Very nice dovetailed wooden writing box or work box, the hinged lid decorated with a handpainted grapevine motif against a mustard painted background. The interior of the box has four fitted compartments along the back side. The bottom and top are attached to the dovetailed sides with old square nails. The inside of the lid is inscribed illegibly in pencil "Hannah ??".

Origin: New England, ca. 1870...

Watercolor still life of wildflowers and some cultivated ones, in a vase of the period, large size at 24" by 18" inside the mat, 35" by 28 3/4" as framed, unsigned, in the nineteenth century tradition that traces its roots back to stencil type paintings. This would likely date to the period 1850 to 1880. Detail is painstaking and extreme; this artist was no amateur. There are bluebells, forget-me-nots, roses, fuchsia, some kind of lily, some kind of daisy and others...

The puppets costume and "figure" are that of a of a medieval matron. Her head is paper mache and is manipulated from inside. Her head has a wide range of motion side to side, extending high with long fabric neck and can be cocked in different directions for added expression. The arms are long reaching and are supported and manipulated by metal rods, one is original and the other has been replaced.

She stands 21 to 22+ inches depending on length of neck extension...

Circa late 19th century needlework in cream and red, 11 3/4" by 9 3/4" plus Victorian style wood frame with grape leaves in the corners, wrapped around a board. The birds remind of those seen on American salt glaze cobalt ceramic pieces. Together with the folky framing, this makes for a very decorative work of Americana, and an interesting addition to your collection.

American circa 1885 Victorian winter landscape painting of houses with smoking chimneys along a trodden path in mid winter, several figures braving the elements on this cold day. A charming early primitive work, enhanced by the "sparkles" applied to the snow to ensure that winter effect. Condition is excellent. The typically Victorian blue velvet (worn) adds to the period authenticity. Frame has a bit of wear, some small sections chipped or missing. Measures 23 1/2" by 23 1/2" in the frame.

A sweet tinsel (foil) painting of a large bouquet of flowers. The painting itself is in very good condition, with no chips, breaks, or image loss. The period or earlier gilded wood frame has normal expected wear. Period wood backboard. The sight size is 11 1/4" by 9 5/8", and the overall size is 12 3/4" by 11".

NOTE: Between September 12, 2012 and January 13, 2013 the American Folk Art Museum held an exhibit on this art form...

Five early paper dolls dressed in crepe paper dresses. When I bought them I was told they were made to hang on the Christmas tree and it is true some of the have thread hangers on the back. They are very nice and unusual. They range in size from 7 1/2" to about 10" and date to the 1880's.

This is quite the scrap book. The back and front are cloth covered in blue and white calico. The pages are also cloth with stitching around all the edges. The trade and advertising cards are glued down on both sides of the fabric. The pages are bound together by three holes and each page and tied with a yellow ribbon. There are 11 pages, 22 sides, and one 1/2 page that is original and not cut but just a 1/2 page with cards on both sides...

A striking and colorful painting on silk of a signet ring with, not surprisngly, the word "Signet" and the date 1870; period frame; 11 1/4" by 9 1/2" framed size, 8 1/2" by 6 1/2" sight size

Hand made Shaker table mat with multi colored field and a wide brown border. The mats were the product of left over scraps from the sewing rooms in Shaker communities. This mat is 13" by 15" and is in excellent condition. C. 1900

This doll was bought in the mid west and had to have been made by an older child or a mother doing the best she could with what she had. She is firmly straw stuffed. Her face is stitched with heavy thread. Her mouth is stitched with the use of many "xxx"s and it looks great. Her nose is pinched raised with overcasting thread. Her eyes are framed with red stitches and her eyes and eyebrows are brown thread. Her red bonnet is sewn on as are her clothes...

These little handmade Civil War era dolls are some of my favorite. This one has on a heavy satin dress with a brown egg wash chintz cotton petticoat. she has a net bonnet adorned with a white ribbon over real hair. She is wearing the tiniest metal eye glasses I have ever seen. She has little rolled arms and a stump body that never had legs. Her dress is melting a bit above her waist and there is a crack in the nut shell but an old one and it is hard to see because she is so small...

Folk Art Duck Decoy hand carved from wood with yellow eye created from a thumb tack, 19th century. The bird is painted black with white highlights and a grey beak. It has a leather strap on the base for pulling the decoy in the water...

Folk Art Duck Decoy hand carved from wood with yellow eye created from a thumb tack, 19th century. The bird is painted black with white highlights and a grey bill. It has a leather strap on the base for pulling the decoy in the water.
CONDITION: signs of wear on leather and on the base of the decoy, as well as paint chip on the bill, hole behind the strap. The yellow thumb tack is probably a later replacement.
MEASUREMENTS: Total length: 14 ¾ inches.
All our artifacts...

A PAIR of antique watercolors circa 1880, the subject violets and other delicate, small plants of the woodland floor, in identical worn gold frames. Each watercolor painting measures 6" by 5 1/2" (shaped top) and the works as framed measure 12 3/4" by 12 1/4". The artworks are in excellent condition; backing to which they are affixed need to be replaced due to damp stain at lower portion. These survivors of the Victorian Age reflect the care with which the anonymous artist created them. See ...

A small sweet excellent condition antique egg basket. It has nice patina and is circa 1870-80. It would hold about 5 or 6 eggs and a lot of strawberry emeries.

1880 blue checked bonnet all hand sewn with really nice details. I have taken some pictures I hope you can see the hand stitching on the brim with six rows with cord inside so it gives the brim some stiffness. The bonnet is a lovely blue. There are a few spots around the bottom of the neck fringe. It is 14" top to bottom and 8" front to back of the bonnet. It is a very nice early work of art. C.1880

A very nice antique Punch as is Punch and Judy a famous puppet show in England. He has a leather face with painted features.(It could be oil cloth or painted fabric but it looks like leather to me.) His outfit is original and is weak and shredding in places. His face is all good other than the tip of his nose has a small break. He has attached arms and legs and is quite floppy in a nice way. He has an injured hand that someone dealt with by putting a sock over it and it seems to be working well....