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
Walnut Chippendale style bookcase on desk. Bookcase has broken arch pediment with carved scrolls terminating in12-petal rosettes, large flame finials at corners and a carved stylized shell at center. Scrollboard has graceful symmetrical vine carved in relief on nearly smooth ground (usually punched ground). Below are two flat-paneled doors with brass escutcheons; right door has keyhole. Interior shelves. Inset fluted quarter columns.
Lancaster County, certainly Lancaster Borough
Fall-front desk sits on 4 ogee-bracket feet. 4 graduated, thumbmolded drawers, each w/ replacement bail brasses and an oval brass keyhole escutcheon. Inset fluted quarter columns w/ unexpected small volutes carved above capitals. Two wooden slide supports flank top drawer. Replaced fall-front door fitted w/ a brass keyhole escutcheon with swiveling cover. Interior has a central prospect door with shell and leaf carving, opening to two pigeonholes over two drawers. Door is flanked by manuscript drawers faced with baseball bat-shaped carving. On each side are groups of four valanced pigeonholes over four drawers fitted with small bail-type brass pulls. Pencilled inscription on underside of top right interior drawer has "Adam Bare, sheriff," (also dated 1846?). Adam Bare (1784-1877) apparently owned the desk. He was a Mennonite tavernkeeper near New Holland who became sheriff of Lancaster County from 1831-1833. Perhaps his father, John "Bear", was the original owner (he was an innkeeper at a hotel in Bareville, Upper Leacock Twp.).
Provenance
Found in 1938 by S.E. Dyke in a home being demolished on New Holland Ave. S.E. Dyke owned it until 1943, when he sold it to C.W. Lyons of New York City for $4,500. By 1970, it was owned by H.R. Sandor, who sold it to Mrs. Margaret A. Lucas of New York City for $24,500. At some point, General L.W.T. Waller of Meadowbrook, PA, owned the piece and sold it to Ronald A. DeSilva, Inc. of NYC, who sold it to the Heritage Center.
Underside of drawer has: "Adam Bare, sheriff," (also dated 1846?).
Inscription Type
Inscription
Object Name
Secretary
Oither Names
Desk and Bookcase
Material
Wood, Brass
Height (in)
96
Width (in)
42
Depth (in)
23
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-27
Condition Notes
Extensive restoration (done by unknown person apparently when first obtained by Sam Dyke). Early photo shows damage/losses and restoration: replacement of left scroll and rosette and portion of right rosette; missing fall-front, 3 interior drawers and finials; both front feet damaged (bottom half of left foot missing and right foot cracked); missing right volute, damaged drawers, overall badly scarred with extensive loss of finish, etc.
Above repaired/replaced. There are two significant cracks on the writing surface: one 5" long at right and one 7 1/2" long at left. 1/4" gouge on right side of bookcase. Long horizontal crack across tympanum and one under shell "finial". Long vertical crack a both sides of desk. Repaired vertical crack in right door panel, repairs to both doors' top edges, both escutcheons replaced and holes plugged. Dark stains on inner writing surface.
Left diagonal edge of desk accidentally damaged while at museum in 1984 (see envelope w/ snapshots). Restored by Alan Miller.
Object ID
P.77.34
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the 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 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 oval marks: one has "Townsend and Compton" and the other reads "LONDON." Following are four small square marks in a row. The last one has the initials "T&C".
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.
Work/farm table of walnut. Removable top constructed of three boards on a base of baluster-turned legs and a box stretcher configuation using wide boards mortise and tenoned into lower legs and pegged. Two drawers in upper section of base; one long drawer at right and short drawer at left.
Table top has two shaped supports dovetailed into the underside. These supports are then fitted alongside the ends of table and attached with four large removable shaped pegs.
Provenance
Professor Kauffman stated on 4-23-1999 that he purchased this table for $100. It was found in pieces in a barn in southeastern Lancaster County.
Quilt, pieced cotton top in a Single Irish Chain pattern, hand pieced and quilted. Homespun linen back.
Top has cotton blocks in solid white fabric and brown fabric with a floral print. A lighter brown fabric with a different floral print used for border. There are also brown and white nine-patches in all corners using the brown fabric of the blocks.
Quilting on main body of quilt is in a diamond/waffle pattern, and quilting around border is in a chevron pattern. Blue quilting thread used in the brown fabric of the border and single patches. White fabric quilted with white thread.
Signed and dated in pink cross stitch on top edge of back, "E N / 1786."
Provenance
Elizabeth Bowman Nace 1742 - 24 Feb 1815 passed to granddaughter
Amanda Nace Forney,1803-1851 (daughter of George Nace) to
Eliza Ann Wirt Forney 1836-1922, (wife of son George Nace Forney) to
Netta Amanda Forney Arnold 1866-1950, (daughter) to
Louise Forney Arnold Tanger 1888-1959, (daughter) to
Charles Young Tanger, Sr 1886-1976 (husband, after her death) to
Charles Tanger, Jr. 1914-1991 (son), then sold by widow Nancy Neff Tanger at 1991 or 1992 auction to donor Margaret Lestz
The c. 1783 home of Mathias and Elizabeth Nace is now the Hanover Area Historical Society.
Extensive fading, deterioration and losses on brown fabric of border. The brown dye of fabric patches has migrated onto the white during folding. Moderate soiling overall. Some small brown stains overall. Large moisture stain near top right corner. Small hole in white fabric at right side near center. Blue stains at lower right corner. Minor loss of quilting thread.
Back is extensively stained and soiled, including a large moisture stain.
Object ID
G.00.21.01
Place of Origin
Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Margaret Lestz, Heritage Center Collection
Lancaster Borough seal is a thick disk of bronze with the seal depicted on one side and nothing but a small "T" struck at the edge of the opposite side. Sides taper slightly inward from blank side to image side, and are decorated with a center coved ring flanked by incised rings.
Image of seal on the face has a central shield divided in two with 3 sheaves of wheat at top and a rose at bottom. Vining roses surround shield. Around edge of perimeter is inscribed "SEAL OF THE BOROUGH OF LANCASTER 1781." Encircling the lettering is a decorating line of dots.
Provenance
Unknown provenance except purchase from Robert F. McMurtrie.
Richly carved walnut Chippendale dressing table, four cabriole legs with ball and claw feet. One long drawer above two short drawers that flank a large central drawer with carved shell and applied carved vines at sides. Deep shaped skirt has relief carved shell and vines. Bail brasses on all drawers except for brass pull on carved drawer. All have keyholes with brass insets. Fluted quarter columns have lamb's tongue carving above and below. The legs are extensions of the corner stiles with side brackets attached to fill out the foliate-carved front knees. Ball and claw feet.
See Notes for J.J. Snyder commentary.
Lancaster Borough, attributed
Provenance
Brokered by Mark Shoemaker & Co. from the collection of Arthur Barrus of Syracuse, NY, who purchased it at 1961 Pennypacker Auction of Mable A. Youst estate for $3500. E.S. and Mable Youst, of Reading purchased it from Emilie Rowe, who received it from her aunt, Barbara Sullenberger, who received it from Jacob Eby (her father?) of Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Snyder notes, at least as far back as the mid-19th century, this table was owned by affluent Mennonite families living several miles from Lancaster Boro.
The top is partially separated and warped, curving up at the front and back. The molding on the left side is also partially detached at the back. The left side panel has a horizontal crack across the center. A narrow 9" even gouge appears on the top, near the front left corner; another at top left of the top drawer front. Plugs in drawers and center of shell where earlier set of brasses existed. Early replacement of drawer supports. Entire piece refinished. Replaced hardware darkened, especially the top left drawer handle.
Object ID
P.77.55
Notes
Snyder writes that the basic form of this piece -- with shell-carved central drawer, carved skirt, cabriole legs with claw-and-ball feet -- was inspired by the lowboys made in Phila. circa 1750-1800. However, the wide proportions, the deep skirt and the profuse relief carving mark this as a notable product of the Lancaster Chippendale School. All carving was done in solid wood except for the applied streamers around the carved shell.
In 1998, J.J. Snyder knew of at least 10 Lancaster Chippendale dressing tables with extensive carving (on knees, skirt and central drawer with shell and streamers.) Most elaborate is owned by Metropolitan Mus. of Art. Of 3 visually similar subgroups among these 10 tables, one subgroup of 4 includes our table, the Floyd Hinden table (sold 1998 by Horst), one sold at Sotheby's Jan 1989, and one sold a public sale on East King St. Lancaster in the 1980s. Although the carving is likely done by different hands, these four probably came from the same Lanaster Boro shop.
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Document of Pennsylvania serving as a receipt, recording the fact that Andreas Schober (Andrew Shober) of Warwick Twp. furnished a horse to the State for the use of the U.S. Continental Army during the Rev. War.
Printed form, within a boilerplate border, done on laid paper with no watermark. Paper is nearly square with wavy-cut left edge. Heading on top is "Pensylvania" (sic). Nine printed lines have blank spaces filled out in a cursive hand in ink, noting that Schober supplied "one Bay horse branded Right hind side HD 14 years old 14 hands high..." It was appraised by two "Freeholders" for " the Sum of Eighteen pounds in specia(?) on the Exchange of sixty for one in Continental and for which the State is now justly indebted to him in that Sum, with interest." It is date August 21 (?), 1780 and signed by James Bayly and W.M.G. Le(?).
Later inked inscription at top, in cursive, records that Andreas Schober received the amount of 19 pounds., 1 shilling, 6 pence which was a total sum for the value of the horse with interest accrued for one year. Paid out by Jacob Morgan on August 29, 1781. Reverse side has a notation stating payment had been made on this date.
