LANCASTER CO., PENNSYLVANIA LINEN DATED PLAIN-WEAVE HAND TOWELS / SHOW TOWELS, LOT OF TWO, with cotton and wool polychrome cross-stitch, fringe and tabs, each rectangular, one design featuring a herringbone-stitched row at the top above a row of floral motifs, "1840" divided by and surrounded with floral motifs, initials "LS" centered below the large floral motif, above name "Lea Petersheim", which is separated from main body of towel by row of herringbone stitching from edge to edge; and one with horizontal drawn-work just above bottom fringe; design featuring date "1855" divided by a flower motif and flanked by perched birds, large centered five-bloom tulip plant with initials "C" on left and "L" on right, at the tulip plant base is maker's first name "Leah" on left, last name "Lapp" on right, and this is flanked by a tulip motif, with simple "feather" border underneath, additional blossom and leaf motifs between tulips and names. Leah [Lapp] Petersheim, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Circa 1845. 48 3/4" x 19 1/2" and 51" x 17 1/2" OA.
Good condition overall with some toning and scattered stains, scattered losses to wool embroidery.
Literature: One documented as in Gehret - This is the Way I Pass My Time, p. 272, number 328.
Provenance: From the Allentown Art Museum to benefit future acquisitions for the Museum's textile collection.
1855 dated example ex-collection of Earl and Ada Robacker.
Catalogue Note: Leah Lapp was born in 1835 to Michael Lapp and Barbara (Stoltzfus) Lapp. Leah married Abraham Petersheim in 1857. Gehret documents another hand towel made by the same woman, p. 273, number 327, and also one made for her husband Abraham Petersheim with the date 1855, p. 282, number 1057.

Good condition overall with some toning and scattered stains, scattered losses to wool embroidery.