Object Number 2013.0031.079 A

Object Name

Fraktur (Taufschein)

Title

Birth and baptismal certificate for Peter Wildeson

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase with funds provided by the Henry Francis du Pont Collectors Circle

Creator (Role)

Sussel-Washington Artist (Maker)
References: Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, pp. 407-10; Swank, Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans, p. 243. The Sussel-Washington Artist takes his name from Arthur J. Sussel, Philadelphia antiquarian and fraktur collector, from whose sale Winterthur purchased fraktur 58.120.15 at Sotheby's on October 24, 1958. This artist's designs are distinguished by men and women in colonial and Old World dress. He also made Taufwunsches (baptismal wishes) rather than Taufscheins. Taufwunsches typically begin with the heading "Tauf Wunsch", followed by a religious message and then the birth and baptismal information - the opposite order from Taufscheins. Since Taufwunsches were more popular in Europe than America, a European (possibly Swiss) background for this artist has been suggested. Identifying this individual is complicated by the fact his two dozen or so known pieces list birthplaces from six counties.

Place of Origin

Manheim Township, York, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1772-1775

Materials

Watercolor; Ink; Paper (laid)

Dimensions (inches)

8 (H) , 6.5 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

20.32 (H) , 16.51 (W)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Lloyd, June Burk. 2001 Faith and Family: Pennsylvania German Heritage in York County Area Fraktur.
• Noted on on p. 34 as one of three known examples by this artist for York County children.