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.
Eight-day, tall case clock by John George Hoff, Sr., in a flat-top Chippendale walnut case.
Brass dial has pewter chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hour and Arabic numerals for the seconds. Separate seconds dial below XII. Pewter spandrels. "George Hoff" engraved at bottom of dial, above a calendar window. Painted moon wheel at top has moon on a field of stars.
Bonnet has molded cornice, arched door and arched side windows. Engaged columns at all four corners. Waist has wide chambered corners with lambequins at top and bottom. Door has arched top and molded edges; brass escutcheon (replaced?); door is hung by two brass steeple butt hinges. Base has plain sides and chamfered corners that match those at waist. Molding above four ogee bracket feet.
J.J. Snyder notes that this clock case with wide chamfers relates to other pieces with the same feature, e.g. G.03.1.1 (Jenkins family bookcase on desk) and P.78.76 (Old family bonnet top high chest). The Hoff clock chamfers, however, are not fluted like the large case pieces.
See photo of clock in Wood and Kramer's clock book, p. 37.
Provenance
Professor Kauffman said on 4-23-99 that he purchased this clock from a dealer after Joe Kindig refused it because it was a flat top. A receipt (now in file) was tacked to inside of clock case documenting the purchase from collector/dealer Melvin Hubley of Lancaster City in 1955 (cost $545).
Modest wear, right side light is cracked, molding missing at right side of waist at bottom. Base is scarred, some cracks, especially aroung feet and moldiing. Unfilled nail repair holes at base.
Finish has orange peel surface.
Object ID
G.96.37.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
Fancy painted Windsor style commode chair. Missing its pot. Unusually tall back, splayed back and sides. Slightly worn green paint with black painted stencils of floral and foliate designs.
Note: Chair moved to Wheatland, Northeast Bedchamber, room interpreted as Harriet's bedchamber (date unknown). 09/08/2022
Chippendale chest of drawers, primary wood is cherry, three thumb-molded and aligned drawers over two aligned drawers and four graduated drawers, each with brass bat pulls and keyhole escutcheons, flanked by rounded quarter columns over a molded edge base. Ogee bracket feet.
Lancaster, PA c. 1770
Provenance:
Owned by Mathias Gish, Penryn, PA
-Abraham Gish
-Jacob Gish of Bainbridge (built a mill on Conoy Creek)
-John S. Gish of Bainbridge
-Henry B. Gish " "
-H. John Gish " "
Provenance
Owned by immigrant Mathias Gish of Penryn, PA, then to son Abraham Gish (1745 - 1789) who relocated to Bainbridge, W. Donegal Twp. Then to eldest son Jacob Gish (1767 - 1845) who built a mill, to son John S. Gish ( ? - 1889), to son Henry B. Gish (1834 - 1896/7), to son H. John Gish ( ? - 1942). Donor is granddaughter of H. John Gish.
Two of the top three aligned drawers have patches to corners. One of the two sligned drawers has patches to left thumbmolding. The top graduated drawer has center and left corner thumbmolding patched and restored. The second graduated drawer has restorations to thumbmolding and bottom graduated drawer has center and center left thumbmolding restored. Replaced feet. Brasses appear to be original (appraisal)
Object ID
2011.012
Notes
Mill was built by Jacob Gish (1767-1845) on the Conoy Creek near Bainbridge in West Donegal Township. He operated the mill from 1790 until his death in 1845. Jacob also served in the state legislature from 1805-1809 and again in 1824.
Each generation operated the mill on down to H. John Gish, until the early 1940s. The Gish mill was in continuous operation for over 150 years.
Credit
Gift of Barbara Goudarzi in memory of Nancy Hershey Gish.
Elizabeth Breneisen married Christian Wanner, 1854. She was his third wife. Their daughter Amanda married Isaac Ramsey; the settee was passed to Amanda and Iasasc's daughter, Susanna. Irma bought the settee at auction.
Eight day tall case clock with works by Isaac Chandlee. White dial has Roman numeral hours, a seconds dial under XII and a date wheel above the VI. Spandrels painted with stylized shells and arch at dial top depicts European bldgs. (a chapel?).
Walnut Chippendale case has unusual features. Scroll pediment has three urn and spire finials (spire sawed off center one), two on plinths at corners and one on a central raised keystone. Keystone and plinths have gouge-decoration in a vertical broken line pattern alternating with solid vertical lines. Four corner columns are scored to resemble flutingTympanum, pendulum door and raised panel on base each have figured grain. Unusual wing-shaped upper corners on pendulum door and base panel. Ogee bracket feet have spurs and sit on pads. Decorative center drop on skirt.
Provenance
Early 19th c. insect-eaten paper with former owner's name is affixed to back of trunk interior: "Octavian/Octavias Feinler Newprovidence(sic)." Additional lines of script damaged. Feinler was a tavern owner. Archives has applications for a tavern license 1835-1838, 1840-1841 and 1843. The 1840 census indicates he was then living in Lancaster City. Charged with assault & battery in 1842. Petitioned a writ of habeas corpus in 1856, claiming he was unjustly imprisoned.
Apparent later descent within the Brown family to donor.
Finish on clock is weathered and soiled, perhaps from storage in an outbuilding, Some areas of base have no finish remaining. Joint separation at left front corner of base. Checks / cracks in pendulum door.
Glass of bonnet door is broken at bottom left corner. Cracks on bonnet sides below windows. Interior bottom broken out / missing, with remaining bent rosehead nails at sides.
Object ID
2010.028
Notes
Clockmaker Benjamin Chandlee Jr. had 4 sons, all of whom would produce clocks. Isaac Chandlee, the youngest, was born in 1760 and began his career in a partnership with his brother Ellis. Ellis most likely made the clock works while Isaac did the finishing. Most of Isaac's clocks (including those made in partnership with Ellis) were probably made between 1792-1804. The Chandlee family also had a reputation for their scientific instruments and several surveying compasses with Isaac's signature are known.
Like his family, Isaac was a Quaker, and is described as "laboring quietly in the moral and religious duties assigned him." (Johnston's History of Cecil county, Maryland, pp.158-9) He never married, but kept house with his aunt, Susannah Folwell. Isaac remained in Nottingham his whole life and died in 1813.
Hinged box writing desk of walnut opens to reveal a conveniently sloped writing surface covered with green felt. Metal tab at top of upper half swivels to allow wooden panel to open via a twine pull. Within storage area are: 3 small graphite pencils, 1 brush, 1 blue crayon, 2 pieces of flat soap stone, and a 3" pencil made by "American Pencil Co. NY/THE DANCE." The lower portion of the writing has identical panel lifting to reveal space for writing paper. Alongside lift panel, at front, are 3 open compartments and a fitted lid-covered long compartment. Keyhole at front of closed desk. Key is 1938.08.3.
Sides and top of exterior painted in bold colors - yellow, blue, neon orange circles, arranged like flowers with leaves. Bakc made with two extensions on top ends that function as pegs that hold the lid/top and allow it to open and close. Flush bottom nailed to sides. Interior and bottom are unfinished. Spatters of paint inside and out as well as worn off top designs indicate this box was used.
Walnut hallstand with beveled French-plate mirror on cloak door. Two sets of scroll-shaped pillars surmount the crest. Three decorative, functional cast metal hooks are mounted on both sides of the cloak closet. A Tennessee marble seat is centered beneath the cloak door that surmounts a single drawer with a wrought iron ring pull. The seat is flanked by walnut shaped umbrella supports with green cast iron drip plates at their base terminating on bun feet.
Provenance
Harriet Lane Johnston
to - Mr. C. Long (likely purchased at 9/17/1884 Davis & Harvey Auction, Philadelphia, PA)
Walnut single-drawer tavern table. Removable three-plank top. Dovetailed drawer. Mortise and tenoned joints throughout the rest of the table. Turned and planed square legs terminating in bun feet. Full stretcher base.
Sackback Windsor chair claimed to be used in both Lancaster and Philadelphia in PA legislature.
Brass plaque on seat reads:
HAND MADE WINDSOR ELBOW CHAIRS / CIRCA 1750 / USED IN / LANCASTER AND PHILADELPHIA PA / BY MEMBERS OF THE / CONTINENTAL CONGRESS / AND / PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE / 1776 TO 1812 / PRESENTED BY HENRY SLAUGH / OCTOBER 12, 1961
This Windsor chair served members of the Continental Congress on September 27,1777, when Congress met for session in the original Courthouse on Lancaster's Center Square. It also served the Pennsylvania government from that same month until June 1778 during the British occupation of the City of Philadelphia. In 1784 when undergoing remodeling, a fire broke out destroying much of the building. Fortunately, many records and furnishings, including this chair, were recovered. Once rebuilt, the 'new' courthouse and this Windsor chair again served the state government from 1799 to 1812 when Lancaster was the capitol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4-legged footstool with plank top with beveled edge. Turned tapered legs. Painted brown with yellow and red leaf and berry ornament. Pine construction.
Walnut tall case 8-day clock has molded bonnet w/ arched top & a step-down molded frieze. All four corners have turned sausage & ring columns w/ fluted & tapered terminals (tapered only at clock sides). Tombstone door and side windows. White iron dial has Roman numeral chapter ring; other numerals Arabic. Three iron hands. Small seconds wheel below XII and working moon phase wheel at top. Raised gilt floral & foliate spandrels. Signed in cursive at dial bottom: "Frederick Maus". Below is "PHILADELPHIA" over "No. 1".
Philadelphia (clockworks) and likely Lancaster Co. (case)
Waist has fluted quarter columns and tombstone arched door of figured wood w/ conforming opening, a top rail also of figured wood, and mitered joints at top. Door hinges replaced; lock repositioned upward. Base has fluted quarter columns; front has an applied turtle-form panel of unusually elongated "legs". Ogee bracket feet replaced. Case is not Phila.; most likely Lancaster Co.
Frederick Maus made clocks in Philadelphia circa 1780s. Son of Jacob Maus (?-1785), also a clockmaker. He is known to have traveled to Lancaster at least once, Aug or Sept 1861. One of his clocks is owned by Independence Hall.
Provenance
Owned and passed down through the Bausman family
First owner was reportedly Andreas Bausman (1734-1814) who settled near Lancaster c. 1755 and bought 317 acres along what is now Millersville Pike, Bausman, PA. When he died in 1814 he was one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. (See "clock and case" on his 1814 inventory). Having no heirs, his nephew, John Bausman (1780-1861), immigrated to Lancaster from Germany in 1802 to take over Andreas' estate. He lived there and was a successful farmer until his death in 1861.
Descent in Bausman family, finally to donor's gr. grandfather Bausman, to his daughter (donor's grandmother) Lula Bausman (married Walt Dunlap)who willed clock to donor.
An oblong-shaped wall mirror. The gilt frame has both decorative elements to the early Rococo Revival era and Rennaisance Revival. The overall frame has a shape similar to the American 1850 Arched Gilt Frame; however, this frame's crest has elaborate, high-relief foliate carvings surmounting a cove with a pair of bullseye carvings centered between foliate relief carvings. Both stiles feature high relief grape clusters at the top terminating with blossom and foliate scrolls at the base.
