Framed silhouette of gentleman in profile, facing viewer's right. He is perhaps early-to-middle-age years, dressed in high collar and coat. Below is the name "Amos Ellmaker" handwritten in cursive in faded black ink.
Image is cut out of a rectangle of white wove paper, superimposed on a matching piece of black silk and secured with stitches at periphery. There is a window mat of faded marbelized paper, frame is molded walnut.
Same marbelized paper also covers back of frame. Clipping from printed biographical article is pasted to back.
Moderate wear and aging overall. Wove paper is darkened with fold lines and pin holes. Frame is worn with loose joints. Frame backing paper shows wear at corners and was cut to remove artwork, replaced and secured with cellophane tape, now removed except for bottom strip, leaving adhesive residue.
Object ID
P.03.11.01
Notes
According to the Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Amos Ellmaker (b. 2-2-1787 and d. 11-28-1851) was a man of intellect and attainment. He was grandson of immigrant Leonard Ellmaker (Germany to Earl Twp in 1726) and son of Nathaniel Ellmaker. He attended Princeton College, then law school in Litchfield, Conn. He began practice in Hbg., served as an officer in the War of 1812, later was appointed prosecuting attorney for Dauphin Co., elected to the State House of Representatives, appointed Presiding Judge for the district composed of Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, was later appointed Attorney General of Pa., but resigned in 1821 to move back to Lancaster. Judge Ellmaker was in 1832 a candidate of the anti-Masonic party for Vice-President of the U.S. In 1816, he had married Mary Rachel Elder of Harrisburg. They had six children.
Print of bird, hand-colored, done on wove paper. Mounted with two paper hinges at top on matboard and placed in new black-painted wood frame with no window mat.
Print depicts bird perched on a flowering tulip branch with a cluster of three berries below. Colored in pink, light red, blue and green.
Inscribed on reverse in black ink is: "Clement Bixler."
Age darkened wove paper. Very minor stains/foxing in incipient stages along bottom edge. Inked fingerprint at upper right. Impressions on paper, especially at right side. New frame has crackled paint finish.
Object ID
P.02.27.2
Notes
Directory of 1869 lists Clement R. Bixler as printer in Terre Hill, East Earl Twp. The 1864 Atlas lists a C.H. Bixler as a conveyancer, teacher, job printer and stone cutter in Terre Hill P.O.
Clement is the nephew of David Bixler & son of Absalom.
Bookcase composed of two sections. The upper cabinet has two hinged doors that latch at center. The shelving is adjustable and both doors feature 12 oblong-shaped glass panes and mullions. The lower cabinet has two hinged wood doors that latch and lock at the center; each door features a square recessed panel.
Provenance
Thomas Potter
To - William Morris Meredith
To - James Buchanan
To - Harriet Lane Johnston
To - John Newton Lane
To - James Buchanan Lane II
To - Thomasina Thomas Lane
To - James Buchanan Foundation
Thomas Potter - 2nd owner of Wheatland
Sold to - William Morris Meredith for $75
Sold to - James Buchanan for $75
Bequeathed to - Harriet Lane Johnston
Bequeathed to - John Newton Lane, Harriet's nephew
Bequeathed to - James Buchanan Lane II, John N. Lane's son
Bequeathed to - Thomasina Thomas Lane, James B. Lane II's spouse
Balloon back walnut chairs with serpentine splat. Louis XV style back is rounded and finger molded with no additional carving. Flaring upholstered seat-black horsehair-with serpentine front with beaded molding at bottom of skirt. Cabriole front legs, rounded, with slightly curved square back legs terminating on flat feet.
Artifacts mentioned by Ara Hatch in New York Dalily Times 11/10/1856. Person had visited Wheatland.
Height (cm)
87.15248
Height (ft)
2.8593333333
Height (in)
34.312
Width (cm)
45.72
Width (ft)
1.5
Width (in)
18
Depth (cm)
40.9575
Depth (ft)
1.34375
Depth (in)
16.125
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-04-20
Condition Notes
Reupolstered; James Buchanan Foundation records indicate the seats were originally covered in green morrocan leather.
Object ID
W.1936.001.015
Notes
The chair was presumed to belong to James Buchanan by the James Buchanan Foundation representatives in 1936 when they bought certain furnishings that were still in the mansion during the Willson-Rettew Estate sale.
Mentioned by Ara Hatch in the N.Y. Daily Times (visited Wheatland 10 November 1856.)
Oil painting of Mrs. Alexander Hood seated on red chair with draped red curtain behind. Her dark brown hair is parted in the center and she is wearing a white covering with ruffles along sides covering her ears. The two wide sashes/ties hang down to her waist. A dainty lace collar piece, unattached, is around her neck with opening in front. She wears a black dress with gathers from a front vertical seam that ends in a point below her waist. Long sleeve visible on her left arm has two sections of gathers on the upper arm. Her left hand rests on her lap.
Artist: Arthur Armstrong, American portrait painter (b.1798-d.1851).
Some crackling overall. Some paint rubbed off above wooden edges. Some fine vertical streaks on woman's dress, left elbow. A small spot on right side of painting above red chair. Canvas nailed to stretcher bars in tact.
Cross-stitch sampler on linen using cotton threads. Border of angle green vine with a single fruit in each. Within two horizontal lines of stitches are 2 stitched 1/2-inch high alphabets: top line is upper case; second line is lower case with "Lydia T. Coale" at the end.
Third line contains 1-inch high upper case letters from A to P; fourth line is Q to Z, followed by numerals 1 to 5. A horizontal border of stitches in dark blue underlines line 4.
Beneath: "JT Lydia Thomas Coale 1848 AT" ('T' for Thomas relatives?)
Display below is an assortment of flowers, branches, bids, heart and squares. A large container, piled high with red fruits at bottom center is flanked with "EC" on the left and "RC" on the right (some Coale relatives?)
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Rachel Haviland of Lancaster, 7 Nov. 1941.
Remnants of liquid stains midway on both sides. Some sections of thread/cross stitches are completely missing, other are so light in color that they are hard to read. However, reds are still bright. Framing offers some protection, although (no indication) this may have been framed too early for use of acid-free materials or UV glass. Framer's label on back: "Myers Art Shop/Pictures and picture Framing/ 408 West Chestnut St./ Lancaster, PA."
Amish fraktur done on off-white, wove, square paper by Elisabeth Beiler for Sahra Esch. Central text is framed by leafy branches; two encircling the bottom half of page and two more rising from middle at sides and completing a circle at top. Each of the four main branches has two flowers: one is a tulip and the other like a daisy. Leaves are colored blue and the flowers have yellow, blue and red.
Text written in German, with black in, fills central space. There is a "ghosting" on the letters of the title and many other upper case letters, and elsewhere. Several periods seem to be added to text in pencil, perhaps at a later time.
Title at top reads, "Ein Denk Zeichen" (a remembrance)...A rough translations is: "Sarah Esch, her picture written/drawn March 19, 1848. This gift, a remembrance of me, is done by my hand, made by Elisabeth Beiler." The remainder is a religious exhortation.
(Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
Given by Clarke E. Hess in memory of Irene Walsh. Price/value: $1,450.00.
Many condition problems: major losses tears and soiling. Large losses along right edge along lower 13 as well as top corner. Smaller losses at left side at middle at top corner. Torn at middle of both sides, extending inward about one inch. Pinholes at corners. Paper is darkened and soiled overall with strong areas of stain, e.g., several near center of text. Moisture stains at middle of both sides at or near edges, also middle of bottom. Colors have bled at flowers and leaves at bottom right corner. Colors are deteriorated and crackled, especially on flowers and leaves.
Watercolor of bird, fraktur-type, done for an Amish female, attributed to Amish artist.
Bird perched in stylized tree, done on plain off-white wove paper. The tree has one main trunk with five small, arching branches terminating in a globular yellow fruit. Uppermost branch ends in a tulip. Three gray-blue leaves attach to trunk. Bird has yellow body decorated with inked texture marks, brown head and wings and gray-blue beak.
Inscriptions: At bottom right in inked German script is "May 1848." At upper left, written sideways in the same hand is "Fannie Hochstetler/ 1848/ Nannie H. Beiler/ 1896.
Mounted in brown paper window mat and frame (likely by sellers for sale). Frame is flat softwood with half-lap, mitered joints and paint-decorated with a dark glaze over a medium-brown ground. Hanging ring at top. (Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
According to sellers' research this may have been a gift to Fannie Hochstetler in 1848, after which she may have married and become "Nannie H. Beiler." Gingerich and Krieder record a Veronica/Fannie/Franey Hostetler (HS5362) (1840-1914) of Mifflin County who married John K. Byler (BY3566) (1831-1904) also of Mifflin Co. Thus, the Earnests are suggesting the sideways description may have been added later than the original 1848 inscription at bottom.
Bought from Russell Earnest & Associates, Nov. 2, 2001, for $1300.00.
Paper has bee trimmed, probably on all four sides. Multiple fold lines with a cluster at upper left corner, a horizontal one at 2 and 2/1 inches from bottom and a vertical one at 1 7/8 inches from right edge. Moderate to heavy soiling, especially above May 1848 date. Upper left cover has minor loss all corners have paste and remnants of paper where previously attached.
Drawing has slid askew since earlier photo. It would be easy to fix. (MAW)
Printed Birth & Baptismal Record, Christian Schelly
Description
Printed birth and baptismal certificate, pictorial fame with central text block. Infill and hand coloring attributed to Heinrich Keyser, a school mast working in Warwick Twp.
The pictorial frame consists of eight different plates around a perimeter. The four corners each have a Gospel reference withing a floral oval (two from St. Matthew and two from St. John). The other four prints depict scenes of Christ: is baptism, crucifixion, ascension and his welcoming the children to come to him. Prints are hand-colored.
The central text block is printed in German, in traditional form, under the title: "Geburts und TaufSchein." Infill is executed in black ink in both fraktur-style lettering and script.
Certificate was done for the birth and baptism of Christian Schelly, son of Johannes and Catarina Kericher Schelly, born Dec. 18, 1823 (?) in Rapho Twp. and baptized 1833. At bottom of text is written that Christian was born under the sign of Pisces, under which a tiny pen and ink drawing is executed of two fish. (Written by Wendell Zercher.)
(more info on Schoolmaster Keyser in file)
Provenance
From Strasburg Antique Marker, Strasburg, PA for $245.00. Received on Aug. 11, 2000.
Generally acid-burned overall; extreme burn at edges of top and left side. Two liquid stains in lower text block which bleached the paper. Heavy fold lines have resulted in tears. with a triangular loss at terminus of right fold line. Additional tears at end of left fold line as well as two inches above this; also tear along bottom edge, one inch from right corner. Entire piece is pasted to acidic cardboard backing.
Cherry writing desk, front of the desk, 4.25" below the top, has piano hinges that allow the top to converts to a writing surface covered with green felt. When closed, the piece serves as a chest with four progressively larger drawers. Both sides have recessed panels and the chest is supported by four vase and ring-turned legs.
This mirror is mounted in a Cassetta Frame. cassetta frame, a design that has been in use for over 500 years. This Renaissance frame design, which are also called plate frames and box frames (the word cassetta means "small box"), were developed in Italy during the late 15th century. This frame has gilt surface on the inner molding.
Year Range From
1830
Year Range To
1850
Storage Location
Wheatland, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
North Middle Bedchamber
Storage Wall
East Wall
Object Name
Mirror, Wall
Material
Wood, Glass
Height (cm)
56.1975
Height (ft)
1.84375
Height (in)
22.125
Width (cm)
81.5975
Width (ft)
2.6770833333
Width (in)
32.125
Depth (cm)
2.54
Depth (ft)
0.0833333333
Depth (in)
1
Dimension Details
Mirror (excluding frame)
H 22.25"
W 13.25"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-06-22
Condition Notes
Spots of desilvering on glass. Chip on wood frame, ~5in below top right corner. Minor scratches on veneer
Object ID
W.1996.003.001
Notes
Renumbered because it shared the same number with another object. Formerly G.35.42, now 96.3.
Contoured brown satin vest has standing collar of brown velvet with floral motif. Long sleeves have velvet cuffs attached. Center front embellished with velvet. Back flaps have velvet between two sating flaps. 16 hand-finished buttonholes; 13 cicular (5/8") bronze-colored shank/loop buttons with figure and silver-colored crescent moon. Inside, 2 loops of brown fabric tape sewn at underarms. Fully lined. All seam edges hand overcast. There are pockets for 10 stays: 2 each side for bodice darts; 2 either sied of underarm and 2 to contour back.
Year Range From
1800
Year Range To
1815
Storage Location
Wheatland, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Butler's Pantry
Storage Wall
East Wall
Object Name
Bodice
Material
Mahogany
Length (cm)
48.26
Length (ft)
1.5833333333
Length (in)
19
Width (cm)
34.29
Width (ft)
1.125
Width (in)
13.5
Dimension Details
Width measurement is shoulder seam to shoulder seam.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-07-07
Condition Notes
Left cuff loose. Some seam wear at underarms & right sleeve exterior; some underarm stains from wear. 2 buttons are sewn with white thread & one is upside down. One button hole torn.
Empire mahogany and mahogany veered sideboard. Back glazed gallery in five panels with center larger. Three drawers over pair of swing flame flat paneled doors with side swing single doors. Stiles are diamond shapes, plinth base with turned feet. Tradition is the piece belonged in the home of President Buchanan.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Long believe the provenance to be James Buchanan based on the fact that the donor's mother, Mrs. B.F. Lewis Sr., recieved a letter from the James Buchanan Foundation requesting that she consider donatining the sideboard.
Bowfront mahogany veneer chest of drawers in the Hepplewhite style. Four drawers have progressing depths from the top to the bottom, each with overpressed drawer pulls two per drawer. At the top center of each drawer is a brass escutcheon keyhole. The top of the chest and each drawer are decorated with satin wood inlay. Chest is supported at its base by four french feet which feature a slightly outswept bracket foot combined with a valence skirt.
Provenance
Dr. Alexander Speer (James Buchanan maternal cousin)
Seven 4" x 3" color paintings of pairs of seven different birds. Paintings have white backgrounds and are mounted on pale yellow fabric.
Date Range
1840s
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 46
Storage Shelf
Shelf 4
Object Name
Picture, Animal
Object Names
Water Color Bird Paintings
Material
Fabric, paint
Height (cm)
46.355
Height (ft)
1.5208333333
Height (in)
18.25
Width (cm)
50.8
Width (ft)
1.6666666667
Width (in)
20
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-08-04
Condition Notes
Decorative fabric tape on frame's front is soiled and torn in spots. Backer paper is torn along upper sides and corners. 4 of small paintings appear to have shifted: Lower right painting is crooked and painting in center on right is angle down.
Object ID
W.1938.004.002
Notes
These paintings are done on small oblongs of bamboo pith painted with heated paint with small brushes (perhaps only two or three hairs). The heated paint on the bamboo gives the raised effect that looks like embroidery.
Framed by The James Buchanan Foundation in 1938. One of a series of three.
Linen edging around pale red painted frame. Adhered within frame on a cream colored fabric are 8 small watercolor paintings (approx. 4.125 inches x 3.125 inches) of Asian sailing vessels.One of three framed by The James Buchanan Society.
Date Range
1840s
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 46
Storage Shelf
Shelf 4
Object Name
Seascape
Object Names
Junk Sailing Vessels
Material
Wood, paper, glass
Height (cm)
46.6725
Height (ft)
1.53125
Height (in)
18.375
Width (cm)
50.8
Width (ft)
1.6666666667
Width (in)
20
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2000-08-10
Condition Notes
Frame is worn. Most paintings are excellent.
Object ID
W.1938.004.001
Notes
Small oblongs of bamboo pith on which are Chinese figures, boats and birds. They are painted with heated paint with a small camel hair brush (perhaps only two or three hairs.) The heated paint on the bamboo gives the raised effect which looks like embroidery.
Linen edging around pale red frame. Adhered to a cream colored fabric within frame are eight (4 inch x 3 inch) watercolor paintings. 5 sets of Asian men (1 enthroned in middle) and 3 sets of women in Asian dress, mostly upper class.
One of three framed by The James Buchanan Society in 1938.
Date Range
1840s
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 46
Storage Shelf
Shelf 4
Object Name
Picture
Object Names
Paintings of Asian Men and Women
Material
Fabric, Wood
Height (cm)
46.6725
Height (ft)
1.53125
Height (in)
18.375
Width (cm)
50.8
Width (ft)
1.6666666667
Width (in)
20
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2000-08-10
Object ID
W.1938.004.003
Notes
Painted Asian people on small oblongs of bamboo pith. They are painted with heated paint with a small brush (perhaps only two or three hairs). The heated paint on the bamboo gives the raised effect that looks like embroidery.
Watercolor in modern gold-painted frame, titled "Antibes." Landscape with four people gathered under a palm tree in the center and two more people on a bridge at left. Man-made tunnel under a hill at right. One building in detail at right and a city (Antibes, France?) in the background. A large body of water and mountains in the distance.
The following information is written at the bottom: "E. Breneman ANTIBES. Lyceum Institute/ Cedar Hill 1843." (E. Breneman was a student at the Lyceum Institute at the time that she did this watercolor.)
Other watercolors are known from the Lyceum Institute, but this appears[ears to be the earlier recorded example; believed to be painted after a print of this period.
(Written by Scott Sagar.)
Provenance
From a Franklin & Marshall University sale to W. Charles Laing to Warren Robbins, the donor. Rec'd Nov. 9, 1995.
Framed theorem of stencil-painted fruit on light brown cotton velvet. Painting is a still life of variously colored fruits: melons, peaches, apricots, a half-eaten pear, grapes with leaves, plums and a pomegranate. Composed on a blue-colored base or table. An insect is depicted near bottom center below grapes.
There is no border signature or date. Frame is a flat-profiles with walnut veneer facing.
Provenance
Found in the Slaymaker attic among other framed objects, in very dirty conditions. Unknown maker, but possibly done at a Moravian school such as the one at Lititz. See Slaymakers at Linden Hall on page 147 of Slaymaker history.
Taken to Dottie McCoach for conservation June 1, 1998. Returned Sept. 17, 1998. See report in this file. After treatment the piece is still dark, stained and moisture damaged along the bottom.
Decorated wedding handkerchief, square shaped, of plain weave bleached linen. Three sides arrow hemmed and one is selvage.
Embroidered in multicolored cotton and silk. Along with the normal cross stitch is extensive use of chain stitch. Within a red chain-stitched border is sparse decoration: a tulip variant is embroidered near each corner, and a symbol similar to an infinity symbol is located along the center of each side.
"CATY CASSEL 1808" extends along one side of border. A multicolored alphabet is done in upper-case script along two sides (except for a distant 'z') and 'a b c d' in lower case script is embroidered near one corner.
In 1997 exhibit "Just For Show," Tandy Hersh noted that scholars are puzzled by the presence of decorated handkerchiefs among the Pa. Germans. They are very rare. This is one of only 20 that have been documented. In Europe, handkerchiefs celebrated betrothal or marriage. It is unknown if the tradition continued in America, though one handkerchief made in 1787 in Warwick Twp. is associated with the maker's wedding. Tandy notes the Pa. German women produced handkerchiefs between 1768 and 1830. Motifs were apparently arranged so that they could be viewed from all four sides.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
The Wedding Handkerchief is one of five items given to the society by Hampton C. Randolph, Sr. of Lansdale, PA, in 1997.
Clarke Hess purchased from dealer, Jean Cook, who states this came out of a home in Montgomery County. Hess then sold to donor. Cassels were living in both Mongomery and Lancaster Counties.
