Stamped: A. Armstrong, artist Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Written: 1845
Plaque: Mrs. Thomas Wentz (nee Catherine Evedon/Erdan) died March 18, 1817 Armstrong
July 24, 2017 Woman seated facing left with fact more forward, hands clasped on lap. Brown hair with center part; pronounced curl at left of head, hair gathered high on back of head. Brown eyes. Black, long-sleeved very high-waisted dress with low square neckline filled in with chemisette. Large single, frilled collar. Wide-band gold ring with stone on right index finger. Rede shawl wrapped around chair in back of sitter. Red upholstered chair with wooden arm. Background is brown. Stretcher is mortise & tenon with keys.
July 24, 2017. Extensive craquelure. Lines of abrasion along all sides, esp. at right, significant deep, crescent-shaped indentation adjacent to bust at left. Small grouping of paint losses at borrm, 4.5" from bottom right corner. Above ear is slightly curved line of raised paint damage. Small light spot of paint loss on chari back one inch away from frame. 3 vertical tray drips on canvas back. Also some moisture stains to left of stencil.
Frame: Poor to fair condition. Strong overall wear to gilding. Strong losses of gesso at protruding part of molding, esp. at right side. Patches of heavy wear: two areas on right side and one at left. Dark cracks across profile of molding. Back is uncovered.
Wooden ruler of 5-inch length, natural finish, printed both sides. On front side, at left, above the inches scale is "CORKS / OF ALL KINDS"; at middle is "M.W. WARREN & CO., / LANCASTER, PA."; at right is "TRY OUR XXX QUALITY. / THE BEST." Reverse side is divided roughly in half, left side is printed "U. S. STANDARD / "DIAMETER" / CORK MEASURE" and at right is "M W. Warren & Co. / CORKS. / Manufacturers. LANCASTER, PA."
Marshall W. Warren ran a cork business at 617-19 N. Lime St., Lancaster.
Wooden-handled paper fan with printed scene of young children reenacting Washington's crossing of the Delaware River. On reverse printed, "M. T. Garvin 29-37 E. King St. Lancaster, PA / Four Score and Ten years / the department store for thrifty people / Garvins sell for cash to bring you the greater savings /; Phone 8286"
On back A. H. Hood aged 36 y. painted by A. Armstrong 1842
On tag: repeats info.
On back of canvas: JISW
Seated man faces slightly right. Dark hair with widow's peak. Brey blue eyes. Square face. Black coat, black waistcoat, black bowtie, on wide peice of neckware, white shirt. Right hand on lap. Reddish chair at left. Background has large red curtain with sky visible through opening at right.
Glass jar with gold-colored metal lid. Paper label reads, "Lancaster county / Pure / Apple Butter / Prepared from Evaporated Apples / with added Spices / H. Kellogg & Sons / DISTRIBUTORS / Philadelphia, Pa."
Family register hand-lettered in black and red, with bronze/gold highlights, all within a frame-like band border filled with decoration including rosettes in corners. Executed for an Old Order Amish family by either John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler. In a modern frame.
Heading at top reads "The Family of / of [sic] my Father Noah Fisher / He was born on the 14th day of February, 1853 / and my Mother Catharine (Katie) Fisher. / She was born on the 28th day of January 1850." The register gives birthdates of the seven children. Toward bottom is the heading "Deaths" followed by 2 death dates, for Amos (1887) and a stillborn daughter (1894).
Near bottom reads "This was written on the 21st day of September in the Year 1901./for Emma Fisher". Roses drawn in bottom corners.
John Doell was "English" and appears to have worked exclusively among eastern Lancaster Co. Amish families, penning book plates, family records, etc. He likely traveled throughout the communities offering his services. Mennonite historian/collector, Amos Hoover, owner of Muddy Creek Farm Libray, notes that Doell came to America in 1857 and died in Zion's Home in 1908.
Doell's work is similar to Amish artist Elizabeth K. Beiler (see McCauleys' Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125.)
2009-2011 Amish exhibit, City Hall, 2nd floor.
Provenance
Provenance: Vendor Trish Herr purchased at the Mary H. Fisher sale held at the Paradise Fire Hall, April 19, 1989.
John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler (see notes in file)
Deep horizontal and vertical creases dividing the register approximately in quarters. Various small brown stains/marks appear overall; an especially dark stain in the upper left, 3 1/2" in from the corner.
Mounted in an off-white window mat and black, flat-profile frame with UV filtering glazing by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
P.89.07.4
Notes
See P 89.07.3 and .5 for additional registers of this family.
Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp.54 and 195-196. The fraktur hand of Elizabeth K. Beiler and John G. Doell are so similar that it can be difficult to attribute.
McCauley, Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
