Pewter dram bottle, canteen or flask. Flattened round body with flat bottom having a thin oval foot. Seam at center of rounded sides. Very short, tapered, threaded neck has a fitted and threaded 3/4" high thimble-shaped cap. Decorative concentric circles incised on flattened sides.
Touchmark stamped on bottom is "I.C H/ LANCASTER" in lettering with serifs. Mark is a Laughlin touch #532, 533.
W. King Street, Lancaster
Provenance
Bottle was in the attic of Samuel R. Haldeman's home until he died and Harry, the youngest son, surreptitiously took it along with other belongings to Buffy's Auction in Lebanon where the bottle was sold in a box lot to Mahlon Keith for 30 cents. Keith later sold it to friend William Snyder of Bleak House in Paradise for about $400. Snyder then sold it at the Bleak House sale through A.R. Cox Antiques of Kinzer on May 4, 1965 to donor Dr. Scott, who purchased it for $5,000. Heritage Center purchased at Scott sale (Christie's) for $18,400 on June 10, 1994.
Trinket chest of dovetail construction, hinged lid, turned feet and polychrome decoration. Bottom secured with square nails. Keyhole at front; key missing. On a burnt orange ground are 5 large decals (4 of fruit and 1 of flowers) and one small decal at front center of spread eagle, shield and banner. Chest sides and top have centered line decoration of 3 concentric rectangles with hollow corners (black, ochre, white). Feet are black. Edge moldings of lid and base painted black with yellow-green double line decoration enclosing leafy scrolling vines. Interior and underside unfinished.
Inked # 00.43.1 on bottom. Two old stickers: "65603" on back and "65625" on bottom.
Attributed to Joseph Lehn (1798-1892). South of Clay, Elizabeth Township.
Provenance
Transferred from the James Buchanan Foundation where chest was "found in collection" with history/provenance.
Paint soiled and darkened. Large scar on left end of lid molding. Arc scored into top at right front of lid. Wear/abrasions overall, especially lid and base molding. Loose left front foot and paint loss of right back foot. Pristine interior. One hing screw missing.
Object ID
G.03.35.1
Place of Origin
Elizabeth Twp.
Credit
Gif ot James Buchanan Foundation, Heritage Center Collec
Within a twisted foliate border is a central block depicting Adam & Eve flanking a tree with a serpent wound around the trunk offering Eve an apple. This is an engraving executed by Gabriel Miesse of Reading; his name appears at lower right followed by "sc" for "sculpsit", indicating the engraver. Two columns of verse flank the central block, telling the story of "the Fall" in conversational form. At top of broadside is the title in German: "Adam und Eva im Paradies." A subtitle reads: "Mel. Herzlich thut mich Verlangen, etc."
At bottom is: "Gedruckt in der Druckerey des Adlers von H.W. Villee, Lancaster, Pa. allwo alle Sorten Bilder, Bucher,/ Schriebmaterialien und Arzneyen zu haben find." This indicates the broadside was printed in the Lancaster Eagle's printshop (a newspaper started by Villee and Jacob Baab on Oct. 26, 1826). Villee was also selling pictures, books, stationery and even medicines out of his shop on N. Queen St.
See biographical info about Villee from Klaus Stopp's book in this file. He was born in France, served as a captain under Napolean, had to leave France in 1815 and ended up in America in 1820. Villee entered the printing business by working at "the Eagle," a newspaper in Reading. Villee was not successful as a printer in Lancaster, and he left sometime in 1832 or soon after, going to places like Lewisburg, Sunbury and Milton. After moving to Northumberland Co. and becoming a teacher, he finally died in 1842.
The Earnests note that Adam & Eve were popular fraktur subjects, especially among German-language printers of SE PA. They note that there are only about a half dozen Adam & Eve broadsides by Villee known.
Exhibited in Fraktur Exhibit in Masonic Lodge circa 2004 through 2007 (removed spring 2008).
See also P.01.60.1 and P04.48 for examples of a Heaven & Hell broadside by Villee.
North Queen St., Lancaster (printer); Reading, PA (engraver). Villee, Herman W., printer; Gabriel Miesse, engraver; unknown colorist
Paper darkened and soiled overall, wrinkled with fold lines and rough-edged with minor tears and folds. Stains scattered over surface with darkest stains within right text above center. Small hole at center of top foliate border.
Frame is homemade of stained and varnished tiger maple. Acidic cardboard backboard replaced with acid free matboard.
Object ID
P.04.48.1
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
Broadside commercially printed on wove paper in Pa. German script. Geometric border surrounds text block of 4 long paragraphs. Modern frame.
Title is "Kraftiges Gebet, / Wodurch man sich vor Kugel und Degen, vor sichtbarlichen und un- / sichtbarlichen Feinden, so wie vor allem moglichen / Uebel beschutzen und bewahren konne."
Place of origin is unknown.
Seller's translation: "A Powerful Prayer whereby one can protect himself from shot and sword, of a visible or invisible enemy, just as from all other possible wounds that one need protect against."
Rows of letters at bottom with more text with a title "Vor die fallende Sucht, oder Gicht," which seems to mean "For those who've come down with an ailment (addiction?), or gout."
Chippendale style miniature blanket chest form. Mahogany-stained softwood, dovetail contruction, Lid with brass butt hinges, four ogee bracket feet. Edge molding on lid; chest bottom extends beyond sides to create look of molding. Interior till at left. All surfaces stained and glossy-varnished. Large brass batwing lock escutcheon; silvered key. Top of lid has central relief-carved cartouche incorporating the monogram of Frances Mayer Hershey "FMH" according to Clarke E. Hess. He believes chest was commissioned by Frances' grandparents Henry M. and Frances Mayer. Pencilled in cursive on bottom is "M. Mayer Rohrerstown." Frances' parents were Harry E. Hershey and Dora E. Mayer.
Attributed to Henry Slough, Sr. workshop.
Provenance
Descent from Frances Mayer Hershey to son Henry R. Outin. Purchased by Heritage Center at estate sale of Henry Outin of 2107 Wood St., Rohrerstown, held by Shaub at Willow Street Fire Hall. According to Clarke E. Hess, Outin died just a few months before the Sept.sale. He was the only child of Frances Mayer Hershey and her French husband, (?) Outin. Clarke recalls this couple lived in Algiers and perhaps other places abroad. Frances M. H. Outin left America with her husband in 1928, putting all her belongings in storage until she returned as a widow in 1967, at wich time Hess Builders built a home for her behind the Rohrerstown Mennonite Church. Mrs. Outin died later at age 92.
Lid is strongly abraded, notably a large oblong outline. Minor wear and abrasions overall. Several small cracks at left front at dovetails and a 2 3/4" long crack at midline. Interior abraded and scarred with accretions.
Object ID
P.00.38.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
In memory of Anne Bausman Woodcock by Sally Slaymaker & Caroline S. Nunan
Jacquard coverlet of cotton warp and dyed wools (blue, red, green). Corner block reads: "Jacob C. / Schriver. / Hampton / Adams / County. PA. / AD. 1844 / Eve / Spangler."
Two-part (42-inch widths) coverlet is joined with a vertical center seam. Dominant motif in centerfield is a 4-part floral motif of leaves and tulip-like flowers. Interspersed with several smaller motifs: stars, snowflakes and floral designs. Outer border has repeating tulip branches with two leaves, one of is dominating. Self-fringe of natural cotton at foot end.
Made for Eve Spangler (Aug 17, 1825 - Nov. 21, 1895), obviously before she married Daniel Trimmer in the same year coverlet was made (1844).
Jacob C. Shriver (1816-1896) working 1840-1856
Provenance
Passed down within Spangler family in unknown manner to Edna Spangler Keefer, then to daughter.
Woven piece is 92 inches long with 4 inch fringe = 96 inches long
84 inches wide with 3-inch fringes on both sides = 90 inches
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-02-09
Condition Notes
Generally good with brown stains along top/head.
Object ID
G.09.03.14
Notes
See donor's note about Eve Spangler in file. Eve married Daniel Trimmer, a farmer in Tyrone Twp., and they had Sarah Ann Eliza who grew up to marry her 2nd cousin Franklin S. Spangler.
Coverlet passed to Franklin and Annie's son Charles then to his had a daughter Edna who had a daughter Betsy (donor).
Weaver Jacob C. Schriver also cited in :
1. Heisey, John W., compiler. A Checklist of American Coverlet Weavers. Williamsburg, VA: The Colonial Wmsbrg. Foundation, 1978. p.103
3. Anderson, Clarita. American Coverlets and Their Weavers. Wmsburg, VA, 2002. p.208
Place of Origin
Hampton, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Credit
Gift of Betsy Keefer in memory of the Spangler family quilters, Heritage Center Collection
Button-hole cutter, creaser or marking tool is silver plated ferrous metal.
In form of a miniature spoon with a blade instead of a bowl. Blade is eye-shaped with raised midline extending from tip to tip. Edges of blade are fairly sharp. Handle end has the bust of a crowned femal monarch with long flowing hair and necklace above a decorative base of scrolls surrounding a cabochon. Shaft of tool is similar to an architectural column. Entire handle is made of two identical halves, cast and joined with side seams visible.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Some tarnish overall. Large dent in one cabochon and small dent in the other.
Object ID
G.05.15.19
Notes
See another example of this ring found on internet in this file. Iguala is a town near the renowned silvermaking town of Taxco (near the west coast of Mexico) where William Spratling, in the 1930s, famously reinstituted the silver industry and craftsmanship that had died centuries before.
Credit
Gift of Susan Garofola in memory of Lillian Kiker (mother), Heritage Center Collection
Spiral labyrinth, watercolor and ink on wove paper, signed by John A. Landis (15 Sep 1777 - 8 Mar 1862) of Lancaster City. Within a line border is a compass-drawn large circle filled with interwoven near-circles (paths of labyrinth) emanating from another center circle that is in turn filled with compass-drawn floral decoration. The near-circle pathways have text written within, beginning at the top with the words, "What is a gentleman?" Leafy vines with flowers fill the corners outside of the large circular labyrinth. Two distelfink-type birds are perched on lower vines. At bottom center is a heart in which vines are anchored. Within heart are 4 lines of neatly printed English: "Made By/ John A. Landis in the/ Year of our Lord 1852/ in the Seventy Fifth/ Year of his/ Age."
Reverse side of frame has two stickers; the top one reads: "MSC/ #135" and the lower one reads: "T76.10.37/ (MSC - 135)."
Unusual -- believed to be the only hand-done Lancaster City fraktur known. Samuel Baumann is the design source for Landis's birds, flowers and hearts. Baumann produced printed fraktur in Ephrata in the early 19th century. See NOTES
Provenance
Provenance: Dealer Hattie Brunner to Dr. & Mrs. Donald A. Shelley. Shelley collection sold at auction (Pook & Pook), Oct. 2004 to Heritage Center.
Paper is darkened overall; watercolored words of labyrinth are blurry and often illegible.
Object ID
P.04.45.1
Notes
According to Landis family genealogy & other sources, Landis operated a museum in Lancaster City at several successive locations. Article in Lancaster Gazette, 1825, lists detailed changes & additions Landis made to the museum.
Landis married twice, leaving no children and is buried in Shreiner's cemetery (tall monument along Mulberry St. side). The 1850 Census records him living, at age 72, with his wife Sarah in a hotel kept by Henry Nauman. He is also listed in the 1860 Census but of course gone by 1870.
Labyrinths have been made in various forms for centuries, traditionally of a spiritual nature. According to Michael Bird, "The labyrinth had pre-Christian roots in the worlds of Crete, Greece and Rome..." Landis's labyrinth is unusual in that it is not rooted in a spiritual or Biblical theme, but instead focuses on moral character. This compass-drawn design is not traditional Pa. German; it is likely Anglo-inspired.
This labyrinth was illustrated in Donald Shelley's "The Fraktur-Writings of Illuminated Manuscripts of the Pa. Germans", figure #223. See Klaus Stopp's The Printed B&BCs of the German Americans, Vol. II, pp. 208-217, for fraktur printed by the Baumanns of Ephrata. These show the source of motifs used in this labyrinth.
Birth & baptismal certificate, with printed 3-heart form with text in all three hearts. Blank spaces infilled by hand in thin red ink by Speyer. Fraktur done for Peter Scholl, son of Peter Andreas and his wife Elizabeth Margretha, nee Illick. Son Peter was born September 7, 1772, in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster Co. (Now Berks Co., likely in Stouchsburg area of Marion Twp.)
Infill & decoration Berks Co. (formerly Lancaster Co.) by Georg Friederich Speyer (active c. 1774-1801) and printers Barton & Jungman, Reading.
Densely paint-decorated by Speyer with cross-legged angels in the top corners and bottom center, mermen and winged heads of angels in lower corners, parrots along the sides, a crown at top center, and birds holding flowers in their beaks at the top of the main text block. Dominant colors are red, green, yellow, and blue.
Certificate printed on laid paper with an "FS" watermark, indicating papermaker Frederick Schutz(Scheetz) of Lower Merion Twp. in Montgomery Co. (See American Watermarks). Mounted with window mat in a brown frame
Provenance
Fraktur was given to the Lancaster County Historical Society by donors with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center collection when that institution was established.
Significant horizontal crease across the middle, and three vertical creases. Smaller creases and crinkles appear overall. The paper has browned, and there are stains in the lower half.
A treatment proposal was offered by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in 1986, followed by treatment in 1988-89 -- consolidated pigment, dry and wet cleaned, mended and reinforced, filled losses, flattened, and matted. More details available in the object file.
Object ID
G.77.50.12
Notes
Earnests note that "neatness was of little concern to Speyer, but he did seem concerned about filling white space." He normally infilled with words done in a thin red ink which does not stand up well over time. He worked mostly in northern Lancaster Co.and in southern Berks and Dauphin Counties. Speyer used the 3-heart print more frequently from about 1790 on.
On-line Nissen family genealogy (internet, 2010) states Peter Scholl married Eva Elizabeth Rieth on Apr. 28, 1800 in Reeds Church, Stouchsburg, Berks, Co. He died Feb. 25, 1839. His parents were also married in Stouchsburg.
References:
Klaus Stopp, Printed B&BC of the Pa Germans, Vol. IV, pp.. 81 & 89.
Earnests, "Papers for Birth Dayes", pp 722 ff.
Gravell, Miller & Walsh, American Watermarks, 1690-1835, 2002, pp. 79 & 305.
Slide # 27-1-4 in Archives West
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Birth certificate done in German for "Anna Schenkin" (Schenk), born in "Connostoge Taunschip Langster County", November 20, 1783. Hand drawn, colored and lettered on laid paper with iron gall ink. No baptism indicates a Mennonite family.
The text is enclosed within a heart, surrounded by various vining flowers and four birds, two above and two below. The design conforms with artist's normal pattern of having the vines emanate from a hole at the top center of the heart. This artist made fraktur for mostly Lancaster County Mennonite families. He was almost certainly a schoolmaster. There are about 15 of his fraktur that are documented.
"Johannes Schopf/Schopp Artist" (active c. 1774-1800)
Note written on frame's dust cover by Smith states this fraktur was exhibited in two shows: Allentown Folk Art Show (Nov. 1974) and William Penn Memorial Museum, F/A Show (Jan. 1975).
Slide #27-2-4 in Archives West.
Provenance
Purchased by Richard Flanders Smith at a public sale along Route 222, north of Willow Street. Given to the Lancaster County Historical Society with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center collection with the establishment of that institution.
Foxing or brown spotting over much of surface. Some tears along the edges. Moisture or adhesive stain at bottom center.
A condition report and treatment proposal was done by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in 1986. Matted and framed by conservator Brian Howard of Carlisle in 1996.
Object ID
G.77.50.11
Place of Origin
Conestoga Twp.
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
