Watercolor painting of a square-shaped 3-tiered wooden washstand. A tall ceramic pitcher with blue scenes painted on it is set in a circular area on the lowest level. Mid-level there is a small drawer with a metal hinged-handle. On the shelf there appears to be a piece of plain paper. The top shelf is a white insert with a white ceramic ewer decorated with blue painted mountains in its interior. This nightstand stands next to a wall with white wooden panels on the lower portion and wall above decorated with gray leafed fronds. There is a portion of a green throw rug with a red border on the floor (lower left corner of drawing).
There are brown marks in the paneling behind the washstand. There are the remain of a previous backing on the corners and side of the reverse which have partially bled through the upper right corner.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.37
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper, depicting a frame house in a rural area with a tall chimney and wooden fence. The caption at the bottom reads: "Old Frame House--/at turn in Lititz Pike--/edge of Lancaster Pa." (written by Scott Sagar)
There is a significant 1/2-inch tear in the upper left corner. Other small tears appear in the center top edge; the lower right corner (about 1 inch up from bottom); and the bottom edge (about 2 inches from the right).There are remains of a previous backing on the corners of the reverse.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.63
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper-board of the Donegal Meeting house, a small one-story building with barn-like roof and twin doors as well as a walled cemetery and numerous trees in the background. There are several people shown and a few horses.
A small caption at bottom right reads "Drawn + printed by D. (?) Stauffer, Mt. Joy.", and a larger caption at bottom center reads "DONEGAL CHURCH."
This is the Donegal Presbyterian Church at Donegal Springs, built about 1740.
The same building is depicted in P. 77.31.30. (Written by Scott Sagar.)
Watercolor on paper, depicting the residence of Mrs. Eli K. Kline. It shows a gray Federal two-story stone house with German dormers and a doorway flanked by columns. Portions of the two adjacent buildings can also be seen.
The caption reads "Residence of Mrs. Eli K. Kline./Lebanon Pa/ 1869
Pen and ink with watercolor depicting an unidentified interior wall of a room without furnishings.
Most wall surface covered with paneled woodwork, including an off-center fireplace with mantel and ceiling-high surround, two flanking cupboards with mid-section double drawers and decorative keystone at top, also floor to ceiling. At left is a paneled door. Entire was length has paneled wainscot. Wallpapered walls. Strong cornice at ceiling includes dentil molding.
The fireplace, wallpaper, border, and highlights are watercolor, the rest is pen and ink.
Some widely spaced buckling along the top edge. There are blue stains from a previous backing on the corners and edges of the reverse, and these have partially bled through to the front.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.35
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Wrought iron fat lamp on stand. Lamp is an open, shaped pan supported by a central high stem apparently comprised of two baluster-turned sections joined at the center. Stem fits into a disk-shaped base and is secured by a nut. Edges of base have a pie-crust decoration. Four penny feet under base are actually terminals of an X-shaped armature attached to bottom with the same nut attached to post end. Each of 4 arms is struck with a 6-pointed star; one arm has a diamond-like motif comprised of 4 semicircles. One arm struck "J HERR" and opposite arm has "J H 1825." Paint decoration is of a later period: black overall except underside which is an earlier green paint. Gold highlights on feet, edge of base, parts of center post and underside of lamp pan.
Made by John Herr (1771-1854) of Eden Twp, later Manor Twp., finally Pequea Twp.
Provenance
Ex-Stratford Lee Morton lighting collection, who was an insurance man from Clayton, Missouri and a founding member of the Rushlight Society. After his death the lamp was sold at Garth's auction in Ohio in either Nov. 1979 or March 1980. Then offered for sale in July by dealer Chris Machmer to the Heritage Center. Morton may possibly have acquired the lamp from Hattie Brunner.
John Herr was a blacksmith first in Eden Twp., then Manor Twp. He is listed as a blacksmith in 1808 Manor Twp. tax records. After a 2nd marriage, he moved in the late 1840s to Pequea Twp. just south of New Danville. See Clarke Hess, Mennonite Arts, pp. 84-85.
Umbrella type swift or winding wheel. Mixed woods, central shaft with attached slide and wingnut which raises an array of string-connected straight wooden strips or "ribs" that unfold & spead outward to provide a variable form on which to wind yarn. The swift can be table mounted via the clamp with wooden screw at bottom.
Stamped on walnut clamp end is: "A. Danner."
.
Provenance
Unknown provenance. Seller states Aaron was the son of woodturner Daniel Danner (1803-1891), see James McMahon article on D. Danner in PA Folklife, Autumn 1993, vol. 43.
Aaron H. Danner listed in Manheim in Lancaster County Directories: clerk, salesman, 1896 - shoes, 1903 - salesman, 1909 - Pres. Exchange Bank (!!), 1921 - salesman.
Hand carved from one piece of oak. Long double-edged blade has blunt edges. Tapered to a blunt point at one end. Opposite end is a 5" long rounded handle.
Donor states origin in the Gochnauer/Hersh families of E. Hempfield Twp.
Provenance
Donor purchased from 1969 farm sale of John Gochnauer on Gochlan Road, East Hempfield Twp (between Landisville and E. Petersburg).. John married Rebecca Hersh circa 1830 and the Hersh farm became the Gochnauer farm.
Flat tin 6-pointed star pattern or template with1/2" diameter hole at center. Used for creating raised, sculpted plushwork (see Amish Arts by Patricia Herr, pp. 44-55).
Walnut schrank has two paneled doors on rat tail hinges, separated by a vertical panel; two drawers below with two brass handles and a keyhole each. Bold projecting removable cornice. The sides have two panels each. The schrank rests on five turnip feet, one at each corner and one at front center. The left interior has wooden pegs around all three sides near the top, and the right interior has three shelves.
Each door has two panels decorated with a carved fleur-de-lis motifs at corners and sulphur inlay which reads:
Upper left panel: "ABRAHAM/REIST"
Upper right panel: "ELISABETH/REISTIN"
Lower left panel: "ANO 1775"
Lower right panel: "DEN 8 MERTZ"
Clarke Hess research notes that Elizabeth Reist was a Kauffman and not a Metz (who was a later wife). The published Reist genealogy is incorrect on this point.
John J. Snyder, Jr. believes the shop that produced the sulphur inlaid furniture was likely located in central or north central Lancaster County.
Provenance
The schrank was owned by Abraham Reist (1737-1810), and then possibly by his son Abraham (1770-1852), who inherited his father's farm. According to previous owner, Henry T. Muth, the schrank was purchased at the Reist family sale for one dollar by Christian Martin in 1845 in Sun Hill, Penn Township. He owned it for 20 years. From 1865-1905 it was owned by Christian's son Tobias D. Martin, who gave it to his daughter Elizabeth Bausman Martin Muth (Mrs. William Henry Muth) who owned it from 1905-1940. It was then given to their son, Henry T. Muth, who owned it for 37 yrs. (1940 to 1977) after which he sent it to sale.
The schrank was refinished in the early 1900s by Elizabeth and William H. Muth at their home in Lititz. Son Fred Muth recalls the job being done by an old man from Lititz who came to their house to perform the job in their huge attic.
