American Empire straight-front sideboard with crotch-grain veneered oblong gallery. The upper front has a shallow overhang with a wide center drawer and two replacement glass pulls. Front also has two end drawers with original spiral cut glass pulls. Below the frieze is a double-door cupboard flanked by single door cupboards faced with crotch-grain veneer with slightly sunk oblong panels, each fitted with brass-keyhole surrounds. The freeze surmounts four turned and reeded pilasters with bull-nose trim along the apron. The piece stands on eight turned legs terminating on bun feet.
Provenance
James Buchanan
To Harriet Lane Johnston
Purchased by Julius Friedrick Sachse at a Lancaster Auction
Bequeathed to Samuel B. Sadtler, Great Grandson to Mr. Sachse
Rococo Revival gas chandeliers attributed to Christian Cornelius, a Dutch silversmith who founded the Cornelius lighting business in 1827. It became Cornelius, Baker, and Company in 1835. By the 1850s, it operated a factory on Columbia Avenue. They began by making brass lighting fixtures and later zinc fixtures and sculptures.
Rococo Revival gas chandeliers attributed to Christian Cornelius, a Dutch silversmith who founded the Cornelius lighting business in 1827. It became Cornelius, Baker, and Company in 1835. By the 1850s, it operated a factory on Columbia Avenue. They began by making brass lighting fixtures and later zinc fixtures and sculptures.
Dark Brown Leather, Tan Suede, Stitched Seat. Red, Blue, Green, and Cream Woven Girth. Quilted Padding Underneath. Tulip Motif Painted on Saddle in Red, Green and Brown. Maker's Mark - 'H. Pinkerton, Maker, Lancaster'
Stove Top hat, black with brim turned up greatly on sides, down front and back. Thin black grograin ribbon above brim. Crown tapers in, then out again slightly. Made by Schultz & Brothers, Lancaster, PA.
Plaque to commemorate James Buchanan's Presidency of the United States, as well as the Chairs he held while serving as a Free Mason in Lodge Number 43, Lancaster, PA.
Copper teakettle, attached seamed spout, dovetailed body. Bottom constructed from a separate piece and dovetailed and soldered to body, Flat band handle hinged to main body, Maker's mark along top of handle, "John Getz"
Domed lid with knob (not copper), classic shape with spout and moveable handle attached to flanges. Dove-tailed verticle seam visible opposite straight seamed spout. Bottom is dovetailed into place. Flanges which the handles are attached are riveted to the body by two rivets. Tin hinge?
Pair of ice skates (A-B), housed in custom-fitted wooden case (C).
Skates constructed of steel plate in shape of foot surmounted on a 1/4-inch-thick blade terminating in a scrolled toe. Skates are identical with no right or left differentiation. One skate has four additional holes in heel. Three leather straps with buckles are riveted to footplate. Dimensions of skate: H: 4 1/2" W: 4" L: 12"
Bottom of each skate's footplate is stamped: "EICHHOLTZ & BRO/ LANCASTER, PA."
Box, softwood, dovetail construction, re-painted flat green. Under paint is a ghost of floral decoration on lid, front and sides. Has hinged lid leading to fitted interior covered with coarse green fabric pasted and tacked to wood and edged with braiding. Latch hooks on front to secure lid.
Made by Eichholtz & Bro. (Henry Clay Eichholtz (1830-1918) and Robert Lindsay Eichholtz.
Provenance
Research done by Tom Ryan suggests that according to Lancaster Directories, Eichholtz & Bro. were operating in Lancaster City possibly as early as 1858 and at least as late as 1870. Jacob Eichholtz's sons, Robert Lindsay and Henry Clay, were in partnership, listed as gunsmiths by 1863 and guns and cutlery by 1866 until at least 1870.
Skates largely intact, metal has slight corrosion overall, leather straps deteriorated with losses (2 missing on one skate and one on the other). Box appears to have been repainted and is very soiled. Interior has worn "upholstery" with losses of braiding. Hingers have been replaced; handle is missing at front.
Object ID
P.03.10.1a-c
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, acquired through the generosity of Ronald V. Smith
Chippendale high chest, mahogany, ornately carved, Phila-inspired Rococo style. Top section has scrolled broken arch pediment with central cartouche (attrib. to Phila carver, Martin Jugiez) and fully relief-carved vine tympanum, leading down to large central drawer w/ large carved shell & surrounding vines. Two small drawers flank center drawer, under which are 4 full-length, graduated drawers with original Chinoiserie brasses. Fluted corner columns on upper case; vine & leaf-carved corner columns on lower case.
Lower chest has top full-length drawer over 3 small drawers that mirror the 3 drawers at top. Again, the center drawer is fully carved. Below drawers is a fully vine-carved skirt w/ shaped bottom. Has 4 carved fully articulated cabriole legs w/ acanthus knees and ball and claw feet and original brass casters.
Original owner Matthias Slough was a colonel in the Rev. War, a superintendent of the Philadelphia to Lancaster Turnpike, a county coroner and treasurer, and tavernkeeper of the White Swan. Buried in St. James Episcopal Cemetery.
Made by unknown Lancaster Borough workshop.
Provenance
Original owner believed to be Mathias Slough, based on a 1934 letter from Ethel Torrington Davis to Mr.(James?) McCormick. Ms. Davis states her mother received story from her mother Mrs. Beatty. Mathias Slough married Mary Gibson and had three daughters. The oral tradition is that each daughter was given a high chest. These chests then descended in the family, one of which descended through the mother of Ethel T. Davis to James McCormick (in payment of an outstanding debt). This info researched by John J. Snyder.
From a July 1975 letter, donor George J. Finney recalls the highboy in the home of James McCormick of Hbg, his grandfather. After his death in 1917, it stayed with the house & his son Donald McCormick until his death in 1945. It was then put up for sale at auction of household good but failed to sell due to price not meeting expectations of executors. Donor learned of this, and in 1946 he offered to buy it for $2,500 and the estate accepted. Donor has owned highboy since 1946. Upon the death of the donor, it was bequeathed from his estate.
Multiple repairs (e.g. pieced out around drawers); refinished; some losses, most noticeable in some cartouche elements and leaves of rosettes. Finials missing the ball at mid section. Cosmetic conservation done by Cory Berrett April 1992.
Repairs made 12-2-09 by Winterthur conservator in consultation with curator Wendy Cooper (see conservation report in file). Major changes: broken off rosette leaf tips replaced; missing finial balls and top plates of plinths replaced.
Object ID
G.92.06
Notes
John Snyder states that mahogany is unusual for Lancaster Co. high-style pieces. Secondary woods are poplar and pine.
He notes six or fewer high chests of this Lancaster County Chippendale design are known to exist, and that of these six, "this piece is unquestionably the finest example." (Based on artistic evaluation, condition and provenance. Of these other chests, 2 are in private collections, one is in the State Department collection at Yale University, and the others' whereabouts are currently unknown.
Snyder says this high chest is closely related structurally to the famous Chippendale desk and bookcase acquired by the Winterthur Museum from the Withers family, living near Strasburg, Lancaster Co.
OBITUARY
May 14, 2009 FRANCES DAVIS HASSINGER EVERHART, of Lower Allen Township, Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2009, in Bethany Village, Mechanicsburg. Frances was born March 1, 1916, in Harrisburg, PA, the daughter of CARL W. AND ETHEL TORRINGTON DAVIS. She was a 1938 graduate of Vassar Co...
Matthias Slough (1733-1812) was the tavernkeeper of the White Swan. The high chest was made at an unknown Lancaster Boro workshop, except for the carved cartouche of Philadelphia.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, bequest of George J. Finney Estate
