Bookplate on a page from a Martyrs Mirror, done in the style of Ephrata Cloister with a flowing hand using strong, bold letters. Letters are black with green and orange infill. Bookplate simply reads: "Carl/ Christo/ phel." One flower is at top right and a stylized pot with plant having 3 flowers is at lower left. Page is float-mounted in a window mat with a handmade cherry frame.
Ephrata Cloister, Lancaster Co.
Removed from Martyrs Mirror by a previous owner (Evelyn Good) due to water damage to the book which was then discarded. The opposing page was also saved and is mounted in Mylar on reverse side of frame. It carries a ghost image of the bookplate; string from binding is visible.
Acquired with typewritten inscription mounted on back of frame states: "BOOKPLATE MADE FOR CARL CHRISTOPHEL FOR/ HIS COPY OF THE EPHRATA MARTYR'S MIRROR-1748./ WORK OF SISTER ANASTASIA THE PEN-ARTIST OF THE CLOISTER ABC PATTERN BOOK OF LETTERS."
According to Clarke Hess, the penwork is by an unknown Ephrata Cloister artist. Clarke notes that Carl Christophel was a deacon at New Danville Mennonite Church in Conestoga Twp.(now Pequea Twp.) He died in 1767.
In Masonic Lodge Fraktur exhibit for several years. Removed circa 2008.
On short-term exhibit at Historical Society of Cocalico Valley, 2010.
Unknown Ephrata Cloister artist
Provenance
Dr. Robbins purchased framed pages from Evelyn Yingst Good's sale, Sat., May 11, 1991, lot #152, for $3,800. Evelyn Good was an Ephrata librarian. Valued at $5000, Robbins sold to museum for $2,500, donating the other half. Irene Walsh then reimbursed museum for the $2,500.
Acid burned edges are brown; soiled along outside edges; stains and foxing. Moisture stain at top left. Remains of binding still attached at left. Moisture staining at upper left corner. Two minor tears at top center, with ragged edges overall. Paper losses within black ink.
Conserved by Marilyn Kemp Weidner of Phila.
Object ID
P.98.52.1
Place of Origin
Ephrata
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene Walsh and Dr. Warren Robbins, Heritage Center Collection
Light orange-brown brick with one dark face and consistent quality clay. Dark face shows much scratching, including very promnent I A one right side (or J A for John Andre, British officer). From fireplace of Caleb Cope house, 27 N Lime Street, Lancaster, where John Andre was a prisoner of war. Initials include those of of John Andre, Thomas Cope, and others.
Pair of English Queen Anne brass candlesticks (A & B).
Baluster shaft mounted on wide, square base with gadrooning and stepped edging. Vertical seams on shaft indicate cast parts. Metal pin inside candle cup anchors candle. Metal pin protrudes on underside of 4.625 inch square base.
Wrought iron chain of 0.75"-long oval links. One end of chain has large iron ring attached; nothing at other end.
Metal strip (42.1.1A) is unattached with unknown purpose. Dimensions are: 0.5" W 9.375" L and 1/16" Thick. Each end is slightly widened with two holes at each end.
Note attached to chain reads, "Wrought Iron Chain Pull for Door Bolt from building erected in 1756 in Lancaster, Pa"
Sackback Windsor chair claimed to be used in both Lancaster and Philadelphia in PA legislature.
Brass plaque on seat reads:
HAND MADE WINDSOR ELBOW CHAIRS / CIRCA 1750 / USED IN / LANCASTER AND PHILADELPHIA PA / BY MEMBERS OF THE / CONTINENTAL CONGRESS / AND / PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE / 1776 TO 1812 / PRESENTED BY HENRY SLAUGH / OCTOBER 12, 1961
This Windsor chair served members of the Continental Congress on September 27,1777, when Congress met for session in the original Courthouse on Lancaster's Center Square. It also served the Pennsylvania government from that same month until June 1778 during the British occupation of the City of Philadelphia. In 1784 when undergoing remodeling, a fire broke out destroying much of the building. Fortunately, many records and furnishings, including this chair, were recovered. Once rebuilt, the 'new' courthouse and this Windsor chair again served the state government from 1799 to 1812 when Lancaster was the capitol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A night commode chair that has a four-slat back crest with a Windsor arrow design at the lower back of the chair. The high back chair has turned legs, which are braced by ring-turned box stretchers. The seat has a hole cut out at its center with a separate wood lid with a wrought-iron handle fixed by two screws. The underside of the seat no longer has rabbets to support its zinc or lead chamberpot.
