Liebesbriefe (love letter) papercut or scherenschnitte on laid paper, mounted on green paperboard within a black wooden frame. Intricately cut circular design has narrow sawtooth border and cutout hearts, urns and flowers (tulips and carnations) in a repeated design. Center has a large flower-like, scalloped edged shape outlined in blue and lines of text written in red ink around periphery. It reads: "Lieben und nicht haben ist harter dann stein graben, und nicht bey sammen seyn(?) / ist fur wahr die groste pein." Appears to read: To love and not have (have love requited) is harder than stone (graben?) and not by ? ? ? is in truth the greatest pain.
16 inverted hearts dominate outer area, arranged in a staggered fashion around periphery. Each heart is alternately edged in blue or red and each is numbered and infilled with an expression of love written in red ink. Eight 2-handled urns radiate outward from center filled with tulip plants that connect with the hearts. Vasiform paper shapes alternate with urns and are decorated with drawings of tulips and blue flowers. Watercolor decoration is typical color palette of red, yellow, blue and what originally was green foliage. On back of acidic paperboard is written "This is probably Christian Strange (sic) Cut-Out." Old paper label taped to back is printed "An Old Pennsylvania / German Valentine."
See David R. Johnson, Christian Strenge's Fraktur, East Petersburg Historical Society, 1995, for two other examples.
Diameter (cm)
33.3375
Diameter (ft)
1.09375
Diameter (in)
13.125
Dimension Details
Diameter of frame is 19.5"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-06-26
Condition Notes
Delicate cutout has heavy losses, especially sawtooth border, parts of flowers & leaves as well as 3 missing vasiform (resembling a tube/duct) shapes with the floral drawings. Fold lines are broken and breaking. Paper generally age-darkened with some scattered light brown stains. Multiple repairs detached elements and pieces of paper pasted onto back for support. Black painted frame has abrasions. Glass has some light molding on inside surface.
Object ID
2017.999.9
Notes
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred Weiser, Sept. 2, 1988. He notes that the condition restrains the value. There is a large B & W transparency in the file.
See other examples in David R. Johnson's "Christian Strenge's Fraktur", 1995. (Copies in file, including translation of German).
Reward of merit, elaborately cut out of laid paper, watercolored. It is one of four found in a family Bible. Bestowed upon a deserving student by a school teacher, this piece portrays a variety of stylized flowers, done in the unique style of Jacob Botz.
This symmetrical papercut was created with one vertical center fold. Overall design is six main flowers; top pair of flowers have human faces. Scherenschnitte is decorated with polychome watercolors.
See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Small piece broken off stem at right center. Blue-painted petals at center are flaking. Multiple stains around perimeter.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.2
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This is a reward of merit, a fraktur given to a deserving student by a school teacher. This cut-out piece is done on a rectangular piece of laid paper, has a large sunflower-like flower with a face drawn in its center. Extending from the stem is a pair of daisies and a pair of tulips. Has a yellow border edged in red and at bottom is the name of "Margaretha Lindenmuthin" inscribed in the same red. Yellow dominates, followed by red, then lesser use of blue and green. See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Small broken element still attached, at right of center (stem of tulip). Multiple dark stains around perimeter. Blue-painted petals at center are dessicated with significant losses due to flaking.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.4
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This is a reward of merit, a fraktur given to a deserving student by a school teacher. This piece done on rectangular laid paper, is a watercolored drawing of a large stemmed flower with bird perching on stem. Large red and yellow bloom at top, single beehive-like "berry" at center of stem at bird's beak. Floating striped leaf at center left. Inscribed at bottom is "Margaretha Lindenmuthin", the deserving student. See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Paper does not lie flat. Multiple dark stains/discolorations, esp. around perimeter. Heavy stain at floating leaf at center. Some paint bleeding.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.3
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Image of Trinity Lutheran Church. 1800's. New brick facade, wrought iron grate/fence surrounding building's sides. Steeple now integrated with building's face.
3/4 profile bust portrait of "James Sproul of Octoraro . 1781 -1847 ." Subject's face towards viewer. See notes for additional information regarding date of gift and donor.
According to the "Papers Read Before the Lancaster County Historical Society, February 1, 1907, Minutes of the February meeting:
The following donations to the Society were announced by the Librarian: A large frame photograph of James Sproul, once a prominent citizen and iron master on the Octoraro Creek, below Christiana, donated by his grandson, Hon. W. C. Sproul, of Chester Pa.
The presentation of the Sproul portrait was made by Dr. J. W. Houston, who accompanied it by an address of considerable length, in which the career of Dr. Sproul was sketched, showing him to have been a man of mark in the earlier period of the county's history.
William Cameron Sproul (September 16, 1870 – March 21, 1928) was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. He also served as a state senator from 1896 until his election as governor in 1919.
Rectangular pieces of woven linen. Sections of stitch 'samples' are woven in various colors (blues, reds, greens, browns, yellows, whites and pinks) [Several of the original pieces are missing] The following is unverified: Sample stitches of embroidery i
Object was found in Wheatland at time of sale to the James Buchanan Foundation.
Original accession record stated: "Sample stitches of embroidery in colored silks and wools on ecru linen material. Belonged to Miss Mary Ross, niece of George Ross who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Made early 1800s."
As of 07/27/2023 This artifact is missing. Reported by Patrick Clarke