Profile of man in a high collar uniform, believed to be Napoleon Bonaparte, cast in chalkware as a framed representation under glass. Rectangular frame has conforming recessed area with cast profile in relief. Old glazing on frame covers image. Chalkware frame is painted dark green with a wire hanging ring imbedded at top center. Profile has black-painted, forward-swept hair with sideburns and pink-rouged cheek. Uniform is of red and black with high red collar and gold epaulette. Created as a memento and sold likely via peddler.
Inscriptions on back in pencil are faint. It appears to be "John M. Snavely/ picked April the 19/ A.D. 1863/ John S(nave)ly." Research reveals a John M. Snavely born 12/17/1843 and died 9/22/1883. 1880 census records him living at home with his farmer parents, Michael and Fannie, and working as a laborer. Obit notes funeral held at Denlinger's Mennonite Meeting House.
Interior profile appears in good condition due to glazing. Outside frame suffers the most with extensive paint loss and significant wear to frame corners. Strong soil on back and other unpainted area.
Object ID
G.04.23.16
Place of Origin
Eastern US
Credit
Gift of Sarah Muench, Heritage Center Collection, LancasterHistory.org
Ink drawing of "an arch erected by the patriotic citizens of W. King S. Lanc. in honor of the arrival of General G. M. Lafayette who visited this town July 27th 1825." G. B. xxxx
Bust portrait of Henry Clay in oval frame of stonework and oak leaves. Below drawing: "H. Clay / [next line of script illegible] / Published by Wm B. Lane No 51 Po 3rd St Philadelphia / Entered According to act of Congress in the Eastern District of Penna. April 2nd 1814 by W. B. Lane Printed by N. Quiu
3/4 profile bust charcoal portrait of man facing viewer. He is wearing a dark jacket with wide lapels with trimmed edges; a white shirt with stand-up collar and a bow tie.
Back: "Jacob Gruel / Confectioner / N. Queen St near Chestnut / for 60 years / at N. N. Queen St. entrance to / the Colonial Theater / grandparents of Mrs. Edgar Fahs Smith / provost of U. of P."
Written on back:" 576-P" and number "18."
Note: Jacob J. Gruel (1809-1882) married Jacobina Swartz (1811-1892).
3/4 profile bust charcoal portrait of woman wearing amulet clasp at center of neckline with white collar. Four buttons are visible down front of her bodice. Her hair is parted in the center. There appear to be ribbon/folds over her left ear with hint of fabric on top of her head and along right side like a bonnet or hair-covering on back of her head. She is looking left, eyes skyward. Back: "Mrs. Jacobina Gruel" written cursively in pencil on back.
Drawing, attached to cardboard, is brown overall. Lighter border from frame that has been removed.
(Note: Jacob J. Gruel (1809-1882) married Jacobina Swartz (1811-1892)
Black and white engraving of James Buchanan. Copied from J. Eicholtz painting. Buchanan wears a black jacket and vest, and a white shirt and bow tie. Buchanan sits in chair, holding papers. 'James Buchanan'
Black and white engraving of James Buchanan based on J. Eicholtz painting. Bust view of Buchanan in oval. Buchanan wears a black jacket and vest, and a white shirt and bow tie. 'James Buchanan'
Figure of a woman with brown hair wearing an ochre broad-rimmed hat, long-sleeved, full-skirted dress painted blue-green with ochre trim on bodice only, and unpainted pantaloons with black shoes. She is also holding a hankerchief in her right hand and flowers in her left hand. Square plinth with clipped corners is lightly dabbed with tannish-brown. Back side is inpainted.
Inscription inside base is pencilled "PRC".
Provenance
Collected by Harpo and Susan Marx in Pennsylvania during their visits back East from CA. Donation to the Heritage Center.
Moderate soiling and paint loss. Small chips throughout; large loss on back right corner of base. Mended break in the left skirt. Several paint splatters on skirt front.
Object ID
G.98.51.75
Place of Origin
Pennsylvania
Credit
Given in memory of Harpo by Susan Marx, Heritage Center Collection
Oil on canvas painting of Chickee's Rock and the Susquehanna River, depicting several modes of transportation. The left side is dominated by Chickee's Rock, with the Samuel S. Haldeman mansion (demolished 1911) at its base. The Susquehanna Canal runs along the base of the cliff, with a canal boat on it. A dirt road runs from bottom center off to the left with an oxcart hauling multiple sacks and driven by a man in a hat.
The river appears in the lower right quadrant. A man in a rowboat is rowing across the river and the covered bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville is in the far distance.
Mounted in a gold-painted modern frame (not original). Painting is signed "F. deB. Richards / 184[0 or 6]" on a rock at bottom right. A plaque attached to the bottom center of the frame reads "VIEW OF CHICKEE ROCKS / SUSQUEHANNA RIVER / by F. de B. Richards - 1840".
A red-bordered paper sticker attached to upper left of stretcher reads: "209 F. de B. Richards/ 1840 VIEW OF CHICKEE Rocks/ SUSQUEHANNA RIVER/ CANVAS/ 35 x 47 $3,500" The back of the canvas originally had the inscription: "View of Chickee Rocks/ Susquehanna River Painted by F deB Richards/ Wilmington/ 1840" This has since been covered up or replaced.
According to vendor, "Before 1856 (Richards) exhibited chiefly PA views" and was a landscape painter in NYC 1844-45 and in Phila. 1848-66.
Born in Wilmington, DE in 1822, Richards would have been 18 years old if he executed this painting in 1840. The Oxford Gallery notes that "By 1840, he was perfecting his skills as an artist as a student."
Provenance
Harry Shaw Newman of the Old Print Shop bought the painting from dealer Charlotte Sittig of Delaware, PA. She had purchased it at an antiques show at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, DE, in the early 1970s.
Crazed paint throughout. A grouping of small stains/marks in upper right, about 8" down from top and 13" from right. Frame has some nicks and paint loss along the edges.
Painting was cleaned, revarnished and relined in the early 1970s.
Object ID
P.79.097.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
