Chest is red-painted poplar. Lid has molding pegged to 3 sides, supported by plain iron strap hinges. Brass escutcheon at keyhole. Wrought iron bail handles on a heart-shaped plate, on each end. A till is at left end of interior.
White-painted platter-shaped panels at each end, two on lid and two on front. Above the painted front panels is a thin, long, white-painted cartouche containing a painted inscription along with geometric floral/star motifs. The inscription reads: "17 BARBARA POTZERIN 95."
On the underside of the lid, left side, is pasted a fraktur measuring 6.5" x 8" showing a woman in a red dress and a man in a pink coat and black pants flanking a text block, with red and blue flowers above.
The fraktur is a "baptismal sponsor's letter form" done with ink and watercolor on laid paper for "Maria Barbarra" Potzer, born March 11, 1768 in Warwick Township, Lancaster County. The central text block expresses good wishes for the child (translation in file)and in the upper left and lower right corners are the names of baptismal sponsors, Maria Barbara Fockt [?] and Jakob Zook [?]. This unusual form was used in the Alsace/Palatine areas, according to Pastor Fred Weiser.
Barbara Potzer was original owner. Maker of the chest is unknown. The fraktur is by the Sussel-Washington artist.
Provenance
Chest was purchased at a sale in Harrisburg in approximately June, 1979, by seller, H. William Koch. It
Multiple large marks and stains on lid, including two blotches of a varnish-stain. Edges are worn, and bits of wood are missing in several areas. Base is separating from the front and sides. The iron hinges are rusted. Top has a long split along grain.
A condition report and treatment proposal for the fraktur were done by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in May 1986, but no treatment was done.
Object ID
G.79.103.1
Notes
This is a twin of the "Anna Nislesin" chest (G.95.29.1) except for paint color and feet.
There is a group of several other similar chests (see file).
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Colored ink drawing of the 70-acre property of Franklin B. Musselman, situated within a horseshoe bend of Conestoga Creek in Pequea Twp. Road from New Danville to Lancaster crosses property and a bridge spans the creek on the east side. Adjacent to bridge, alongside each side of road, are two tiny vignettes of buildings. On south side is a 2-story house. On north side there appears to be a cluster of buildings. This draft is a visual representation of a survey and is described in 7 lines of florid script stating that the survey was performed April 15, 1871 by J.M. Fulton.
Framed by Dream Framer with "conservation materials". Drawing has foxing, fly specks, and a horizontal band of stain across top. At right edge of paper, just below center, is a curving tear. Breaking at fold lines.
British Royal Coat of Arms, 1786, attrib. to the "Early Ephrata Artist," (active c. 1780-1786). Manuscript watercolor version of this design is modified to depict the Germanic sentiments of the artist following our overthrow of English rule. As before, the rampant lion (England) is on the left and the rampant unicorn (Scotland) on the right. However, the lion is now chained and uncrowned. Replacing the central shield is a large flowering plant with a typical Pa-German large parrot perched on the lower branch and a crown above. Large flowers are prominently added to this image.
Lettering at bottom center reads: "Phil(i)p[sic] Horning/ hat In ge-macht/ 1786" Recipient Philip Horning's name is followed by the artist's phrase: "Made in 1786." This should not be read that Horning "made this in 1786."
Pa. Germans saw a kinship between the Royal Coat of Arms and the German Hanoverian kings who ruled the United Kingdom throught the 18th century.
Klaus Stopp, Printed B&BC of the Pa. Germans, Vol. II, pp. 108-113
Height (cm)
34.925
Height (ft)
1.1458333333
Height (in)
13.75
Width (cm)
41.275
Width (ft)
1.3541666667
Width (in)
16.25
Dimension Details
Frame is H: 22.25 W: 25.25"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-03-23
Condition Notes
Multiple vertical and horizontal creases overall. Some paint loss, especially on lion's head and face, and flower in upper right corner. Brown stains overall.
A treatment proposal made by Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, May 1986, and the following treatment was done in 1988-89: consolidated ink and paint, old backing removed, tears mended, cleaned, losses in paper filled, flattened, and matted. Details in file.
Matted and framed by Brian Howard of Carlisle in 1996
Object ID
P.77.51
Notes
This unusual watercolor gives a Germanic spin on the heraldic design. While the lion stands for England and the unicorn for Scotland, replacing the central shield is a large parrot perched on a flowering plant. Large flowers are also prominently introduced into the composition. Painted after the war of independence, the lion is now portrayed uncrowned, with a chain at his neck. This is a strong statement of the artist's Germanic sentiments.
This is one of the last known pieces done by the Early Ephrata Artist." He was given this name since he decorated early Ephrata prints having no bird-panel printed borders. The Earnests note he used heavy color and his motifs were primitive, despite the ambitious decoration and design he attempted such as this fraktur watercolor. He ranks among the earliest fraktur artists to decorated printed forms, along with Otto, Hoevelmann and Speyer.
See:
- Earnests' "Papers for Birth Dayes", pp. 213-214 for info on the Early Ephrata Artist.
- Klaus Stopp, The Printed B&BCs of the German Americans, Vol. II, pp. 108-113.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Family record in German on very small page of laid paper. Straight borders on all sides except bottom, which appears to have been cut off & perhaps removed from a book, per Fred Weiser. Written in faded black ink except for large, green initial letters. At top is Abraham Stibgen, born 18 Jan 1755. Later notation added in right margin has 50, his age at death. Next is Anna Kauffman born 13 Apr 1762, with added "65" for death age, at right. They were married 14 Dec 1783. Below is Susanna born 1784 and Christian born 1786. Mounted in off-white window mat w/ two paper hinges at top.
Overall has some age darkening. Soil and stains; large light brown stain at center left with moisture damage along left margin causing bleeding of the green letters. Soil or stain at lower right corner. Center fold is breaking, esp. at each end. Corners worn and dog-earred. Ragged edges except for bottom where cut off.
Mounted on matboard with two paper hinges at top.
Object ID
2017.999.16
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #12 during this event.
Birth record on small piece of laid paper. Mounted in off-white window mat with 2 paper hinges at top. Outside border is 0.375" wide with dotted line zig-zags and small comma like motifs decorating remaining space. Some of lower border was cut off. Appears to be a partial page, cut from the same source as the pair of full-page Tschantz family record (2017.999.29) recording 4 births. It is certainly the same handwork & almost certainly pages removed from a Bible.
This entry for Abraham Tschantz consists of 7 lines of German text, fraktur style lettering, randomly alternating from red to black ink. Reads: "Anno 1750 auf Faustinus Tag, / d 15ten Febr. ist Abraham Tschantz, / gebohren im Zeichen des Schorpian. / Gedenck im allen, was du thust, dass / du nur Gott gefallen must, dies sey dein / gantzes Werck auf Erden, wen du wilst / Gottes Burger werden." (In the year 1750 on Faustinus Day, 15, Feb., Abraham Tschantz was born in the sign of Scorpio. Ponder in everything you do that you must only please God. Let this be your whole work on earth if you wish to be God's citizen.)
10th "Series" of Penna. Archives, Vol. 156, p. 423.
See related pages (2017.999.29) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded Tschantz births.
Height (cm)
13.0175
Height (ft)
0.4270833333
Height (in)
5.125
Width (cm)
18.415
Width (ft)
0.6041666667
Width (in)
7.25
Dimension Details
Matboard is H: 7" W: 9"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
0017-08-24
Condition Notes
Light darkened and embrittled/fragile. Edges are very ragged with losses and folded back paper. A 3 1/2 " long curved tear/break from bottom left to the word "Febr.". Bottom of page with border has been cut off.
Object ID
2017.999.20
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #24 during this event.
See pair of related pages for birth entries of (2017.999.29) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded birth of Abraham.
Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822. Abraham died 26 May 1838.
Family record written on both sides of a detached page from a Bible. First side has a foliate perimeter border w/ three flowers along top. Additional flowers decorate inside corners. Large oval contains family info, but only the first 1/3 of the page is written in Fraktur style lettering (father, mother, marriage and one daughter). Attrib. to John Eberman who has drawn lines as guides for his scrivening. At top is Johannes Kredi, born 24 Dec 1794, his wife Magdalena, born 16 Jan 1797 and their marriage 20 Feb 1823. Following is daughter Veronica, b. 1824 (later called Fanny).
Additional entries in plain German handwriting. First entry lists both John, born 1826 and death of mother the same year; certainly caused by childbirth. Below a line border entry records John and new wife "Margred" b. 1807, married 11 Oct 1827. Below a line border is birth of Jacob, 1828.
Second side has 4 entries within the bleed-through of the large oval, each separated with a border filled with "X"es and each line hand-ruled. First is Henry, b. 1830; second is "Davit" b. 1834; third is "Benjemin" b. 1836 and fourth is Elizabeth b. 1839.
Yellowed paper has fooxing and fairly dark stains throughout, esp. heavy along bottom border. Vertical and horizontal fold lines are fragile with some breaking at page edges.
Object ID
2017.999.21
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #34 during this event.
Johannes died 31 March 1851. One year before his death, family is listed in 1850 Census in Manor Township:
Mounted Family Record on 2 pages of laid paper, almost certainly from a Bible, with entries for children of Abraham Tschantz (See his record by the same artist/scrivener as 2017.999.20). Page edges have a border decorated with dotted line zig zag motif with squiggles. In fraktur hand in German, the birth entries are listed under a heading "Verzeichnis" (record/list) on first page that translates "Register of my children when they were born." Lettering is done in either black or red ink.
Two births listed on first page are Jacob born 31 Dec 174(?) on St. Silvester's Day in the Sign of Aquarius. Next is Johannes born 29 Feb 1748 on St. Nestor's Day in the Sign of the Lion. Horizontal border under heading and also between birth entries. Each has a few religious lines exhorting them to follow Jesus.
Second page lists Barbara born 28 Jan 1754 on St. Charles Day in the Sign of the Ram, immediately followed by "In the year 1767 on Sept 4th the Lord took her from this world into eternity. Next entry is David born 17 Sept 1759 on St. Lambert's Day in the Sign of the Lion, but in the year 1767 on Aug 25 the Lord took him into eternity. Both children died within about 10 days of each other.
See related half page birth entry for father Abraham Tschantz (2017.999.20) executed by same scrivener/artist who recorded births of Tschantz children.
Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822. Abraham died 26 May 1838.
Height (cm)
30.48
Height (ft)
1
Height (in)
12
Width (cm)
17.78
Width (ft)
0.5833333333
Width (in)
7
Dimension Details
Mount is 16" x 20"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-10-02
Condition Notes
Mounted together in double window. Pages are brown with age and have some small stains. All edges are battered with small tears, small-to-medium losses, and folds. Significant number of red letters have bled. Most edges of each page have cellophane type tape on back to stabilize.
Conservation needed.
Object ID
2017.999.29
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser 2 Sept 1988 as # 25. Valued at $800.
Abraham "Shannts", born 1750, is listed in Ten "Series" of "Pennsylvania Archives", Vol. 156, p. 423.
A Lancaster Menno. Hist. Society record states he is listed in the Hannes Eby Burial Record: death ca.26 May 1838 in Leacock, PA.
In 1810 Census, an Abraham Tschantz is listed with 9 household members in Warwick Twp.
LHO library's Family File for JOHNS family notes Abraham is buried near Mechanicsburg, Upper Leacock Twp., apparently along with his brothers Jacob (b. 1746) and Johannes (b. 1748). Reference is made to the Tschantz Family Bible in LHO collections which records Abraham Johns, born 15 Feb 1750 on fustinus day, sign of Scorpion. He married Maria, born 1 June 1757, died 6 Aug 1822.
Transcription & translation Oct 2017 by Elsbeth Steffensen.
Birth records of the Heuchler children written in German onto three small pages of laid paper, likely the end pages of a small book. Written with acidic black iron gall ink, now faded to brown; its acid has made holes in many places.
First page begins with "Lancaster Caunty (sic)", followed by 5 lines recording birth of daughter Elizabeth Heuchler(in), born 9 Oct 1785 in Lampeter Twp. under the sign of the Archer. Five more lines record birth of Christian Heuchler, born in April of 178?. "Christian" has been written in pencil at left side.
Second page records birth of Anna, 22 Apr 1790. Underneath is a later hand in German script, possibly noting her death.
Paper has soil and numerous stains including liquid stains. Large, dark stain at center of 1st and 3rd pages. Some lighter staining at center of 2nd page and large liquid stain in lower right half of page. These stains have resulted in some ink losses and very faded ink. The acidic iron gall ink, now mostly faded to brown, has "eaten" the paper in many places, resulting in significant losses, esp. 1st & 3rd pages. Edges of paper are ragged with multiple losses.
Object ID
2017.999.31
Notes
The Heuchler name appears to have changed to Heichler according to the obit. of Elizabeth Heichler Whittle of Towson, MD, born 1785 and died 1877. Handwritten name above the photocopied obit. is "Elizabeth Heichlerin Whittle. Handwritten note in pencil alongside is "This is the Obituary Written when My Mothers Death was Published in the Baltimore Co. News Papers I had them copyed as the one that I cliped out of First Paper is Worn out I Send it to you". It is signed "S.E. Barbour", certainly her daughter Susannah who was living in her mother's Maryland County home along with 2 daughters according to the 1850 Census.
The Heuchler family lived in Maytown, Donegal Twp., according to Elizabeth H. Whittle. A handwritten note explains why it is written she was born in Lampeter Twp. ("while passing on the way to Donegal, Elizabeth was born in Lampeter Twp.).
Family register hand-lettered in black and red, with bronze/gold highlights, all within a frame-like band border filled with decoration including rosettes in corners. Executed for an Old Order Amish family by either John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler. In a modern frame.
Heading at top reads "The Family of / of [sic] my Father Noah Fisher / He was born on the 14th day of February, 1853 / and my Mother Catharine (Katie) Fisher. / She was born on the 28th day of January 1850." The register gives birthdates of the seven children. Toward bottom is the heading "Deaths" followed by 2 death dates, for Amos (1887) and a stillborn daughter (1894).
Near bottom reads "This was written on the 21st day of September in the Year 1901./for Emma Fisher". Roses drawn in bottom corners.
John Doell was "English" and appears to have worked exclusively among eastern Lancaster Co. Amish families, penning book plates, family records, etc. He likely traveled throughout the communities offering his services. Mennonite historian/collector, Amos Hoover, owner of Muddy Creek Farm Libray, notes that Doell came to America in 1857 and died in Zion's Home in 1908.
Doell's work is similar to Amish artist Elizabeth K. Beiler (see McCauleys' Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125.)
2009-2011 Amish exhibit, City Hall, 2nd floor.
Provenance
Provenance: Vendor Trish Herr purchased at the Mary H. Fisher sale held at the Paradise Fire Hall, April 19, 1989.
John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler (see notes in file)
Deep horizontal and vertical creases dividing the register approximately in quarters. Various small brown stains/marks appear overall; an especially dark stain in the upper left, 3 1/2" in from the corner.
Mounted in an off-white window mat and black, flat-profile frame with UV filtering glazing by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
P.89.07.4
Notes
See P 89.07.3 and .5 for additional registers of this family.
Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp.54 and 195-196. The fraktur hand of Elizabeth K. Beiler and John G. Doell are so similar that it can be difficult to attribute.
McCauley, Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
Rectangular piece of brown wove paper has the manuscript name "Susie B Fisher" in upper half of page. The inked letters are water-colored with red, orange, and blue stripes, and the three upper case letters are decorated with a vining filigree of roses. A small bird hovers in flight above the first "S". Still visible are two horizontal lines penciled in by the artist to guide the size of his lower case lettering. Centered below the name, at mid-page, are two drooping red tulips.
Attributed to Elizabeth K. Beiler or John Doell who also penned the 1901 family register of Noah and Catharine (Katie) Fisher (P89.07.4). Their style is extremely similar and they were working in approx. the same period.
Also in this collection is a needlework family register (P89.07.3) done by Susie Fisher (assumed to be the subject of this fraktur).
John Doell was "English" and appears to have worked exclusively among eastern Lancaster Co. Amish families, penning book plates, family records, etc. He likely traveled throughout the communities offering his services. Mennonite historian/collector, Amos Hoover, owner of Muddy Creek Farm Libray, notes that Doell came to America in 1857 and died in Zion's Home in 1908.
Doell's work is similar to Amish artist Elizabeth K. Beiler (see McCauleys' Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125.)
2009-2011 Amish exhibit, City Hall, 2nd floor.
Provenance
Provenance: Vendor Trish Herr purchased at the Mary H. Fisher sale held at the Paradise Fire Hall, April 19, 1989.
John G. Doell or Elizabeth K. Beiler (see notes in file)
Darkened overall from acid burn and/or light. Smaller brown stains of varying size sprinkled over much of surface as well as lighter spots and blotches esp. at left side. Several tiny edge tears including one at right edge, about 7/8" up from bottom corner. 1/4" tear in right edge above center. 1/4" tear in bottom edge, 7/8" from left corner. Faint horizontal fold lines.
Object ID
P.89.07.5
Notes
See P 89.07.3 and .4 for family registers of Susie's family.
Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp.54 and 195-196. The fraktur hand of Elizabeth K. Beiler and John G. Doell are so similar that it can be difficult to attribute.
McCauley, Dec. Arts of the Amish of Lancaster Co., p. 125
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Heritage Center Collection through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation
