Birth and baptismal certificate, done on cream-colored laid paper, hand lettered in black ink and colored with red, yellow, and blue highlights. Framed with a border, the text block at center has a large swirl design on the left, inner and outer cutwork borders, with floral design. A heart is in each corner. The most notable trademark of Faber's work is the cutwork border that surround the text.
The text records the birth of Augustus Enck on Nov. 11, 1816 and his subsequent baptism on December 25, 1816 in Warwick Township by Reformed Minister Faber (apparently Rev. John Theobald Faber, b. 1771, who served the New Holland Reformed Church 1807-1819). The parents were Johannes Enck and his wife Catharina Schiffler Enck. The witnesses were Johannes Schiffler and his wife Catharina Obiggemeldeter(?) Schiffler. The text concludes with four lines of religious verse.
Wilhelm Antonius Faber (active c. 1790-1818).
Provenance
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith. Donated to the Heritage Center, but first entrusted to L.C.H.S. for years until museum was well established.
One horizontal crease along the middle and three vertical creases. Four significant stains near the center, two at the top and two at the bottom, almost mirror images. There are several tears in the cut border, and one small fragment is in an envelope in the object file. Top center of border has crude insert of about 6 1/2" in length. Multiple losses of paper due to "strike-through" of iron gall ink.
A condition report and estimate were done by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. in 1986. Matted and framed by Carlisle conservator Brian Howard in 1996.
Object ID
G.77.50.2
Notes
The Earnests note that Faber reportedly was a Moravian who lived for a time in the Moravian community of Lititz. He may have been a schoolmaster there. Also in this collection is a Faber double bookplate done for Henrich Benitsch about 1815 (P01.45.01).
Research: Augustus Enck/Enk was a carpenter in Lititz according to the Lancaster Co. Directory of 1869. Parents buried in the Zion German Reformed Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Clay Twp. Augustus and several siblings were members of the Moravian church and are buried in the church cemetery (Plot: Avenue 3, Left Side, Row 19, Space 14).
Digital image on CD, located in file 77.12.
Lancaster Co. Directory of 1869 and Ellis and Evans' History of Lancaster Co.
This fraktur was published in Fraktur: Folk Art & Family, by Corinne and Russell Earnest, 1999, p. 21.
Place of Origin
Lexington, Warwick Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Printed fraktur taufschein (B&BC in German) for Michael Ruthisill, born Aug. 17, 1808 and baptized Aug. 30, 1808 by Pastor (Gotthilf Henry Ernestus) Muhlenberg at the Lutheran Church in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Parents were Philip and Susanna (Schreiner) Ruthisill and the sponsors were Michael and Catharina Ruthisill (grandparents?).
Certificate printed by Lancaster printer Benjamin Grimler in 1803. Penwork & decoration attributed to the "Ruffled Tulip Artist" by the Earnests (9-14-98). See object file for info.
Printed on laid paper, fraktur has a large central heart and two smaller hearts at bottom with verses in German in each. Large heart has main text, with blanks filled in by scrivener/artist in red ink. 1/4-inch-wide yellow border around perimeter. Hand-drawn floral motifs surround the large heart: large tulip-like flowers at top and bottom center, flowering vine at sides and smaller flowers above small hearts and within large heart. Colored in red, green and yellow.
The "Ruffled Tulip Artist" was working circa 1799-1813. He drew distinctive ruffles around large and folky tulips and infilled in German on printed three-heart forms, of which seven are known - all birth & baptismal certificates.
Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth & Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, Vol. III, p. 128.
Ellis and Evans, History of Lancaster County, p. 498.
Earnests, Papers for Birth Dayes, Vol.II, pp. 659-60.
Provenance
Donor reports his wife has Rudisill ancestors. He and his wife received this fraktur with instructions to sell the piece upon their demise in order to pay for funeral expenses. The fraktur was never sold, even now that his own wife has died. See genealogy of Rudisill family in file, given by Lisa Garrett, cousin of donor's wife. Lisa says donor died in 1998.
Condition when received: Entire piece buckled, pasted onto brown Kraft paper. Multiple tears and losses, especially at center of right and left sides; tears and small hole at center. Some foxing, general soiling, and water damage to colors in vining at sides. Color smears and fingerprints, esp. at top and bottom floral device. Small tears and curling at most edges.
At present: Conserved, matted and placed in sealed package by Marilyn Kemp Weidner in 1999 for $1,553. Framed by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
G.98.27.1
Notes
Four other copies of Grimler's printed certificate known, according to Klaus Stopp (The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans Vol. III, p. 128). Three of these were filled out for Warwick Twp. residents;the other for a Manheim Twp. resident. This 1803 print preceded Grimler's partnership with brother Henry which opened in 1804. From 1799-1812, when Lancaster was the seat of State government, the two brothers were employed by the Legislature to do the State printing. Benjamin was elected to the Lower House of the Assembly in 1824 and died in 1832.
See Rudisill genealogy in file, given by Lisa Garrett. It states John Michael Rudisill was born 17 Aug 1808 and died 8 Nov 1843. He married Maria Magdalena Kurtz on 17 May 1829, daughter of Conrad Kurtz and his wife Susanna Barbara Erb.
Large 8" x 10" color transparency in object file.
Place of Origin
Manheim Twp.
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Daniel S. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
