KY Capitol Presentation Document & Plate

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Winter Fine Art and Antiques Auction

By Case Auctions

Jan 21, 2017 - Jan 22, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-01-21 09:00:00 2017-01-22 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Winter Fine Art and Antiques Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/case-antiques/winter-fine-art-and-antiques-auction-2050
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• Lot Description
  1st item: Ink on vellum calligraphy presentation document for the Governor of Kentucky, referencing the construction of the state's Capitol Building. Calligraphy by Kentucky historian, author and attorney Charles Mutzenberg. Features hand drawn holly border and vignette at top wtih the seal of Kentucky, and cartouche with banner reading "Testimonial for Governor J.C. W. Berkham," given by the Citizens of Frankfort, Kentucky, December Tenth, 1907. Hand written text reads as follows: "In presenting the Testimonial, Mayor Hume said 'It affords me great pleasure as Mayor of Frankfort to present this written testimonial of the appreciation of her citizens of your services in securing the construction of our new Capitol Building where the wisdom of our fathers had placed the permanent seat of government. We knew you first as a Page in the House of Representatives where later you were to wield the gavel as Speaker. Then when as Governor in those dark days frought with misery and terror for the people of Frankfort, we gradually realized that our ship of state was guided by an able and conservative statesman, who was a Kentuckian first and a partisan afterwards. The conservatism, the breadth of view, the generosity displayed by the youngest man who ever took the oath of office as Governor of Kentucky have won encomiums from your bitterest enemies and brought peace and good will to reign in the State of Kentucky, yes, even in the Capitol City, the storm center of her politics. In offering this testimonial, I cannot forbear reference to that lady, who having lived in the old mansion as the petted daughter of Governor Wickliffe, returned after so many years to occupy it as mistress until the coming of the fair young bride who joined her as the First Lady. The object lesson of two typical Kentucky women, devoted Christians both training up your little ones in the way they should go made us point with pride to the mansion as all that a Kentucky home should be. In addition to these resolutions of gratitude and esteem, our citizens regardless of party have asked me to present two beautiful gifts, a silver service to be suitably inscribed and to contain engravings of the old and new Capitol. We desire this to be handed down to John Cripps Wickliffe Beckham, Jr. and to be kept by his posterity as a memento of our appreciation of his father's services. The tall clock, which we trust will sound with its Westminster Chimes to the hours of a long and happy life for you and your dear wife, we wish to become the heritage of your daughter Eleanor, the only child ever born in the old mansion. Again thanking you for your good will and services in behalf of Frankfort, I offer these slight tokens of our appreciation of them. To Governor J.C. W. Beckham: On retirement from the high office in which you have so truly served the people, the citizenship of the Capitol City deem it a pleasure to say to you Well Done good and faithful servant. It goes without saying that devotion and fidelity to duty were to be expected from your high character and that of your distinguished ancestry. We nevertheless cannot refrain from giving this public expression of our appreciation as a testimonial from those who knew you best during the trying and eventful time of your occupancy of the Executive Chair. May your faithfulness over a few things lead an appreciative and discriminating people to call you to higher things!' -- E.E. Hume, Mayor Frankfort & Chairman of Committee." Signed lower right corner "Chas. G. Mutzenberg, Frankfort KY". Sight: 26" x 22", in later gold leaf frame: 28 1/2" x 24 3/4". 2nd item: Porcelain souvenir plate depicting the Kentucky State Capitol building with banner below image reading "Kentucky's New State Capitol, Frankfurt, Ky." 8 3/8" dia. Both items descended in Gov. Beckham's family. Biographical Note: Charles G. Mutzenberg was born in Switzerland and came to Kentucky with a group of immigrants who settled in East Bernstadt, Laurel County, Ky. in the 1880s. Though he likely had some art and calligraphy training in Europe, there is no record of his artistic studies. This proclamation was done the year he arrived in Frankfort to clerk for Judge Edward Clay (E C) O'Rear, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. While clerking for Judge O'Rear, Mutzenberg passed the Bar and began practicing law about 1909. Mutzenberg may be best known for his 1917 book "Kentucky's Famous Feuds and Tragedies," on the infamous Hatfield & McCoy feud. (Biographical research courtesy of Gary Gardner). (Higher-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)

  Condition

  Some creasing; band of discoloration and foxing to upper edge. Light fading to lettering.
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