Reward of merit, elaborately cut out of laid paper, watercolored and inscribed at bottom with the name "Margaretha Lindenmuthin." It is one of four found in a family Bible. Bestowed upon a deserving student by a school teacher, this artwork 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 a large lacy flower with a stem having additional flowers growing off to the side. The flower rests on an oblong base with the name of the student written with black iron gall ink. Scherenschnitte is decorated with water-based, polychome paints.
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. She was the daughter of George Lindenmuth (1752-1818) and granddaughter of Ludwig Lindenmuth (1716-ca.1777) who immigrated from Germany in 1750.
Provenance: The Earnests served as brokers for these four frakturs. The original owner wished to remain anonymous, but desired that all four remain intact as a group. They were found in the family Bible of this owner and the Bible was given to another party. The Earnests reported that the owner's family has roots in Manor Twp., but it is unknown if the fraktur descended in this family.
Later contact with owner/seller, Jim Nissley of Mount 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.)
Mount Joy area
Provenance
Fraktur was found in a Family Bible of the Lindemuth family. The items were put up for private sale, brokered by Russ & Corinne Earnest, and purchased by the Heritage Center.
Original condition: Elements broken off and missing, especially the large flower extending out from center, but also some elements of lacy perimeter at top. Many tears; the most significant is the nearly-detached daisy & tulip at bottom left. Three old repairs on reverse side using strips of pasted paper. Discoloration around large flower's perimeter as well as at bottom.
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.01.18.1
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.