Leather firefighter's helmet. From 1820, Washington
Leather fire helmet painted brown overall. Impressed decorative floral chain border plus vertical impressions on the 8 sections of the helmet. 3 of the wider arcs are painted gold. The front arc is topped with a metal eagle head painted gold. A leather shield on the front is white, with cut-out portions revealing a blue "4." Red portions have "WASHINGTON' and "CAF" in white letters. Two eyebolts screwed into helmet front to secure the leather shield. Oval company seal pressed into leather on back rim of hat (on upper side): "H.T. Gratacap Grand St. NY."
Underside: 3" wide lined red flocked fabric headband on inside of helmet still in tact. Hole drilled through back of brim.
Maker is: H.T. Gratacap Manufacturer of Firemen's Caps, Belt &c.
Fireman's hat - 1820. Decorative border in relief around brim. decorative impressions in leather forming the helmet. Emblem impressed on underside of back of hat "Wilson maker _ _ BOWERY." Of eight vertical ridges on the helmet, four ridges, painted gold, widen to .5" high at the top. An eagle neck and head of gold colored metal has been attached to the front ridge with two metal pins or nails. The eagle has detailed feathers and a berry in its beak. "1820" in red and gold is painted on top of rear brim.
American Fire Company Parade Hat. Leather hat with brim (3" in front tapering to 1 3/8" in rear). Height of central portion of hat is 6" in front and slopes to 1 3/8" at rear. Exterior painted red with 1/4" black borders around rim and base of crown of hat. U.S. emblem/shield in red, white and blue painted on crown beneath a black banner with "American" in 1"-high gold letters. Label inside with "Mr. Jacob Sener." Piece of paper cut and pasted to inside top of hat.
Small oil painting on paper of Mrs. General (Abigail Ann Bailey) John Steele. Head to waist, Mrs. Steele is seated holding a red bound book in her left hand with right hand crossing her left wrist .Fine detail, especially dots on bonnet fabric and designs on sleeve cuffs. Copy of portrait by Jacob Eichholtz.
She and John Steele married on March 4, 1784. She died two weeks after her husband, on March 13, 1827.
On reverse, written in black ink in cursive: "Property of and loaned by/ Mary Steele Slaymaker/ Mrs.. H.E. Slaymaker/ 149 W. Duke St./Lancaster/Pa."
Oil Painting on paper of General John Steele. Gen. Steele is seated with his right arm on the arm of a chair, left hand on his right wrist. He's attired in a black coat high with high back collar. A high white collar around his neck has a bow tied in the front with a ruffled front.
Adam Reigart Jr. (original catalog description was Capt. John Steele)
Description
Oil portrait on canvas of Adam Reigart, Jr. (1765-1844). (Original catalog description was: "Painted portrait of Captain John Steele by Jacob Eichholtz". This ID correction approved by Tom Ryan).
Half-length male figure, faces slightly to left, gray hair brushed forward over forehead in thin wisps, long sideburns, his left ear visible; white turned down collar, light color waistcoat and white stock and frill. Black double-breasted coat. Plain brown background.
Modern wood frame 1.75" wide, painted black with gold beaded inner edge.
See G.86.09.2 for an identical oil on canvas portrait of Reigart by Eichholtz. (On art racks)
Painting has strong tears and needs cleaning. This is the condition in which it was received. Large irregular tear 7.5" x 4/5" across his left chest & shoulder. Small 1" x 1/2" tear above shoulder. Another irregular tear 2" x 1" on right shoulder. Straight line dent w/ some tearing below this. Another straight line dent 3.5" to left of head.and a 1"-long dent with tear above head. Extensive craquelure, esp. in upper 2/3.
Modern wood frame 1.75" wide is painted black with gold beading on inner edge. Round, blue sticker at top back of stretcher reads: "(W)alnut Lan(e) / Art Shop / German(town) / Philad(elphia).
Miniature Portrait of William Frazer, son of Judge Frazer in large gold frame. William was a lieutenant in the 3rd Artillery in the US Army in Seminole war. died in Lancaster in 1844. The original of this protrait was painted in 1842 by John Henry Brown and exhibited in 1912. This is a copy of that painting, painted by the same artist in 1844.
Another Miniature of William Clark Frazer was donated in 1976 by Virginia Moore Burk Dwight. See object files for 1976.999
Leather firefighting helmet. Ornate leather firefighting helmet with stamped border around rim, vertical designs on sections on dome and manufacturer's seal "H.G. Grata cap _ St NY" On back 2.5in tall "1820" painted in red and gold. Metal eagle head is mounted facing front on top of front. Eagle appears to hold in its beak a leather crest with a 3.25in high blue "4" with white leather cut out to reveal it. Cut out on top revelas a red background with white letter: W_SH____ON." A cut out section at the base has a red background and white letters "_. C. L." Remnants of red fabric around edge of interior where hat fits onto head.
Manufacturer's stamp " H.T. Gratacap, Manufacturer of Firemans Caps, Belts, &c 143 Grand St, New York"
