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TREASURE:
Dower
chest
Berks County, ca. 1784
painted wood
44-132-1
Of
all the early decorated blanket chests,
the Berks County Black Unicorn chest may
be the most highly prized. Relatively
few objects have been found decorated
with these confronting Unicorns and of
those most are dowry chests or bridal
chests. All of the ones in this collection
are believed to have been produced locally
during the last quarter of the 18th century
and the first decade of the 19th century.
It
was customary among the early Pennsylvania
German settlers to produce these roughly
made but beautifully painted and decorated
chests for young men and women to store
household items made and accumulated in
anticipation of marriage. The front of
the chest would typically carry the name
or initials of the owner. Based on their
construction techniques this group of
chests is thought to be the product of
at least eight different woodworkers (witwerkers),
and based on their decorations, the artistry
of at least four different painters.
Each
element of the designs refers to Germanic
folkloric symbols:
-
The tulip represents the lily; a symbol
of mans' search for God, and a promise
of bliss in Heaven.
-
The
heart has direct religious significance;
it represents the heart of God and his
love for us, his creation. It is the
source of love and hope of a future
life, and the regenerated or saved soul.
-
The urn usually has two handles and
holds sprays of tulips. It signifies
the Holy Grail (the cup Christ used
at the last supper, and which was placed
with his belongings beneath his cross
and filled with his blood during his
crucifixion).
-
Unicorns are mystical creatures said
to be the protectors or guardians of
the maiden's (chest owner's) chastity.
They also represent love and reverence
for God. Swifter than the horse, the
unicorn can only be captured by the
sight or the scent of an innocent maiden.
-
Turtledoves reportedly sang the love
songs of courtship, and are symbols
of piety or atonement. On another level
the bird could symbolize the human soul
- the captive bird further enriches
this idea (a voluntary captive of Christ
- a saved soul).
-
Cavaliers or soldiers could represent
suitors on their way to plead for the
hand of the maiden. John Joseph Stoudt
suggests that this image alludes to
St. John's vision (Rev. 19:11-16) in
which "heaven opened; and behold
a white horse, and he that sat thereon
called Faithful and True; and in righteousness
he doth judge and make war...His name
is called the Word of God. Out of his
mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that
with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of
iron". The image is conventionalized
by placing the sword in the hand of
the rider than in his mouth, and in
his 18th century costume which is of
the period the chest was made. The horse,
was recognized as a symbol of irresistible
power.
-
The sawtooth border around the side
panels suggests the crown of thorns
that Christ wore at his crucifixion
TREASURE:
John Rasmussen (1828 – 1895)
The Berks County Almshouse, 1881
oil on zinc
49-58-1
The
Reading Public Museum has one of America's
outstanding collections of folk art. Berks
County was the scene of one of America's
first indigenous flowerings of American
art and crafts. From the mid-18th century
to the latter half of the 19th century
Pennsylvania German folk art flourished
in Berks and several adjacent counties.
Self-taught
artist John Rasmussen was a German immigrant
to Berks County who produced paintings
of scenes depicting the architecture and
landscape of Berks County from the mid
to late 19th century. Indigent and frequently
in debt, recurrent views of the Berks
county Alms House were no doubt related
to his repeated residences there.
Rasmussen
was one of the three “Pennsylvania
Almshouse Painters” along with Charles
Hofmann and Louis Mader. They were so
called because they were all committed
to the Berks County Almshouse in Shillington,
Pennsylvania.
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Reading
Public Museum, 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611-1425
Telephone: 610-371-5850 - Fax: 610-371-5632
Copyright © 2003 Reading Public Museum. All rights reserved.
Please note, paintings, objects and artists represented on the website may not be on view at all times.
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