Sensational
American Fancy
Paint Decorated Carrier
.....sale pending
Northeast, probably Pennsylvania,
ca. 1820-1840. .
A rare and superior example, the
carrying handle with pierced heart centered by scrolled
returns. The decoration emulates painted tinware designs of the period; likely painted by a skilled tinware artist. Vibrant fruit and vine against a faux grain painted ground. The large heart suggests this carrier was created and gifted as a token of affection.
Dovetailed joinery.
About 12 ½ inches wide x 5 3/4 tall x 8 deep. Fine structural condition and expected paint wear.
Provenance includes the historically important life long collection of El Roy & Helene Master, Berks County, PA.
Fine Pair of Watercolor Profile Portrait Miniatures
Philadelphia, ca. 1825.
Well dressed gentleman and lady, watercolor and ink on paper, with eglomise-panels within
original bold gilt frames.
Miniatures with sight size of about 3 1/ 2 inches tall x 2 ¾ wide. The gilt frames 10 x 9 ½. The eglomise panel of the lady replaced, otherwise excellent. Private New England collection.
Small Painted Box in Remarkable Deep, Rich, BLUE Paint
.....SOLD
New England, ca. 1820-1840.
Original paint and over-varnish on basswood and maple. I don’t recall seeing another early box with such a deep, dark, saturated blue decorated over a lighter blue for contrast to the sponge decoration, the paint on all four sides and top. Retains original hinges, dust liner, and lock/escutcheon. Superb condition.
Small at about 13 inches wide x 8 deep x 6 ½ tall.
Stable blue-pigments were scarce in this period, let alone one with such intense color.
Provenance: The Michael Schnall collection of exceptional American folk art; Sam Forsythe; private Ohio collection.
Shaker Box
in Mustard Paint
.....SOLD
Northeast, ca. mid-19th century.
Nicely cut fingers, joined by copper nails.
Deep mustard paint applied in the period of use soon after making, over first varnish coating, the interaction of the paint and varnish contributing to a high-character appealing surface.
Structurally excellent condition (no cracks). About 7 5/8 inches long x 5 ¼ wide x 2 ¾ tall. .
Exceptional Carved Razor Box
New England.
Dated 1768
.....sale pending
Carved from the solid (one block of maple), with remarkable precision and detail. The chip-carved sliding lid with pierced lollipop handle, which slides precisely within the tight sidewall dados, reads: “SB ye 1768”.
The outer walls painstakingly carved with hex-shaped pinwheels, the fields within the pinwheels filled with “dotted” patterns, and more chip carving at the borders. Note the extended mushroom-shaped handle.
About 7 5/8 inches long. Although this form is referred to as a razor box, it is so finely worked that it may have had another intended use, perhaps for jewelry. From a private Midwest collection.
LIBERTY
America. Dated 1823.
Recently from a decades long collection.
-Exhibited: MUSEUM OF
AMERICAN FOLK ART
-Important Provenance including NINA FLETCHER LITTLE.
-Published in "LIBERTIES WITH LIBERTY"
From 1765 to 1783, the Indian Princess---the “rebellious” daughter of Britannia (the symbol of Britain) came to symbolize the 13 Colonies, representing the mother/daughter relationship of Britain to America. The American Flag adapted by Congress in 1776 incorporated The Indian Princess. After the Revolution.....
Fine Early Wrought Meat Forks
for the Hearth
.....sale pending
Ca. 18th century, iron (steel), blacksmith wrought with whitesmith finishing. One fork terminating in a heart, the other with a rams horn, elaborately decorated along the handle, and initialed “IB”.
Substantial weight and size. Superb condition. About 21 ½ inches long. Private New England collection.
Striking Folk Art Portrait of Young Oliver Peck
.....SOLD
New England, likely Massachusetts, ca. 1831-1842.
Provenance includes the
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Oil on canvas. In the continuum of folk portraits between formal and primitive, there is a “sweet spot. This dramatic portrait nails that sweet spot! The toddler boy stands with aid from a chair, is elaborately attired in a fashionable patterned “long dress”, and that expression! Note how the artist cleverly focused the viewer on his upper body and face by allowing the chair to “shadow” everything below......