E Deier
The E Deter imprint in GAWP5 is re-interpreted as E Deier, courtesy of Dan Linski.
In the Facebook group, 1700's & 1800's Planemakers-Toolmakers of South Central Pennsylvania, Dan Linski forwarded a re-interpretation of the mark (above) as well as providing the likely identification of the craftsman; Emanuel Deier / Deyer, ca 1760-1836, Lancaster Co., PA.
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E Deier
​by Dan Linski
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"I believe I solved a mystery (which is one of the fun things about this hobby). I believe the E. Deter mark in AWP5 is actually E. Deier.
I had posted a plane previously with his owner's mark on a Thomas Cauldwall plane (Birmingham 1791-1821) and I just acquired another with his maker's mark. It is fairly clear as being Deier.
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I did some research and found an Emanuel Deier, in Rapho Twp., Manheim PA. He was listed as a joiner.
A 1798 tax list shows him having one brick house, one log barn and one log joiner shop ... so he was operating fairly early.
He was born in 1760 in Lancaster, died 1836 and is buried at Camp Hill Cemetary, Mt. Joy. (Alternative St. Paul's.)
It's interesting as an imprint of J. Stam was found on one of his planes as well. Stam is also listed as a joiner and carpenter in Manheim, and Deier's home and shop was in Manheim as well...so they may have worked together.
It appears he was also in the American Revolution ...would have to do more digging on that."
(editor; RW material included below)
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Dan Linski
​August 2024
Facebook group; 1700's & 1800's Planemakers-Toolmakers of South Central Pennsylvania
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8-29-2024 added note: Jason Miller, a fellow plane researcher and expert in the above Facebook group has investigated the Deier family in parallel to Dan. Jason reported S Dyr and G Deyer planes, which are included at the end of this entry.
E Deier vs GAWP5's E Deter
With Dan and Jason's information as a solid starting point, a search of the internet was conducted to see if additional material was available. This proved to be fruitful with attributed furniture located, a 1813 Dyer Church identified and Rev War records found. The Deyer - Dyer family information on Ancestry was very helpful.
Emanuel and Sophia Deyer
Information and portrait courtesy of Kathy Hubbell
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"Emanuel was the third generation of my father’s family in this country: he was the son of John Dyer, and the grandson of Hans Georg Dyer (originally spelled Dirr) who sailed to Philadelphia on the good ship Dragon from the Palatine section of what is now Germany on Sept. 30, 1732.
The family settled in and around Manheim, Pennsylvania – traditional Pennsylvania Dutch country, and I heard lots of those stories growing up."
"Emanuel is especially remembered on a memorial plaque outside St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Manheim as a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Born in 1760, he would have been a mere 16 years old at the beginning of the war."
Emanuel Deyer and Family
Birth AUGUST 25, 1760 • Manheim, PA
Death JULY 13, 1836 • Manheim, PA
Father: Johannes Emanuel Dyer
Mother: Anna Christiana Duffenderfer
Married: Sophia Gerhard in Manheim, PA in 1783
Children:
Emanuel 1789
George 1790
Samuel 1791
William 1796
Elizabeth 1797
Magdalena 1799
Jacob 1802
Catherine 1803
John 1804
Clocks and Furniture Attributed to the Deyer Shop
Incollect Online Article
An online Incollect article "An Extraordinary Legacy: John J. Snyder Jr. and Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts" provided examples of a ca 1810 tall clock and ca 1810 tall chest of drawers which have been attributed to the Deyer shop. It was noted that at least five bow front clocks are known, including one at the Winterthur Museum. Article author Lisa Minardi and photos by Gavin Ashworth, Incollect. Descriptions courtesy of the Incollect article.
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Tall clock (and detail), case attributed to workshop of Emanuel Deyer (1760–1836), movement signed by Jacob Eby (1776–1828), Manheim, Lancaster County, Pa., ca. 1810. Mahogany veneer and mixed-wood inlay, tulip poplar. H. 98, W. 20¼, D. 10 in
Closeup of the above Eagle inlay.
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Photo courtesy of Sarah Alberico, Curator, Historic Rock Ford
Tall chest of drawers, attributed to workshop of Emanuel Deyer (1760–1836), Manheim, Lancaster County, Pa., ca. 1810. Walnut, holly, white pine, brass. H. 65¼, W. 47½, D. 26¼ in.
The upper two drawers of this chest are actually doors that open vertically in the middle to reveal a sizable compartment.
The four E Deyer attributed tall case clocks in the Historic Rock Ford collection.
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Photo courtesy of Sarah Alberico, Curator, Historic Rock Ford
Winterthur Museum Collection
A mahogany tall-case clock. Works by Jacob Eby and case attributed to Emanuel Deyer. Manheim,PA. ca 1810-1820.
Height 105 in. by Width 21.5 in. by Depth 11 in.
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Photo and description courtesy of the Winterthur Museum.
Christie's Auction 2012
A Cristie Auction from 2012 included a 1814 tall case clock by Jacon Eby. The case is signed by George Deyer, son of Emanuel Deyer. The auction entry also included a write-up on the Deyer family of craftsmen.
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A FEDERAL EAGLE INLAID MAHOGANY TALL-CASE CLOCK
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DIAL SIGNED BY JACOB EBY (1776-1828), THE CASE SIGNED GEORGE DEYER, MANHEIM, PENNSYLVANIA, DATED 1814
​The Deyer (Dyer) family of Manheim, Pennsylvania, is well known both for architectural woodwork and for furniture making. Particularly associated with the Deyer shop are clock cases with eagle-inlaid reserves housing works of Jacob Eby (1776-1828), the preeminent clockmaker of Manheim who was responsible for the majority of Deyer clock movements. Deyer workshop oval eagle inlaid clocks are readily distinguished by the specific attributes of the eagle, including a striped shield as its body, a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum" in its beak, an arrow in one claw, and an olive branch in the other. Two versions of the eagle were used: one with symmetrically spread wings and one with wings angled to the left, as in the clock here. Interestingly, the layouts are said to have been inspired by contemporary U.S. currency, from 1801 to 1807, which featured a symmetrical spread-wing eagle, and after 1807, which appeared with an asymmetrical eagle. For more information on the Deyer workshop, please see Wendy A. Cooper and Lisa Minardi, Paint Pattern & People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1725-1850 (Winterthur, Delaware, 2011), pp. 183-188.
Additional clocks with dials signed by Jacob Eby can be found in the Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware. (See Charles F. Montgomery, American Furniture: the Federal Period&i (New York, 1966), pp. 200-201) and in the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village Museum, Dearborn, Michigan.
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Photo courtesy Christie's Auction
Philadelphia Museum of Art
High Chest of Drawers
1808
George Dyer (American, active 1804–1846)
Cabinetmaker George Dyer incorporated the latest furniture designs into this high chest, which would have held textiles and other belongings. Lightwood inlay forms long ovals on the front of each drawer, while the drawers are framed by a geometric pattern inlaid above and below the drawers and the columnar insets at the sides.
Most distinctively, two eagles on the uppermost long drawer are formed in light-colored and variously dyed woods and red wax. Borrowed from the art of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, the eagle was adopted for the United States seal in the 1780s, and it was displayed proudly in works of art like this chest.
Dyer, who signed and dated this chest, was of German descent, but this chest’s design and ornament would have been fashionable in the houses of people of many backgrounds who lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Object Details
Title:
High Chest of Drawers
Date:
1808
Artist:
George Dyer (American, active 1804–1846)
Medium:
Cherry, dark and lightwood inlay; brass, iron
Dimensions:
66 3/4 × 42 × 20 3/8 inches (169.5 × 106.7 × 51.8 cm)
Classification:
Furniture/Furnishings
Credit Line:
Gift of Hannah L. Henderson in memory of J. Welles Henderson, 2009
Accession Number:
2009-1-1
Geography:
Made in Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Urban Art & Antiques
News and views about the exciting world of antiques and art.
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The following chest of drawers and write-up were featured in an online article dated May 7, 2012.
At 23rd Street Armory Show, Dealers Shed Light on What’s Hot in Americana
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Baldwin House Antiques showcased a Federal eagle high chest of drawers from the shop of Emanuel Deyer of Manheim, Lancaster County. Made in around 1795, it exudes the exceptional craftsmanship through intricate inlaid and construction. The only other existing example is owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was also exhibited at the Winterthur Museum of Art last year. To be fair, cherry with walnut stiles gives the chest a lighter sheen – to some extent; it does not have to be categorized into “brown furniture.” The pair of inlaid eagles is a rare form for high chests. Unlike the tavern signs case, time seems to have stopped for this piece of furniture. The pristine condition must come from generations of care.
Lancaster History, Heritage Center Collection
Secretary, or desk and bookcase, Federal style, with extensive inlay, including "1804"
Attributed to the Deyer family workshop. Photo courtesy Lancaster History.
Zion Reformed Church
OLD ZION’S TRUMPET …Blow ye the trumpet in Zion… Volume 35 Number 1 Brickerville, PA Strawberry Social May 2017
Highlights taken from the research paper: Architectural – Historical Report on Old Zion Reformed Church – Brickerville, by John J. Snyder Jr.
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“Old Zion’s architecture was most likely influenced by Rev. John Theobald Faber, who preached there between 1807 and 1819. Faber witnessed the replacement of the old log church with the present brick building. He brought a Philadelphia orientation to this area which influenced its style of architecture. Another most definite influence was the “joiner” or builder, Emanuel Deyer of Manheim. Records mention him as a leading craftsman and prominent joiner of the area. His name was found on loose boards discovered beneath the chancel platform of 1890. They document Deyer as the builder in 1813, assisted by his sons George and William. It is logical that he followed architectural pattern books of the period, in particular, the Rules of Work of the Carpenter’s Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, 1786. Old Zion’s six original first floor windows and the two tall windows flanking the pulpit have interlaced muntins (bar or rigid supporting strip between adjacent panes of glass) typical of the decorative ornamentation exemplified in the aforementioned source.”
OLD ZION’S TRUMPET, Winter 2014
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Emanuel Deyer; Master Builder
Article by David Hoffman, Board Secretary
Research compiled by (Ken) Kreiner, Manheim Historical Society
"Perhaps you have read the inscription on Old Zion’s balcony. It is written in German fracture script and lists the name “Emanuel Deyer” and the date “October the 2nd 1813". On that Sunday the dedication service for the new brick church building took place and Emanuel was honored as the master builder.
Emanuel was born in 1760, the son of immigrant parents from central Europe. He learned the cabinetry trade from his father and went into the family business of building cabinets and furniture. In 1783, he and Sophia Gerhard were married by Henry Muhlenberg the patron and organizer of the Lutheran Church in North America. They had “at least” eight children some of whom also joined the family business of construction. In ( … ) they constructed an impressive Georgian dwelling for Emanuel and Sophia which stands today at (…) South Main Street in Manheim. In (…) Emanuel and his son George accepted the contract from Royer’s Church in Brickerville to build a new modern brick structure overlooking the Brubaker Valley. They used a classic square footprint with a wine glass pulpit and balconies on three sides. The arched windows mirrored the arched ceiling which gave the church excellent acoustics. The carved draped doorway and fluted columns inside made the building a true masterpiece, It was the newest architectural style and the crowning glory of a poor country congregation.
Emanuel and his sons continued to build furniture and home interiors until his death in 1836. He is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Manheim."
The Zion Reformed Church in Brickerville,PA was built in 1813 by Emanuel Deyer.
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The Lancaster Streetscape Historic Architecture of Lancaster, PA by Lee J. Stoltzfus included material and photos of this church.
Below: The Zion Reformed Church (Old Zion), Brickerville. Built in 1813 by Emanuel Deyer.
Image: OldZionChurch.org
Below: Wineglass pulpit in Zion Reformed Church, Brickerville.
Image: BubbDeisgn, Facebook.
Below: Emanuel Deyer / 1813 photo courtesy of OLD ZION’S TRUMPET, Spring 2023
Revolutionary War Records Emanuel Deyer
A search of Ancestry.com yielded a family tree for Emanuel Deyer. Included with the documents on the family was Emanuel's RW Penson application. In the application, Emanuel gave his biographic background as well as a detailed summary of his various RW service postings from 1776 through 1782.
1785 Raphoe TWP Deed, Emanuel Deyer, Joiner
A 1785 deed between Emanuel and his parents involved property in the Raphoe TWP, Manheim, Lancaster Co., PA. Importantly, Emanuel's trade was given as a joiner. Note that Emanuel's father Johannes (John) signed his name as "Deier".
Emanuel Deier 1798 Tax Assessment
​​Brick house, log barn and log joiner shop
Emanuel Deyer 1836 Will and Headstone
Deyer Family Trades
A search of online period records in FamilySearch, Ancestry, The History of Lancaster County by Ellis, The Lancaster Historical Society collection and The Philadelphia Museum of Art yielded trades for Emanuel, his father Johannes, and several of his sons. An 1812 tax list for Manheim, included Emanuel and his sons George, Samuel and Emanuel Jr.​​
Emanuel Deier Planes
The 10" long molding plane cited in GAWP5 has round chamfers. The three planes shown below, all have flat chamfers and thus are probably earlier. Of these three, the molder and the rabbet have chamfer stops with a step and return. These two are likely the earliest of these three planes and could be contemporary with the 1785 deed.
10 inch long beech round.
Dan Linski collection.
9.8" fruitwood rabbet and 7" beech smoother.
editor/author's collection.
G : Deyer rabbet, photos courtesy Jason Miller
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The chamfer and chamfer stops follow the design of those found on the majority of the E Deier planes; flat with a step followed by a turnout. The escapement is somewhat different than that found on the above E Deier rabbet with a more classic upturn nearing the iron.
The editor's assessment ... this plane could well have been made by George, the son of Emanuel.
S : Dyr rabbet, photos courtesy Jason Miller
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The chamfers are heavy and round and the chamfer stops end with a simple round over. The hollow, round and gutter planes cited in GAWP5 also have heavy round chamfers matching this example. Thus, they do not follow the design of those found on the majority of the E Deier planes or on the G : Deyer rabbet .... which are typically flat with a step followed by a turnout. There is one E Deier molder with round chamfers, so this chamfer / stop "difference" isn't one that is without an exception. The escapement is closer to that found on the G : Deyer rabbet. (This is a fairly classic style and so this is not definitive.) The S Dyr rabbet's wedge is a replacement, but the wedge outline shown in GAWP5 is different from the one found on the G Deyer rabbet.
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The editor's assessment ... based on the chamfers / chamfer stops this plane is not strongly aligned with either the E Deier or G Deyer planes. In addition, the S Dyr wedge outline shown in GAWP5 is different than that of the G : Deyer rabbet above. Samuel was born in 1791 and George was born in 1790, so one would expect greater design similarities between their planes ... greater than those which are shown here.
