Linen edging around pale red frame. Adhered to a cream colored fabric within frame are eight (4 inch x 3 inch) watercolor paintings. 5 sets of Asian men (1 enthroned in middle) and 3 sets of women in Asian dress, mostly upper class.
One of three framed by The James Buchanan Society in 1938.
Date Range
1840s
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 46
Storage Shelf
Shelf 4
Object Name
Picture
Object Names
Paintings of Asian Men and Women
Material
Fabric, Wood
Height (cm)
46.6725
Height (ft)
1.53125
Height (in)
18.375
Width (cm)
50.8
Width (ft)
1.6666666667
Width (in)
20
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2000-08-10
Object ID
W.1938.004.003
Notes
Painted Asian people on small oblongs of bamboo pith. They are painted with heated paint with a small brush (perhaps only two or three hairs). The heated paint on the bamboo gives the raised effect that looks like embroidery.
Mounted Family Record on 2 pages of laid paper, almost certainly from a Bible, with entries for children of Abraham Tschantz (See his record by the same artist/scrivener as 2017.999.20). Page edges have a border decorated with dotted line zig zag motif with squiggles. In fraktur hand in German, the birth entries are listed under a heading "Verzeichnis" (record/list) on first page that translates "Register of my children when they were born." Lettering is done in either black or red ink.
Two births listed on first page are Jacob born 31 Dec 174(?) on St. Silvester's Day in the Sign of Aquarius. Next is Johannes born 29 Feb 1748 on St. Nestor's Day in the Sign of the Lion. Horizontal border under heading and also between birth entries. Each has a few religious lines exhorting them to follow Jesus.
Second page lists Barbara born 28 Jan 1754 on St. Charles Day in the Sign of the Ram, immediately followed by "In the year 1767 on Sept 4th the Lord took her from this world into eternity. Next entry is David born 17 Sept 1759 on St. Lambert's Day in the Sign of the Lion, but in the year 1767 on Aug 25 the Lord took him into eternity. Both children died within about 10 days of each other.
See related half page birth entry for father Abraham Tschantz (2017.999.20) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded births of Tschantz children.
Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822. Abraham died 26 May 1838.
Height (cm)
30.48
Height (ft)
1
Height (in)
12
Width (cm)
17.78
Width (ft)
0.5833333333
Width (in)
7
Dimension Details
Mount is 16" x 20"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-10-02
Condition Notes
Mounted together in double window. Pages are brown with age and have some small stains. All edges are battered with small tears, small-to-medium losses, and folds. Significant number of red letters have bled. Most edges of each page have cellophane type tape on back to stabilize.
Conservation needed.
Object ID
2017.999.29
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988 as # 25. Valued at $800.
Abraham "Shannts", born 1750, is listed in Ten "Series" of "Pennsylvania Archives", Vol. 156, p. 423.
A Lancaster Menno. Hist. Society record states he is listed in the Hannes Eby Burial Record: death ca.26 May 1838 in Leacock, PA.
In 1810 Census, an Abraham Tschantz is listed with 9 household members in Warwick Twp.
LHO library's Family File for JOHNS family notes Abraham is buried near Mechanicsburg, Upper Leacock Twp., apparently along with his brothers Jacob (b. 1746) and Johannes (b. 1748). Reference is made to the Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections which records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822.
Transcription & translation Oct 2017 by Elsbeth Steffensen.
A: (Cup) Purple transfer print with inside border. There's an Asian scene on the bottom center of cup with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background. On the exterior border: 2 scenes, both the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Floral border on bottom outside edge. Stickers on back: "SD/#50" and "H 268."
B: (Saucer) Top edge is bordered with three scenes, all the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Center is edged in floral print around scene with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background.
A: (Cup) Purple transfer print with inside border. There's an Asian scene on the bottom center of cup with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background. On the exterior border: 2 scenes, both the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Floral border on bottom outside edge. Sticker on back: "SD/#50."
B: (Saucer) Top edge is bordered with three scenes, all the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Center is edged in floral print around scene with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background.
A: (Cup) Purple transfer print with inside border. There's an Asian scene on the bottom center of cup with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background. On the exterior border: 2 scenes, both the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Floral border on bottom outside edge. Sticker on back: "SD/#50."
B: (Saucer) Top edge is bordered with three scenes, all the same, with elephant, rider and two men standing in front of the elephant. Center is edged in floral print around scene with two people in the left foreground and a man on an elephant is behind them on the right. Water with buildings and mountains in background.
Glazed soft paste porcelain handleless teacup (A) and saucer (B), Gaudy Dutch "Butterfly" pattern. Cup has nearly spherical shape and an applied foot ring. Decorated band of dark blue inside lip. Flower inside bottom. Outside as red butterfly set against elaborate floral design. Opposite side has a red flower above a decorated dark blue form.
12/12/2022: only cup
Provenance
Collected by Harpo and Susan Marx during visits back East from CA. Donated to Heritage Center.
Glazed soft paste porcelain handleless teacup (A) and saucer (B), Gaudy Dutch "Butterfly" pattern. Cup has nearly spherical shape and an applied foot ring. Decorated band of dark blue inside lip. Flower inside bottom. Outside as red butterfly set against elaborate floral design. Opposite side has a red flower above a decorated dark blue form.
12/12/2022: Only cup
Provenance
Collected by Harpo and Susan Marx during visits back East from CA. Donated to Heritage Center.
