Antique Conversation Silhouette of Pennsylvanian Adam Reigart, his Hunting Dogs, and Horse

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

This is a exceptional 19th century conversation silhouette for its unusual subject matter, it's top-notch execution, and its historical importance. Family history, written on the backing paper of the previous frame (which could not be salvaged) identifies the standing gentleman as Adam Reigart, Jr. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Adam Reigart, Jr. (1765-1844) was the grandson of Ulrich Reigart (Reichard or Reichardt) who immigrated from Germany to Lancaster, PA in 1742. Adam Jr's father, Colonel Adam Reigart, was one of Ulrich's two sons, both of whom were born and died in Lancaster. Col. Adam Reigart (given name Johann Josef Reichard or Reichardt) was the owner of Grape Tavern which served as general headquarters of American patriots during the Revolutionary War. In fact, upon learning about the first bloodshed in Concord and Lexington, the county committee met at Grape Tavern and decided to distribute handbills and form military companies to defend their rights and freedoms. Adam Reigart was such an important figure in Lancaster history that a walking tour of Historic Lancaster includes a tour guide dressed in period costume who represents Col. Reigart.

Adam Reigart, Jr. founded the Reigart Wine Store in 1785 which he ran for more than 50 years. He was the first president of the Lancaster branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania. He held the elected office of Chief Burgess of Lancaster (head of the borough) from 1795-1796 and 1810-1815. Adam Jr. was trustee of Franklin College, on the first board of managers building the turnpike from Philadelphia to Lancaster in 1792, president of the Conestoga Navigation Company, and he pumped the fire engine for the Union Fire Company (which was the oldest volunteer fire company in America). In 1791, Adam Jr. married Mary Magdalena Wager (1772-1806). She was the daughter of his business partner, Philip Wager of Philadelphia. Together, they had eight daughters and a son. The Lancaster Historical Society holds a collection of 2 boxes of correspondence between Adam Reigart Jr. and Philip Wager between 1798 and 1835. A copy of the Historical Society's index and description of the correspondence will be provided to the buyer along with genealogical research.

This stunning cut & paste silhouette depicts Adam Jr. holding his rifle, stock to the ground, in a long hunting coat, hat and trousers as he looks at his two hunting dogs. One dog appears to be some type of pointer and the other a setter of some type. Adam's horse stands slightly behind him, saddled for the hunt, greatly detailed with thin cut reins and stirrup. All figures are nicely embellished with bronze. The background is a watercolor wash of grey showing mountains in the background.

The silhouette is not signed, but is possibly by Master William James Hubard who first came to America in 1824 and is known to have cut fine horses and dogs. This silhouette dates circa 1825 when Reigart would have been 60 years old and still going strong. The silhouette is in excellent condition but for a bit of expected toning to the background card and a short scratch on the upper right side.

As I said before, the frame was not salvageable so I've had it framed in a period flat profile highly figured bird's-eye maple frame with a darker edge. Framed size is 22 1/2" x 19 1/2". I've taken what we could salvage of the original frame's backing paper, with family history written in a later hand, and it is under glass on the reverse of the frame. A piece of archival ragboard separates the silhouette from the backing paper. The family history was probably written around 1930, when the silhouette was apparently put into the last frame. It says:

Adam Reigart

Born 1766-1844

Granddaughter Anna

1826-1900.

married John Haldeman

Son Donald Haldeman

daughter Charlotte married

Victor Marryat

son John Marryat, born 1919.

Reigart's granddaughter Anna Wager Reigart (1826-1894) married John Haldeman and had 11 children. One of their sons, Donald Carmichael Haldeman (born 1860) became the general manager for Great Britain & Ireland for Mutual Life Insurance Company. He likely brought the silhouette with him to London where he lived. In fact, a label on the original backing paper is probably the moving label from his 1930 move to London. In 1930, he married his second wife, Lady Myra Idina Sackville (he was 70 and she was 37). His daughter Charlotte Riddle Haldeman was born in 1889 from his first marriage to Lydia Maud Riddle. The silhouette was acquired through a small auction house in London who said it came from a local family with American connections but would not reveal the name of the family. I'm putting my money on it coming from Marryat although so far, I've not found documentation of the marriage between Charlotte and Victor Marryat or the birth of their son John. I'm still working on that.

A carte-de-viste of Adam Reigart Jr. is also included framed in a period black reeded frame with brass rosettes in the corners. It appears that the CDV is a photographic reproduction of an earlier pen & ink drawing or engraving of Mr. Reigart. Interestingly, the a digital image of what is probably the original drawing or engraving can be found on a family tree website identified as Frederick or Friederich Christian Yeiser or Jayser who was the first husband of Adam Jr.'s mother, Catherine Caroline Carpenter. http://www.tmason1.com/pafg86.htm#1370. However, the image cannot possibly be that of Yeiser, who died in 1763 because the clothing of this gentleman is from the second quarter of the 19th century, decades after Yeiser's death. Assuming this CDV is of one of Catherine Carpenter's descendants, the only possibilities are of either Adam Jr. or his younger brother Emanuel. The only son of her first marriage who was still alive during the second quarter of the 19th century, Capt. Phillip Edward Yeiser, would have been 77 years old in 1833, much older than the man in this CDV. Since it stayed with the Adam Jr.'s descendants, with the silhouette, and because of the close resemblance between the sitter of the silhouette and the sitter for this CDV, I can only conclude that the CDV is actually an image of Adam, Jr. The carte-de-viste frame measures 6 3/8" x 8 1/4".

I have, so far, been unable to completely pin down what dates the photographer, B. Frank Saylor (1838-1920), was working in Lancaster. I have found references to his working from several different street numbers on West King Street in the 1860s-1820. I have also discovered that Pennsylvania State University holds a number of his photographs in its special collections. The New York Public Library Photography Collection also lists his name among the photographers whose works are in its collection.

(#4937) Sold

Thanks to Photo-Sleuth blogger, Brett Payne, for pointing me to a short biography about photographer B. Frank Saylor at http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?31,500113 and also to the Mason family tree website.

Please forgive the reflection directly below the horse's back feet at the bottom edge. It shows as a white area which is not in the actual silhouette.

Forgive the slight reflection at 8 o'clock.

It shows as a white area that is not in the actual silhouette.

Reverse of frame. Original backing paper is framed behind glass for protection.

Inscription on original backing paper.

Probably the moving label from Donald C. Haldeman's move to the U.K.

Dated June 26, 1930

Reverse of CDV bearing trade label of B. Frank Saylor.

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