Empire style chest of drawers, mahogany veneer on pine or poplar. Four drawers, each with two pressed glass pulls & keyhole and each with bookmatched veneer of highly figured mahogany. The top drawer overhangs lower drawers and has a curved front (top-to-bottom), while the three lower drawers have flat fronts. Freestanding ionic columns flank drawers with carved plinths. Sunken panel construction at sides. Two extensively carved paw feet in front; two ball feet in back.
In April 1982, the entire case was disassembled and discovered to be signed and dated by Markley, behind the left front stile above the column. (Not seen in 2011. Inscription appears on top of thick drawer divider supporting top drawer.) Also stamped by maker within oval on upper surface of top drawer bottom: "J.F. MARKLEY/ CABINETMAKER/ Locust Street/ COLUMBIA."
According to file, the 1830-1846 Columbia Borough tax records list Markley variously as a doctor, cabinetmaker, contractor or gent.
See also a gentleman's dressing table with mirror, P00.39.01.
Piece of veneer 1.5" x 0.5" is missing from top right above drawer. Small spots and scratches overall, and two large cracks on top: one near front right corner, and one at rear center, partially filled in. The left pull on the second drawer up from the bottom is split in half; held in place with string windings.
Two toes on the right front foot were pieced and recarved by Joseph Molz of Lancaster City. Some veneer was also pieced.
Object ID
P.77.02
Notes
More info in file. There was a discrepancy in the research with two different Jacob Markleys. It appears that the maker of this chest of drawers was Jacob Fry Markley (1800-1854), born in boro of Strasburg to parents Jacob Markley, Sr. (1765-1829) and Barbara Fry Markley. Jacob Sr. was also a cabinetmaker.
Son Jacob is listed with different occupations over the years. He was living in Columbia in 1830 and possibly as late as 1841. He moved to Spring Grove, Philadelphia County by 1850 and is listed as a druggist in the 1850 Census with wife Ann & 5 children. "JACOB F. MARKLEY M.D." is on his tombstone in the Hatboro Cemetery. Thus Jacob Markley claimed to be a cabinetmaker, druggist and doctor (Doctor is perhaps what he called a pharmacist).
Place of Origin
Columbia
Role
Cabinetmaker
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Coll
Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Oil on wood panel. Profile painting, half length, of a young woman facing left front, hands not showing; medium light reddish hair, center part with comb at top of head. Curls in front of ears, grey eyes; high-waisted white gown with double lace ruffle collar around neck, pink rose at collar opening, gold double chain necklace, red shawl around shoulders covering arms; gold colored chair back right, greenish-grey background. (Beal)
Inscriptions: Ink script at top of frame back is "Elizabeth Cecilia Leman / Born 1814 died 1834." This is repeated in script at board back. At top left in script is "Adelia Leman / 1880."
Recent paper label by previous owner William Shand, at frame bottom is: "Young Woman of Leman Family / Possibly Elizabeth Cecilia Leman / (1814-1834), by Jacob Eichholtz / #459 in 'Jacob Eichholtz' by / Rebecca J. Beal / See Ellis & Evans 'History of / Lancaster County', p. 523 / W.S." Smaller paper sticker alongside reads "Young Woman / of the / Leman Family / by Eichholtz".
The number G.80.130.2 is painted at top right of wood panel. This was a Heritage Center number, due to an ownership dispute. See File.
Provenance
Beal writes on page 136, "Collections: Miss Adelia Leman, Lancaster; Mr. and Mrs. William Shand, Lancaster."
Painting is mounted in reproduction gold frame, held in place with four mending plates at sides. Remnant of old paper dust cover on back along frame. Conserved in 2002.
Photo album with marbelized cover and 40 plastic sleeves. 12 contain photos and notes related to Lancaster's Bicentennial celebration. Handwritten on card on first page: "June 10, 1992/ These documents from the City Safe were taken to The Conservation Centre for Art, Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia for restoration and preservation. Here are before and after pictures of
a. The Lancaster Corporation Book, 1742
b. The Charter of the City of Lancaster, 1742
c. The Plot Plan of the City of Lancaster, (?)
...Jarvis "(signature)
On page 14, handwritten on a card: "This was the metal box in which the Charter was stored until someone framed it and exposed it to the light."
On page 19: "This is the Plot Plan which needs to be studied. It has the drawing of gentleman X on the reverse side. Who drew this?"
Double-sided bronze medal struck to commemorate bicentennial of James Buchanan's birth as well as honoring Winfield Scott Stoner. Both were R.W. Grand Masters of Masons.
Obverse is inscribed: "Pennsylvania's only United States President James Buchanan" around a raised image of Buchanan's bust in full profile. It notes he was "Worshipful Master - Lodge No. 43 - District Deputy Grand Master. Reverse has: "Winfield Scott Stoner 1990-1991" and "R.W. Grand Master of Masons - Pennsylvania" At center are Masonic symbols of a sun within a triangle/pyramid.
Inscribed on edge is "copyright Medallic Art Co., Danbury, CT. - Bronze."
Minor nicks on edge, both sides. Two small areas of whitish substance on edge above "SCOTT".
Object ID
2009.019
Notes
Stoner was the 100th Right Worshipful Grand Master, 1990-1991. He lived in Lancaster, worked as a CPA and was born July 15, 1939 and died March 1, 2006.
White porcelain commemorative plate with black printed image of Colemanville Bridge. Surrounded by, "3rd International Volksmarch / Pequea, Pennsylvania"; "IVV / AVA"; "7 - 8 October 1989 / Penn Dutch Pacers"; signature, "G. Robert Wagner"
Pressed redware plate commemorating 175th anniversary of Mountville. Features incised jubilee emblem and floral decorations. Made by the mayor, Victor Lenox, for celebration.