Mahogany medicine chest, upright form with two front doors opening up to reveal compartments holding medicine-filled mold-blown square bottles with paper labels and glass stoppers. Right door fitted with locking key. Interior of chest proper has additional medicine compartments and two lower drawers with ivory pulls, containing tools: a suspension balance with copper pans, a bone spoon and two tweezers, one ornate and commercially made. Finally there is a blown glass mortar and pestle.
Most compartments contain bottles of medicines and poison. A large brass bail-type handle at chest top for carrying.
Upper panel on reverse slids sideways to reveal more large bottles with medicine. Inscription on paper pasted to inside is handwritten: "This Medicine Chest / ----aid to grandfather / ------tah, and has been / ----e in his family / 1810." Additional handwritten note pasted to side of front left door reads: " Property of John F. Heinitsh since 1810." Paper labels are printed with the name Charles A. Heinitsh of 16 E. King St. and sometimes 13 E. King St. (16 E. King was a later location). A long thin rod behind the inner top left hinge slides through upper right side to engage a hole in sliding panel, thus securing closure.
Provenance
John Frederick Heinitsh (1792-1858) is the father of Charles A. Heinitsh (1822-1898), both druggists. John apprenticed with his older brother Augustus, eventually partnering with him until 1818 when he bought the business and moved to 33-34 E. King St. In 1841 he moved to 13 E. King and partnered with his son Charles as John F. Heinitsh & Son. In 1849, Charles purchased the store and led a long and distinguished career as druggist. Business moved to 16 E. King St. between 1869 & 1871.
Photo # 1-01-01-87 is a carte de visite of Charles Augustus Heinitsh.
A: Red rubber hot water bottle, 57.5-inch long red rubber tube, black plastic threaded screw-in top and 2 black plastic 'syringes.' Also a 2-year guarantee slip (7.75 ins. wide x 3.625 ins. long). Ecru paper with green border; on reverse are 5-step directions for use.
B: Lid to box has photo of "Armstrong's 2-Quart Capacity / Topper Combination Syringe / Distributed by Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, PA." On both lengthwise sides is the circular company logo with "Made In United States of America." Box lid is colored blue-green and black. Written on top, in red: "XBEF 4.70"
A- Large, dark wood mortar, deep (about 7 inches), with decorative, incised, narrow encircling lines on the outside. Appears to be one solid piece. 3 holes in the base open on the bottom. 2.5-inch high base tapers to form base of the cup of the mortar.
B- Pestle matching mortar. 6 inches from the base, the pestle tapers and the top handle begins, a narrower length for grasping expands to the end in a teat-drop shaped top.
Platter of ironstone transferware with clear glaze. Rectangular with clipped corners, recessed bottom and moderately wide sides that extend outward. White body is devoid of decoration except for black transfer scene of a long bridge spanning a river, 5 people in foreground, town at right end of bridge and another in the distance on right bank. Underside has apparent impressed mark and transfer maker's mark at center: under a spread eagle with shield is a "sign" reading "COLUMBIA BRIDGE ON THE SUSQUEHANNA". Below it is "W.R.", indicating maker William Ridgway & Co. Sticker on bottom is: "$390" and "CLP". This river scene is a variation of the print done by William Henry Bartlett (see G98.12.21).
Shelton or Hanley, England
Provenance
Purchased in Adamstown Antiques Gallery for Heritage Center collection. Transferred from Heritage Center, December 2012.
Copper teakettle with round body, gooseneck spout, very low domed lid w/ scrolled knob of sheet copper riveted onto lid with a hand-cut washer added under lid, suggesting repair or replacement. Curved handle hinges onto tapered plinth tab bases with two rivets each. Vertical dove-tailed side seam opposite single-seamed spout. Dove-tailed bottom.
Touchmark on top of handle is "R..REED." within a rectangular reserve with serrated ends.
Made by Robert Reed, working in Lancaster 1771-1779, then 1785-1795.
Provenance
Purchased by Heritage Center from Philip Bradley Antiques
Transferred from Heritage Center to LancasterHistory.org December, 2012.
Tax assessment lists Robert Reed 1786-1793.
Kauffman, Henry J. American Copper and Brass. New York: Bonanza, 1979.
Coppersmith info from Shelley Horvath Posten (dau. of Don Horvath), 2009
Copper dented and scratched overall, polish residue at handle hinges. Side handle break repaired with sheet iron patch secured to outside with two iron rivets. Knob appears to be a repair or a replacement.
Object ID
P.80.131
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation,
Round copper vessel, shaped like a teakettle, but without a spout. A shaped strap handle is attached to each side of the opening at shoulder with riveted brackets. The handle widens near the middle, where the maker's mark is stamped: "P & B. SCHAUM"
Body is dovetailed to base, one dovetailed vertical seam, handle attached to flanges held in place by two rivets each. Pot insert is missing. Another insert (S.13) was purchased as a replacement.
Vessel has multiple dents, creating a general distortion overall. Surface is also tarnished and has drip stains running down the sides. The bottom is very worn and has numerous stains. Blueish-white stains on the inside. Polish residue on handle.
Object ID
P.77.61
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Related Item Notes
See broadside for Benjamin Schaum's hardware store, P.91.02
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Copper Teakettle has large 7-quart round body, domed lid with brass button knob attached to a metal base visible inside. Goose-neck spout. One vertical dove-tailed seam opposite spout, straight seam along top of spout and short seam underneath. Dove-tailed bottom. Arched handle hinged at chordal sector tab bases with three rivets each.
Maker's mark on top center of handle within serrated rectangular reserve: "7 JOHN.GETZ 7"
Made by John Getz (working 1801-1840).
Provenance
See 2009 materials sent by Shelley Horvath Poston (dau. of Don Horvath).
Copper has many dents and scratches. Significant 3 1/2" series of dents down the side opposite the spout and one under lid finial. Heavily soldered repair joint at base of spout.
Object ID
P.80.115
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Copper tea kettle, classic form with gooseneck spout, high dome lid, marked strap handle hinged on "plinth w/ serifs" tab bases. Lid fitted with a crudely fashioned replaced iron or steel mushroom-shaped finial, bent to one side.
Vertical dove-tailed seam on side opposite spout, top seam running length of spout. Dove-tailed bottom.
Tarnished with numerous dents and scratches over body. Two very heavy dents at shoulder, opposite each other and one on bottom. Finial knob bent to one side. Two significant cracks on proper right side at shoulder and one on back.
Object ID
P.01.48.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection. Purchased through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
