Artist/Maker

Zevely, Van Neman (attr.)

Place Made

Date Made

1810-1830

Medium

maple –steel

Dimensions

HOA 54 3/4″; WOA 23 3/4″

Accession Number

H-50

Description

DESCRIPTION: Maple harp with curved neck and steel tuning pins. Series of 35 strings set at varying lengths. Located on each side of the column is a series of three diamond-shaped designs having nine holes each.

History

This harp came to the Wachovia Historical Society from the Zevely family about 1890. Said to have been made by Van Neman Zevely for a member of his family – possibly one of his wives.

Artist Biography

MAKER: Van Neman Zevely was born November 13, 1780 in South Carolina. He was born to Henry Zevely of Switzerland and later of Rowan County, North Carolina. His mother was Elanor m.n. Enochs Zevely. Van Neman married Johanna Sophia Shober in 1809, Anna Rebecca Holder in 1822 and Susan Peter in 1826.

He was a cabinetmaker by trade and served for many years as a home missionary among the settlers in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Mount Bethel Moravian congregation in Virginia grew out of his work.

Credit Line

Wachovia Historical Society Collection