Printed B&BC on laid paper, in German, decorated and infilled by artist & scrivener Georg Friedrich Speyer. Johannes Schnierer was born 17 May 1786 in Cocalico Twp., sign of Capricorn. He was the son of Johannes Schnierer and wife Catharina, nee Meynsser(in). Baptism was done 7 July 1786 by Rev. Immanuel Schultz in the Lutheran Church; sponsors were Michael and Elizabeth Pilz. This church was the Warwick Lutheran congregation, now called the Brickerville United Lutheran Church.
Fraktur has been pasted onto heavy, acidic paperboard, then fraktur-on-board was heavily trimmed on all four sides, removing portions of Speyer's decoration. Printed heart design has faded red ink infill in text. Strongly decorated with Speyer's colored drawings. A carnation at center of top has flanking parrots in horizontal position hovering over heart. At upper sides are cross-legged putti at lower sides are two tall, elegantly dressed ladies. Confronting mermaids at bottom center. See Notes.
Infill & decoration in Brickerville area; printed in unknown.
Some light soil and age yellowing with minor foxing. Edges have attractive "torn" look. A 3/4" tear at bottom center has cellophane tape mend creating some staining. Small tear at bottom, near right corner. Small L-shaped tear at center left. small 1/8" hole near top edge 3.75" from right corner. Small inked "D" at top near left corner. Very small hole near bottom, 4" from right corner.
Object ID
2004.718
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988. Assigned #18. A large 5.75" x 6.75" B&W negative is in file. This fraktur likely related to Elizabeth Elser B&BC, 2017.999.1, due to Johannes Schnierer (b. 1786) later marrying an Elser (Catharine).
Georg Friedrich Speyer was a schoolmaster, among other places, the Warwick Lutheran Church ( or Emanuel Church -- today known as Brickerville United Lutheran Church). He became schoolmaster at Warwick in August 1780. Speyer preferred 3-heart printed B&BCs, like Friedrick Krebs, and infilled them with German script, rarely using the fraktur alphabet. He had very poor handwriting, commonly using red ink that has faded over time.
His decoration consisted of motifs borrowed from other artists (Otto, Krebs, the Cross-Legged Angel Artist, etc.). He decorated the fraktur with in a loose and very folksy manner with little sense of proportion or neatness. He fitted them into the space available around the 3 central hearts, leaving little empty space. Parrots, cross-legged angels, and mermaids are some of his favorite motifs. Speyer worked mostly in northern Lancaster Co. and southern Berks and Dauphin Co.
See file for church record listing the son Johannes and his wife Catharine (nee Elser) and the births of their 6 children. Also see "Find A Grave" listing for Johannes "Schnuerer" b. 1786 and d. 1829, buried in Brickerville United Lutheran Church Cemetery.
