Hand-drawn, lettered and colored fraktur is a Birth and Baptismal Certificate made for Johannes Muller b. 13 Apr 1771 in what was then Lebanon Twp. Lancaster Co. (Lebanon created 1813). Center text block has biographical information and 3 lines of scripture below mentioning the cedars of Lebanon (final 3 words). Double-line blue border surrounds top and sides of text. Along top of border are 28 green trees (likely cedars of Lebanon) and a winged cherub's head over all. A pair of identical redcoat soldiers are at each side of text block, one above the other. Each has a tall black hat with "tail", a long cane, a sword, moustaches and a long pigtail tied with a bow. Top two soldiers have a leafy twig extending from mouths, and all four stand on small green trees, similar to the above. At bottom is an arched branch of stylized leaves, a center 8-point flower and two downturned tulip-like flowers at sides. Colors used are green, yellow and red with blue line border.
Parents were Johannes(?) Muller and wife Susanna, born an Alomer(?). REb. Buchry(?) baptised him at unknown date. Witnesses were Johanes Schweigert and wife Lehnore.
Pencil calculation done under first text block is "Died Sept. 13, 1860. Aged Eighty nine years & five months."
Lebanon Twp., Lancaster Co. (now Lebanon Co., formed in 1813)
Perhaps made by Christian Mertel or similar artist (per F. Weiser).
Structurally intact but color still good. Some breaking at fold lines and some raised and folded fold lines. Brown moisture stains over most of surface with dark, heavy tide lines. Two pieces of cellophane tape along left side where soldiers' hat "tails" have iron gall ink losses. Paper edges worn, torn, with losses, creases and folds. Various losses (holes), mostly where iron gall ink was used. Frame not likely original to fraktur. High profile beaded moldings on a walnut frame; finish aged with craquelure.
Object ID
2017.999.2
Notes
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred Weiser, Sept. 2, 1988. He says it was reproduced in Landis Valley catalog.
The Fraktur was included in a Landis Valley publication called "Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Color Drawings, Exhibited at Pennsylvania Farm Museum of Landis Valley, Lancaster, Pennsylvania," 1969. Plate #71. In LancasterHistory library (740 P415)
Fragment of very significant colored drawing by Sussel-Washington artist of colonial lady on horseback, titled "Laydy Washingdon" at bottom. Muted colors of red and brown. Only the center portion with right and bottom sides remain.
Sussel Washington Artist, active 1760-1785. Lancaster or Berks County
Remnant of original is pasted onto highly acidic brown Kraft paper. About half remains, with strong damage with loss of top and left sections. Extensive silverfish damage with holes and very ragged edges along left side. Additional surface/paint loss on horse's neck and chest. Darkened from acid and age. Blotchy stains overall. Taped at top to matboard with hinged window mat.
Object ID
2017.999.14
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. He states value of whole would be at least $35,000. Marked fraktur #17 during this event.
Birth record on small piece of laid paper. Mounted in off-white window mat with 2 paper hinges at top. Outside border is 0.375" wide with dotted line zig-zags and small comma like motifs decorating remaining space. Some of lower border was cut off. Appears to be a partial page, cut from the same source as the pair of full-page Tschantz family record (2017.999.29) recording 4 births. It is certainly the same handwork & almost certainly pages removed from a Bible.
This entry for Abraham Tschantz consists of 7 lines of German text, fraktur style lettering, randomly alternating from red to black ink. Reads: "Anno 1750 auf Faustinus Tag, / d 15ten Febr. ist Abraham Tschantz, / gebohren im Zeichen des Schorpian. / Gedenck im allen, was du thust, dass / du nur Gott gefallen must, dies sey dein / gantzes Werck auf Erden, wen du wilst / Gottes Burger werden." (In the year 1750 on Faustinus Day, 15, Feb., Abraham Tschantz was born in the sign of Scorpio. Ponder in everything you do that you must only please God. Let this be your whole work on earth if you wish to be God's citizen.)
10th "Series" of Penna. Archives, Vol. 156, p. 423.
See related pages (2017.999.29) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded Tschantz births.
Height (cm)
13.0175
Height (ft)
0.4270833333
Height (in)
5.125
Width (cm)
18.415
Width (ft)
0.6041666667
Width (in)
7.25
Dimension Details
Matboard is H: 7" W: 9"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
0017-08-24
Condition Notes
Light darkened and embrittled/fragile. Edges are very ragged with losses and folded back paper. A 3 1/2 " long curved tear/break from bottom left to the word "Febr.". Bottom of page with border has been cut off.
Object ID
2017.999.20
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #24 during this event.
See pair of related pages for birth entries of (2017.999.29) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded birth of Abraham.
Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822. Abraham died 26 May 1838.
Mounted Family Record on 2 pages of laid paper, almost certainly from a Bible, with entries for children of Abraham Tschantz (See his record by the same artist/scrivener as 2017.999.20). Page edges have a border decorated with dotted line zig zag motif with squiggles. In fraktur hand in German, the birth entries are listed under a heading "Verzeichnis" (record/list) on first page that translates "Register of my children when they were born." Lettering is done in either black or red ink.
Two births listed on first page are Jacob born 31 Dec 174(?) on St. Silvester's Day in the Sign of Aquarius. Next is Johannes born 29 Feb 1748 on St. Nestor's Day in the Sign of the Lion. Horizontal border under heading and also between birth entries. Each has a few religious lines exhorting them to follow Jesus.
Second page lists Barbara born 28 Jan 1754 on St. Charles Day in the Sign of the Ram, immediately followed by "In the year 1767 on Sept 4th the Lord took her from this world into eternity. Next entry is David born 17 Sept 1759 on St. Lambert's Day in the Sign of the Lion, but in the year 1767 on Aug 25 the Lord took him into eternity. Both children died within about 10 days of each other.
See related half page birth entry for father Abraham Tschantz (2017.999.20) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded births of Tschantz children.
Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822. Abraham died 26 May 1838.
Height (cm)
30.48
Height (ft)
1
Height (in)
12
Width (cm)
17.78
Width (ft)
0.5833333333
Width (in)
7
Dimension Details
Mount is 16" x 20"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-10-02
Condition Notes
Mounted together in double window. Pages are brown with age and have some small stains. All edges are battered with small tears, small-to-medium losses, and folds. Significant number of red letters have bled. Most edges of each page have cellophane type tape on back to stabilize.
Conservation needed.
Object ID
2017.999.29
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988 as # 25. Valued at $800.
Abraham "Shannts", born 1750, is listed in Ten "Series" of "Pennsylvania Archives", Vol. 156, p. 423.
A Lancaster Menno. Hist. Society record states he is listed in the Hannes Eby Burial Record: death ca.26 May 1838 in Leacock, PA.
In 1810 Census, an Abraham Tschantz is listed with 9 household members in Warwick Twp.
LHO library's Family File for JOHNS family notes Abraham is buried near Mechanicsburg, Upper Leacock Twp., apparently along with his brothers Jacob (b. 1746) and Johannes (b. 1748). Reference is made to the Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections which records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822.
Transcription & translation Oct 2017 by Elsbeth Steffensen.
NOTE: Gift of Irene N. Walsh (reimbursed purchase price).
Birth record in German for Barbara Eschlemann made on laid paper by the Johannes Schopp/Schopf Artist. Paper has Ephrata watermark (CIB with tulip design). Framed in old frame of softwood with dark, crazed finish and applied blocks at corners.
Execution is typical of this artist's design. Horizontal orientation has outer and inner double-line borders with central heart having an open ring at top from which emanate vining flowers. Space between inner and outer borders is especially full with typical flowers of muted colors as well as a crown at top and shells both at top and a large one at bottom center.
Within heart is the text: "Barbara Eschlemann/ Ist gebohren im Jahr unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesu/ Christi Anno 1777 den 8 Januarius. Morgens um/ 4 uhr, im Zeichendes. Steinbock." Additional text is added in muted ink within the space between heart and inner border. At left is: "Gott allein/ Hilf dahichseyvonher(?)/ heu from(?) ohn alle heucheley(?)." At right is: "die Ehre/ damit mein gankes(?)/ Christenthum, dir Wohlgefalligley(?)."
Breaking at fold lines; two corners missing and two corners with small holes. Three-inch tear extends from left bottom corner to right side. Tear at bottom, 2" from right corner, extends upward 1/2-inch. Additional tears with losses at bottom, esp. at center. Reverse has paper tape repairs: vertical strip entire length of center fold line and shorter strip along bottom from center to torn corner. Several moisture stains along bottom.
Frames\'s wood backing removed and replaced with acid free backing, Dec. 2004.
Object ID
P.05.51.1
Notes
Gift of Irene N. Walsh (reimbursed purchase price).
See G77.50.11 for another Birth Record by Schoff Artist (done for Anna Schenck). Additional Schoff pieces are photocopied in this file.
Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp. 675-676.
Earnest, Fraktur: Folk Art & Family, pp. 99, 109.
Weiser & Heaney, Pa Germ. Fraktur in the Free Library of Phila. #870-872.
Birth record in German for Barbara Eschlemann made on laid paper by Johannes Schopp/Schopf Artist. Paper has Ephrata watermark (CIB in tulip design). Framed in old frame of softwood with dark, crazed finish and applied blocks at corners.
Execution is typical of this artist's design with horizontal orientation, outer and inner double-line borders with central heart having an open ring at top from which emanate vining flowers. Space between inner and outer borders is especially full with typical flowers of muted colors as well as a crown at top and shells at top and a large one at bottom center.
(By Wendell Zercher)
Within the hearts is the text including Barbara Eschlemann's birthdate: 8 January 1777.
Provenance
Purchased by Irene Walsh from Russell D. Earnest Associates for $1,750.00. Received on 7 Dec. 2004.
Breaking at fold line; two corners missing and two corners with small holes. 3-inch tear extends from left bottom corner to right side. Tear at bottom, 2" from right corner, extends upward 1/2 inch. Additional tears with losses at bottom, esp. at center. Two extensive tape repairs made on reverse. Several moisture stains along bottom.
Fraktur presentation piece for Susanna Netzlin (Nissley?) Pressure-mounted on tan matboard and framed in small frame.
Watercolor and ink on rectangular, laid paper, done in dark brown red and yellow. Three bars of color at perimeter in red, yellow and dark green create outside border. Filling top half of inner space is the name of "Susanna Netzlin" written in large red letters, incorporating leafy vines with three different flowers.
Bottom half of page is filled with seven lines of German religious verse. Another leafy vine fills the bottom space adorned with four different flowers.
(Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
Donor, Mr. Clarke E. Hess of Lititz, PA, describes this page as a presentation piece done for Susanna Nissley (?) probably in Warwick Twp. Hess cites another example of this unknown artist's work in the book Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Color Drawings by Landis Valley Associates, 1969, plate #48 (a vorschrift done in 1769).
The $975.00 cost was reimbursed by Irene. N. Walsh.
Paper embrittled and very weak. Multiple breaks, holes and tears. Large holes at center of dark brown border on right side and bottom. Multiple areas of paint loss. White fibers attached to red border at left side and bottom. Soiled and stained overall. Paper edges are uneven with minor losses, especially corners at top and bottom left. Horizontal fold across center.
