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High-Country
Lollipop Wall Box
.....SOLD
New England, likely Deerfield area, Massachusetts, ca. late 18th century.
Appears to be basswood and pine. Very dry crusty black paint that may be darkly oxidized from green.
Beautifully designed and made by a skilled woodworker. Curved front board echoes the contour of the lollipop hanger. Note how that the front board is recessed just a bit, giving a pleasing molding effect to the side walls against it. Drawer retains original hand-cut threaded brass pull. Cut nail joinery.
Painted surface has a very tight fine craquelure. Superb structural condition. Very minor (trivial) old loss to the left lip of the drawer. May be hung or rests on a horizontal surface. Probably used for pipes or lighting.
Smaller size at just 15 1/4 inches tall x 5 wide x 3 1/2 deep.
Queen Anne
Looking Glass. Remarkable State of Preservation
Likely Northeast, ca. late 18th century. A simple, elegant silhouette.
Virtually untouched, Retaining the original red-pigmented dry varnish surface, mirror glass, and backboard with sensational undisturbed patina. Without cracks or repair. Appears to be mahogany and pine, the backboard with such appealing hand-planing that one would be tempted to display this glass backwards. The carved crest is joined to the frame via a sliding-dovetail stile, the molded frame joined at the corners with wooden splines.
As pure an example of this form as one will find. Versatile smaller size of about 16 ½ inches tall x 9 3/8 wide.
See the Mirror Book, Schiffer, for related examples. .
Masterwork Miniature Ash Burl Bowl
.....SOLD
Northeast, ca. 1780. Of the finest form, turned remarkably thin by a master turner, with a design emulating the finest silver and porcelain bowls of the period.
Pronounced foot, with slow-lathe tool marks underneath, supporting a round bowl with subtle flare at the rim. Despite its tiny size, the bowl was really used as evidenced by the darkening inside the rim from handling, and lighter patina within the outer turnings near the foot where hands could not reach. Exceptional condition.
About 3 ¼ inch diameter x 1 3/8 tall.
Bright Beautiful Gameboard
American, ca. 1870
.....SOLD
An exceptional example with rich colors that are eye-catching even from across a room.
Each square divided into halves with similar hues yet at different intensities, creating a movement that feels three-dimensional. The artist enclosed the board within a black border which influenced the perception of even more saturation, while enlivening the border with pin-striping and tiny bursts. “Square” cut-nail applied picture-frame molding to the single board. Finely crazed surface; some old abrasions and touch up.
An authentic antique that would enhance either the historic or modern home. About 15 1/2 inches square x 1 inch thick.
Provenance: Long time top-shelf Southern gameboard collection.
Brilliant 2-Sided Polychrome Gameboard
American, ca. 1870
Two beautiful gameboards in one, painted by a skilled coach-painter.
Checkers-Chess on one side, backgammon on the reverse. The checkers side has a clever gold border which gives the illusion of a "raised" playing field, enclosed within another green border decorated by pin striping and corner cartouches. All within another gold border and “square” cut-nail applied picture frame molding.
The reverse backgammon personalized with initials within a central medallion centering precisely rendered geometrics. Finely crazed surface; expected minor abrasions. About 16 inches square by 1 inch thick.
Provenance: Long time top-shelf Southern gameboard collection. .
THE
PUFFY SLEEVE ARTIST
.....SOLD
SCARCE PAIR
of Silhouette Portraits
Pictured in the
Magazine Antiques
Massachusetts, ca. 1830. Hollow-cut silhouettes with gouache on paper.
It’s been 20 years since I last handled a pair by the Puffy Sleeve Artist, who is now believed to be Ezra Wood. Profiles by the Puffy Sleeve Artist are immediately recognizable given characteristics like the distinctive way their bodies are turned toward the front while their heads remain in profile, woman wear the fashionable dress of that period with exaggerated puffy sleaves and iconic little hands at their tiny waists, men have broad chests, and both women and men have hands that are oddly shaped and colored. They often hold books (sometimes date 1830 or 1831) or other accoutrements.
From the Magazine Antiques, July/August 2014 “UNMISTAKEN IDENTITY”, Michael & Suzanne Paine and Sam Herrup: “For Americana and Folk Art collectors, among the most sought after silhouette portraits from the early 19th century are those produced by an individual who has been nicknamed the Puffy Sleeve Silhouette Artist”. The article makes the case that the Puffy Sleeve Artist was Ezra Wood, Buckland, Massachusetts. In that same article is pictured this pair of portraits, page 127, of Harriet and John Wilder, and notes that they are of an unusual larger size for this artist. Harriet has a particularly beautiful profile.
The portraits are in excellent condition with minor toning. The frames are probably original. Frames each about 6 x 5 inches.
Until recently in a long time Maine collection.
In addition to the Magazine Antiques, see “A LOVING LIKENESS”, the collection of Ray Egan, for many more examples and more detailed information on the characteristics that identify portraits by the Puffy Sleeve Artist.
.
Exceptional
Small Portrait
A Lovely Young Lady
.....SOLD
Northeast, ca. 1810-1820, likely New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. Oil on thin wooden panel.
Soft and very pleasing.
The young lady in profile with lacy high-waisted dress with pink ribbon, her hair held up on a comb with distinctive tendrils.
Attributed to Jasper Miles, formerly misidentified tied as “Mr. Boyd”, was the subject of a research paper in Magazine Antiques in 2016. This portrait bears that distinctive Jasper Miles "horn shaped" inner ear, and precise attention to detail in the hair.
Excellent untouched condition. Old frame not original yet works well with the portrait. Shadows may be faintly seen about the perimeter of the portrait from the first frame. Frame size about 9 inches x 6 ¾.