Reward of merit, elaborately cut out of laid paper, watercolored. It is one of four found in a family Bible. Bestowed upon a deserving student by a school teacher, this piece portrays a variety of stylized flowers, done in the unique style of Jacob Botz.
This symmetrical papercut was created with one vertical center fold. Overall design is six main flowers; top pair of flowers have human faces. Scherenschnitte is decorated with polychome watercolors.
See NOTES.
Manor Twp. or Mount Joy area
Provenance
This is one of four small Frakturs found in a Family Bible (the Bible was ultimately given to another party). Russ and Corinne Earnest served as brokers for these four frakturs. The owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. Total purchase price was $19,800, but reimbursed by Irene N. Walsh.
The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Original condition: Small piece broken off stem at right center. Blue-painted petals at center are flaking. Multiple stains around perimeter.
Conserved & mounted in a 4-window mat package by Susan Duhl, Sept. 2001. Then framed by Lancaster Galleries in black frame H: 13 1/8" W: 23".
Object ID
P.01.18.2
Notes
Research in: Papers for Birth Dayes (Russ & Corinne Earnest) and The Pa. German Fraktur of the free Library of Phila., Weiser & Heaney, 1976, #221.
Family genealogy provided by Jim Nissley of Mt. Joy, 1/14/05. Research on Jacob Botz by Irene Walsh.
The Lindemuth family first settled in the Mount Joy-Maytown area. According to Clarke Hess & Jim Nissley, Margaretha (Margaret) Linde(n)muth was born June 26, 1790 and died Dec. 31, 1875, a daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mt.Joy (653-4798), who discovered Lindemuths in his family tree. Margaretha's niece (daughter of her brother Jacob), Sarah Lindemuth (1833-1908) married Daniel B. Nissley (1829-1919). They are Jim's great great grandparents. (See Biog. Annals entry on D.B. Nissley & other records of Jim Nissley in this file.)
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.