Walnut schrank has two paneled doors on rat tail hinges, separated by a vertical panel; two drawers below with two brass handles and a keyhole each. Bold projecting removable cornice. The sides have two panels each. The schrank rests on five turnip feet, one at each corner and one at front center. The left interior has wooden pegs around all three sides near the top, and the right interior has three shelves.
Each door has two panels decorated with a carved fleur-de-lis motifs at corners and sulphur inlay which reads:
Upper left panel: "ABRAHAM/REIST"
Upper right panel: "ELISABETH/REISTIN"
Lower left panel: "ANO 1775"
Lower right panel: "DEN 8 MERTZ"
Clarke Hess research notes that Elizabeth Reist was a Kauffman and not a Metz (who was a later wife). The published Reist genealogy is incorrect on this point.
John J. Snyder, Jr. believes the shop that produced the sulphur inlaid furniture was likely located in central or north central Lancaster County.
Provenance
The schrank was owned by Abraham Reist (1737-1810), and then possibly by his son Abraham (1770-1852), who inherited his father's farm. According to previous owner, Henry T. Muth, the schrank was purchased at the Reist family sale for one dollar by Christian Martin in 1845 in Sun Hill, Penn Township. He owned it for 20 years. From 1865-1905 it was owned by Christian's son Tobias D. Martin, who gave it to his daughter Elizabeth Bausman Martin Muth (Mrs. William Henry Muth) who owned it from 1905-1940. It was then given to their son, Henry T. Muth, who owned it for 37 yrs. (1940 to 1977) after which he sent it to sale.
The schrank was refinished in the early 1900s by Elizabeth and William H. Muth at their home in Lititz. Son Fred Muth recalls the job being done by an old man from Lititz who came to their house to perform the job in their huge attic.
Bonnet-top high chest, walnut w/ yellow pine and poplar secondary wood. Pegged frame and panel construction. A bonnet top broken arch pediment surrounds the tympanum with a central round, concave shell carving. Large orb finial on plinth centered within broken arch. Upper section has five graduated drawer sections consisting of three small drawers over two drawers over three long single drawers, all cock-beaded with bail brasses and escutcheons. Pulls not original; ghosting visible of original brasses. Quarter columns have wide chamfers with double fluting.
Upper chest rests on stepped-out lower chest having one long drawer flanked by two small ones and two more small drawers below these. Cutout apron at bottom. Very wide chamfered & fluted quarter columns. Cabriole legs with trifid feet and stocking detail.
Make is unknown.
Lancaster County, probably Churchtown area
Provenance
Chest originally belonged to the Old family, prominent ironmasters of Lancaster and Berks Co. It may have been owned first by James Old (1730-1809) or one of his children. The chest later passed from Miss Harriet Old to the Hopkins family at Conowingo Furnace, Drumore Twp., Lancaster County.
Overall abrasions, scars and small losses of wood. 4" crack in pediment, left of finial. Significant grouping of gashes 4"x 3" spanning 2nd & 3rd level drawers, at left. Entire front of top chest detaching from sides. Piece at top of left stile, under cornice, is broken & poorly repaired. Deep horizontal 7" crack on left side of base unit. Vertical crack entire length of right side of top. 1 12" long gouge on stile of right front leg. White flecks on right front leg. Brasses tarnished with some rust.
Object ID
P.78.76
Notes
Exhibit label information:
John J. Snyder, Jr. suggests many points of similarity with a Q.A Phila. highboy owned by diarist Christopher Marshall who brought chest along with him when he moved to Lancaster Co. "on the eve of the Revolutionary War." (Winterthur collections). This chest may have inspired the design of the Old chest.
Wide fluted chamfered corners similar to a Q.A. secretary (G.03.1.1) formerly owned by the Jenkins family of Churchtown. Similar to a case of Geo. Hoff clock w/ brass face, and similar to casework by some Phila. and Maryland cabinetmakers.
Snyder notes that cockbeaded edges on drawers suggest a later date than expected (c. 1770-1790). This type in Phila. was being made c. 1740-1760.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Usage
Old family
Credit
Gift of James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Pewter chalice, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
High straight-sided flaring cup on a stem wih knop created by joining two pewter salt stems. A tankard lid is used for the base. Both the knop and edge of base are beaded. Attributed to William Will (working 1764-1798) .
Engraved on the side of the cup are the initials "HIA/ MWM" within a decorative wreath with bow. Engraved on the bottom of the base is "1799", likely indicating the year the chalice was presented to the church for ceremonial use. Segments of wrigglework are also found nearby.
Provenance
The engraved date of 1799 likely signifies the year the chalice was presented to the church. The two sets of initials on the cup are certainly the individuals who presented it. The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County
British quart-size pewter tankard, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Straight-sided body with raised band below center; molded base. Hinged domed lid with erect thumbpiece and C-scroll handle. Applied to front of tankard is a cast decorated portrait medallion with the profiles of a man and a woman facing each other with a crown above their heads. Encircling the pair are the words: "LONG LIVE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ORANGE". The medallion commemorates the Prince of Orange (William III) and his wife Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England. The couple ruled England as joint sovereigns 1689-1702.
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Diameter of bottom is listed. Diameter of top is 4".
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-28
Condition Notes
Overall abrasions and staining. Cracked where handle is attached at top. Inside pitting. Some cracks on inside of lid's rim. Large dent above medallion.
Object ID
P.97.08.4
Place of Origin
England
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation and Friends of the Heritage Center Museum, Heritage Center Collection
Pewter paten, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Flat bottom, rounded booge and wide, flat rim with single reeded edge.
Engraved initials on top of rim appear to be "W.W." or V.W." Touchmark on underneath at center is "GIFFIN/ -ONDON".
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
Pewter plate, part of the Warwick Congregation's (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) communion service.
Flat bottom, rounded booge and wide, flat rim with single reeded edge.
Underside struck with two worn round marks, on left an anchor over top of the letter "G", undereath of which is "PERCHARD". The right mark has a flower over "LONDON". Another stamp below is heavily worn with "MADE I(N) (L)OND(ON)". Three smaller square marks below.
Provenance
The entire communion service remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set. Purchased by the Heritage Center of Lancaster County.
All-cotton quilt with appliqued Tulip pattern; has 35 center blocks, 12" square, 18 of which have appliqued tulips. All done on white cotton ground. Appliqued blocks are straight set with solid white blocks as alternates. Quilt is machine pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted. White solid border is 14 3/4" wide at sides and bottom, 7" wide at top, with mitered corners.
Tulip pattern done in solids and prints of green, blue, yellow and red.
Moderate amount of quilting follows applique and piecing designs. Floral or snowflake in plain blocks and border. Pieced by Edna Spangler Keefer (3/30/1912 - 6/6/1997). Quilting was done by a sheltered workshop and is not of high quality with some uneven stitches. Pencil lines still visible.
White cotton solid binding. Batting is mid-weight cotton. Backing is pieced white cotton.
Provenance
Provenance: Top made by donor's mother, Edna Spangler Keefer, and quilting done by a sheltered workshop. Edna was raised in York Springs area although the quilt was made while Edna and husband Dale were living in Sharon, Mercer Co. Inherited by donor.
Family Album pattern quilt is a personalized commercial pattern made of all cottons. Top has 20 12-inch appliqued blocks of solid colors and prints on white ground. Appliqued blocks are set straight with 2.5" blue sashing and 8.5" white mitered borders all four sides. Machine pieced, with hand applique and hand quilting.
Six center blocks are personalized to portray Keefer family history. Two central blocks have maker and husband's names, "DALE" and "EDNA". Center blocks above have house and standing couple. House does represent actual house, according to donor. Lower center blocks are a cradle with daughter Betsy's name and birthdate, and the other block has the church with 1938 marriage date. Donor does not believe her parents were married in a church. Remaining 14 blocks provide a frame for the central six. All 20 blocks portray very Dutchy floral and bird motifs. Vivid colors are blue, red, yellow, green and black.
Batting is mid-weight cotton. Backing is a white cotton. Binding of white cotton on bias is 3/8" wide. Hand quilting has good even stitches and follows the applique designs while sashing has a chain pattern. Borders have parallel lines in which pencil marks are still visible.
Top four inches of quilt were folded back and stitched to create a sleeve for hanging. Stitches now removed.
Provenance
Made by donor's mother, Edna Spangler Keefer (3/30/1912 - 6/6/1997), while living in Sharon, Mercer Co. Inherited by donor who was their only child.
Paint and herringbone, chain, buttonhole, stem, and running stitches on commercial cotton fabric, with commercial synthetic fringe. Machine-pieced top in Diamond in a Square type pattern on white background. Sashing to make diamond and square forms are pieced with blue and white cotton. Blue pieces are outlined in blue running stitch on their short sides. Points of square and diamond are white fabric, with blue running stitch in square form.
Painted floral wreath in center diamond, with an embroidered bow in blue buttonhole. Wreath includes five roses in pink and red; greenery; blue, pink, yellow, purple, and orange flowers; and red berried sprigs.
Triangular areas, outside of diamond, each contain 4 painted flowers. One blue flower in each outside corner, with orange center. Three flowers along diamond edge. One five-lobed yellow flower, with orange center. One large pink and red rose, with greenery. One purple five-lobed flower, with orange center. Floral vine and leaf outer border. Five-lobed pink flowers worked in blanket stitch, with stem stitch highlights. Vine worked in green herringbone stitch. Leaves in green blanket stitch, with chain and stem highlights. Machine-applied commercial synthetic twisted fringe on four sides.
Back is machine-pieced white cotton. Shows evidence of embroidered green leaves, blue running stitch and ribbon, and pink highlights.
Original inventory number--630.
Provenance
Collected by George Lyster in Lancaster Co. Intended as a gift, entire collection remains on loan.
Small clear plastic magnifying glass with flattened handle extending from round viewing glass. Ball terminal on handle has hole through center indicating intended attachment with some other object
Printed on handle is "COURSON'S "SUBS" / 564 W. ORANGE ST. LANC., PA. / TEL. EX. 4-6034." Raised letters surrounding hole in handle's ball terminal read "MADE IN USA."
Extensive abrasions overall; black soil on handle end.
Object ID
2012.012.2
Notes
City Directories of circa 1930s to early 1950s list Harley J. Courson at 564 W. Orange, listed as a confectioner, followed by son? Howard J. Courson in 1954. For a short time, from 1960-1965, Howard was listed under Grocery & Meats, but returning to confectionary by 1966.
See another Courson's advertising piece, an ashtray, 2012.12.1.
See Courson's Son's letter from Penn Dairies Inc in file.
