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 March, 2019 | 48 Items | May, 2019  |
| REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA REVOLUTIONARY WAR DATE RECEIPT FOR BLANKETS USED BY WASHINGTON’S ARMY. RECEIPT FOR 9 BLANKETS FOR ARMY... OF... GENERAL WASHINGTON. JUNE 24, 1777 8.25 BY 12 inch manuscript document - receipt for 9 blankets for Washington's troops: "New Haven June 24, 1777... of Timothy Jones one of the Seted (sic) Men of New Haven... Nine Blankets for the Use of the Army of the Comm. of His Excelency (sic) General Washington...." (Signed by Jonas Prentice, Capt. Condition: Toning at previous fold lines otherwise Very Good. Sold at Cowan’s Auction April 4, 2019. Estimate: $200-400 Price Realized: $1,080 | |
| HUDSON BAY KETTLES, DEACCESSIONED FROM THE MUSEUM OF THE FUR TRADE, Lot of 4, all marked HBC on inside wall; wrought iron handles, (smallest to largest) height 7.5 x diameter 11.5 in.; height 11 in. x diameter 15.5 in.; height 11.5 in. x diameter 16.5 in.; AND height 15.5 in. x diameter 23 in., 18th century Provenance: Deaccessioned from the Museum of the Fur Trade. Sold at Cowan’s Auction April 5, 2019. Estimate: $600-800 Price Realized: $7,200 | |
| DELAWARE/OTTAWA BLACK TANNED HIDE BAG AND WOOL BELT, sinew-sewn; design of bag arranged into three segments; the upper portion composed of alternating quilled red and white bands, having an underlying row of tin cones filled with red-dyed deer hair; the middle segment of pronged elements are placed above four bands of alternating colored quillwork; and finally, the third incorporates a wide zigzag line, length 9.5 in. x width 9.5 in.; PLUS a finely woven red wool belt, length 36 in. x width 2.5 in., fourth quarter 18th century. The mythological structures which formed the world view of Great Lakes artists are reflected in the design of many objects...particularly in the division of the surfaces of objects into zones that parallel zones of the cosmos... visual imagery depends not only on the interpretation of individual motifs but also on the way these motifs are placed in relation to each other… The three spatial zones incorporated in the design... correspond to the three levels of the universe. On the upper surface we find images of Thunderbirds, in between are magical substances which have been granted to human beings for the use on the middle realm of earth, and on the underside are displayed images of the Underwater Panthers. In their totality such bags can be seen as three-dimensional models of the forces that energizes the cosmos, arranged in ideal balance and order... Pouches were containers for tobacco, personal medicines, and implements used in hunting and war. Unlike medicine bundles, however, pouches were worn on the body. Like the tattooed designs of guardian spirits that were very common in the early contact period, pouches were portable art. They kept the potent representations of spirits on the body during travel, hunting and war. More than any other genre of Great Lakes art, pouches display the full iconographic and stylistic range of the artistic tradition... ...the tendency toward extreme stylization and the use of abstract symbolic motifs also creates a certain ambiguity in individual works of art...bands of zigzag lines merge into wave patterns, the bodies of the Thunderbirds become hourglass forms and their linked wings fade into a single contour line. The upper half of an Underwater Panther dissolves into rows of castellated lines that might also suggest the bottom halves of Thunderbird torsos (Phillips 1984: 26-27). 1984. Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Ontario: Book Society of Canada, Ltd. Sold at Cowan’s Auction April 5, 2019. Estimate: $30,000-50,000 Price Realized: $21,500 | |
| GRIZZLY BEAR CLAW NECKLACE WITH PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF ORIGINAL COLLECTOR, THOMAS WILLARD HOUGH (1807-1896. 31 honey-colored grizzly claws of graduating size are strung on a hide thong; leather spacers placed between each claw, overall length 18.75 in. Includes a half-length oil portrait miniature of Thomas Willard Hough; housed in a half plate pressed leather case; painted in Cincinnati, ca 1842-1843, 6.25 in. x 5.25 in., second quarter 19th century Collection history inscribed on card: Thomas Willard Hough Jan. 18, 1807, Jefferson Co., Ohio June 30, 1896, Spartensburg, Ind. Came to Butler Co., Ohio when a child - marrier[sic] Mary Ranney 1843. Son John born 1847 in Cincinnati. Moved to Spartensburg, IN 1849 built house (?). Received bear claw necklace from Indians he befriended on post route from his home to Fort Wayne, IN - 1824 exact location cloudy near Spartensburg? Quaker trail - Richmond north on Route 27 to Fort Wayne General Route. T.W. (Squire) Hough family dies of cholera - he survived and was able to help the Indians who were down with Cholera. According to Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, "Thomas Hough was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1807 and in his boyhood days moved with his parents to Butler County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received his education. In 1843, in Cincinnati, he married Mary W. Ranney, where he lived a few years then in April, 1849, he moved to Spartansburg, Indiana where he owned and operated a good farm until his death, July 3, 1886. He was a progressive man of affairs and served as justice of peace of his township for twenty-four years, being esteemed by all. He was a staunch Republican and although not a soldier in the front, he was a strong supporter of the Union and wielded a venerable influence" (1914: 1536). https://archive.org/stream/cu31924006111326/cu31924006111326_djvu.txt. Accessed February 11, 2019. Provenance: From the Collection of Jon Anspaugh, Wapakoneta, Ohio Sold at Cowan’s Auction April 5, 2019. Estimate: $15,000-30,000 Price Realized: $60,000 | |
| YELLOW SPATTER CHINA THISTLE PATTERN CUP AND SAUCER, red flower with green leaves. Saucer measures 6" diameter Condition: Very good. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $200-400 Price Realized: $826 | |
| GAUDY DUTCH SOFT PASTE CHINA CARNATION PATTERN CREAM PITCHER. Helmet form with yellow and green leaves. 4-1/2.” Condition: Very good. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $200-400 Price Realized: $767 | |
| RED AND GREEN RAINBOW SPATTER CHINA CUP AND SAUCER. Saucer measures 5.625” diameter Condition: Very good. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $100-300 Price Realized: $501.50 | |
| RED AND GREEN RAINBOW SPATTER CHINA CUP PLATE, 4.375” diameter. Condition: Very good. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $100-300 Price Realized: $649 | |
| RED AND GREEN RAINBOW SPATTER CHINA WASTE BOWL, 6.375” diameter. Condition: Good with minor base rim chips. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $100-300 Price Realized: $767 | |
| | REV. HENRY YOUNG WATERCOLOR AND INK SELF PORTRAIT DRAWING (Southeastern Pennsylvania, active 1817-1861). Signed on back in ink "Rev. Henry Young 1832 - self". Full seated left side profile, settled in a yellow chair placed under a tree. Image size 7.875”h. x 5.375”w. In an antique mitered frame, 10.5”h. x 8"w. overall. Condition: Good with some foxing and edge loss. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $500-1,000 Price Realized: $1,416 |
| PENNSYLVANIA 19TH CENTURY TOLEWARE BREAD TRAY. Fruit and foliate border and crystalline center. 13.5’' w. Condition: Good with minor wear. Sold at Conestoga Auctions April 13, 2019 Estimate: $200-400 Price Realized: $885 | |
| TIN HORSE COOKIE CUTTER, 8”L x 7”H x .75”deep. Graceful walking form, backplate sculptured to follow form, heavy tin. Sandy Hardican bought it from an old lady in Manheim who is moving to a retirement home. It and a bird cutter descended in her family. Sandy pried it off her kitchen wall with a spatula. Bought from Sandy (H. B. Hardican), Lititz, PA on Dec. 28, 1994. [1360] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $500 | |
| FRAKTUR BIRTH RECORD FOR CATARINA LANDIS, 7.375”W x 8.125”H in green frame. Records birth of Catharina Landis on March 24, 1831. It was probably done in Lampeter Twp. Bears close relationship to the work of Christian Hartman. See PA German Fraktur, the Free Library Collection plate 187-189. The birth record is surrounded by leaf & floral sprays in green, orange, yellow, blue and lavender water colors. Some minor tears w/tape on reverse. Greg Kramer bought at a household in Lebanon, PA. I bought from Greg at Renningers on Sept. 17, 1994. Note: Another birth record for Catarina was purchased by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society in April, 1996. I believe Catherina is the artist. A third birth record is owned by Russ & Corinne Earnest in 1996. Catherine L. Landis (March 24, 1831-April 16, 1900), daughter of Christian S. Landis & Mary R. Landis of E. Lampeter Twp. married Christian S. Risser (May 27, 1825-May 20, 1910). He was a preacher & bishop in the Hammer Creek Mennonite District. Both are buried at Hammer Creek. I bought Catherine’s sampler in May, 1995; Exhibited at the Lancaster Heritage Center, April-Dec., 1999. “Arts of the Mennonites”. [1357] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $2,050 | |
| WROUGHT IRON CONESTOGA IRON HOUND BAND, 9” x 4.5” x 4.5”. From the Jim Sorber Collection that was sold at Pook & Pook Auction on May 14, 2005. It is pictured in Don Plummer’s book on p. 225. “MM” is the blacksmith who made it. “AW” is the wagon owner. It is tempting to think that it is the work of either Martin Miller of Strasburg Twp. or Martin Meylin (b.1765) of Lampeter Twp., the only MM blacksmiths working in Lancaster Co. during that period. Both were related to the wife of the possible owner, Abraham Witmer (1748-July 10, 1818), the wealthy farmer, miller & entrepreneur who built Witmer’s Bridge across the Conestoga in the 1790’s. He operated four mills and a tavern and certainly owned several great wagons. His wife, Mary Herr, was the daughter of Christian & Mary (Kendig) Herr. Bought at Renningers Antique Market from David Horst on June 26, 2005. Note: Abraham Witmer & Martin Miller both signed all clover seed machine receipts for Mich. Withers (in my collection). [2745] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $725 | |
| RARE PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN DECORATED TABLECLOTH, 48” x 70” (including fringe). Two geometric homespun cotton/ linen panels joined with a central insert panel ,1.625”W of drawn work and counted cross-stitch motifs in alternating blocks. Red cotton floss. Marked “AH 1842, SU HE, S H.” This is among the most elaborate PA German tablecloths known. Relates to a small group of examples made In N and W Lancaster Co., by a few Mennonite families. Four of them can be traced to my Hess family of Warwick and Elizabeth Twps. It is tempting to think that this is also a Hess piece. One possible maker would be Anna (Becker) Hess (1816-1893), the wife of Jacob Hess (1815-1850). They operated the mill in front of my house and lived in the brick house across the street. They married Oct. 10, 1836. Their only child to live to adulthood was Susanna B. Hess (1839-1899) who married in 1860 Henry S. Franck (1837) of Kissel Hill. I own her mother’s towel dated 1832. Both textiles share an identical 8 pointed star motif, that in a quick survey of about 35 of my Lancaster County Mennonite cross-stitch decorated textiles, doesn’t appear on any of them. Fine condition, has a few small stains. Bought on eBay Nov, 20, 2003 from Linda Young, Brimfield, Mass. She had met my friend Wendy Christie and described this table cloth, Wendy asked her to send photos so she could show it to Alan Keyser and myself. That was a few months ago. Fortunately, there was only one other bidder. I bought it by sniping in the last seconds and getting it for the reserve price and shipping. Note: 9/04, Alan Keyser saw it and declared it to be the best one known. [2224] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $1,400 | |
| STIEGEL TYPE PAINTED MUG, 5.5”H, perfect condition, clear glass w/strap handle. Has a white bird with a red wing perched on a yellow stump. Matches 2 other pieces in my collection: a mug and a flip. I bought from Greg Kramer at Dutch Town & Country Antique Show. Feb. 28, 1993. [1312] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $1,700 | |
| DECORATED EASTER EGG, coated in medium brown dye, initials E&B 1852, scratch decorated with stars, flowers, tulips, heart & bird in late gold colored cardboard container w/strap handle. Grace B. Witmer sale, near Brownstown, Nov. 10, 1990. Note: EB is believed to be Elizabeth (Herchelroth) Bollinger (Feb. 16,1808-Sept 9, 1906) m. Benjamin B. Bollinger (July 10, 1809-Sept. 15, 1898). They lived near Lititz and are buried at Middle Creek Church of the Brethren. Their daughter, Barbara Ann (1833-1921) m. Hiram Bollinger (1831-1848), their son Phares Bollinger (1866-1965) m. Kate Brubaker (1865-1927), their daughter Amelia Bollinger (1888-1964) m. David K. Witmer (1886-1971), their daughter Grace B. Witmer, single, lived at her parents’ home until this sale. [1179] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $900 | |
| LANCASTER COUNTY BUTTER PRINT, 6.125”L x3.875”W x 4.625”H. c.1800-50. Deeply carved, at bottom is a heart within a heart, above that is a tulip whose petals enclose two six-pointed stars. It is one of a group of related prints that seem to originate in Manor Twp., Lancaster Co. Rich Smith pictured the most closely related print on p. 34 of Penna. Butter Prints. Appears to be pine, has an applied handle and a shrinkage crack on the back side. Bought on eBay on Nov. 29, 2010 from Steve Lehman, Cogan Station, PA. He said that he bought it in Lancaster Co. [4923] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 26, 2019. Price Realized: $3,100 | |
| | DECORATED IRON FORK, 17.25”L. One of a group of important decorated butcher tools made by any unidentified Lancaster Co. blacksmith. He likely worked in the Landisville-Manheim region. All have open-worked hearts at the handle terminus. It is decorated with a series of semi-circles with spurs. One tine is slightly shorter than the other. I bought it from Fred S. Weiser on Jan. 2, 2006. Fred got it some years ago from the late Walter Hess who lived near Bainbridge. Fred acquired it privately. After Walter’s death, they had several days of auction for his estate. [2850] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,100 |
| EXCEPTIONAL WROUGHT IRON SEAM CUTTER, 3.8745” x 4.5” x 7/16”. c. 1800-40. A tour-de-force of the whitesmith’s art. Composed of four members that thread together to form a hammer, a pick, and two cutting edges. It has extensive file-work decoration. It was certainly made by one of the several Lancaster Co. smiths who created the decorated sewing clamps. Sold at a household sale at Shaffner’s Auction House in Mount Joy, PA. June 28, 2006. I bought it from Sam McClearen on July 31, 2006. [2935] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,000 | |
| VERY FINE FRAKTUR SCISSORS CUTTING, attributed to Jacob Botz, schoolmaster in Manor Twp., undated, c. 1790-1805. Made for Elisabeth Wissler, the same one whose birth record I own [#1203], came from the same household. Elaborate floral design springing from lace-edged heart w/ 2 birds at the top perched on an impressive sunflower, executed in brown, black, red & yellow. Some damage to vines, small piece of newspaper reinforces the center portion. Bought from John Merhar at my home. Aug. 14, 1991. On 12/8/91 I paid Franklin Shores for restoration and encapsulation. [1216] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $8,500 | |
| FRAKTUR NEW YEARS GREETING BY HANS JACOB BRUBACKER JAN. 7, 1797 TO SUSANNA GOCHNAUER, 6.25”x7.75” fine condition, a few small holes, tulip & heart design in green, yellow & red, formerly in Richard Flanders Smith Collection. Fred S. Weiser, March 18, 1983. [775] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $8,100 | |
| AMISH SAMPLER, 10,75”W x 13”H signed Anna Rickenbach 1807. Currently, it is the earliest known Amish sampler. The Rickenbachs lived in the Amish settlement north of Reading, Berks Co., PA. Anna is probably the Anna Rickenbach (b. 1785), daughter of Jacob & Barbara (Hertzler) Rickenbach of Bern Twp., Berks Co. Anna married Jacob F. Yoder and lived in Upper Bern Twp. Sampler stitched in cotton & silk threads, pale & medium blues, gold, brown, black & lots of red. Has upper case alphabet at top. Her name, date, initials AN RB, has about 40 designs, mostly floral, heart, star, crowns. It is a random style, completely filled. Fine condition except for a little fraying in the lower left corner. It is pictured in Samplers of the Penna. Germans by Tandy Hersh, figure 4-77, p. 186. I bought it at Fred Weiser’s place from William Mayer whose late wife, Heidi, had owned it for many years. Her mother had purchased it from Fred a long time ago. Fred bought it from Katie Peters, Ephrata, an antique dealer. I bought it on March 27, 1995. [1372] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,050 | |
| BOOKPLATE OF SUSANNA ROHRER 1849, in yellow, green, blue & orange, very finely done, 2.75”x4.375”, 3 tulips & 3 circular flowers, Lampeter Twp. origin, Penna. German Fraktur by Weiser, beautiful & fine. Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Book Auction, April 10, 1981. [651] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,500 | |
| FINE WROUGHT IRON AND BRASS DECORATED SPATULA, Very rare, attributed to John Long (1787-1856), blacksmith working in Manheim (1820’s to 1838) and Sporting Hill (1839-1855). Brass keyhole shaped end handle is decorated using two sizes of punched stars, the same decoration that appears on many of his betty lamps, also a sewing clamp, and the Fanny Erisman fork in Eugene and Vera Charles’ collection. Likely dates 1830s or 1840s, probably an aussteier item for the Hershey- Hostetter families. Ben Hershey Sale June 9, 2001. Likely made for Fanny Hostetter (1820-1903) of Penn Twp. who married David Hershey (1817-1898) in 1845. [1903] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,200 | |
| EXTREMELY FINE ROUND BALL PIN CUSHION, 2.5”D, finely pieced, .5”x .5” pieces in red pattern & brown patterned fabric forms 1.25” x 1.25” 9 patch patterns. They are joined at the corners, the triangular spaces in between are patches made of 4 pieces, 3 brown pattern & a yellow piece in center. A .1875” pale green tape encircles the ball dividing the patches. A .25” wide red tape is attached at the top forming a hanging loop. Condition is superb. Miss Anna B. Oberholtzer (b. 1914) says it belonged to her mother, Martha B. Bucher (1877-1952) who married Nathan Reist Oberholtzer (1864-1923). It came from Martha’s mother, Nancy (Anna) H. Bomberger (1843-1901) m. Christian Risser Bucher (1844-1920). Nancy lived on the Bomberger homestead on Newport Rd north of Lititz, west of Rte. 501, with her parents, Bishop Christian Bomberger (1818-1898) & Catharine Hess (1819-1875). Martha B. & Anna B. Oberholtzer sale. Jan. 1, 1991. Also sold with a second pin cushion: 4 stuffed ellipses forming a star mounted on a four piece base made of black and red velvet w/yellow cross-stitch along seams. See # 3017. Exhibited at the Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener, Ontario, 1991. Pictured in From Pennsylvania to Waterloo. Exhibited at the Heritage Center in Lancaster, April-Dec., 1999. [1188] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,050 | |
| MENNONITE RANDOM SAMPLER, 18” x 18”, mostly counted cross-stitch on homespun linen, pink and blue cotton flosses. Made by “Catherine Binkley 1838” appears on right border, the other three borders have alphabets, each oriented towards the center. The upper two thirds is occupied by 45 different motifs, some very unusual, a wonderfully detailed woman with arms full of flowers carrying a bag wearing a striped petticoat , an apron; a man wearing a hat, knee breeches, a dog, many floral motifs, a deer, seven different small birds, a six legged insect, a tiny stick figure standing on top of a tulip tree, an unusual bird on a branch, crowns, hearts, geometric motifs, in the upper right corner some free-form floral designs. The lower third is a text which reads, “gay plesher and palles as mantion them not/tis only in heaven whare pain is for/god [Gay pleasure and palaces mention them not. Tis only in heaven where pain is forgot.] tis only in mantion prepare for tha place/that sons of believour may ever find rest/ home home sweet sweet home thare is no place/like home thare is no place like home 1839”. Roy M. Eshleman sale. He said that it was from his wife, Catherine Dombach’s family. Oct. 9, 1999. The maker was Catherine Binkley (Sept. 27, 1826-Mar. 3, 1882), daughter of Christian Binkley (1794-1872), miller and farmer in Manor Twp. He married Eliza Miller. Catharine married June 16, 1845 Henry F. Hess (Oct. 27, 1822-Apr. 1, 1895). They lived near Columbia, PA. Henry F. was the son of Abraham Herr & Maria Funk. Henry’s sister, Elizabeth, married Martin Dombach. Their son, Adam H. Dombach (1855-1932) was the grandfather of Catherine (Dombach) Eshleman of Neffsville, the last owner. [1792] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,500 | |
| FRAKTUR RELIGIOUS WRITINGS BY HANS JACOB BRUBACHER, 12.875” x 15.875”, extremely good colors: black, red, yellow & green. Wide yellow band through the center w/pairs of 2 lobed hearts, one upright, one inverted with alternating green and red lobes. At four corners circles enclosing a star of David, 10 rectangular spaces each contain a psalm. Some paper loss to 2 green lobes of hearts. Signed HIBB anno 1799 the 14th of March, also bears names of Johannes Schenck, the owner. Johannes (c.1757-1836) was the son of Michael Shenk (d. 1782) & Barbara______ of Providence Twp., Lancaster Co. Johannes married Magdalena Stauffer, a daughter of Johannes Stauffer & Barbara Good. Johannes Shenk had a son, John (1786-1825), who predeceased him. His farm went to grandson John M. Shenk (1818-1891) and eventually to his granddaughter, Frances K. Shenk who d. 1992. Having remained in the Shenk family since 1730, I bought it at the estate sale of France K. Shenk of New Providence on Jan. 23, 1993. On 1/16/94 I paid Franklin Shores for conservation & encapsulation. Note: a 1799 religious text made by HJBB was also sold & was purchased by Ruth Bryson, Quarryville. It was made for Magdalena, wife of John Schenk. [1304] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $15,500 | |
| POWDER HORN, ENGRAVED “JNO GILL, LANCASTER CITY, PENNA. 1839,” designs of heart, flowers, vines, rooster, & letters JG in heart. Measures 10” overall. Eagle Gun Museum Sale. June 16, 1984. Lot #680. [837] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $3,500 | |
| STIEGEL DRUG BOTTLE, pewter top 5.75” floral design w/ 2 white doves. Mill Bridge Craft Museum sale. March 12, 1977. [552] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,100 | |
| RARE FRAKTUR BIRD DRAWING IN A PAINT DECORATED FRAME, 3.125” W X 3.75” H, attributed to Christian Alsdorff (c. 1760- 1838). Red border with yellow corner blocks. Has one large bird surrounded with vining tulips. Done in brown, red, blue, and yellow inks and watercolors. Piece of upper right hand border is missing, .75” L x .25” – .125”. This is the only small bird drawing by Alsdorff currently known. I bought it on eBay from J.T. Parish Books, 22 Wexford Hill, Cooney Park, Ashley, PA 18706, December 8, 2002. Received it in the mail Dec, 28, 2002. Paint decorated frame, 5.52” W x 6.625” H. Red and black grained striping. Nailed with cut nails. c.1820-50. I intended to use it to frame my Alsdorff bird drawing. Bought at Black Angus Antique Market from David Reed of Willow Street, on Mar. 9, 2003. [2059 & 2103] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $5,600 | |
| RARE MINIATURE TASTING SPOON WITH HEART INLAYS, 5.625” L, copper bowl is 1,375” D. Finely wrought with tiny hanging hook. Iron handle is inlaid with four tiny copper hearts measuring .1875” wide. Hearts have pin holes suggesting that copper was poured when molten. See Lasansky, To Draw, Upset, and Weld, p.72. Note: Fred S. Weiser owns related pieces which were previously owned by Mae Haverstick Brenneman of Neffsville, PA. This came from a household (Dirian Family) on Kissel Hill Rd, Lititz. I bought it at Horst Auction on April 2, 2003. Jan., 2006, I took it to Fred Weiser’s to compare to his. He said that Winterthur & Eugene Charles each have one. All four have different numbers of hearts inlaid. [2115] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $5,400 | |
| EXTREMELY FINE AND IMPORTANT LANCASTER COUNTY SAMPLER QUILT, 84 X 85. Initialed HW 1860 on the front and FSB sewn in script on a piece of fabric attached to the back. Laid out in a diamond shapes format, 77 diamonds plus half-diamonds along the edges. Every diamond is a different pattern, mostly pieced, a little applique, pink calico bands frame each diamond, with green calico at the corners. There are as many as 122 pieces to a single diamond block, incredibly tiny piecework. Fabric in excellent condition but some water staining at the corners. Among the most elaborate sampler quilts known. Closely related to the famous Salinda W. Rupp quilt and my great-grandmother Barbara Snyder’s quilt. I believe that FSB is in all likelihood Barbara’s mother, my great-great-grandmother Fanny S. Bucher (1841-1909). The quilt was sold at Horst Auction in July 1994. I do not know the identity of the consignor. It was underbid by Josh, Greg Kramer’s buyer and purchased by Eugene Rappaport of Millersville, PA. Eugene said that he removed a fringe that was partly missing and that he believes was added at a later date. In May 1995 it was shown at The York Antiques Show. I saw it at the show, and Trish Herr told me that the initials FSB were on the back. I became convinced that it must be Fanny S. Bucher, who married Simon B. Snyder in late 1860 or 1861. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Pat Keller of Oxford, PA. She is working on her doctorate at University of Delaware. She did a paper on Salinda Rupp’s quilt, my great-grandmother Barbara Snyder’s quilt, and the Snyder family quilting photo. She is planning to publish it in Winterthur Portfolio and has been trying to get permission to photograph and study this FSB quilt for some time. I then spoke with Gene Rappaport at Renningers and explained that my great-grandmother had made the quilt and he then sold it to me. I went to visit him at his home in Millersville. Had a very interesting visit with him and his wife Carol. He says that he thinks it may be the greatest quilt that has come out of Lancaster County. On May 20, Pat Keller came and photographed the quilt for her research. Note: Tom Horst of Horst Auction recalled that the quilt came from a house on Brubaker Valley Road near Clay. [1460] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $30,000 | |
| EXTREMELY RARE FRAKTUR “THE PRODIGAL SON” BY FREDERICK KREBS, c. 1800, approx. size 12.875” x 16”, nearly identical to plate #53 in Weiser’s book, PA German Fraktur. Top scene: feeding the swine, lower scene: he returns home. Partially torn along center fold, parts of border wash has been slightly trimmed, some minor stains, colors are sharper than the example in the Free Library. Piece was handed down in the Herr family of Lampeter area. Line of descent is as follows: Christian Herr (1732-1815) m. Maria Bowman, Lime Valley; Bishop Christian Herr (1780-1853) m. Anna Forrer, Lime Valley, Lampeter; Christian Herr (1808-1885) m. Susan Brackbill, Lime Valley; John B. Herr (1834-1903) m. Frances Hess; Henry B. Herr (1859- ) m. Barbara Harnish, Lampeter; John H. Herr (1885- )m. Ada Shaub, Lampeter; J. Elvin Herr (1908-1961) m. Elizabeth Landis (1908-Feb. 14, 2002), Refton; I purchased it from Elizabeth L. Herr, widow of J. Elvin Herr of Refton on Sept. 8, 1982. She found it in an old account book belonging to the first two Christian Herrs along with two Hans Jacob Brubacher pieces (which she donated to the Hans Herr House, one dated 1766 and one 1801, both made for Maria (Bowman) Herr). A truly wonderful piece. [754] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $22,500 | |
| RARE IRON BETTY LAMP, 4.25 x 4.25, 3.125” diameter w/wick protrusion at front font, cover is brass w/engraving, “Elizabeth Hershey March the 16th 1849, J. Long.” John Long was a locksmith in Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co. Other lamps are pictured in “The Pennsylvania German Collection of the Pennsylvania Hist. & Museum Comm.” I’ve been able to identify the original owner as Elizabeth Hershey (June 4, 1825-May 25, 1891) m. Nov. 14, 1849 Jacob Brubaker (1821-1898), son of Jacob E & Maria (Eby) Brubaker. They were parents of Ezra H. Brubaker (1861-1944) who married Amanda Keller. They were the grandparents of Florence B. Kreider whose sale I purchased this at on 5/26/87. Elizabeth Hershey was daughter of Andrew & Elizabeth Hershey. 1884 Brubacher Gen. p.199. Bird finial & wick pick were missing. In Dec. 2001 Larry Long of near Lexington made a bird finial for the lamp. 6/16/02 Larry made a pick & chain. Exhibited at the Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener, Ontario, May-Nov. 1991. Exhibited at the Heritage Center Museum, April-Dec. 2006. [909] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,500 | |
| RARE AND IMPORTANT LITITZ MORAVIAN GIRL’S SCHOOL NEEDLEWORK, c. early 19th century. Central oval silk embroidered and painted scene of four women and baby with pyramids, temple and Moses’ mother in the background. Entitled “Moses & Pharoah’s Daughter” and signed Margaret Pennington. Surrounded by a silk embroidered floral, fruit and cornucopia border. Has 1/4” hole in upper part of border, 1/4” hole in sky section of scene, overall soiling, 2” chip to top edge of frame and minor losses to frame. For related examples see Patricia Herr’s “Ornamental Branches: Needlework and Arts from the Lititz Moravian Girl’s School Between 1800 and 1865”. 19.5” x 22” scene; 28.5” x 31” framed [This item was owned by Clarke, but was not included in his inventory list] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,800 | |
| RARE AND IMPORTANT EPHRATA FRAKTUR, 7” H X 6’ W. Executed in brown ink, unusual format. Border has floral vines and minute stippling. Base has rows of mounds with flowers springing from them (the grave mounds of the host that have gone before), A pair of birds, floral vines and an intricate illumination of “Bruder Obed” “Der sieg vom frenschen kampff erwürbt ein edle Cron, Ich Weiss; drum achte ich hier weder spott noch hohn.” There is a loose portion and losses along the left border, and holes in the center of the top and bottom border where it has been tacked to the wall. It is a unique Ephrata memorial Fraktur for Brother Obed, one of their most important members. Obed (c. 1717- July 27, 1792) or Ludwig Hacker came from Germantown to Ephrata, on Dec. 28, 1744. He and wife Margaret (sister Albina (d.1767) divorced, each joining the celibate orders, as did their daughter Mary (sister Petronella 1738-1791). Obed served as schoolmaster for the Cloister. They are buried in God’s Acre Cemetery. I Daniel Rupp notes that it was customary to make a memorial Fraktur after the death of a member, and hang it up in their cell. This is the only known example of an Ephrata Momento Mori. I photographed this piece in January, 1991 at Larry Bomberger’s when I visited him about borrowing The Eliz Amweg cap for the exhibit at the Joseph Schneider Haus in Kitchener, Ontario. It was in the desk drawer in an old plastic sleeve. He didn’t know where he had gotten it. He thought it probably came from his parents. I bought it at Larry’s sale, lot #148, on Nov. 9, 2002. (See p. 221 I Daniel Rupp History of Lancaster County). [2050] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $29,500 | |
| HANDMADE HICKORY BROOM, 11.75” broom w/36” handle. Broom peeled down made from one piece of wood. Some deterioration on outside of surface of broom. The lady whose booth it was in, Fern Ney, said that it came from her mother’s summer kitchen on a farm at Kempton near Hamburg, Berks Co., PA. Bought at the White Horse Antiques Market, Mt. Joy on Oct. 12, 1995. [1402] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $1,150 | |
| RARE CAST IRON STOVE PLATE DATED 1755, cast at Elizabeth Furnace, Elizabeth Twp., Lancaster Co., by Jacob Huber (d. 1767). 25.5” L x 24” H. It is the right side panel of a 5-plate stove, three columns and two arches, enclose tulips, a heart, a circle, a sheaf of wheat, stars, etc. Below that is the inscription “JACOB HUBER 1ST DER ERST DE” (utscher) or, “Jacob Huber is the first German who can make iron.” It is the same as plate # 158 in Mercer’s Bible in Iron. It is also the same style as the stove that once stood here in the Hess Homestead. I found numerous pieces of the side plate in the junk pile below the garden shed in 1985. Huber was the inn keeper at the tavern on Newport Rd. north of Lititz. That farm was purchased in 1850 by my g-g-great grandfather Christian Snyder (1809-1868). This plate is the first Huber plate that I’ve ever seen for sale. About 20 years ago, Greg Kramer of Cleona bought the same one that appears in Mercer’s Book #159. He sold it to Randy Huber, whom I met a dozen years later. He subsequently brought this plate to Lititz to show me. I bought it on August 25, 2001 at the York Towne Auction, lot #514, at the York Fairgrounds. [1926] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $6,200 | |
| RARE LANCASTER COUNTY CANDLE STAND, 27.375”H, 18.25”D, birdcage, tilt top w/ vase turnings, finely executed, three snake feet, top has Holly? inlay in an unusual pattern, 12 rays emanating from small circle, intersecting a tiny inlay along the edge of the table top with swag inlays linking each ray with the next. Wood is walnut, some minor loss of inlay, old finish. This table was sold at the household sale of my father’s second cousin, John L. Hess of Mt. Joy on May 6, 1989. I was the underbidder & Steve Still of Elizabethtown was the purchaser. The family told me that the piece descended in the Stauffer family of Penn Twp., Lancaster Co. to John L Hess. They believed it was made by a great, great uncle named Isaac? Stauffer. Jim Tshudy of Ephrata bought some family records pertaining to this Stauffer line at the sale. I bought it from Steve Still on Dec. 7, 1992. Likely made in Manheim. Likely made for July 5, 1803 marriage of John Stauffer (1774-1864) to Maria Kreider (1767-1816), thence to son Isaac, merchant in Penn Twp. 1800 Septennial Census lists John Stauffer as a joiner in Rapho Twp. [1302] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,500 | |
| IMPORTANT AND RARE SULFUR-INLAID WALNUT KLEIDER- SCHRANK, One of nine recorded in Lancaster County, PA examples. 81.5”H x 78”W x 27.5”D. Two 6-panel doors over a base having three drawers fitted with wooden knobs (replacements for brass pulls). The doors have large rat-tail hinges & original brass escutcheons. The front corners of the case have unusual 3/4 columns w/three turned portions. Cornice and base moldings are large. Numerous losses to edges of moldings. The cornice has an inlaid cartouche. Originally had 5 turned feet. The shadow measures 4.5” D w/ a ,875” hole for tenon. It was made for Peter Swar (1713-c.1790s) and Ada (Long) Swar. She was the daughter of Herman Long of E. Hempfield Twp. Peter and Ada lived on a farm in Manheim Twp. on the S. side of the Harrisburg Pike across from the present-day Long’s Park. Their son, John Swar, built a stone house in 1799 that still stands. I have two 1807 silhouettes of his daughters. His wife, Elizabeth Reist, was a sister of my g-g-g-g-grandfather Abraham Reist. In 1763 Peter & Ada were hosting some of the Conestoga Indians at their farm at the time of the massacre at the Conestoga Village. Matthias Slough took the Conestogas to the Lancaster jail for their safety. They were massacred there by the Paxtang gang. This Schrank was sold at Conestoga Auction on Nov. 29, 1983. I was there when Elaine bought it. It came out of the farmhouse of Daniel Rohrer at Junction Road between E. Petersburg and Landisville. After Elaine Ewing Holden’s death, her husband consigned it to Pook & Pook Auction, Downingtown, PA. It was lot #55 and pictured on the cover of the catalog. I bought it on a phone bid on Apr. 18, 2008. For genealogy see Penna. Mennonite Heritage, July, 2001. [4206] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $21,000 | |
| RARE LANCASTER COUNTY FRAKTUR, bookplate for song book by Johann Adam Eyer for Johannes Denlinger Strassburg Twp., Lancaster Co, Dec. 22, 1788. 4” x 6.5”. Large heart in center, surmounted by the Angel Sophia, flower stalks flanking the heart, in red, yellow, blue & green inks. This is the only known piece by Eyer produced in Lancaster Co. Pictured in Donald Shelley’s “The Fraktur Writings of the Pennsylvania Germans”, 1961, pl. 173. At that time it was owned by George Horace Lorimer, Philadelphia. Later owned by Meyer P. Potamkin, Philadelphia. Sold at Sotheby’s Jan. 28, 1989, lot #1182. Purchased by noted collector Barry Cohen whose entire collection was purchased by David Schorch & Joel & Katie Kopp. Sidney Gecker, NY, NY purchased it from them. I saw it at the York Antique Show Nov. 3 & purchased it by telephone on Nov. 15, 1990. In 1995, Donald Shelley told me he owned it before the Lorimers did. Exhibited at the Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener, Ontario, 1991. Pictured in From Pennsylvania to Waterloo. Exhibited at the Heritage Center in Lancaster, April-Dec., 1999. Mennonite Arts. [1182] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $10,500 | |
| | SHOW TOWEL, FRED WEISER, JULY 30, 1983, 15.5 x 60, Fanny Steman - Dec. 3, 1838, extremely fine, mostly red thread, very little blue, inscription reads, “The grass is green the rose is red here is my name when I am dead, Fanny Steman.” Marked done the 3rd day of Dec. 1838. “When I am dead & in my grave & rotten when this you see remember me lest I should be forgotten, Fanny Steman is my name and heaven is my salvation, Pennsylvania is my dwelling place and Christ is my sustation.” Floral vase designs, 4 rows of fringes at bottom w/alternating cross-stitched borders. (Fanny Stehman (1825-1864), daughter of John Stehman (1793-1829) & Anna Reist (1799-1883), Manheim Twp. Fanny married John S. Huber (1820-1911). Closely related to Mary Sheirk examples. Exhibited at Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener, Ontario, June-Nov. 1991. [802-C] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,100 |
| CARVED WOOD HORSE BY PETER BRUBACHER (1816-1898) OF CLAY TWP., LANCASTER COUNTY, 8”H x 9”L. Body carved of one piece, legs carved separately and attached. Horsehair tail, tin ears, gessoed and painted black with white lower legs and nose. Some paint loss where legs join the body. Horse is pictured in Just For Nice by Richard Machmer, p. 28. Was in the collection of Richard Flanders Smith, sold at Conestoga Auction. Bought by Connie Hayes, Bellville, PA, who sold it to Jason Dixon, Louisville, Kentucky. I bought it from Jason on March 26, 1997 at the Lancaster Antique Show. [1711] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $26,500 | |
| WEBER BOX, Small red box with floral decoration. 2.75” h x 4.5” L x 3” D. Tulip on front, a flower on either end, and on the top. Has a tin hasp. There is a repair to the top rear edge where the hinges attach. A pencil inscription on the inside lid reads “Anna Souder”. An earlier inscription reads John? Hershey?. John and Rose Anna Kolar bought it from Steve Hench of Lancaster. Sold at the Kolar Sale at Christie’s Auction, NY, NY on Jan. 17, 2003, lot #637. I bought it from Steve Still at the York Show, Jan. 31, 2003. [2077] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $9,400 | |
| FRAKTUR ILLUMINATION OF 8 PSALMS, 16” W x 13” H. Dated Sept. 3, 1799. Penned by Hans Jacob Brubaker for Magdelena Schenck (b.c. 1762), wife of Johannes Schenck. Decorated with 6-point stars, tulips and a heart. Some minor paper losses, including along top center border. I own her husband’s Fraktur ([Hess Inventory] #1304). Both are pictured in Mennonite Arts and were sold at the auction of Frances K. Shenk at the Shenk Homestead at New Providence, Lancaster County, 1/23/1993. Ruth Bryson bought this Fraktur. I bought it from Pook & Pook Auction on 4/14/18 from collection of Ruth Bryson. [5553] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $9,200 | |
| RARE LANCASTER COUNTY LAND DRAUGHT, 24”W x 18.5”H. Signed in corner, “W. Herr, 1867”. E. Lampeter Twp. farm of Benjamin R. Stauffer (1826-1914). Farm is located on east bank of Conestoga River, north of Rt. 30. That property is currently owned by Lancaster Country Club. Draught has wonderful illustrations of the buildings: a stone bank house built in 1786 by Johannes & Veronica Stauffer, an 1851 frame house built by Daniel & Maria Stauffer in 1851 and a stone bank barn built in 1765 by Johannes & Veronika Stauffer. Incredible detail, it is the best Lancaster Co. land draught I’ve ever seen. Johannes Stauffer (1737-1811) was born in Ibersheim in the Palatinate. He was the son of Christian Stauffer (d.1776) who immigrated in 1749 settling in Lampeter Twp. In 1764, Johannes married Veronica Buckwalter (1746-1826). In 1791, he was ordained as a preacher at Mellinger’s Mennonite Meetinghouse. Youngest son Daniel (1771-1855) inherited the farm. Daniel m. 1803 Mary Rohrer. Their youngest son, Benjamin R. Stauffer (1826-1914) married (1) Elizabeth Mayer, m(2) Anna Kreider. This draught was sold at Nashville in Feb. I missed seeing it. Bought by Steve Smoot & B. Shoemaker. Later bought by Bruce Shoemaker of New Providence. He had it conserved by Franklin Shores. I bought it from Bruce at Black Angus on May 16, 2005. [2728] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $4,500 | |
| CAST IRON STOVE PLATE, Dated 1761, 27.25” x 24.25”. Side plate of a six plate stove, “God’s well of Martic”, plate #267 in Mercer’s Bible in Iron. Cast at Martic Furnace in Lancaster Co. Nice sharp impression arcades with striped columns, tulips, heart, etc. Bought at Renningers from Daryl M. Shirk, he was selling it for his brother. July 6 2003. [2185] Sold at Horst Auctions, Clarke Hess Estate, April 27, 2019. Price Realized: $2,450 |
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