Catalog: Antiques (578)

A walnut bracket and shelf intricately carved with a panoply of Masonic symbols. The shelf portion itself folds flat against the back bracket, and is supported by a swing-out brace.

Pencilled writing on the back of this item says that it was purchased in 1938 and was believed to be over 100 years old then, which is probably about 25 years on the optimistic side. The shelf has been shellaced or varnished; 19" high, 10 1/2" wide, 6" deep.

A fine painted gameboard painted with red numbers on black squares on a brown background. This type of gameboard was supposedly used for playing checkers games by mail, using the numbers to describe the piece positions; also possibly used for teaching checkers; size is 29 1/2" by 21" by 1 1/2". Excellent condition.

A nicely executed painting of Stephen Girard, capturing the inner essence of this important person. Excellent condition, and in a period gilt frame which is in very good condition. Sight size is 21 3/4" by 16".

Stephen Girard came to the United States, and Philadelphia, around 1776, and became one of the wealthiest men in the nation. He was well-known for his philanthropy, and founded Girard College. During the War of 1812, Girard was responsible for saving the U.S. from financial collapse...

An extremely folky and graphically strong hooked rug with vibrant colors, initialled KP and dated 1898;some minor and invisible museum quality restoration was done, and the rug was then mounted on acid free cloth and frame; a nice large size of 56" by 27"

This is a rare and striking folk art example of a tinsel or foil painting. The vast majority of tinsel paintings are of flowers, but this one, as does item a1175, focuses instead on fruit. This particular gem shows a rose colored glass compote with plums, cherries, strawberries, pear, etc. Colors are deep and very vibrant, and include blues, purple, orange, yellow, greens, etc...

A wonderful and strong American freehand watercolor on paper folk art theorem. Strawberries, apples, cherries, and pears, with their foliage, are depicted in bold colors with a whimsical style. They rest in a large bowl with a light brown tint (not stained).

In contrast to the creasing, heavy foxing and flaws that many examples of this type art have, the overall condition is excellent, with no tears and only a spot or two or discoloration...

A wonderful example of southern American folk art. Southern folk art is very desirable and highly collected. This piece is quite unusual for several reasons: it is done on blue paper, and has the name of the artist (Sarah M. Daye), the location it was done (Charlottesville Seminary), and the date (1851). It depicts a young girl outdoors, feeding treats to her two dogs as a method of training them...

A truly striking reverse-painted game board featuring a rainbow of colors and a highly unusual mottled border. In pristine condition, and housed in its original wood frame.

22" by 22" by 1 1/2" high.

From the latter half of the 19th century, this beautifully proportioned iron vane graced the spire of the United Baptist Church in Ellsworth, Maine. In 1933, a major fire swept through the town, burning many of the buildings, including the church. When the church was finally rebuilt, the council wanted a more modern look, and stored the vane in the basement, where it remained for the next 70 years or so...

A spectacularly decorated Lobmeyr goblet with a flared ogee bowl above a knop, all surmounting an inverted baluster stem with tear and panel cutting, terminating in a merise.

The bowl has beautifully executed Schwarzlot enameling depicting a hunting scene, with huntsmen, dogs, a horse, and a stag. The foot is also decorated with a stag, tree, and foliage...

A vibrant and charming American folk art tinsel painting showing a variety of fruit and foliage in a white compote set upon a slab of marble. Wonderful condition, with a sight size of 12 inches by 15 1/4 inches, and a beautiful, non-period frame of 16 3/4 inches by 20 inches.

A playing card game box of coromandel wood, with mother-of-pearl plaque on the top and keyhole escutcheon. The interior has a silk lined lid, and is divided into 5 sections, three of which contain 5 or 6 old decks of playing cards made by the Goodall Company, one section containing 4 Bezique registers made by Goodall, 4 whist markers made by De La Rue & Co., and a small booklet on how to play Bezique...

A beautifully worked quilt with the "Star of Bethlehem" design, surrounded by stuffed-work flowers and vines; 87" by 81". Excellent condition.

A spectacular calligraphic work by E. Bambeck, signed and dated as part of the painting. Using pastels, watercolors, and pen and ink, he has limned a pair of very lifelike parakeets on white branches against a stark black background. The details and artistry that has gone into this work is truly of the highest order.

The condition is excellent, with no smudges, tears, toning or other problems. The bright white blobs in the center of some of the photos are reflections of lamps...

A wonderful double sided smalt trade sign for D.M. Woodward, Doctor of Chiropractic. The gilded letters and the black smalt background are virtually intact and vibrant. The frame is original, and measures 28 3/4 inches by 14 inches by 2 inches deep. There is a small sliver out of the frame at one upper edge, and a small gap in the frame at the corner. Aside from these very minor flaws, the piece is in excellent condition.

A bold and beautiful tinsel, or foil, painting, reverse painted on glass. The subject matter is a yellow and white urn, filled with a bountiful array of various flowers, done in a rainbow of colors. The period and probably original frame is of high quality mahogany, which is very rarely found on this type of work.

The painting is in overall excellent condition, and the frame itself has some scuffing and wear, which could easily be touched up...

An absolutely charming group of small schoolgirl paintings of animals, soldiers, plants, etc., mounted together and presented in three period gilt frames. The back of each framed group indicates that these were all done around 1840 by Miss E. Green of Pennsylvania.

The condition is generally very good, with some rippling to the paper. The frames have expected wear but display well...

An unusual foil, or tinsel, painting depicting two birds hovering over a large flowering plant...