![]() They resented the allegation that only German cabinetmakers were at work in the town and county largely because they knew of no German cabinetmakers other than “wood-butchers” who had worked there in the 18th Century. This expertizing left Lancaster collectors quite cold. In the base, dust boards separate each drawer space, which is considered unusual in American furniture. The folio drawers on either side of central closet of the interior have boldly carved pilaster fronts and are wooden pegged instead of being dove-tailed together. Walnut Secretary Made by Jacob Bachman Between 17: All of the carving, treatment of the bonnet top, and desk interior are characteristic of his work. So, of course, the furniture was of a date between 17 Philadelphia Chippendale that positively could not have been made by a Pennsylvania-German cabinetmaker…the only kind that were working in Lancaster County. These wealthy refugees probably carried their finer furniture with them. They accounted for the presence of the furniture in and around Lancaster by explaining that many prominent Philadelphia families had emigrated to Lancaster during the American Revolution when the British occupied Philadelphia. Perhaps by a now unknown maker, but again perhaps by Gostelow, Savery, or Randolph in their earlier days, when they were a trifle less sure of their carving tools a bit hesitant and less sophisticated.” These, as experts will, first covered both flanks and rear with every synonym for “perhaps” and then made the frontal attack thus: “Undoubtedly Philadelphia. To the enthusiastic amateur collectors of the region, the Lancaster furniture seemed rather to have a closer relationship to the French of Louis XV and to the furniture of Provence.Įxperts, self-styled, and by repute, were of course consulted. It displays almost no carving, but retains the almost typical Bachman finials and footing.Įvery piece of this mystery furniture had a certain something that bespoke a Philadelphia provenance, and yet, upon close scanning, and comparison with the fine Philadelphia pieces they seemed to resemble, differences stood out like the proverbial sore thumb. It was also noted that only clocks made in and around Lancaster were found in these marvelously fashioned cases.Ī Bachman Secretary: This Bachman secretary was made by John Bachman I, about 1795. ![]() These pieces were found only in and around Lancaster and, in the form of tall case clocks, seem to have been made in substantially the same style until at least 1820 and probably until 1830 these dates being fairly well certified by the years of activity of the makers of the clock movements in the fine cases. ![]() It originally appeared in the October 1945 issue of American Collector magazine, a publication which ran from 1933-1948 and served antiques collectors and dealers.įor a considerable number of years, the discriminating antiques collectors of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have noted the occasional appearance of a secretary desk, secretary bookcase, tea table, bow-front corner cupboard, or tall-case clock of very fine workmanship and quite unusual carving. This article discusses the life and craft of Jacob Bachman and his family and compares his work to that made by other notable craftsmen in the 16th and 17th centuries.
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