Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Oil on wood panel. Profile painting, half length, of a young woman facing left front, hands not showing; medium light reddish hair, center part with comb at top of head. Curls in front of ears, grey eyes; high-waisted white gown with double lace ruffle collar around neck, pink rose at collar opening, gold double chain necklace, red shawl around shoulders covering arms; gold colored chair back right, greenish-grey background. (Beal)
Inscriptions: Ink script at top of frame back is "Elizabeth Cecilia Leman / Born 1814 died 1834." This is repeated in script at board back. At top left in script is "Adelia Leman / 1880."
Recent paper label by previous owner William Shand, at frame bottom is: "Young Woman of Leman Family / Possibly Elizabeth Cecilia Leman / (1814-1834), by Jacob Eichholtz / #459 in 'Jacob Eichholtz' by / Rebecca J. Beal / See Ellis & Evans 'History of / Lancaster County', p. 523 / W.S." Smaller paper sticker alongside reads "Young Woman / of the / Leman Family / by Eichholtz".
The number G.80.130.2 is painted at top right of wood panel. This was a Heritage Center number, due to an ownership dispute. See File.
Provenance
Beal writes on page 136, "Collections: Miss Adelia Leman, Lancaster; Mr. and Mrs. William Shand, Lancaster."
Painting is mounted in reproduction gold frame, held in place with four mending plates at sides. Remnant of old paper dust cover on back along frame. Conserved in 2002.
