Hand towel, plain-weave linen, elaborately decorated with blue and red cotton cross stitch as well as drawn thread panels. Hanging tabs are plain-weave linen tape, 3/8" wide and very long.
Panel #1 has "MARIA" at the top flanked by large floral trees growing out of hearts. Second line reads: "MACDALLNA DAMY" and 3rd line is: "MY HAND AND NWEDLE." Below are 5 large tree motifs grounded on a horizontal embroidered line, followed by 8 small grounded trees.
Panel #2 is a drawn thread panel w/ cotton darn-stitched designs. Drawn threads stop short of sides -- unusual.
Panel # 3 has five blue and red motifs: star at center flanked by crowned peacocks, in turn flanked by geometric motifs.
Panel # 4 is a tripartite design: center has "HF" within an ornately embroidered red and blue heart, flanked by drawn thread panels w/ cotton darn-stitched trees surmounted by birds. (Initials stand for future husband Henry Fenstermacher, married the following year,1837.)
Panel #5 is very similar to panel #3.
Panel #6 is another drawn thread panel stopping short of sides, decorated w/ cotton darn-stitched geometric designs.
Panel #7 has upper case alphabet ending with the date 1836.
Panel #8 has three lines: "CHRISTOPHER/ DAMY CATHARINE/ DAMY A D 1836." (parents)
Plain self fringe at bottom has an applied short panel of linen with an elaborate knotted self fringe.
Made by Maria/Mary Magdalena Demmy (1811-1884).
Seller pinned on a note stating the mate to this towel (made by sister Elizabeth) was sold in the Rich and Joan Smith sale for $2400, inventory # CB29. Both towels illustrated in This is the Way I Pass My Time, p. 31.
Note: Older sister Maria/Mary Demmy's taufschein is P.06.15.1.
Framed hand towel. One large embroidered panel with pelicans. Two-inch panel of loose weave linen added to bottom,decorated with wide band of red cotton with sawtooth edges . Main panel is bleached plain weave linen. Embroidered decoration is done in red cotton, now faded to dark pink.
Panel is 13" high x 16.5" wide, with a symmetrical design except for the initials and date. Embroidered stylized heart at top center with two interior stars and smaller interior heart. At upper corners of panel are large flowers above a decorated branch, under which are large, facing pelicans, each feeding 2 young birds with blood from their pierced breast. At bottom is a small heart motif flanked by facing birds. To the right of this motif is "1808" and to the left is "A C" and "W I".
Conserved Nov. 1997 by Dorothy McCoach of Bethlehem, PA.
Yellowish stains around edges. Discoloration above initials. Pencil marks in upper right corner. Darned diamond pattern in bottom panel has a few minor "pulls". Bottom extension detaching at two points.
Mounted in frame by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
G.97.39.2
Credit
Gift of Hampton Randolph, Sr., Heritage Center Collection
White oval-shaped platter with a .25-inch band of gold around the edge. An inner border wavy- line decoration of gold has been rubbed of on one side. There is a 1.25-inch center gold design of a three-stemmed plant. Between the border and the curve/dip of the serving portion of the platter, embellished with cuts of pairs of alternating short-long slots lend a lattice-like fancy edge to the platter.
Light tan earthenware sectional spittoon with darker "runny" slip or glaze finish. On bottom is impressed "Eagle Porcelain Works / Lancaster PA / Henry Gast S.Q. ST."
Heavy iron key, reported to be a key to the old Lancaster County jail located at Prince and West King Streets. Key has a round shaft with a swell near the center and several decorative rings and score marks. Paddle-like extension near tip for throwing the tumblers of lock. Handle is shaped like an oval ring.
Good condition overall with pitting over surface. Wear is evident overall, especially along shaft where decorative rings are diminished. Gold paint remains in corners and crevices.
Object ID
G.02.49
Notes
There were two office visits by men presenting a key purported to be the Lancaster Jail key:
1. Walter Hager McGovern, Jr., age 68, a descendant of a Hager who was sheriff of Lancaster Co. File on handle was "XXVI". It was slightly longer and heavier than ours (G.02.49.1).
2. Kevin Perrett of Reading presented a copy of a notarized statement by Rosanna E. Rohrer of Lancaster who sold him the key. She obtained the key from her grandfather Capt. Edward Edgerly, former mayor of the City (1878-80). It was stamped "J.F. REMLY" four times on the handle, was 8 5/8" long with the same configuration at the working end as ours and had knurled rings on shaft.
Yellow earthenware lobe-paneled spittoon decorated with streaked and spattered dark brown manganese under a clear lead glaze. Oval drain hole on side. Underside has impressed maker's name in block letters: "Eagle/ Porcelain Works / Lancaster City, PA / Henry Gast, S.Q. St. "
Figural tobacco jar with container and lid both forming the bust of an Arab, a dark-skinned, bearded man with head dress. Hollow-molded earthenware, painted and clear-glazed overall except for most of face.
Underside has impressed number "7671."
Provenance
Descent to Sarah Muench from family (likely Aunt Alice Potter Fordney, an antiques dealer).
Some small chips on bottom edge and surfaces that meet between lid and base. Larger chip beginning to break at base section's proper left side at top edge. Light crazing. Wear and soil on base; interior has minor soil.
Object ID
G.04.23.14
Credit
Gift of Sarah Muench, Heritage Center Collection, LancasterHistory.org
Miniature toleware tin box with hinged, domed lid fitted with a hasp at front and a pull ring at top. Red painted ground. Red striping separates upper and lower panels on front: above is a yellow ground with a stylized foliate design of red and green; below are yellow banana-like crescents which continue on box ends.
Strong paint losses overall, cracking and flaking. The left rear hinge is detached, despite the attempt to resolder it. Solder joint at right rear corner of lid is broken and joint separated.
Object ID
G.98.14.3
Place of Origin
Probably Southeastern PA
Credit
Gift of Drs. Irwina and M. Susan Richman, Heritage Center Collection
Tole painted tin box with hinged, domed lid fitted with a hasp at front and a large ring pull at top. Red painted ground overall except underside. Front painted with a stylized design of yellow and black leaves with a pink and white flower at each end. Ends have a "twisted rope" decoration in an X configuration. Lid top has similar twisted design of black and yellow bordering a central foliate design of yellow and black.
Interior solder repairs on hinges and pull ring. Extensive points of paint loss due to chips, scratches and other abrasions. Lid is especially weathered with oxidized paint. Inside strongly oxidized at bottom and sides.
Object ID
G.98.12.5
Place of Origin
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
Octagonal tin tray with straight sides projecting out at about 45 degrees; rolled edge. Center seam. On red-painted ground is a large central decoration of black and yellow fruit and foliate motifs. Tray sides have repeating pattern of loose S-scrolls in yellow. Underside of tray is black. Three inscriptions: "Elizabeth Altland 1862" in German script at one end; name repeats at opposite end in English script with differing date of "1862." At center seam is "Matilda Altland." Also, white tape with "HJK" (donor).
Probably border area between Adams and York Counties.
Decoration attributed to Altland family.
Provenance
Clarke Hess stated (Sept 2011) Altland families concentrated in border area between Adams and York Counties. Some were also gunmakers.
Tinsmith Mark Hammond examined tray on 8-29-05 and observed that early sheets of tin were 10" x 14", necessitating a seam across bottom. "Double size" sheets of 20" x 14" he thinks were available c. 1830s, although these large sheets would have been more expensive.
Touch-up paint decoration evident. Multiple drops of unknown liquid have resulted in small round paint voids on one side of tray. Strong wear on rim. Underside has many scratches and strong wear.
Object ID
G.86.6.2
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
