Miniature Empire chest of drawers. Cherry case with mahogany veneer on drawer fronts and edges of top and bottom. Large top drawer overhangs three graduated drawers, all with cock beaded molding. Pressed glass pulls. Overhang of top is supported by S-scrolls at sides. Turned bulbous feet. Small nails with oblong heads used throughout.
Inscriptions in pencilled script: Under bottom drawer is "Made in 1845 by Daniel Kurtz, Lancaster, Pa." On back of 2nd bottom drawer is "Mrs. Kurtz Lancaster, Pa." Chest back has: "Made in 1845 by Daniel Kurtz" and chest bottom has "Flora Kurtz got 1889 from Grandmam when I was 13 years".
A business card, now in file, reads "DANIEL KURTZ./NO. 130 CHARLOTTE STREET,/LANCASTER, PA." On reverse side is written: "Made by Daniel Kurtz in the/ midsumer [sic] of 1845 and/ presented to Miss Lizzy Stoner/ as a token of respect/ Lizzie Stoner who in the/ same year 1845 became his/ wife, later the mother of/ E.S. Kurtz."
Daniel Kurtz, son of Conrad, was raised in the Golden Triangle area. In 1847 he renovated the "Overlook" house on Fruitville Pike and lived there until listed in 1860 Census in the SE Ward of the City
Provenance
File states donor (Mary Herr Glenn) acquired this piece from her neighbor Florence Kurtz, later Mrs. Daniel Musselman Groff.
Maker Daniel Kurtz was a carpenter/builder. Son Emanuel S. Kurtz became a job printer, resided on Church St. and Florence (Flora) was his daughter. She, at age 13, was the recipient of the chest from her "grandmam" (Lizzie Kurtz) in 1889. How and when donor acquired this chest from her neighbor Florence is unknown.
Under bottom drawer is "Made in 1845 by Daniel Kurtz, Lancaster, Pa." On back of 2nd bottom drawer is "Mrs. Kurtz Lancaster, Pa." On chest back is: "Made in 1845 by Daniel Kurtz" and chest bottom: "Flora Kurtz got 1889 from Grandmam when I was 13 years".
Inscription Type
Inscription
Object Name
Chest of Drawers
Oither Names
Miniature Chest Of Drawers
Material
Wood, Glass
Height (in)
11.25
Width (in)
8.75
Depth (in)
5
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-05-12
Condition Notes
Multiple blemishes overall. Top has 2 losses of veneer at right and 1 at left end. Bottom has veneer at back left edge, as well as a repaired break of this corner with leg. Long crack along grain at back.
Located on the Lancaster and Manheim turnpike, about 2 miles from Lancaster.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of petition: Jacob Kohr, Daniel Royer, Emanuel Hostetter, Jacob Kraus, Peter Maurer, Sem Brubaker, Philip Ronk, Daniel Dietrich, Jacob Shreiner, David Grube, Benjamin Long, John L. Sharp, Samuel Kohr, James Cameron, Daniel Herr.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the road leading from Lancaster to Reading.
Lately occupied by [ ] Stibgen and formerly by John Michael Sr.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Allan [Capent], Henry Fritz, Jacob Harter, [unknown signature], Martin Fry, Richard Flickinger, Samuel Stoher, Frederick Ream, [signature in German], Michael Stober, David Bauman, Jacob Eby, J. B. Amweg, John Bollinger, Jacob Angus, Jacob Souder, Martin Gross, John Gross, [signature in German], Daniel Shissler, R. R. Heitler, John Keller, George Long, [signature in German], [signature in German], Jesse Bitzer, [signature in German], John Shaffer, Daniel Feather, Cyrus Killian, Philip Sherk, George Wise, William Lewis, Amos Johnson, Jacob Souer, David Albright, John Souer, [J. B. Kirk], [unknown signature], Jesse Keefer, Jacob Zercher, John L. Sharp, Samuel Grube, Jacob Evans, Christian Young, Andrew Ream, Michael Gish, Jacob Workman, Samuel Ruth, [signature in German], John Reidenbach, John Garber, Jacob Frank, Andrew Bixler, Jacob Minnich, Abraham Musselman, Daniel Dietrich, Isaac Hostetter, John [Bush], Henry Lehn, Isaac Baker, Jacob K. Landis, William Myer, Henry H. Kurtz, David S. Binkley, George Shreiner, Henry Shenk, [signature in German], Joseph Shenk, David Fellenbaum, Isaac Fellanbaum, [signature in German], Casper Grub, Jacob Brubaker, Francis Ruth, Christian Bassler, Jacob Metzger, Jacob Tanger, [signature in German], Philip Sprecher, Martrin Groff, Peter Grube, [signature in German], [signature in German], Isaac Leib, Jacob Reidenbach, Daniel Royer, Daniel Royer Jr., John Huhn, [signature in German], [signature in German], H. B. Bowman, J. H. Kurtz, [signature in German], John Zook, [signature in German], Michael Kuhn, George Kuhn, Isaac Ressler, [signature in German], Henry Shreiner, Peter Forney, Gabriel Leib, Henry Hottenstein, Samuel Bear, Henry Zercher, Elias Erb, John Bucher, Jacob Frantz, [signature in German], Joseph Adams.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
