Coverlet of red wool and blue-green cotton. 2 loom widths decoratively and strongly seamed in the center with red wool. This coverlet is comparatively light weight. Self-fringes of red wool on both sides. Foot end is rolled and hand-stitched. Red wool fringes appear to have been individually applied.Top/head edge is finished with a 1.5-inch wide folded silky red binding. Some machine stitching in black thread and also hand-stitching to attach the binding.
Center field contains rows of circular designs. Roses border the lower edge and foliage in urns border the sides.
Unlike most coverlets, Satler's weaver's blocks in bottom corners are oriented to be read from the top of the coverlet.
Portrait of young gentleman. Fairly faded out. Water marks/stains, one around right eye of man (viewer's left) in decorative bronze-colored frame with glass narrow gold-colored braid around edge. All with a red velvet rectangle. On the red velvet lining of the lid/cover: "Addis (?) s Lancaster Gallery/ NE Corner of Centre Square & N. Queen St." Black container has decorative motifs on front and back.
Liberty Bell pendant medallion with Independence Hall on the back. Outline of bell has contoured image of Liberty Bell with inscription, crack and clapper. Inscription at top reads "OF LEV XXV&X PROCLAIM / IN PHILDA. BY ORDER OF TH--" and below this is "PASS AND STOW / PHILADA. / MDCCLIII."
Back is flat with a raised image of Independence Hall. Extended tab at top has hole with two linked wire rings for hanging.
Deed to Wheatland on parchment. Indenture for purchase of Wheatland by James Buchanan from William Meredith and Catherine Meredith. Dated December 2, 1848 with seal of William Meredith and of Catherine Meredith. Not signed by James Buchanan. Some fold marks and stain
Conservation proposal by Lancaster Galleries (Fine Art, Custom Framing, Restoration) June and July 2001. Quote to suface clean, mount, glaze to prevent fading, and seal.
Passport for Samuel Ashmead, June 25, 1846. Signed by James Buchanan. Framed between two pieces of glass with narrow black wooden frame. Two small metal eye hooks with picture wire at top of frame.
Provenance
Samuel Ashmead was a botanist from the Germantown, PA area. He was the donor's husband's great-great grandfather. Passport hung in the donor's husband's grandfather's house for as long as she could remember.
Framed between two pieces of glass. Top right corner has 2 rips in paper caused by humidity and too small of frame. Paper has been folded into fourths with small hole at center of sheet. Also folds horizontally into thirds. Brown spots or stains all over
Object ID
W.MSS07.4.2
Place of Origin
Washington, D.C.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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
