The Berks History Center announces the Nov. 14 public opening of two new galleries dedicated to Pennsylvania German folk art, Berks County clocks and furniture. Made possible through a generous bequest of 33 artifacts from the estate of noted Lancaster County collector John J. Snyder Jr., the installation of the new galleries was directed by Lisa Minardi, an authority on Pennsylvania German decorative arts and assistant curator at Winterthur Museum.
Highlights of the new Pennsylvania German gallery include two Berks County painted chests, one with a horse-and-rider design dated 1787 and the other an Embroidery Artist chest made for Dietrich Gackley of Lower Heidelberg Township in 1798. Two paintings by noted Berks County Almshouse artist Charles Hofmann are included along with a saffron box by Joseph Lehn, a striking painted “Bucher” box made for Nicholas Keim of Berks County, a Peter Derr fat lamp and a painted corner cupboard filled with spatterware. There is also a stunning lineup of tall clocks with elaborately inlaid or carved cases.
The second gallery features Berks County clocks and furniture, primarily from the Snyder collection. Alongside a flamboyant, full-length portrait of noted Reading clockmaker Daniel Rose is one of his earliest known clock movements and two clocks made by his brother-in-law, Daniel Oyster. Another section explores the work of Reading cabinetmaker Daniel Rhein, who produced highly sophisticated inlaid Federal furniture that is often mistaken for Philadelphia. Three clocks, a slant-front desk and a tall chest of drawers from Rhein’s workshop are included in the display. An eight by 11 foot model of colonial Reading, made as a WPA project, is also shown. Also opening to the public the same day is the museum’s newly renovated Trades to Industries Room, with displays on agriculture, food, textile and iron production in Berks County.
