A) Linoleum print of door "East Orange Street" by Melissa M. Coleman (signed). Black ink on off-white/beige laid paper. See photocopy in accession files.
A) Linoleum print of "Passmore's House 1760" by Melissa M. Coleman (signed). Black ink on off-white/beige laid paper. See photocopy in accession files.
B) Front of mat (in 2 pieces now), title and signature on mat.
Slight discoloration (brownish) along top corners on front caused by yellowing (orange) tape adhesive remnants on back side. Black marks front left side and three on back.
Chest is red-painted poplar. Lid has molding pegged to 3 sides, supported by plain iron strap hinges. Brass escutcheon at keyhole. Wrought iron bail handles on a heart-shaped plate, on each end. A till is at left end of interior.
White-painted platter-shaped panels at each end, two on lid and two on front. Above the painted front panels is a thin, long, white-painted cartouche containing a painted inscription along with geometric floral/star motifs. The inscription reads: "17 BARBARA POTZERIN 95."
On the underside of the lid, left side, is pasted a fraktur measuring 6.5" x 8" showing a woman in a red dress and a man in a pink coat and black pants flanking a text block, with red and blue flowers above.
The fraktur is a "baptismal sponsor's letter form" done with ink and watercolor on laid paper for "Maria Barbarra" Potzer, born March 11, 1768 in Warwick Township, Lancaster County. The central text block expresses good wishes for the child (translation in file)and in the upper left and lower right corners are the names of baptismal sponsors, Maria Barbara Fockt [?] and Jakob Zook [?]. This unusual form was used in the Alsace/Palatine areas, according to Pastor Fred Weiser.
Barbara Potzer was original owner. Maker of the chest is unknown. The fraktur is by the Sussel-Washington artist.
Provenance
Chest was purchased at a sale in Harrisburg in approximately June, 1979, by seller, H. William Koch. It
Multiple large marks and stains on lid, including two blotches of a varnish-stain. Edges are worn, and bits of wood are missing in several areas. Base is separating from the front and sides. The iron hinges are rusted. Top has a long split along grain.
A condition report and treatment proposal for the fraktur were done by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in May 1986, but no treatment was done.
Object ID
G.79.103.1
Notes
This is a twin of the "Anna Nislesin" chest (G.95.29.1) except for paint color and feet.
There is a group of several other similar chests (see file).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
British Royal Coat of Arms, 1786, attrib. to the "Early Ephrata Artist," (active c. 1780-1786). Manuscript watercolor version of this design is modified to depict the Germanic sentiments of the artist following our overthrow of English rule. As before, the rampant lion (England) is on the left and the rampant unicorn (Scotland) on the right. However, the lion is now chained and uncrowned. Replacing the central shield is a large flowering plant with a typical Pa-German large parrot perched on the lower branch and a crown above. Large flowers are prominently added to this image.
Lettering at bottom center reads: "Phil(i)p[sic] Horning/ hat In ge-macht/ 1786" Recipient Philip Horning's name is followed by the artist's phrase: "Made in 1786." This should not be read that Horning "made this in 1786."
Pa. Germans saw a kinship between the Royal Coat of Arms and the German Hanoverian kings who ruled the United Kingdom throught the 18th century.
Klaus Stopp, Printed B&BC of the Pa. Germans, Vol. II, pp. 108-113
Height (cm)
34.925
Height (ft)
1.1458333333
Height (in)
13.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Frame is H: 22.25 W: 25.25"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-03-23
Condition Notes
Multiple vertical and horizontal creases overall. Some paint loss, especially on lion's head and face, and flower in upper right corner. Brown stains overall.
A treatment proposal made by Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, May 1986, and the following treatment was done in 1988-89: consolidated ink and paint, old backing removed, tears mended, cleaned, losses in paper filled, flattened, and matted. Details in file.
Matted and framed by Brian Howard of Carlisle in 1996
Object ID
P.77.51
Notes
This unusual watercolor gives a Germanic spin on the heraldic design. While the lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland, replacing the central shield is a large parrot perched on a flowering plant. Large flowers are also prominently introduced into the composition. Painted after the war of independence, the lion is now portrayed uncrowned, with a chain at his neck. This is a strong statement of the artist's Germanic sentiments.
This is one of the last known pieces done by the Early Ephrata Artist." He was given this name since he decorated early Ephrata prints having no bird-panel printed borders. The Earnests note he used heavy color and his motifs were primitive, despite the ambitious decoration and design he attempted such as this fraktur watercolor. He ranks among the earliest fraktur artists to decorated printed forms, along with Otto, Hoevelmann and Speyer.
See:
- Earnests' "Papers for Birth Dayes", pp. 213-214 for info on the Early Ephrata Artist.
- Klaus Stopp, The Printed B&BCs of the German Americans, Vol. II, pp. 108-113.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Bookplate done in German for Anna Herr by the Manor Township Artist (active 1782-1804) on a page detached from a "Leider Buch" (song book).
Fraktur is hand-drawn, lettered and colored with red and brown on laid paper. It is in the style of this artist who had a "small, neat fraktur hand," triangular flowers composed of six dots, and birds with spread tails. At top is a large heart surmounted by a crown, flanked by crowned cherubs/angels with head and wings only. Flowering vine below heart has triangular dot flowers with two birds sucking nectar from flowers. Other vines serve as horizontal borders to separate text below. Flanking the name "Anna Herrin" at center are leafless apple trees with serpents ascending. German text under name is "Geschrieben den 19ten Novem:/ Anno 1788." Branching out of a large inverted tulip at bottom center are two vines with triangular dot flowers. Religious text is interspersed within vining borders.
Attribution to Manor Twp. Artist who was most likely a schoolmaster working among Mennonites in northern Lancaster County, according to Fred Weiser. The Earnests list five known pieces by this artist, from 1768-1788.
Considerable loss around edges, esp. top right and bottom 1/3 of left edge. Ragged where detached from book. Darkened overall. Liquid stains over much of surface, esp. along bottom, top and left edge as well as under date. Paper "eaten through" by iron gall ink at various places, e.g. outline of heart and letters of "Herrin."
Object ID
P.04.51.4
Notes
Earnests, Papers for Birth Dayes, p. 534.
Weiser and Heaney, FLP, #277.
Dr. Donald Herr says he owns four fraktur by this artist (May 14, 2015).
Set of six full-color prints of historic Lancaster County sites. Printed on thick, textured paper. Prints are from orignal oil paintings by local artist Smith. Locations depicted are: The Clositers at Ephrata, Wheatland, Trinity Luthern Church, Lancaster
Fraktur presentation piece on wove paper, horizontal orientation. Green and brown designs and lettering. Has a foliate border w/ flowers at top center and corners. Large heart dominates design with 5 lines of religious text, and signed at the bottom stating fraktur was made for Anna Funck on 15 Dec 1824 by J. Eberman, schoolmaster. Acanthus like leaves surround heart with several flowers. Five baskets with flowers complete design.
Text: "Jesus ist der schonste nam / Aller, die von himmel kommen, / Huldereich, prachtig, tugendsam, den Gott / Selber angenommen, seiner grossen / lieblichkeit, gleicht kein name weit und breit. / Gemacht von Anna Funck, den 15ten December 1824. J. Eberman / Schul Meister".
Translation: "Jesus is the most beautiful name of all who which came from heaven full of protection, glittering, virtuous, whom God himself, except; His great loveliness is equalled by no name far and wide. Made for Anna Funck 15 December, 1824 (J. Eberman, Schoolmaster)"
Very light age coloring. Two large brown stains / burns at lower left corner. Smaller stains elsewhere. Dog-eared corners. Mounted in a white window mat hinged at top.
Birth & baptismal certificate on laid paper. Printed form with central textblock in German within a multiple line border. Infilled and decorated around textblock by Speyer; cross-legged angel at top, pelicans feeding young at sides and flowers at sides and bottom. Watercolors are red, blue, yellow, green and brown.
Infilled for Johannes, son of Valiendein (Valentine) and Eliesabetha (Elisabetha) Bohmer of Brecknock Township in Lancaster Co., born Dec. 13, 1788.
Georg Friederich Speyer (active 1774-1801) used this printed form produced c. 1789 by Barton & Johnson of Reading. See Notes.
General wear with numerous creases and wrinkles; one pronounced vertical centerline crease. Repaired tears, esp at left edge. All edges are ragged and uneven, esp. at right.
Conserved by CCAHA in 1989 (see report in file). Hinged into window mat & back mat. Relaced in its original frame using UF-3 Plexiglas and acid-free cardboard on reverse with a taped mylar dust shield.
Object ID
G.77.50.1
Notes
Printed form by Reading printers Thomas Barton and Benjamin Johnson, circa 1789 (see Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the Pa. Germans, v. 4, p. 84). Speyer used this printed form for Johannes Bohmer who was born the previous year in1788.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
