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Scherenschnitte Bucherzeichen (Cut-Work Bookplate)

Scherenschnitte Bucherzeichen (Cut-Work Bookplate)

Possibly: David Frey (American [Lancaster County, PA], 1759 - 1841)

Possibly: student of Eby Schoolhouse (American [Lancaster County, PA], active early 1800s)

Date: c. 1823
Medium: wove paper, iron gall ink, watercolor
Dimensions:
Framed: 9 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 1/2 in. (24.8 x 18.4 x 1.3 cm)
Sheet: 5 1/2 x 4 1/8 in. (14 x 10.5 cm)
Credit Line:Museum Purchase
Object number: 1939.159.1
This bookplate is executed with the cut-work technique, scherenschnitte, which was particularly popular in Lancaster and Berks Counties.  Although the identity of the artist is unknown, the bookplate was most likely executed by a schoolmaster artist for presentation to his student.  The coloration and delicacy of the work also suggests a palette and technique favored by the Ephrata Community, where fraktur often took the form of bookplates as well as decorative manuscripts and printed hymnals.
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