Printed birth & baptismal certificate with infill & decoration by Francis D. Levan, made for the Werts family. Johanes Merts was born 17 Feb 1832 in Cocalico Twp. in Lancaster County and baptized 8 April 1833. He was the son of Jacob and Catharina Schweigart Werts.
Central text is in German with fraktur infill lettering. There is a border surrounding the text. On the top of the page is a cherub flanked by two boxes of text. Flanking the main text are two large angels. Below them on either side of the text are two branches, each with birds. Within the border, but below the main text is an open bible. Below this motif is an emblem with a lute and trumpet superimposed over music. The artist's signature follows, written as, "Francis D. Levane."
Moderate staining overall. Creases, especially at top and left side. Tear at bottom near center. Small loss on left side near top. Small tears and small area of soiling on lower left side. Paper is darkened at lower corners. Framed in archival materials in 2/2000 by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
P.00.9.1
Notes
According to Klaus Stopp, this printed form by Ritter was done c. 1843-44. Stopp uses the number 695 for this variant of the form. Papers for Birth Dayes give Levan's working dates as c. 1826-50.
Amish family record for John and Elizabeth Lapp family done in inks on heavy tan paper, mounted in an oak frame. Attributed to Benjamin L. Stoltzfus.
Center text is written in red, gold and black. The heading, "Family Record," is written in green and completely covered in glitter. Sprouting out of the heading are two sheaves of wheat painted in gold with a butterfly painted in brown, green and red between them in the center. Around the perimeter of the text is a border done in a "ribbon candy" design. The sides are painted in black and gold, and the top and bottom are painted in red and gold. Within each of the four corners of the border is a diecut, roses at the top and fruit at the bottom. (Written by Nicole Bangert)
(Find complete family record/list of names in the file.)
Provenance
Sold to Heritage Center Museum by Greg K.Kramer & Co., American Antiques and Decorative Objects, Robesonia, PA on Dec. 12, 2000, for $475.00.
Paper is darkened from acid burn; reverse is 'imprinted' with grain pattern of wood veneer backing. There are dark stains at the top and on the left side below center. Paper is 'surface'torn' at the center between Jacob and Mary 's entries (appears like a tear). There is a puncture tear at the 'was' in Jacob's entry. There is a 1 1/4"-long tear at the top, 4 1/4' from the left corner. There are numerous losses of ink, especially at the border. Speckled dirt/ink is scattered at top and bottom edges. Some foxing and soiling evident and paper is slightly buckled.
Amish fraktur done on off-white, wove, square paper by Elisabeth Beiler for Sahra Esch. Central text is framed by leafy branches; two encircling the bottom half of page and two more rising from middle at sides and completing a circle at top. Each of the four main branches has two flowers: one is a tulip and the other like a daisy. Leaves are colored blue and the flowers have yellow, blue and red.
Text written in German, with black in, fills central space. There is a "ghosting" on the letters of the title and many other upper case letters, and elsewhere. Several periods seem to be added to text in pencil, perhaps at a later time.
Title at top reads, "Ein Denk Zeichen" (a remembrance)...A rough translations is: "Sarah Esch, her picture written/drawn March 19, 1848. This gift, a remembrance of me, is done by my hand, made by Elisabeth Beiler." The remainder is a religious exhortation.
(Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
Given by Clarke E. Hess in memory of Irene Walsh. Price/value: $1,450.00.
Many condition problems: major losses tears and soiling. Large losses along right edge along lower 13 as well as top corner. Smaller losses at left side at middle at top corner. Torn at middle of both sides, extending inward about one inch. Pinholes at corners. Paper is darkened and soiled overall with strong areas of stain, e.g., several near center of text. Moisture stains at middle of both sides at or near edges, also middle of bottom. Colors have bled at flowers and leaves at bottom right corner. Colors are deteriorated and crackled, especially on flowers and leaves.
Watercolor of bird, fraktur-type, done for an Amish female, attributed to Amish artist.
Bird perched in stylized tree, done on plain off-white wove paper. The tree has one main trunk with five small, arching branches terminating in a globular yellow fruit. Uppermost branch ends in a tulip. Three gray-blue leaves attach to trunk. Bird has yellow body decorated with inked texture marks, brown head and wings and gray-blue beak.
Inscriptions: At bottom right in inked German script is "May 1848." At upper left, written sideways in the same hand is "Fannie Hochstetler/ 1848/ Nannie H. Beiler/ 1896.
Mounted in brown paper window mat and frame (likely by sellers for sale). Frame is flat softwood with half-lap, mitered joints and paint-decorated with a dark glaze over a medium-brown ground. Hanging ring at top. (Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
According to sellers' research this may have been a gift to Fannie Hochstetler in 1848, after which she may have married and become "Nannie H. Beiler." Gingerich and Krieder record a Veronica/Fannie/Franey Hostetler (HS5362) (1840-1914) of Mifflin County who married John K. Byler (BY3566) (1831-1904) also of Mifflin Co. Thus, the Earnests are suggesting the sideways description may have been added later than the original 1848 inscription at bottom.
Bought from Russell Earnest & Associates, Nov. 2, 2001, for $1300.00.
Paper has bee trimmed, probably on all four sides. Multiple fold lines with a cluster at upper left corner, a horizontal one at 2 and 2/1 inches from bottom and a vertical one at 1 7/8 inches from right edge. Moderate to heavy soiling, especially above May 1848 date. Upper left cover has minor loss all corners have paste and remnants of paper where previously attached.
Drawing has slid askew since earlier photo. It would be easy to fix. (MAW)
Fraktur-style birth certificate for Heinrich F. Eshbach done on white, rectangular paper with a vertical orientation. Drawn in pen and ink and decorated with polychrome paints in a nearly symmetrical design. From and layout suggest influence of Samuel Bentz and other fraktur artists.
Framing the text block at the sides are two columns decorated w/ vining plant with berries growing out of plinths and rising to the top where six ball shapes are arranged in horizontal design. Below the text block is a large central flower flanked by a pair of smaller flowers. Below these is a very unusual butterfly with hairy wings and feet and a face. The painting is handled inexpertly in a sloppy fashion and unevenly applied. Color are blue, red, green and a brownish yellow.
The text block is in German and state that Heinrich F. Eschbach was born the 29th of September, 1854, in Lancaster Twp., Lancaster County, to his parents Christian and Anna Eschbach. The last three lines appear to be a religious blessing or Bible verse....
The text is done in iron gall ink in a somewhat uneven hand. To nearly every downstroke of each letter, the penman has a a diagonal tail of double pen strokes giving the effect of shading or shadowing.
Original wood back on revers has the signature "Benjamin C. Eshbach" written in ink of adhesive tape.
Provenance
Acquired by Bd. of Trustees for HCLC in memory of Gladys Jane Swift Seibert. From Steven F. Still Antiques, Elizabethtown, PA, for $2000.00. Received July 1, 2001.
Paper is buckled (especially at top) and somewhat embrittled. Significant soiling at top in vertical streaks. Multiple stains/foxing overall, darkest stains at perimeter, including a moisture stain at bottom right corner. Accretions from frame attached to top edge and left edge. Original wood back board replaced with common matboard (acid-free tissue used as buffer). Frame has original finish which is nicked and scratched in many places, most significantly at center of right member and a large scratch to right of center on bottom member.
Printed Birth & Baptismal Record, Christian Schelly
Description
Printed birth and baptismal certificate, pictorial fame with central text block. Infill and hand coloring attributed to Heinrich Keyser, a school mast working in Warwick Twp.
The pictorial frame consists of eight different plates around a perimeter. The four corners each have a Gospel reference withing a floral oval (two from St. Matthew and two from St. John). The other four prints depict scenes of Christ: is baptism, crucifixion, ascension and his welcoming the children to come to him. Prints are hand-colored.
The central text block is printed in German, in traditional form, under the title: "Geburts und TaufSchein." Infill is executed in black ink in both fraktur-style lettering and script.
Certificate was done for the birth and baptism of Christian Schelly, son of Johannes and Catarina Kericher Schelly, born Dec. 18, 1823 (?) in Rapho Twp. and baptized 1833. At bottom of text is written that Christian was born under the sign of Pisces, under which a tiny pen and ink drawing is executed of two fish. (Written by Wendell Zercher.)
(more info on Schoolmaster Keyser in file)
Provenance
From Strasburg Antique Marker, Strasburg, PA for $245.00. Received on Aug. 11, 2000.
Generally acid-burned overall; extreme burn at edges of top and left side. Two liquid stains in lower text block which bleached the paper. Heavy fold lines have resulted in tears. with a triangular loss at terminus of right fold line. Additional tears at end of left fold line as well as two inches above this; also tear along bottom edge, one inch from right corner. Entire piece is pasted to acidic cardboard backing.
Scrivened page, probably a detached page from the front of a Bible. Watercolored pink and grey over pencil layout.
Horizontal guide lines in pencil still present. Checkerboard border with single rose projecting inward from each corner, then the words" Dieses Buch/ gehoret mir/ Enos Fischer/ Lancaster County Penna/ Geschrieben den 18ten Juni im Jahr/ 1898", then a pair of tulips at the bottom.
Center of letters, flowers, and border are highlighted with a gold paint. Scrolled decoration surrounding the words "Enos Fischer" and vining and leaf decoration around the capital 'D" of Dieses and "B" of Buch.
Newly framed under glass in a gold and black painted, molded, wooden frame. (Written by Michael Middleton.)
Provenance
From Mead and Mead Antiques, York, PA for $100.00, received Oct. 18, 1997. Paid for by the Donegal Chapter of DAR,
Birth record in German for Barbara Eschlemann made on laid paper by Johannes Schopp/Schopf Artist. Paper has Ephrata watermark (CIB in tulip design). Framed in old frame of softwood with dark, crazed finish and applied blocks at corners.
Execution is typical of this artist's design with horizontal orientation, outer and inner double-line borders with central heart having an open ring at top from which emanate vining flowers. Space between inner and outer borders is especially full with typical flowers of muted colors as well as a crown at top and shells at top and a large one at bottom center.
(By Wendell Zercher)
Within the hearts is the text including Barbara Eschlemann's birthdate: 8 January 1777.
Provenance
Purchased by Irene Walsh from Russell D. Earnest Associates for $1,750.00. Received on 7 Dec. 2004.
Breaking at fold line; two corners missing and two corners with small holes. 3-inch tear extends from left bottom corner to right side. Tear at bottom, 2" from right corner, extends upward 1/2 inch. Additional tears with losses at bottom, esp. at center. Two extensive tape repairs made on reverse. Several moisture stains along bottom.
Fraktur presentation piece for Susanna Netzlin (Nissley?) Pressure-mounted on tan matboard and framed in small frame.
Watercolor and ink on rectangular, laid paper, done in dark brown red and yellow. Three bars of color at perimeter in red, yellow and dark green create outside border. Filling top half of inner space is the name of "Susanna Netzlin" written in large red letters, incorporating leafy vines with three different flowers.
Bottom half of page is filled with seven lines of German religious verse. Another leafy vine fills the bottom space adorned with four different flowers.
(Written by Wendell Zercher)
Provenance
Donor, Mr. Clarke E. Hess of Lititz, PA, describes this page as a presentation piece done for Susanna Nissley (?) probably in Warwick Twp. Hess cites another example of this unknown artist's work in the book Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Color Drawings by Landis Valley Associates, 1969, plate #48 (a vorschrift done in 1769).
The $975.00 cost was reimbursed by Irene. N. Walsh.
Paper embrittled and very weak. Multiple breaks, holes and tears. Large holes at center of dark brown border on right side and bottom. Multiple areas of paint loss. White fibers attached to red border at left side and bottom. Soiled and stained overall. Paper edges are uneven with minor losses, especially corners at top and bottom left. Horizontal fold across center.
Late 19th century framed bookplate for Cyrus Singer. Water color on ruled paper.
In center of page "Cyrus Singer" is written in thin red fraktur lettering with gold highlights. There are groups of four red flowers above and below the name. They have green, brown, and gold leaves and pink stems that radiate from center points. (Written by Nicole Bangert.)
Provenance
Purchased from the New Oxford Antique Center, New Oxford, PA, for $350.00. Received on 10 December 2000.
Moderate foxing and soiling overall. Slight buckling. Small water stain to left of bottom right flower. Some darkening especially around edges. Diagonal crease across lower left side of page. Tear on right side near center and small tear further down on right side. Losses at corners. Small stains and acid burns around edges.
