Birth certificate is hand done by artist using design elements from printed fraktur. Multicolor text is enclosed in a central arched arbor w/ flame finials. Text names Christian, a son of Jacob and Barbara (KIndig) Bachman, born 1827 in Lampeter Twp. Two confronting angels flank arbor and 2 additional text blocks of religious verse support arbor. A pavilion at bottom is flanked by blue trees & large colorful pinwheel flowers.
Border at sides and top have colorful, repeating floral/foliate motifs; top is arched. Hearts and flowers fill top corners. Above arbor is a large 4-point stylized star flanked by reclining trees.
Artist uses red, blue, light blue, black, yellow, white, green, orange and brown.
Inscribed on reverse in black ink is "No 4 made by Eli Haverstick 1834."
Provenance
Descent in Bachman family to donor. Two nearly identical birth certificates are known, for older sister Anne, b. 1823 (private owner-Barbara Ann Mable) and younger brother John, b. 1832 (G.96.9.1). Similarity suggests all were made at the same time in 1834.
Bachman family genealogy in file. See info on Christian Bachman in Mennonite Arts, 2002, pp. 56-57.
Conserved by Susan Duhl in 2001. Generally worn and discolored. Repair to edge tears & corner loss. Abrasions & paper fill in top right corner were in-painted with watercolor. Tape at back of top edge is now removed w/ remaining stain. See report in file.
Object ID
G.00.23.1
Notes
Haverstick is believed to be a teacher due to being absent on tax rolls for Conestoga Twp.
Christian Bachman (1827-1901) became a prominent cabinetmaker in eastern Lancaster County, just like his father Jacob Bachman (1798-1867). He married Barbara Buckwalter in 1855. After marriage, he moved to Strasburg where he set up his own shop.
Place of Origin
Conestoga Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
In memory of Charles Bachman, grandson of Christian Bachman, by his son Charles Bachman, Jr. and family.
East End School, Conestoga. Teacher, George Lawrence. Students are: Front row, left to right: Wesley Warfel, Charles Kneisley, Olive Trissler, Elizabeth Markley, Ruth Martin, Mary Markley, Mary Sickman, Ruth Sickman, Hattie Hallman, Olive Markley, Arthur Mattin, John Trissler, Ira Hallman. Second row, left to right: Clarence Wade, Paul Hollow, William Hallman, Jacob Hallman, Clarence Hollow, Elmer Markley, Lloyd Kline, Ira Markley, Warren Sickman, Harry Kneisley,Maris Warfel, Cyrus Biechler, Paul Biechler. Back row, left to right: Grace Benedict, Edna Kreider, Reba Wade, Martha Trissler, George Lawrence, Margaret Beichler, Camilla Beichler, Emily Biechler, Sara Trissler, Mabel Hallman.
