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Outstanding
Painted Gameboard
.....sale pending
Probably Northeast, ca. second half 19th century.
Original dry paint on a single pine board with breadboard ends joined with cut nails. Soft robin’s egg blue ground contrasting bold black stars and dividers which are the essence of the architecture of the game, without further distraction. Very nice back as well, showing highly patinated white or cream-colored paint.
Impressive size of about 32 inches x 20 x 5/8 thick. Terrific condition with superb surface. Flat without warping or cracks. From a private Midwest collection; pictured in situ previously in Antiques and Fine Art, 2013 (photo shown).
A stirring piece. Authentic 19th century antique yet with an equally contemporary presence..
Little Gem
Paint Decorated Box
.....SOLD
New England, ca. 1820-1840.
Elaborate red and mustard-yellow foliate design boldly and dynamically painted onto a black ground. The interior wallpapered. The surface with fine craquelure. Expected period wear and abrasions. Cut nail joinery. Retains original hinges and lock.
Just 8 ¼ inches wide x 4 ¾ deep x 4 tall.
Book-page copies found in the interior indicate two other boxes by the same hand: The “DB” box in the American Folk Art Museum, gifted by Howard and Jean Lipman; and the blue-green-white decorated box, from American Hurrah, pictured in Neat and Tidy by Nina Fletcher Little. .
Portrait Miniature
of Julia Forbes
Attributed to JA (Jane Anthony) Davis
Dated 1837.
Northeast, Probably New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Connecticut. Watercolor on wove paper.
This portrait is among Davis' earliest works, since most by her were 1839-1845. Signed in script on the bottom: “Mifs Julia Forbes”. Note the long ‘S’ still present well after the 18th century.
Jane Anthony Davis typically rendered family and friends in a distinctive and readily identifiable style that we see with Miss Julia: black dress, full-face angled a bit to the right (not in profile) and mid-length. The lack of proper linear perspective of her tiny hand and stylized arm amplifies the desirable folky nature.
Fine molded and black painted period frame that is probably original. Frame size about about 8 x 6 3/4 inches; site size 5 3/4 x 4 1/4.
Excellent condition with professional repair of two tiny tears.
From a superb Connecticut collection. Reference: See "Three New England Watercolor Painters" pp 42-55 for other portraits by Davis.
Tiny Profile Portrait
New England, ca. 1840.
Watercolor on paper. A sensitively rendered little girl of half-length profile in red dress, her hair in pigtails and ribbons. The unknown artist emphasized her young age and small size by centering her on larger than needed paper with wide margins. The composition is effective and eye-catching.
The gilt frame, which appears original, has a pencil inscription on the back that starts with Mary J. ____________. Frame size about 5 ¾ x 4 7/8. Excellent crisp clean unfaded condition with minor toning.
Sweet Little
Naïve Watercolor
New England, ca. 1820-1840.
Watercolor on paper, signed ABBY DUNHAM, featuring delicate over-sized flowers on vining. Presented in a terrific red painted frame that is likely original. Check out that hand-planed backboard. Frame size about 9 ¾ inches x 8 7/8. Good condition, toning as shown that adds to the character.
Beautiful
Paint Decorated
Blanket Chest
Northeast, ca. 1830.
.....SOLD
Original bold paint decoration on white pine. Red ground, the front, sides, and top centered by mustard roundels, most enclosing green pinwheels, the boards edged by stylized mustard hearts and green leaves.
Note the Mason’s symbol just below the key hole!
The case is expertly dovetailed by a skilled cabinet-maker. Extensively glue-blocked underneath. Surfaces show substantial hand-planing tool marks.
The interior has a locking till, cleverly fitted with internal holes to hold pins matching those within a sliding drawer underneath, such the contents of the drawer may not be accessed if the till is locked.
Structural condition is superb. The stout pine boards remain square and straight. Original iron hinges; lock is gone. Chains added to the interior to prevent the lid from falling over backwards. Expert restoration of the under-the-lid molding strips on the front and one side, so well done that one struggles to find them. Paint wear, especially to the top and creases to the wood; minor paint touch-up on one foot.
Smaller size at just 39 ¼ inches at the widest-which is the overhanging lid. Case width 37 ½ inches wide x 20 deep.
Early New Hampshire
Birth Records
MOSES CONNOR Jr
(active 1800 to 1832)
Watercolor and ink on paper, celebrating Adeline W. Harriman and Daniel F. Wyman, born 1815 and 1826, respectively.
Confidently attributed to Moses Connor based on similar distinctive signed birth records including one in the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Other examples of his work are in Old Sturbridge Village and the New York State Museum.
Born in Wolfeboro, Moses Connor was a teacher there beginning in 1808 and decorator of documents such as birth certificates.
Typical of other Moses Connor distinctive birth records.....MORE
Large Bold Presentation
Carved Pie Crimper
Likely Maine, originally found in an attic in Arundel, Maine.
Hardwood (perhaps birch) and pine in rich, natural patina. Carved in shape and decoratively with pinwheels, geometrics and vining. Deeply carved wheel shrunken well out-of-round and joined to the handle with non-iron pins, perhaps pewter, to prevent rusting. Likely made to be gifted for wedding, birthday, or anniversary.
An impressive 12 ¼ inches long. From a fine long time New England antique and folk art collection.
Rare Ash Burl
Double-Bowl
One of only two known
Northeast, ca. 1760-1780
.....sale pending
Turned from one knot of densely figured ash burl, the upper bowl with an interior lip that extends into the lower to allow them to fit together. Both bowls footed. When flipped the cover can be used as a bowl of equal size to the base.
Unquestionably by the same hand as the example in the renowned Katcher collection, which has been described as an ingenious “American Treen Masterpiece” (more)
Striking Rare Inlaid Cherry Candlestand
Attributed to
NATHAN LUMBARD Worcester County, MA
ca. 1800.
Cherrywood, with serpentine-shaped top of figured cherrywood, with striped-inlaid hearts at the corners and centered by an inlaid pinwheel. The column features a deeply carved spiral fluted urn, supported by a tripod base with distinctive spurred knees.....