8-day musical clockworks by Mennonite Christian Eby (c.1768-1803) of Manheim. Housed in a large, inlaid cherry case attributed to Emanuel Dyer. Case is transitional from Chippendale to Federal, although strongly Federal due to inlay of eagle and floral motifs on tympanum, quarter fan inlays and another floral inlay on waist section, and a patera centered on the base within a cartouche of line inlay.
Notes: Weight, key, and various parts located in box on Unit 52, Bottom Shelf.
Hood has side lights, fluted colonettes at sides, swan's neck scrolls terminating in inlaid paterae, three ball and spire finials (spire missing on center finial). Waist and base have fluted quarter columns. French bracket feet.
White-painted iron dial w/ Roman numerals on chapter ring. Seconds use Arabic numerals. Floral spandrels, lunar dial and inscription "C EBY Manheim under XII. Above lunar dial are ten names of tunes played by the musical works. Dial attributed to Reading area due to a dark moon wheel and the 2 hemispheres for the moon phase are identical (per Gary Sullivan). He also notes that brass-clad weights are very unusual, and usually an English practice.
Provenance
Ex Renner (per Gary Sullivan, clock dealer). Later from estate sale of Pauline Heilman of York, PA by Sotheby's July 17, 1982. The buyer, a private client of Citibank, put clock in storage in Florida, then consigned it Christie's where HCLC purchased Jan. 1992.
John and Carol Pyfer paid $800 for Quentin Johnson to repair the clockworks and get it running in 2004. Clock hands have losses (pieces in a box stored in clock bottom), repaired by Johnson. Case refinished (see early photos in file). Scratch on side to left of pendulum door; nicks & scratches at left side vertical member of opening to pendulum. Marred overall. Split at left side of front section of molding under hood. Pieces of string inlay replaced. Proper left back foot loose; proper left front column loose. See Gary Sullivan condition report (loan to Willard House)
Object ID
P.92.02
Notes
Made by Christian Eby (c.1768-1803), working 1792-1803. Case attributed to Emanuel Deyer.
J.J. Snyder notes, "The clock is significant because it is the only known Lancaster Co. eagle-inlaid clock with a musical movement. Musical movements predating 1840 are quite rare, and fewer than eight Lancaster Co. musical clocks prior to 1840 are known to survive. The inlay is unique in the placement of the eagle in the center of the pediment rather than in an oval medallion above the pendulum door and in the use of floral inlay in addition to the eagle. In summary, the Christian Eby clock is a masterpiece of not only regional but also national importance."
Snyder also states "Unquestionably, this is one of the most elegant and sophisticated pieces of Lancaster County Federal furniture now known." He adds "Of all the known Lancaster County eagle-inlaid clock cases, this one alone has floral inlays. In view of the fact that this case must predate Christian Eby's death in 1803, it stands as the earliest known use of the eagle as a patriotic device in Lancaster County furniture."
Snyder also suggests Manheim cabinetmaker Emanuel Dyer (1760-1836) as the probable casemaker. Working for about a half century starting in the early 1780s, Dyer was the leading Manheim cabinetmaker.
Place of Origin
Manheim
Credit
Gift of members and friends of the Heritage Center, Heritage Center Collection
Color-printed textile with Christmas / New Year's theme. It is a square shaped fabric of unwashed cotton with its original sizing and four cut, unfinished. Overall green ground color. Pictured at center is a romantic portrayal of a couple in formal Edwardian period formal wear appearing to be on the verge of embracing. Surrounding the couple like a wreath are 22 white name card shapes with 18 names handwritten in various hands with blue ink. At top center is "Frank S. Graybill", flanked on the right by "Christmas / 1906" and on the left by "New Year / 1907".
The borders have a music theme: above the "name wreath" is "Should auld" and below is "acquaintance be forgot." Along both top and bottom edge is the musical score of "Auld Lang Syne". At sides are musical instruments; at left is a guitar and harp and at right is a lute and a violin. At lower right corner is "COPYRIGHTED 1905".
Provenance
Donor found item in a vacated house on top of a piano.
Very good overall with strong color. Staining is the major problem; considerable number of brown blotches seen on the back and coming through on the front. Most visible from the back.
Object ID
2017.007
Notes
The 18 names are being researched, but most seem to come from the Maytown area.
Sterling silver souvenir spoon of Wheatland, the Home of President James Buchanan. Bowl of spoon is an image of Wheatland and marked "PRESIDENT BUCHANAN'S HOME / LANCASTER, PA." Back of spoon is marked "STERLING." Patriotic symbols on back and front of spoon handle. Three letter vertical script monogram on back "ALR."
Year Range From
1900
Year Range To
1925
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
North Wall
Storage Cabinet
Unit 05
Storage Drawer
Drawer 14
Object Name
Spoon, Souvenir
Object ID
2023.013.001
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Small teacup (A) and saucer (B), white-bodied china. (A) Round teacup has scalloped base including four projecting feet. Rises with an inward curve before curving outward at lip.decorated with applied dark blue petals flanking a circle of applied light blue-painted flowers centering in gold-stampled lettering: " Souvener/ of/ Lancaster/ Pa." Body has molded flowers embossed around top and branch-like handle applied at side. Gold painted trim on one side of handle, the lip, and applied flowers as well as three stamped flowers at each side.
(B) Saucer (4 3/4" dia.) has embossed foliate design on top; small foot ring. Gold painted line on outer edge and inner line circle at central depression. Does not match teacup and may be a later addition.
(A) Teacup stamped on bottom with a crown over a shield with the monogram of "TGC"(?). Impressed nearby is a number, possible "1912" or "1917". (B) Saucer is stamped "MADE IN GERMANY" within a circle. The number "50" is stamped in gold.
Provenance
Donor believes this set was purchased at Woolworth's store in Lancaster.
