster, pp. 11-15.
HJ Kauffman, Early American Copper, Tin & Brass, 1995, pp. 42-43.
HJ Kauffman, American Copper & Brass, 1979, p. 65.
Height (in)
13
Width (in)
16
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2013-11-13
Condition Notes
Many dents and overall wear. HJK says handle slightly shortened (likely done by him). Tip of spout replaced. Plugged hole in bottom. Replaced knob. Stamped name very worn. Tarnished with polish residue where the spout, handle, and lid meet the main body.
Object ID
G.77.14
Notes
When his father died in 1758, John Frederick Steinman, Sr. (1752-1823) moved with his mother to Lititz from his birthplace, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His mother remarried a few years later to John Christophe Heyne, a tinsmith and pewterer from Lancaster. The shop of Heyne and Steinman would become known as Steinman's Hardware Store, the oldest hardware store in America.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Gift of Henry J. Kauffman
Copper pint measure or mug. Straight sides taper in toward mouth with rolled lip edge. Strap handle anchored with 2 rivets at top; one at base. Keyed seam beneath handle. Some tinning remains on interior.
Handle is stamped "(E)ICHHOLTZ". Letter "E" is partially hidden at top.
Provenance
Purchased by Gunnions at Conestoga Auction circa March 1986.
Heritage Center purchased from Gunnion Antiques Aug. 1986
Tom Ryan, The Worlds of Jacob Eichholtz., pp. 1-3 and 82.
Henry Kauffman, American Copper and Brass, p. 119.
Height (in)
4.5
Width (in)
4.5
Diameter (in)
3.25
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2013-11-18
Condition Notes
Interior worn with some corrosion. Handle split below top left rivet. Small to significantly larger dents on sides and bottom. Some scratches from general wear. Surface has been polished and lacquered. Some polish residue visible at both the rolled lip and rolled base.
First "H" and "T" of "ichholtz" are very worn.
Object ID
P.86.3
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation.
Stoneware storage jar with applied lug handles, salt-glazed, gray ovoid body with prominent lip and brushed cobalt blue decoration on sides and at applied handles. One side has a bifurcated flower with oval cartouche centered between flowers. Within cartouche is maker's mark "H GAST/ West Orange/ LANCASTER". Opposing side has a flower with 3 branches.
Gast established himself on W. Orange St. in 1834, but moved to 416 Manor St. in 1838. Thus, this jar was made sometime 1834 to 1838. Gast was the principal supplier of stoneware in the city for over 40 years, His son joined him in the mid 1850s.
Provenance
Unknown.
See Phil Schaltenbrand, "Big Ware Turners," 2002, pp. 18-20.
8-day clock works by George Hoff, Jr. (1788-1822) installed in a curly maple Federal style case signed by either J(acob) Stein/Stine or J(osiah) Shufflebottom (inside waist section). White painted dial signed with maker's name and "Lancaster". Moon wheel above. Scroll pediment has turned roundels and urn finials. Bonnet has applied carving under center finial, free-standing turned columns at front and back, arched side lights and reeded base moldings. Chamfered quarter columns on waist and base. Reeded moldings at top and bottom of waist. Door has shield inlay at lock escutcheon and ghosting from a now-removed metal escutcheon. French bracket feet.
"Hertzler" is etched onto top surface of bonnet top. Signed inside waist: appears to be either Josiah Shufflebottom or Jacob Stein/Stine.
Provenance
Donor states clock was part of the furnishings in the home of her grandparents John B. and Emma (Groff) Hertzler at 131 E. Orange St., Lancaster. Hertzler was a banker at The Lancaster Trust Company in early 20th c..
John J. Snyder states Stine was listed on tax lists 1817-19 and Shufflebottom worked c. 1811-1848. Both were cabinetmakers in Lancaster Borough.
Dial paint is crazed. Base has large cracks on both sides and lifting veneer and crack at front. Dents and other scarring on cove molding at top of base. Small cracks on left side of hood.
Works cleaned and repaired by Paul Warfel, 1980. Glazing in door replaced by curator Bruce Shoemaker, 1983, due to crack.
Object ID
G.77.25.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Elizabeth H. Nichols in memory of John and Emma Groff Hertzler, Heritage Center Collection
Large white cotton Framed Center quilt, with extensive applique and stuffed work. The applique technique is called "broderie perse" (of cut-out chintz elements) with fruit surrounding the center medallion. Also appliqued are two types of pieced 8-point stars, and 9-patches. Extensive stuffed & corded work executed in vines, flowers, grapes, melon-like fruit and leaves. Center medallion has stuffed initials "MG" above "1810". Main quilted designs are waffle, wedding ring, shell and parallel lines. Cotton batting and white cotton back. No binding; turned edges sewn together.
Inscriptions: "JNS" (J. Nevin Schroeder) stamped on back of top right corner and "331" written in ink on back of top left corner.
Made by Ann Margaret Gundaker, daughter of wealthy Lutheran merchant Michael (1753-1815) and Barbara Walter Gundaker, residing at S.E. corner of East King & Lime Sts., before her 1816 marriage to Robert Evans (c. 1791-1831). She had been a student at the Moravian School for Girls in Lititz (now Linden Hall) in 1805-06 where she certainly received instruction in needlework. This quilt is the earliest known dated Lancaster County quilt and has descended through five generations of Evans, Locher, and Schroeder families. Trish Herr notes this quilt illustrates the English influence on quilts made in prosperous Pa.German households.
Provenance
Descent in family from Gundaker to Evans to Locher to donor (see letter from Pat K. Conner to Mrs. Shroeder). Donor received quilt from her mother-in-law Mira Locher Schroeder.
1. Documented in Quilt Harvest #419A.
2. See G.01.51.1-.6 for other signed Gundaker textiles.
3. Pat Keller wrote 2009 article in Chester Co. H.S. book LAYERS, noting similarities in stuffed work between this quilt & a Chester Co. quilt, suggesting communication via a network of sanguinity or friendship. (See copy this file)
Generally moderate wear overall with many small yellow-brown scattered stains. Torn along top edge, 13" from left corner. Chintz appliques are deterioration with somoe losses.
Object ID
G.93.08.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Mrs. J. Nevin Schroeder in memory of Mira Loche
Pennsylvania Long Rifle; percussion cap; curly maple stock; iron barrel stamped "H. GIBBS" on top of barrel. Brass fittings and patch box. Some rust on iron and brass parts. Approximately .40 caliber muzzle. 44" barrel with an overall length of 61 inches.
See notes for information on Gibbs.
Provenance
Purchased by donor (Walt Dunlap) at auction in Lancaster County in 1956.
Henry Gibb Sr. and his son Henry Gibb were Lancaster City gunsmiths active for most of the nineteenth century. The father from 1812 until 1843 and the son from 1843 until 1880.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
a) Silver teapot with carved wooden handle; with three letter script monogram and decorative flourish on two sides; decorated base; gallery row. Stamped "D HALL" on bottom.
