Colored drawing of a stag, attributed to David Fry, framed. Small drawing done on wove paper (4/5" x 3.5") of brown stag standing sideways and facing forward. Standing on green grassy area with three flowering plants. Round nostrils and round eyes with pupils. Unsigned. Strips of pasted on paper at top and bottom adhere artwork to pressed paper frame having embossed decoration including scrolling foliate border and anthemion at top. Colorful plaid-printed paper infills flat center sections of frame.
Inscribed in inked script on center of reverse is "Betsy Erhard/1829." The number '23' is pencilled on adhered framing paper. Frey would have been 70 years old when he made this drawing. (By Wendell Zercher)
Generally good, but considerable damage. Paper drawing has holes and losses at right center, adhered paper at edges; general darkening & soil with 6 large moisture and mildew and/or foxing around edges. Long tear at left above center, several punctures in grass area near left side. Drawing detaching from frame & pasted paper. Frame has four horizontal cracks at side members.
Presentation fraktur attributed to David Frey is watercolor drawing of a bird on a branch. Executed on a rectangular piece of tan wove paper, the watercolor is done in yellow, green, red and brown. The nicely detailed bird faces viewer's left, perched on a leaf of a tendril-like branch growing out of the ground. Framed in a molded walnut frame that was cut down from a larger one.
Inscribed in ink on reverse side in elegant script is "Nancy Frey./ 1830." Seller believes this may be a daughter of David's son, Jacob Frey (b. 1785) and wife Elizabeth of Rapho Twp. Hess says Anna (Nancy) was born c. 1825 and is likely a sister of Catharina Frey, recipient of drawing P.04.49.3.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Drawing, sold by Mr. Clarke E. Hess of Lititz, PA for $1,100.00. (He purchased the drawing recently--2004--from a dealer in Bucks County.)
Attributed to David Frey (12-14-1759 to 3/14/1841). Inscribed on back: "Nancy Frey-1830." (Apparently a grandchild..)
Very significant paper loss in lower wind area. The actual pigment is missing, but is found adhered to reverse of Frey's other bird drawing, P.04.49.3. The tow pieces obviously had been stored together for a long time, allowing this adhesion. Minor soiling of paper.
Presentation fraktur attributed to David Frey is a watercolored drawing of a bird on a tulip. Executed on a rectangular piece of tan wove paper, the watercolor is done in yellow, green, red, pink, blue, black and brown. The nicely detailed bird faces the viewer's right, perched on the bent stem of a tulip with one yellow bloom at tip: plant is growing out of the ground. Frame is softwood with a dark mahogany veneer on beveled face.
Inscribed in ink on reverse side in elegant script is "Catharina Frey. 1832." Seller believes this may be a daughter of David's son, Jacob Frey (b. 1785) and wife Elizabeth of Rapho Twp. Hess says Catharina is likely the younger sister of Anna (Nancy), recipient of drawing P.04.49.2.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Sold by Mr. Clarke E. Hess of Lititz, PA, for $1.100. Mr. Hess purchased the drawing in Bucks County. (2004)
Very significant insect damage with tears at left edge extending inwards one inch toward wing tips; also two smaller holes below legs and on stem. Original damage appears to have occurred over liquid stain. Old repair on reverse using additional backing paper is now adhered only at bottom. The reverse side carries the residue of pigment missing from P.04.49.2, indicating that the two pieces of paper had been stored together for a long time. Minor flaking/losses of pigment. Minor soiling of paper. Replaced wood back with acid-free matboard.
Presentation fraktur or bookmark on wove paper and watercolor floral design made for Esther Weber and attributed to David Frey. Polychrome flowering plant rises from the bottom edge and is adorned with six red flowers. Reverse side has "Ester Weberin" above the date "1815" written in black ink in German script.
Fraktur is pressure-mounted on a light brown matboard within a small frame with walnut-veneered face. Reverse side of matboard has a window cutout covered with Mylar revealing the inscription for Esther Weber.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Information on David Frey is as of yet unpublished. Seller (Mr. Clarke E. Hess) writes: "He produced a considerable number of small bird and floral drawing (I have three) for his student in Penn, Rapho and Warwick Twps. I identified his work a few years ago. I had earlier dubbed him the "Eby Schoolhouse Artist" because of drawings that were executed for the Hans Eby family of Warwick Twp. Frey was from a Moravian family, but most certainly joined either the Mennonites or Dunkards. He died in 1841, and his will is in the Lancaster Court House."
Heavily stained in spots overall; paint losses at fold lines within top 3/4 inches of piece. Significant paper losses at top edge and minor losses at bottom edge. Spilled or errant ink marks at four point within the lower 1 3/4".
Pittsburgh Valley, Manor Township, Student Art Poster
Description
Poster displaying artwork of five eight-grade students who attended the Pittsburg Valley one-room school in Manor Township in 1933. Black and orange colored construction paper airplanes "Spirit of St. Louis" are by Ralph Richter and James Frey. There are three other square paper designs of black, orange, green and blue.
On the back, artwork has been removed, but the following Grade 8 students' names are written: Lottie Ressler, Cleo Sourbeer and Ralph Richter.
Provenance
Note clipped to poster display: "Randy, This is one of the 9 or 10 art work done in one rm school manor twp (Little Pittsburgh 1933) Are you interested? I must find good home for them as I promised the teacher I would. Clyde."
