Birth certificate is hand done by artist using design elements from printed fraktur. Multicolor text is enclosed in a central arched arbor w/ flame finials. Text names Christian, a son of Jacob and Barbara (KIndig) Bachman, born 1827 in Lampeter Twp. Two confronting angels flank arbor and 2 additional text blocks of religious verse support arbor. A pavilion at bottom is flanked by blue trees & large colorful pinwheel flowers.
Border at sides and top have colorful, repeating floral/foliate motifs; top is arched. Hearts and flowers fill top corners. Above arbor is a large 4-point stylized star flanked by reclining trees.
Artist uses red, blue, light blue, black, yellow, white, green, orange and brown.
Inscribed on reverse in black ink is "No 4 made by Eli Haverstick 1834."
Provenance
Descent in Bachman family to donor. Two nearly identical birth certificates are known, for older sister Anne, b. 1823 (private owner-Barbara Ann Mable) and younger brother John, b. 1832 (G.96.9.1). Similarity suggests all were made at the same time in 1834.
Bachman family genealogy in file. See info on Christian Bachman in Mennonite Arts, 2002, pp. 56-57.
Conserved by Susan Duhl in 2001. Generally worn and discolored. Repair to edge tears & corner loss. Abrasions & paper fill in top right corner were in-painted with watercolor. Tape at back of top edge is now removed w/ remaining stain. See report in file.
Object ID
G.00.23.1
Notes
Haverstick is believed to be a teacher due to being absent on tax rolls for Conestoga Twp.
Christian Bachman (1827-1901) became a prominent cabinetmaker in eastern Lancaster County, just like his father Jacob Bachman (1798-1867). He married Barbara Buckwalter in 1855. After marriage, he moved to Strasburg where he set up his own shop.
Place of Origin
Conestoga Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
In memory of Charles Bachman, grandson of Christian Bachman, by his son Charles Bachman, Jr. and family.
Birth and baptismal certificate in German, printed on laid paper by John Bauman of the Ephrata Press; no imprint (name of printer). Infilled w/ German script in red ink and decorated by unknown scrivener for Stephan Weibel, born in Adams County, November 14, 1798.
The text is enclosed in a large heart with a yellow, black and red border. Seven Christian crosses below text, within the heart. Two smaller hearts with text appear in the lower left and right corners. Each of these smaller hearts is flanked by two small birds. Two parrots appear in the upper corners and various flowers and vines fill the rest of the space. All decorated with red, yellow, and blue.
Stephan was the oldest of 6 children born to parents Stephan (1775-1815) and Anna Maria (Troxel) Weibel. He was baptized by Pastor Schroder; witnesses were Andereas Weibel (father's older brother) and his wife. Informant Joe Wible says parents were farmers in Straban Twp. as was son Stephen Wible in later life. Son Stephen married Julian Bender. They had no natural children but adopted a boy, Martin Shealer, whom they raised as a son. Most of the entire Weible clan relocated to western PA.
John Bauman printed from 1800-1809, the year of his death. He began only at age 35 after having worked with his father Christian Bauman in the Ephrata paper mill. Klaus Stopp notes this design with parrots & birds was used 1803-1807, but this imprint with 7 hearts, only c. 1807. (See NOTES)
Printer is John Bauman (1765-1809); Scrivener/decorator unknown. Printed in Ephrata; infilled and decorated possibly in Adams County.
Provenance
Provenance: This piece was given by donors to the Lancaster County Historical Society with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center collection upon the establishment of that institution.
Paper is creased, wrinkled and puckered overall. Paint has flaked off in many places. Treatment proposal presented 1986 by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. Treatment done 1988-89: Areas of flaking paint were consolidated with adhesive; the support was surface cleaned; paper was washed; tears mended; humidified and flattened; matted and reframed. (See file.)
Object ID
G.77.50.10
Notes
See Klaus Stopp, The Printed B & B Certificates of the German Americans, Vol II, pp. 98, 189 and 202 for info on John Bauman.
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
