Tall case clock w/ 8-day movement housed in a cherry Chippendale style case with scroll pediment, carved floral rosettes and three flame finials. Arched glass door and side lights. Partially engaged, smooth columns at front corners, forming part of the hinged door.
Brass dial has Roman numeral chapter ring, C-scroll and vining foliate engraving at spandrels as well as above and below moon wheel which is painted with a star-spangled sky and moon with face. Engraved "Wilton Atkinson" on lower dial.
Waist has broken arch door and recessed, plain quarter columns. Base has raised, scalloped panel at front with quarter columns that match those in the waist section. Feet are bold ogee bracket style.
Atkinson is believed to have been the son of Matthew Atkinson of Lampeter Twp. Wilton was in the Borough as early as 1763 as a cutler. In tax records, he was listed in 1770 as a watchmaker and in 1772 and 1773 as a clockmaker. He married Anna Maria, daughter of the early Borough clockmaker Abram Laroy. Legend states that Anna Maria also made clocks in Lancaster that were sold bearing her husband's name. The Atkinsons eventually moved to Baltimore where, following his death, Anna Maria conducted business until 1819. (Clockmakers of Lanc. Co.)
Snyder notes on p. 40 of Clockmakers of Lanc. Co, that this case is considered one of the earliest examples of the Chippendale style in Lancaster Co., based on the brief working career of Atkinson (1770-1773).
Provenance
Owned by Dr. George Rohrer, then to son Henry A. Rohrer, then to daughter Mary Louise Webster. Tape adhered to reverse side of dial has the name of the donor's father, "Henry Rohrer/ 9-22-87."
Case has been overcleaned, finished with a glossy varnish then handrubbed with steel wool to remove gloss. Vertical scratch on right side of base; feet marred. Crack at lower right corner of base, below raised panel. There are about nine nail holes over the expanse of the tympanum suggesting missing carving. Heavy dent on dial at left edge, center, and hammer marks at this point on reverse side. Lower left corner distorted.
Object ID
G.01.49.1
Notes
Entry for Wilton Atkinson in "Clockmakers of Lancaster Co. and Their Clocks 1750-1850" notes that: "Atkinson married Anna Maria, a daughter of the early Borough clockmaker Abrum Laroy and legend states that she also made clocks in Lancaster that were sold bearing her husband's name. "
Brochure of the First Reformed Church (UCC) notes that in the 1760s, "the French Laroys" belonged to this church. "One chronicler called the LeRoy sisters (four daughters of a local clockmaker) the 'Belles of the congregation.'... Anna Maria, the youngest of the sisters, learned her father's trade and was said to be 'as good a clockmaker' as he was. She and her husband, Wilton Atkinson, took over the family business." (Note: Abrum Laroy died in 1763).
Above brochure is http://visithistoricalancaster.com/pdf/02LP109 HOW-FR-UCC
Call to church office & conversation with paster Dana Schlegel offered no clues to source of above information (Jan. 2017).
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
In memory of Dr. George Rohrer and Mrs. & Mrs. Henry A. Rohrer by Mary Louise Webster, Heritage Center Collection
Pewter flagon, one of a pair, made by Heyne and presented to the Warwick Congregation (now the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) for use as part of a communion service. Cylindrical tankard form of top half joins a bottom section that begins to swell until it flares out dramatically at bottom. Has three applied cherub's head feet bordered with wrigglework. Applied spout. Heyne then innovated by departing from German forms by using three English features: an applied hollow handle, a double-domed lid and an erect chairback thumbpiece.
At midline below three raised bands is an engraved two-lobed crown above large initials "MH" filled with wrigglework. Underside is stamped with Heyne's mark, a crown over the initials "ICH", and "LANCASTER" below. Undated, although the other flagon of this pair is marked "1776" on bottom.
Johann Christoph Heyne was working on West King Street in Lancaster Borough, 1752-1781.
Provenance
Possibly commissioned from Heyne by William and Mary Huber of this congregation and presented to the church with their initials.
Pewter flagon, one of a pair, made by Heyne and presented to the Warwick Congregation (now known as the Brickerville United Lutheran Church) for use as part of a communion service. Cylindrical tankard form of top half joins a bottom section that begins to swell until it flares out dramatically at bottom. Has three applied cherub's head feet bordered with wrigglework. Applied spout. Heyne then innovated by departing from German practice by using three English features: an applied hollow handle, a double-domed lid and an erect chairback thumbpiece.
At midline below three raised bands is engraved a two-lobed crown above large Roman initials "WH" filled with wrigglework. The underside of flagon is stamped with a crown over the initials "ICH". Below this is stamped "LANCASTER" and to the right is engraved "1766".
Johann Christoph Heyne was working on West King Street in Lancaster Borough, 1752-1781.
Provenance
Pair of flagons possibly commissioned from Heyne by William and Mary Huber of this congregation and presented to the church with their initials. Remained in use over the years until the congregation decided in 1997 to find a safe place for this valuable communion set.
Note: Another pair of flagons was ordered from Heyne in 1766 by Trinity Lutheran Church. Heyne also used the English round, hollow handle on those. However, that pair differs from ours, and all other later Heyne flagons, in that he incorporated the English style double domed lid and erect thumbpiece.
Overall wear: abrasions, nicks and dents. Dents on lid top. Large scratch at lower right of "H" Dark stains and small pinhole in thumbpiece. Interior has several small areas of deep scratches.
Object ID
P.97.08.2
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation and Friends of the Heritage Center Museum, Heritage Center Collection
Small plate, used as a paten (communion plate). Circular, with single reed brim, marked on bottom with initials "I.CH." and Jacobs touch #169. Double incised lines near brim and single incised line within sunken bottom.
