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).
Needle cleaner, painted cut velvet and paper, emery sand within. Rectangular box shape; sides slope in to smaller base. Padded top covered with yellow velvet decorated with painted green flowers. Sides and base covered with a glossy tan paper.
Laid paper label pasted onto bottom has handwritten inscription in ink: "Magdelena Andrews (Ressler) received this needel(sic) cleaner in 1825 when three years of age then in 1895 gave it to her granddaughter Clara Aument."
Compare similar needle cleaner 2002.004
Lancaster County, possibly Colerain Twp.
Provenance
Inscription indicates origin as a gift to 3-yr-old Magdalena Andrews (19 Sep 1822 - 24 Nov 1897), daughter of Joseph and Marie (Mary) Andrews. Magdalena married Martin Boehm Ressler, a farmer in Strasburg. Their daughter Annie married H. Elmer Aument and had a daughter Clara P. Aument (1892 - 1974), unmarried & a clerk in Lancaster City. The needle cleaner was given to granddaughter Clara in 1895, two years before Magdalena's death. Finally given to museum by unknown donor.
Wear, soil and fading overall. Small losses of velvet. Paper is cracked, soiled and worn.
Object ID
G.87.08
Notes
Andrews family were early settlers in Colerain Twp., including a Joseph Andrews - see Ellis & Evans pp. 728, 732, 733. Census 1810-1850 show a Joseph Andrews in Colerain Twp. The 1850 Census shows Joseph & Mary in Strasburg, living next to daughter Magdalena family (Martin Ressler).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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.
