Paper covered domed lid wooden box. Sheet iron hinges and latch, leather lashes. Interior covered in both English and German language newspapers of Lancaster County
Fancy painted Windsor style commode chair. Missing its pot. Unusually tall back, splayed back and sides. Slightly worn green paint with black painted stencils of floral and foliate designs.
Note: Chair moved to Wheatland, Northeast Bedchamber, room interpreted as Harriet's bedchamber (date unknown). 09/08/2022
Tall Case Clock, signed "John Hoff / LANCASTER" below center Eight-day musical clock has quarter chime on 4 bells. White dial has Arabic numerals; moon wheel at top; seconds hand and calendar hand, 3 winding arbor holes. Inner plate of clockworks is marked "OSBORNE." Purchased from Hoff in 1810 by John Kendig (1774-1822) of Willow Street.
Restrained scroll pediment and inverted stylized "shell" under center urn finial. Two side urn finials. Two-color roundels in place of rosettes. Veneer on bonnet door and figured veneer on face of pendulum door and base. Chamfered quarter columns. Flared feet and scrolled skirt.
Case attributed to Josiah Shufflebottom.
Provenance
Descent from John Kendig, original owner in Willow Street to son John Herr Kendig, Jr. of Willow Street to daughter Addah/Ada Louisa Kendig (married Franklin Harnish Bare, a watchmaker at Bowman's) of Lancaster City to son Kendig H. Bare of Lancaster to son Howard C. Bare of Lancaster (donor). Similar musical clock at Winterthur (#57.1026) made by George Hoff.
George Hoff, Sr., settled with his wife in Lancaster in 1765, shortly after immingrating to America from Germany. Already trained as a clockmaker, he taught his craft to his three sons who carried on the family business until the mid-1800s. The Hoffs' workshop and home were located at 37-39 West King Street, the site of the Hager parking lot.
Tall case clock with inlaid borders and mitered, figured veneers and string inlays on front surfaces. White dial has paint-decorated spandrels with raised lines of paint. Signed "SOLOMON PARKE / Philadelphia" below center dial and calendar wheel. Roman numerals on painted chapter ring; moon wheel at top.
Bonnet has scroll pediment with "reeded" face on scrolls with small, round rosettes. Three ball and spire finials, center on on keystone outlined with lightwood string inlay. String inlay outlines tympanum. Bonnet door has veneer with lightwood escutcheon inlay. Four free-standing columns.
Chamfered corners on trunk and base with triple lines of vertical lightwood stringing. Figured wood on pendulum door and base panel surrounded by wide string inlay of tiger maple? edged with lighter wood. Straight bracket feet.
Parke worked as a clockmaker in Newtown, Bucks Co. for nearly 10 years before moving to a larger facility in Philadelphia in 1790. He produced clocks under his own name until about 1805 when he changed the signature on his clocks to "Solomon Parke & Son."
Provenance
Typescript page in file states clock was owned by Elmer Ellsworth Hansell (1863-1940) and Amanda Matilda Storch (1874-1966) of Philadelphia, married 1895.
Clock then passed to son Elmer Ellsworth Hansell, Jr. (1903-1974) and wife Virginia Palmer (1907- ? ), married 1935. Elmer Jr. was a civil engineer in Lancaster, working with John H. Wickersham Eng. & Construction Co.
Bottom of interior has broken out board. Some veneer damage with small repairs. Along top of base front are three plugged screw holes.
Object ID
2003.023
Notes
Notes in file state the Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia own a Solomon Parke clock as does Mrs. Chris. Martin (Mary), of Lancaster.
Research by volunteer : Solomon Parke worked in Newtown and Southampton, Bucks County as a clockmaker. He then moved to Philadelphia where he was listed in directories from 1791-1822. At different times he signed his clocks, "Solomon Parke, Philad," "Solomon Parke and Company," and "Solomon Parke and Son." Solomon is believed to be the father of watchmaker Charles B. Solomon. He had a large clock manufactory and employed French, German, and Swiss workers in the assembly of eight day movements.
Elizabeth Breneisen married Christian Wanner, 1854. She was his third wife. Their daughter Amanda married Isaac Ramsey; the settee was passed to Amanda and Iasasc's daughter, Susanna. Irma bought the settee at auction.
