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
Watercolor painting of a square-shaped 3-tiered wooden washstand. A tall ceramic pitcher with blue scenes painted on it is set in a circular area on the lowest level. Mid-level there is a small drawer with a metal hinged-handle. On the shelf there appears to be a piece of plain paper. The top shelf is a white insert with a white ceramic ewer decorated with blue painted mountains in its interior. This nightstand stands next to a wall with white wooden panels on the lower portion and wall above decorated with gray leafed fronds. There is a portion of a green throw rug with a red border on the floor (lower left corner of drawing).
There are brown marks in the paneling behind the washstand. There are the remain of a previous backing on the corners and side of the reverse which have partially bled through the upper right corner.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.37
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper, depicting a frame house in a rural area with a tall chimney and wooden fence. The caption at the bottom reads: "Old Frame House--/at turn in Lititz Pike--/edge of Lancaster Pa." (written by Scott Sagar)
There is a significant 1/2-inch tear in the upper left corner. Other small tears appear in the center top edge; the lower right corner (about 1 inch up from bottom); and the bottom edge (about 2 inches from the right).There are remains of a previous backing on the corners of the reverse.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.63
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Ink drawing on paper-board of the Donegal Meeting house, a small one-story building with barn-like roof and twin doors as well as a walled cemetery and numerous trees in the background. There are several people shown and a few horses.
A small caption at bottom right reads "Drawn + printed by D. (?) Stauffer, Mt. Joy.", and a larger caption at bottom center reads "DONEGAL CHURCH."
This is the Donegal Presbyterian Church at Donegal Springs, built about 1740.
The same building is depicted in P. 77.31.30. (Written by Scott Sagar.)
Watercolor on paper, depicting the residence of Mrs. Eli K. Kline. It shows a gray Federal two-story stone house with German dormers and a doorway flanked by columns. Portions of the two adjacent buildings can also be seen.
The caption reads "Residence of Mrs. Eli K. Kline./Lebanon Pa/ 1869
Pen and ink with watercolor depicting an unidentified interior wall of a room without furnishings.
Most wall surface covered with paneled woodwork, including an off-center fireplace with mantel and ceiling-high surround, two flanking cupboards with mid-section double drawers and decorative keystone at top, also floor to ceiling. At left is a paneled door. Entire was length has paneled wainscot. Wallpapered walls. Strong cornice at ceiling includes dentil molding.
The fireplace, wallpaper, border, and highlights are watercolor, the rest is pen and ink.
Some widely spaced buckling along the top edge. There are blue stains from a previous backing on the corners and edges of the reverse, and these have partially bled through to the front.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.35
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity 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.
Pencil drawing of Dr. Atlee's house is mounted in hinged window mat. The front, facing out to the left, has a door with a small stoop and three shuttered windows, as well as four shuttered windows on the second floor, and two gabled windows above. The side facing out to the right is in two sections: one section under the peaked roof with three rows of two windows each, and a two-story section with a flat roof, also with three rows of two windows each. In both of these sections, the top two windows are much smaller than the rest, and also without shutters. Two basement windows can barely be seen on the front and side of the house.
NOT FOUND IN BOX 0066, July 2023
There are three chimneys of various designs; one at either end of the peaked roof, and a third at the extreme right of the house.
There are two smaller sections coming off either side of the house. These can only be seen in part, and are not drawn in much detail. Fences extend off of both these sections, with a tree growing behind each section of fence. An ambiguous shape has been drawn behind the tree on the left, possibly another building. The bottom of the drawing is also ambiguous, with the sidewalk following the same lines as the house.
A hand-written caption at the bottom reads "Dr. Atlee's House". There are two bordered emblems at the upper corners of the drawing, also done in pencil. The one at upper left reads "Georg/Burckh---[?]/Anna Margari-/ta B. 1764", encircled by a floral pattern. The one at upper right reads "I.G.B./A.M.B/1764" and is encircled by two flowers.
This building was erected on the northwest corner of E. Orange and N. Duke Streets in 1764 by George Burkhart, the richest joiner of pre-Revolutionary Lancaster, as his own residence. It was one of the most highly developed stone houses with a four bay facade in Lancaster. During the 19th century, it became the residence of the Atlee family. It was demolished in 1902.
Note: P77.31.68 shows the same building.
Additional notes have been made in pencil: "S.E. cor. Lime + Middle Sts--." just above the curb of the sidewalk; "Brick" just above the basement window; and "Filled with stone." in the upper right corner above the tree. The number "25" also appears in upper right corner, and a circled "30" in the lower right corner.
Middle Street is now Howard Avenue. The Sawbuck House, also called the Powell House, was demolished before 1900.
Yellowed around the edges; the side edges and right side of the bottom edge are ragged, with small nicks all along the right side. There is a crease extending from the top edge, about 3" from the right, down to about 3/4" from the upper right corner. There is a dark brown spot about 2 1/2" up on the right side, just outside the border. Now mounted in hinged window mat.
Object ID
P.77.31.02
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Pen & ink drawing (over pencil sketch) of log house. The house has a single brick chimney (with smoke emerging) and a Dutch door with the top half open. There is a wooden plank porch w/ a long bench extending the length of the house front.and a gated wooden fence extending from the left front corner of the house. NOT FOUND IN BOX 0066, July 2023
The left side of the house has a shelf with various pots and bottles on it. Harness hangs on wall near right corner. Fencing encircles entire yard & garden at left and behind house. Additional large building partially seen behind house appears to be a barn with vertical board siding.
A woodpile with an axe in front of the fence, and a man with a cane watching a small child playing w/ dog on the path leading to the gate.
The drawing is black and white, but there is a light brown border around it.
The caption in the upper left corner reads '"PINE-FARM"/LANCASTER CO. PA./ Home-stead of/ Christian Stauffer/ 1847'
Christian Stauffer was a kinsman of David McNeely Stauffer, the artist.
J.W.W. Loose, The Heritage of Lancaster, pp.74-75.
Height (cm)
18.0975
Height (ft)
0.59375
Height (in)
7.125
Width (cm)
22.5425
Width (ft)
0.7395833333
Width (in)
8.875
Dimension Details
Hinged within a window mat..
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-06-28
Condition Notes
Some brown marks along the top edge. There is a brown stain or mark on the bottom center of the drawing, in the path about halfway between the gate and the dog.
The paper was previously attached to another backing, as there are pieces of the backing and glue stains along the edges of the reverse.
The piece is currently mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.09
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Fraktur birth certificate for Lydia Glasz / Glass, daughter of Leonard Glass and wife Christina, nee German. Hand drawn and colored on paper. Unusual confronting women with yellow dresses and red parasols flank central textblock within border. Tree of life above textblock; undulating plant w/ flowers sit on shelf at sides. Triple-line outside border.
German text translates to "Lydia Glasz daughter of Leonard Glasz and his wife Christina a born German. Was born 25th day of Jan. in the year of our Lord 1811.
Some buckling of paper overall. Some bleeding of ink, causing brown marks around letters; also in entire upper left corner. Small 1.4" brown streak below the word "Christina" in center panel.
Condition report of 1986 by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Phila. in file. No documented treatment. Matted and framed in 1996 by conservator Brian Howard.
Object ID
P.77.12
Notes
Similar to designs of Plate #61 in Weiser & Heaney, Penna. German Fraktur of The Free Library of Phila., v.1.
Research: Ancestry.com gives the marriage of fraktur recipient Lydia Glass to John Kempfer on 20 Nov. 1828 in Ephrata at the Bethany United Church of Christ. Husband John was born 19 Feb. 1809, died 4 April 1865. Lydia died 24 June 1853. Their daughter Elizabeth Kempfer (1836-1909) married David Rudy Buch (1834-1925) and lived in Lititz.
Ancestry also gives the 1810 Census in Earl, Lancaster Co. that lists Leonard Glase with 4 household members under 16 yrs., 1 at 16-25 yrs., and 2 over 25 yrs. Total of seven in home. Lydia was born the following year in 1811.
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
