Birth and Baptisimal Fraktur Northampton County, Bethlehem Township, 1801
 Printed and Hand Colored Birth and Baptisimal Fraktur manuscript from Northampton, Pennsylvania (Allentown-Bethelhem) area recording the birth of a son, Jacob on the 20th of May in 1801. The names of his parents are not legible as the handwriting is so ornate. It also records Jacob's confirmation in 1818 and there is a footnote in German written at the bottom in 1829 that quite possibly records his marriage on December 15th of that year. The text of the fraktur is relief printed in German while the the area surrounding the central heart is watercolor painted in colors of Salmon, Brilliant Yellows, Green, Red, and Black. The decorations on Taufscheine and other related manuscripts cover a wide range of subject matter. Floral motifs predominate and on this piece we find a fanciful tulip in the center at the top. Highly decorative birds are also another favorite motifs and we find two Parrots on this piece at the top and four backwards looking birds at the bottom flanking the small hearts. It is interesting to note that the interest in Fraktur today is primarily in the decorative elements that surround their text. To most viewers of Fraktur, the text, usually in German, is incidental, and yet to its creators the text was central and the decoration was meant only to further enhance the written message. The first intent of the scrivener was to thank or honor God, who was the inspiration, whether the work was to record a birth, to copy a hymn, or segment of scripture as a gift or teaching tool, or simply to show the image of one of God's creatures. This Fraktur has a wonderful naive Folk Art quality to it and is in very fine condition with no losses to the body and only a couple of tiny separations on the left border. It is hand colored on the hand laid paper of the period and is not glued down in the frame. $2250.00 R05L150601 Questions? Ask the Ferret!
|
