A pair of antique watercolor portraits most likely by Jacob Maentel sold for a combined $11,400 at a David Loeb sale held Nov. 16 at the Kempton Community Center in the northern Berks County, Pa., town of Kempton.
On the back read, “Great Grandfather Lotz/ died May 10, 1824/ age 54 years /38 yrs old when taken 1808.” And, on reverse of the other read, “Great Grandmother Lotz/ died Dec. 3, 1837 /aged 65 years/ 37 years old when taken 1808.”
The portraits were consigned to the unadvertised general household sale by the daughter of the late Alvin Adam. Adam was the caretaker of the Esther Ludwig estate. Ludwig (1906-2005) owned a horse farm south of Hamburg, was a major collector, and left a lasting philanthropic legacy in the form of scholarships for Shoemakersville area public school students. There was an on-site sale for the Ludwig estate, and also Freeman’s held a sale on Nov. 22, 2005. It is possible the portraits came from Ludwig, but not via either auction. Auctioneer David Loeb of Lenhartsville, Pa., stated he went to school with the consignor and the two were in the same graduating high school class.
The subjects were John Lotz (1770-1824) of Reading, Pa. Lt. Col. Lotz served in the 2nd PA Volunteers in the War of 1812. He is buried in Aulenbach’s Cemetery in Mount Penn, Berks County (Reading). Lotz’s spouse was Ann Elizabeth (Bingaman) Lotz (1771-1837). The two were married in 1794.
The profile portraits with landscape backgrounds are stylistically in keeping with the work of Maentel, who is believed to have emigrated to the country in 1805, three years prior to when it is thought these were done.
The golden era of discoveries may be in the distant past, but there are still great things out there to be found.