Reward of merit, elaborately cut out of laid paper, watercolored. It is one of four found in a family Bible. Bestowed upon a deserving student by a school teacher, this piece portrays a variety of stylized flowers, done in the unique style of Jacob Botz.
This symmetrical papercut was created with one vertical center fold. Overall design is six main flowers; top pair of flowers have human faces. Scherenschnitte is decorated with polychome watercolors.
See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Small piece broken off stem at right center. Blue-painted petals at center are flaking. Multiple stains around perimeter.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.2
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This is a reward of merit, a fraktur given to a deserving student by a school teacher. This cut-out piece is done on a rectangular piece of laid paper, has a large sunflower-like flower with a face drawn in its center. Extending from the stem is a pair of daisies and a pair of tulips. Has a yellow border edged in red and at bottom is the name of "Margaretha Lindenmuthin" inscribed in the same red. Yellow dominates, followed by red, then lesser use of blue and green. See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Small broken element still attached, at right of center (stem of tulip). Multiple dark stains around perimeter. Blue-painted petals at center are dessicated with significant losses due to flaking.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.4
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This is a reward of merit, a fraktur given to a deserving student by a school teacher. This piece done on rectangular laid paper, is a watercolored drawing of a large stemmed flower with bird perching on stem. Large red and yellow bloom at top, single beehive-like "berry" at center of stem at bird's beak. Floating striped leaf at center left. Inscribed at bottom is "Margaretha Lindenmuthin", the deserving student. See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Paper does not lie flat. Multiple dark stains/discolorations, esp. around perimeter. Heavy stain at floating leaf at center. Some paint bleeding.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.3
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Scherenschnitte, freehand cutwork on light cream-colored wove paper folded horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, then cut out. Rectangular form is centered with an 8-lobed flower made of four hearts enclosing smaller hearts & a medallion with inscription Surrounded by figures of boys and girls as well as birds and hearts. Colored w/ red and blue paint/gouache and some details in blue ink.
Scotland area, Greene Twp., Franklin Co.
Handwritten in blue at center is: "Margarert [sic] Elizabeth / Farner / A present / By John Farner / March 11th 1854" Made for sister Margaret when John was age 11. Similar one is owned by Jim Gergat, done by Farner in 1854 for Isaac Shetter in Green Twp. in Franklin County. Jim has a photo of recipient Shetter. He owns an additional cutout w/ no written presentation. Gergat states Farner was a Civil War veteran and is buried in Centerville, Cumberland Co. (at intersection of Rt. 174/Walnut Bottom Rd. and Rt. 233 & associated w/ Centerville Lutheran Church, Carlisle).
Provenance
Given by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith to the Lancaster County Historical Society with the understanding that it would become part of the collections of The Heritage Center Museum with the establishment of that institution.
Small brown spots overall, especially in top half. Larger brown stains in top left area and central design; possibly faded brown coloring.
Matted and framed by conservator Brian Howard of Carlisle in 1996
Object ID
G.77.50.3
Notes
Earnest, Fraktur: Folk Art & Family, 1999, p. 118.
Informed 1-9-12 by Jim Gergat, former York Co. H. S. curator, of identity of John Farner. See photocopies of his two Farner cutouts in file. Gergat's phone # is (610) 473-0137.
Slide #27-2-10 and Transparency file under "Fraktur" #18.
Removed from Masonic Lodge Fraktur exhibit early 2008.
Exhibited Landis Valley Museum, scherenschnitte exhibit curated by Irwin Richman, May-Dec. 2008.
Place of Origin
Greene Twp., Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
ix, 363 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 32 cm
Notes
"Published on the occasion of the exhibition Drawn with spirit: Pennsylvania German Fraktur from the Joan and Victor Johnson Collection, February 1-April 26, 2015"--Title page verso.
Author signature on title page.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 351-353) and index.
Contents
Foreword / Timothy Rub -- The sixty-year quest: an interview with Joan and Victor Johnson / Ann Percy -- An introduction to pennsylvania German fraktur -- Plates / photography by Graydon Wood.
Summary
Among the most beloved forms of American folk art, fraktur is a Germanic tradition of decorated manuscripts and printed documents noted for its use of bold colors and whimsical motifs. This publication makes a landmark contribution to the study of Pennsylvania German fraktur, and offers the most comprehensive study of the topic in over 50 years. The featured objects, most of which have never been published, accompany significant new information about the artists who made these works and the people who owned them. An introductory essay sets the renowned Johnson Collection within the context of collecting and scholarship on Pennsylvania German folk art and then highlights major new discoveries, including connections between fraktur and related examples of furniture and prints. An interview with the collectors offers valuable insights into the formation of this special group of objects, which includes birth and baptismal certificates, bookplates, religious texts, writing samples, house blessings, cutworks, and printed broadsides. The splendid color illustrations reveal schools of artistic and regional influence, giving a nuanced understanding of how artists took inspiration from one another and how designs were transferred to new locations. Detailed catalogue entries include extensive information about each piece as well as complete translations. Exhibition: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA (01.02.-26.04.2015).
Liebesbriefe (love letter) papercut or scherenschnitte on laid paper, mounted on green paperboard within a black wooden frame. Intricately cut circular design has narrow sawtooth border and cutout hearts, urns and flowers (tulips and carnations) in a repeated design. Center has a large flower-like, scalloped edged shape outlined in blue and lines of text written in red ink around periphery. It reads: "Lieben und nicht haben ist harter dann stein graben, und nicht bey sammen seyn(?) / ist fur wahr die groste pein." Appears to read: To love and not have (have love requited) is harder than stone (graben?) and not by ? ? ? is in truth the greatest pain.
16 inverted hearts dominate outer area, arranged in a staggered fashion around periphery. Each heart is alternately edged in blue or red and each is numbered and infilled with an expression of love written in red ink. Eight 2-handled urns radiate outward from center filled with tulip plants that connect with the hearts. Vasiform paper shapes alternate with urns and are decorated with drawings of tulips and blue flowers. Watercolor decoration is typical color palette of red, yellow, blue and what originally was green foliage. On back of acidic paperboard is written "This is probably Christian Strange (sic) Cut-Out." Old paper label taped to back is printed "An Old Pennsylvania / German Valentine."
See David R. Johnson, Christian Strenge's Fraktur, East Petersburg Historical Society, 1995, for two other examples.
Diameter (cm)
33.3375
Diameter (ft)
1.09375
Diameter (in)
13.125
Dimension Details
Diameter of frame is 19.5"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-06-26
Condition Notes
Delicate cutout has heavy losses, especially sawtooth border, parts of flowers & leaves as well as 3 missing vasiform (resembling a tube/duct) shapes with the floral drawings. Fold lines are broken and breaking. Paper generally age-darkened with some scattered light brown stains. Multiple repairs detached elements and pieces of paper pasted onto back for support. Black painted frame has abrasions. Glass has some light molding on inside surface.
Object ID
2017.999.9
Notes
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred Weiser, Sept. 2, 1988. He notes that the condition restrains the value. There is a large B & W transparency in the file.
See other examples in David R. Johnson's "Christian Strenge's Fraktur", 1995. (Copies in file, including translation of German).
Published in conjunction with an exhibition held at Franklin and Marshall College, Oct. 2-22, 1987.
Includes bibliographical references.
Contents
Fraktur / by Carol E. Faill -- Calligraphy and linguistics : a different look at the F&M Fraktur / by Curtis C. Bentzel -- Religious dimensions / by Robert G. Mickey -- Checklist.
Bookplate is done on wove paper that is adhered to the detached front cover of a leatherbound New Testament and framed in a modern red and black frame. Unusual borders, motifs and strong primary colors of red, blue and yellow. Borders are bands of red and blue-painted rectangles at sides and red hears on a band of yellow at top and bottom. Additional red hearts flank side borders at top. Top 1/3 of bookplate has a compass-drawn motif of overlapping circles. The middle 1/3 of page is the text in German "Dieses Neue Testament/ Gerhort/ Henrich Scherch/ Ihm zur Lehr and Gott zur/ Ehr, Geshrieben im Yahr, 1823." Bottom of page has a large design of red and yellow fruit hanging from blue leaves dotted with red. (Written by Wendell Zercher)
Paper is generally good; colors have been smeared. lifted and muddled, esp. along top edge and bottom 1/3 of bookplate, probably due to moisture damage. Tear of 1 1/2" extends from left edged ( 1 1/2" up from bottom) into center of page. BP is adhered to detached front cover of NT that is deteriorated brown leather with metal hooks for clasps still intact; residue to glue at four corners.
