Walnut Chippendale style bookcase on desk. Bookcase has broken arch pediment with carved scrolls terminating in12-petal rosettes, large flame finials at corners and a carved stylized shell at center. Scrollboard has graceful symmetrical vine carved in relief on nearly smooth ground (usually punched ground). Below are two flat-paneled doors with brass escutcheons; right door has keyhole. Interior shelves. Inset fluted quarter columns.
Lancaster County, certainly Lancaster Borough
Fall-front desk sits on 4 ogee-bracket feet. 4 graduated, thumbmolded drawers, each w/ replacement bail brasses and an oval brass keyhole escutcheon. Inset fluted quarter columns w/ unexpected small volutes carved above capitals. Two wooden slide supports flank top drawer. Replaced fall-front door fitted w/ a brass keyhole escutcheon with swiveling cover. Interior has a central prospect door with shell and leaf carving, opening to two pigeonholes over two drawers. Door is flanked by manuscript drawers faced with baseball bat-shaped carving. On each side are groups of four valanced pigeonholes over four drawers fitted with small bail-type brass pulls. Pencilled inscription on underside of top right interior drawer has "Adam Bare, sheriff," (also dated 1846?). Adam Bare (1784-1877) apparently owned the desk. He was a Mennonite tavernkeeper near New Holland who became sheriff of Lancaster County from 1831-1833. Perhaps his father, John "Bear", was the original owner (he was an innkeeper at a hotel in Bareville, Upper Leacock Twp.).
Provenance
Found in 1938 by S.E. Dyke in a home being demolished on New Holland Ave. S.E. Dyke owned it until 1943, when he sold it to C.W. Lyons of New York City for $4,500. By 1970, it was owned by H.R. Sandor, who sold it to Mrs. Margaret A. Lucas of New York City for $24,500. At some point, General L.W.T. Waller of Meadowbrook, PA, owned the piece and sold it to Ronald A. DeSilva, Inc. of NYC, who sold it to the Heritage Center.
Underside of drawer has: "Adam Bare, sheriff," (also dated 1846?).
Inscription Type
Inscription
Object Name
Secretary
Oither Names
Desk and Bookcase
Material
Wood, Brass
Height (in)
96
Width (in)
42
Depth (in)
23
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-08-27
Condition Notes
Extensive restoration (done by unknown person apparently when first obtained by Sam Dyke). Early photo shows damage/losses and restoration: replacement of left scroll and rosette and portion of right rosette; missing fall-front, 3 interior drawers and finials; both front feet damaged (bottom half of left foot missing and right foot cracked); missing right volute, damaged drawers, overall badly scarred with extensive loss of finish, etc.
Above repaired/replaced. There are two significant cracks on the writing surface: one 5" long at right and one 7 1/2" long at left. 1/4" gouge on right side of bookcase. Long horizontal crack across tympanum and one under shell "finial". Long vertical crack a both sides of desk. Repaired vertical crack in right door panel, repairs to both doors' top edges, both escutcheons replaced and holes plugged. Dark stains on inner writing surface.
Left diagonal edge of desk accidentally damaged while at museum in 1984 (see envelope w/ snapshots). Restored by Alan Miller.
Object ID
P.77.34
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Secretary, or desk and bookcase, Federal style, with extensive inlay, including "1804", flanked by the initials "I M" (or J M) on fall board of desk. Initials likely represent one of John H. A. Bomberger's ancestors/relatives. Made in 3 parts: a cornice and frieze, a slant-front desk with cubby holes and extensive inlay inside and out, and a bookcase with glazed doors using diamond design tracery, centered oval fan inlay and 1/4 fans at all 8 corners of doors. Desk has half fan inlay on skirt, running diamond banding just above and bellflower inlay at face of desk corners.
Henry T. Spangler, a member of the first graduating class from Ursinus, married college president John H. A. Bomberger's daughter Marion. Spangler later became the president of Ursinus, himself. Bomberger was born in Lancaster, graduated from Marshall College in Lancaster (later Franklin & Marshall). The secretary was a Bomberger family piece inherited by daughter Marion who willed it to her daughter "Aunt Doll" who resided at Ursinus until her death. Her brother George (Joel Spangler's grandfather ) inherited the piece and later willed it to Joel.
Provenance
Believed to have descended through John H. A. Bomberger's family of Lancaster County, through his parents or their parents. Documented only from J. H. A Bomberger on. From Bombergers, it descended through the Spangler family.
Finish darkened overall. Large pieces of veneer missing and lifting on skirt. Large veneered oval on fall board has cracks throughout. Two vertical cracks extend up from each side of desk base. Thin molding splitting on bookcase base at back left side. Section of wood with inlay missing at top of bookcase at back of right side.
