Catalog (27)

Measuring 3.5 inches long x 2.25 inches high x 1.25 inches wide, this highly beaded, Iroquois-made, change purse was made for the tourist market at the beginning of the 20th century.

Embellished with beaded edges, a large, 5-petal flower, and a detailed leaf on a heavy cardboard-like material that is lined with a red polished cotton, the little purse closes via a hook and eye closure.

It is in overall fine condition with expected creasing as seen in photos, as well as some loose beadwork and a small amount of missing beadwork to the bottom center.

Measuring 11.5" wide x 15.75" long, this lovely, circa 1940, crosstitch cross stitch sampler depicts the history of a New York City and New Jersey family with multiple cultural ethnicities displayed as well as a variety of early family occupations, significant streets, town, and structures.

Interestingly, whomever wrought this very detailed, family-history sampler omitted just one significant detail- the family surname!

On the left side of the sampler, the Scotch ethnicity is wrought along with the occupations of Parson and Doctor, with a 1725, antique salt box style home the domicile of the parson (?) wrought below the later 1940 domicile of the doctor (?) at New York City's Park Avenue address.

The right side of the family sampler depicts French origins with a 1777 mentor (teacher) and his red schoolhouse wrought below the 1861 farmer residing in the town of Morrisania (Morristown, NJ?).

The central aspect of the sampler depicts a number of images: a very stylish horse drawn carriage with driver and a sun umbrella--holding, female occupant, a well-landscaped, bright yellow homestead dated 1777, the ethnicity of "English" stitched out, and finally, a tall-spired village church with accompanying date of 1752.

The French Fleur de Lis is wrought into the sampler as well as the very ancient, stylized, so-called-today "swastika" cross, a symbol that can be traced back to ancient Byzantine times and which was frequently featured in early Native American culture as a symbol of abundance.

The sampler hem is completely hand-stitched. The sampler, itself, is in very fine condition retaining bright coloration and an absence of holes, tears or discoloration of any kind. Background color of the linen is an even, mellow, tannish-off-white.

A well-executed cross stitch sampler very much shrouded in mystery as to family origin!

Measuring 9 inches in diameter and 2.75 inches high, this gorgeous, Ohio-made, yellowware fruit bowl features fabulous blue sponging with gold gilt highlights along its decoratively embossed and scalloped rim.

The bowl has glaze crazing typical of an 85+ year old piece of pottery. An extremely tight hairline on one side of the bowl has been photographed for one’s perusal. It does not affect structural integrity, and the pricing of the bowl reflects this imperfection. No other flaws!

An outstanding piece of American Spongeware! Becoming much more difficult to find- particularly in this condition!

Please type the word "spongeware" into the Search box to find the other pieces of C1900-1920 Ohio Yellowware Spongeware currently being offered for sale. All pieces are prices separately.

Offered is an antique, C1910, German-made dexterity puzzle that measures 1 15/16" in diameter and 3/8" thick. This delightful game features a fixed, small mouse trap with two, moving, metal mice. The object of the game is to get the mice into the trap.

Colorful detailing of cats on cardboard covered-bottom is marked "Made in Germany". Tin frame holds game with glass cover on one side and mirror on reverse side.

In excellent condition considering age. Glass cover is free of cracks. Game color is still bright. Original mirror has a few spots of silvering and light scratching but is free of cracks. Displays quite well!

Measuring 4.25 inches long when assembled, this small souvenir item commemorates the Ausable Chasm in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. A tiny leather case embossed with the chasm name and its location houses a small clothing brush constructed of natural bristles with silver-plated grip. Unmarked--in very fine condition!

Measuring 44.50" in length x 42.75" wide, this delightful, completely hand-sewn, unused, wool, Pennsylvania Amish, Crib Quilt is in excellent, all-original, perfect condition! Constructed in the basket design by Anna Beiler in the late 1970s (provenance from the Robacher personal catalog of collections).

From the renown, Pennsylvania Robacher Estate, a husband and wife team who became the published, indisputable American experts in Pennsylvania Dutch decorative art and culture. Over their multiple decades of marriage, they collected an utterly massive number and wide variety of Pennsylvania Dutch artifacts before both passing away in the 1980's.

Colors are bright orangey-red, navy blue, royal blue, forest green, pink and standard green. Please note that all colors are quite striking and brilliant, and remain even in color and tone throughout. Any photos that appear to suggest to the contrary, are a result of lighting issues and do not in any way reflect condition.

This piece was never used and was purchased new in the 1970s by the Robachers, and placed in careful storage in a cedar-lined trunk. It has remained in storage in a cedar chest since its purchase from the Robacher Estate Auctions held in 1989 by Horst Auctioneers of Ephrata, PA.

Measuring just one inch in length, this yellow gold, vintage Victorian Lavalier is straight from an estate filled with vintage jewelry. Likely gold-filled as no marking can be found, this sweet piece is heart-shaped with a tiny diamond chip in its center and further accented by a single round pearl and a dangling fresh water pearl. Quite lovely and delicate!

Measuring 5.5 inches x 6.5 inches framed, this darling little pair of 19th century, hand-colored lithographs depict two different homesteads of Macon County, Illinois. One appears to be the residence of a “R. Timmons” and the other of a “S. Macon”. The frames are likely circa 1930-40’s and were done at a Greensboro, North Carolina gallery. Both are darling featuring pleasant, pastoral scenes!

Measuring 7 inches in diameter at its widest point and 10 inches high, this lovely, C1920, Ohio-made, yellow ware, blue spongeware pitcher exudes elegance! It features a fabulous, embossed and sculpted rim and a decorative handle, both accented with gold gilt!

The pitcher sits on a footed base and has a generous, bulbous-shaped body. It has glaze crazing typical of an 85+ year old piece of pottery, superficial flakes as noted in photos, and two hairlines at the base (see photos) which likely were acquired through use over the years. The hairlines seem tight and do not appear to threaten the integrity of the piece. P> An outstanding piece of American Spongeware! Becoming much more difficult to find- particularly in this condition!

Please type the word "spongeware" into the Search box to find the other pieces of C1900-1920 Ohio Yellowware Spongeware currently being offered for sale. All pieces are prices separately.

Offered is a very scarce, quite interesting, California, Folsom State Prison document that includes the Mug Shot and Fingerprints of a 23 year old convict.

The 8" x 8" heavy paper document presents pertinent, highly-detailed, personal data including: name, race, age, date of birth, occupation, county of residence, height, weight, fingerprints, unusual identifying physical marks or scars, and physical description, as well as crime committed and length of sentence. The prisoner was required to sign the completed document in the lower right corner.

The convict's sepia-colored mug shot of front and profile views is presented on the reverse side. He was convicted of embezzlement, and interestingly, his previous criminal record and time served in San Quentin Prison is also noted on this document!

This official prison record is marked on the reverse side with a circular, red-colored stamp reading: Rec'd June 14 1941 Bureau of Crim. Ident.

This prison record comes encased in a glass-fronted, plastic frame.

The condition, including the two photos, is very good.

Professionally framed in an intricate, antique-look, gold gilt molding with museum quality, acid-free mat and mounting materials, this 1840, hand-colored map of Germany, Switzerland, and Northern Italy will be well-preserved for many, many years to come!

Photography was a challenge in an attempt to avoid flash reflections. As such, please note that the rich coloring- violet, yellow, green and gray- is even throughout the map.

All print and map detailing is clean and easily read. Some minimal foxing and age staining to map do not detract from the visual appeal of this piece. Framed map measures 12 3/4" wide x 15 1/2" long.

Also offered separately are 2 unframed 1886 maps of ASIA and CHINA, respectively (photos of each also seen here.)

**Frames are PRICED separately. The large frame: $175.00. The small frame: $65.00**.

Offered are two utterly fabulous, vintage, Victorian-era, brass-plated photo frames, each with original shelf stands on back.

De-accessioned from our personal stock as we sadly no longer have the place to display them-- and our Wedding photo was displayed in the larger frame--, the frames are in all-original condition, complete with original shelf stands attached on the rear side as well as original movable pins that secure the photos in the frames.

In the larger frame, the brass plating is in very fine condition with very minor, minuscule scratches and pitting commensurate with its 125+ years of age. Please note that in my effort to take crisp closeup shots, the silvering of the brass on the front of the frame in the larger photo appears to be quite pronounced, while in reality, it is quite subtle, and virtually un-noticable. Please see cover photo #1 for truest representation of overall appearance.

The larger frame comes complete with glass and measures 17" high x 13"; the inside measures are 9.5" x 7.5", readily accommodating an 8"x 10" photo with slight trimming. This larger size is actually quite uncommon compared to the many, many smaller-sized brass frames that were produced in the Victorian era. The larger frame is truly quite stunning and commanding.

The smaller frame has a similar amount of very teeny scratches and minor pitting, with more some wear to the brass plate where the color appears more coppery. Again, close-up photos make the wear appear much more prominent on the front than it actually is, so please view photo #1 for truest representation of coloring. This fame measures 12" x 9" and easily accommodates today's 4 x 6 photographs. This frame has not retained its glass, but just like the photo size, the frame will readily accept the glass from any modern, standard 4x6 frame.

Measuring a size 4 on a ring sizer, this delicate sterling silver ring is an unusual estate find that is approximately 20 years old and said to have been purchased by the original owner in a scrimshaw shop on the coast of Maine.

Marked "STERLING 9" on the back, this ring features a very delicately etched bunch of blue flowers. The ring is also initialed "W" by the artist on the lower front of the ivory in an exceedingly tiny letter!

A lovely estate piece!

Measuring just 2.75 inches high, this lovely Copper Lustre Creamer or mini Jug, is in impeccable condition-- no chips, breaks, hairlines, etc! Delicate floral and leaf patterning in copper is set against a pretty bright blue band. Nicely swirled applied handle! A very sweet addition to one's copper lustre collection!

Measuring 15.25 inches in diameter and 5.25 inches high, this magnificent and absolutely HUGE, C1920, Ohio-made, yellow ware, spongeware mixing bowl or water basin features fabulous blue sponging and is much more striking “in person” than the photos were able to capture.

The bowl sits on a 1/2” footed base and has a lovely turned edge rim. It has glaze crazing typical of an 85+ year old piece of pottery but no cracks, chips or hairlines. Remnants of gold gilt decoration along the rim still remain. Would be fabulous as receptacle for a very large plant or to hold a large water pitcher!

An outstanding piece of American Spongeware! Becoming much more difficult to find- particularly in this condition!

Please type the word "spongeware" into the Search box to find the other pieces of C1900-1920 Ohio Yellowware Spongeware currently being offered for sale. All pieces are prices separately.

Measuring 9.75 inches in diameter and 3.75 inches high, this gorgeous, Ohio-made, circa 1920's, yellowware fruit bowl features fabulous blue sponging with gold gilt highlights along its decoratively embossed and scalloped rim.

The bowl sits upon a one inch high foot and has glaze crazing typical of an 85+ year old piece of pottery. No chips, cracks, or hairlines. One teeny, tiny fleabite on rim too small to be photographed with any clarity.

An outstanding piece of American Spongeware! Becoming much more difficult to find- particularly in this outstanding condition!

Please type the word "spongeware" into the Search box to find the other pieces of C1900-1920 Ohio Yellowware Spongeware currently being offered for sale. All pieces are prices separately.

This vibrantly colored, uncut, circa 1930's, Little Mary Jane Paperdoll designed by Berta and Elmer Hadai, ran exclusively in Good Housekeeping magazine and features a Halloween theme complete with jack-o-lanterns and a basket of harvested fall apples!

Professionally matted and framed some many years back, this lovely piece of wall art measures 10.5 inches wide x 13.5 inches long and remains in excellent original condition! Any discoloration, facing of color or reflection seen in photos is related to the difficulty photographing an object under glass and is NOT an imperfection to the piece.

Measuring 10 inches in diameter x 3.50 inches high, this early 20th century Sweet Grass and Poplar splint basket is stamped “Made In Canada” on its base.

This exquisite sewing basket was made by Native Americans residing in Canada near the Maine border for the purpose of selling to the tourist trade--- the wealthy New Englanders who frequented the Maine Coastline towns during the summers!

The basket is truly in near perfect condition with two tiny breaks to the delicate splint --- hardly noticeable to the eye and certainly not affecting the structural integrity of the piece in any way. Lovely construction!

When the lid is removed and the interior of the basket and underside of the lid is visible, one sees that some of the splint was at one time dyed blue with vegetable dye. The exterior side of this once dyed splint, has long since returned to its natural color due to years of exposure to the light of day.

Vintage Native American baskets are becoming exceedingly scarce! An especially desirable example due to its fine construction and condition!