Oil lamp of light tinned sheet iron, painted a dull black. Cylindrical oil reservoir w/ rounded top and bottom has a projecting wick tube and wick. Wire wick pick on chain attached to removable collar around wick. Supported by a cylindrical pillar with an air hole at side near bottom. Lamp rests on a saucer base with gold painted ring decorating edge of raised center. Finger ring soldered to bottom of cup and center pillar. Reservoir is stenciled with gold lettering: "SAML. DAVIS/ PATENTED/ MAY 6th,1856".
Strong paint losses, esp. on rim of saucer base with resultant rusting. Paint losses also on fuel reservoir sides. Structurally sound. Scattered and rust. Bottom worn.
Object ID
P.77.28.1
Place of Origin
New Holland
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Unusual Center Square Amish quilt made by Jacobena Stoltzfus (later Mrs. John B. Smucker, Jr., b. 7/22/1859 d. 7/11). Burgandy wool inner border is pieced into an overall ground of gray wool twill. Unusual corner block design of burgandy wool squares appliqued to suggest a 9-patch design. Binding is maroon twill wool, machine stitched to front, wrapped and hand stitched to back; folded/tucked at corners. Backing is a woven pattern of tan cotton flecked with blue and black.
Hand quilted with white thread (extremely uncommon). Grapevines in outer border except for corners that have disconnected floral elements: a rose bloom, two rose buds and 3 branches of leaves, with each leaf decorated with an unusual zig zag line. Inner border has thin pumpkin seed flowers within repeating chevrons. Scallops on all edges of inner border and outer gray border. Centerfield has diagonal grid with blocks of floral design. Half-blocks at periphery have attenuated floral design custom made to fit. Granddaughter Bena Lapp Beiler says maker designed & drew her own quilt motifs.
Quilt made by Jacobena Stoltzfus before becoming the second wife of John B. Smucker, Jr. in 1896 at age 37. (Fisher book # A60 and A107)
Provenance
Maker to only child Elizabeth E. Smucker Lapp, circa 1929; then to her daughter Bena Lapp Beiler of New Holland circa 1942, who sold it to dealer Emma Witmer in the summer of 1988 due to need for funds to buy a house as well as fear of theft. Emma Witmer then sold to Museum.
