DESCRIPTION: A whimsical lint clothes brush, the wood handle carved in the form of a gentleman in a formal jacket wearing a red top hat. Most of the original paint remains; the long brush bristles are horsehair. DIMENSIONS: 8” long x 1.5” diameter.

Two antique bunny rabbits, one is a paper mache candy container and the other is a fury rabbit with moveable arms and legs and a wire that may have attached him to a basket or it stabilizes her to stand. They both are a little under 5" tall and show their age a bit. They are both as cute as can be.

19th C. crepe paper doll dress is the best blue color. It has a lighter blue crepe paper belt with a gold paper buckle. It opens and slips over the paper dolls head. It is in very nice condition. 3 1/2" top to bottom and is circa 1880

A nice simple cutwork heart that is 3" by 2 3/4". It is set on the black paper but is not attached to it. The color is a very soft pink to mauve and white . There is a slight bit of foxing that shows up more in the pictures than it does by sight. It is unframed and they way I bought. Circa 1850-70.

Antique watercolor drawing of flowers in an ornate vase, circa mid 19th century, 13 1/4" by 9 1/4" (16 1/4" by 12 1/4" in later wood frame), executed in a charming style typical of folk art of the period. The drawing shows its advanced age with some fading of the roses, a toned paper, and an old inch plus edge tear at bottom. See other old American folk drawings in my shop.

These darling 2 1/2" tall Koala bears are antique velvet. They have some kind of metal buttons for eyes and noses. Their little paws wrap around the real nut shells. They have old red ribbons around their necks. The ribbons are old but may not be original. The velvet has lost some of the pile but it is not noticeable with the foundation fabric being the same color. They are a little bit soft with an inner core of wood so they sit nicely. You can tell they are best friends. Circa 1890

A nice 19th C. black wool spaniel dog with a red tape collar. He has wire enforced legs. His wool shows areas of wear but no holes. He is 7" long and 7" tall. He has a great little face.

A fine American tinsel or foil painting depicting a wreath of flowers, with a bird, around a grouping of fruit and foliage. The wreath is on a variation of the relatively rare "snowflake" type of background. This technique appears to have been done primarily in the 1870's period. The frame and wooden backboard are original.

There is a crack in the glass at the top left, and a small piece of glass is missing...

An antique watercolor painting of an early Maine farm house with out buildings. It is a modest setting but with a very neat and tidy welcoming look. It is 6 by 9" and with mat and frame is 9 3/4" by 13". It show lines where is was folded at one time. I have not had it out of the frame. ( I bought this in an estate sale in Maine so I am assuming it is Maine but it doesn't have to be.)

A small (4" by 2 3/4" by 2 3/4") tin box of the style common in the circa 1840's period in the northeastern states, the green and red hand painted design on the front remaining, but most of the other paint worn away----some remains in a few spots. These boxes, most larger than this particular example, likely held important papers or other keepsakes. They were made of tin and evidently were part of many households of the period. This example was purchased in Concord, New Hampshire...

A very fine twig basket, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century. It was found in Pennsylvania, and is painted black, with the border and edge decoration painted in green, yellow, and orange over the black. The interior central portion of the basket is painted in green.

The basket is 8 5/8" in diameter and 4" tall. Condition is terrific, with no breaks...

An example of American folk art drawing: watercolor of roses on the stem with leaves, created circa 1840 by an artist working in the distinctive style of the time. The piece measures 9 1/4" by 7 1/4" (12 3/4" by 10 3/4" in faux wood grain frame of the period). Since it is that old, the paper shows evidence of the great age; there is browning/foxing at lower corners/along right side as shown...

A nice A M doll with composition body. Original wig, no repairs or cracks, sleep eyes and flapper dress and bonnet. She is 14" tall. Her arms need to be tightened or restrung and she is missing one shoe.

Very nice 16: by 16" calico doll quilt all hand sewn. Some of the calico fabrics are great. The back is a stripe that kind of looks like ticking but is a little hint of floral. There is a batting in between the front and the back and stitched together with diagonal lines. Condition is very good, I don't see anything other than some minor age related discoloring here and there. I had it on the top of an old red blanket chest and it looked wonderful. I also hang them on doors and between windows...

A commemorative plaque carved with oak from the barque (three masted sailing ship) the Mary Moore which operated as a tea clipper until the end of the 19th Century. The Mary Moore was built by Stephen & Sons (Glasgow) in 1868 and was registered in Maryport, Cumberland, North West England. In 1887 she was re-fitted and her hull was clad with metal...

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...

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 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...

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.

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.
CONDITION: signs of wear on leather and on the base...

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...

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. She is 8" tal...

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. She has a lace collar, green shawl that is a...

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

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.

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

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. It is a fascinating collection and a wonderful blue calico...

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. The following is excerpted from the catalog of that exhibition: "T...

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.

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.

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. She is in good conditio...

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. Whoever created this fin...

A most wonderful twisted raw wool doll with fur hair, bead eyes, defined stitched fingers, little leather shoes, lace dress with all the underpinnings, a necklace, and she is holding a purse. She has the dearest little face with a pinched nose and a tiny stitched mouth. She is a gauze bonnet that is starting to shred. She is 5" long and is circa 1870 and very special.

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. Condition: very good paint, the original lock is now missing, an age split to the bottom and...

A charming watercolor on paper of a house amid a group of trees, signed "JDT" and dated 1896. Excellent condition. Sight size 8 1/4" by 5 3/4".

Antique toy dog with a squeaker, glass eyes, hand sewn and was mohair of sorts but now is worn down to the brown fabric. He is firmly stuffed with straw. He has an old fabric collar tied around his neck. He is 7 1/2" long and is 5" tall and is circa 1880-90. He has a very nice face.

A circular lidded box with compartments used for jewelry and other valuables included in the dowry of a Vietnamese bride, c 1900 or earlier. Rosewood with mother-of-pearl inlays of flowers, butterflies and birds. Note: Diameter "8 3/4/ 22 cm, height "4/ 10 cm. Condition: loss of inlays to the lid, still beautiful.

DESCRIPTION: This child’s word learning game has spool type wood letters that slide around the two outer tracks in order to form words on the center track. An all wood board with beveled edges, this bright and cheery game has 1912 to 1916 patents. A great early educational piece for game collectors, this one is remarkable as there are neither missing letters nor breaks to the letters. Very good condition with normal usage wear. DIMENSIONS: 13.5” wide x 9.25” high.

This is a great 1890 mohair cat that stands nicely on its own. He has about 70% of his mohair. He has a loved face with a bit of a pushed up nose. I think he is a Steiff but is without a button. He is 13" long and 9" tall to the top of his head.

As found a nice early stockinette doll stuffed with rags. She wears a wonderful old undershirt that buttons up the back. She has natural brown raw wool hair, (fleece cut off of a brown sheep). I haven't seen this done on a black doll before but it makes perfect sense. Her face consists of amber glass button eyes. If she had a nose or mouth they don't show now. She is a true off the farm doll with a lot of appeal. 13" tall circa 1890-1900

Antique 19th century American Victorian needlepoint picture in oval dark walnut frame, measuring 22" by 19". This was acquired recently from a local Santa Monica estate that was like "New England West"---filled with eastern Americana and furnishings. The piece appears to date to about the third quarter of the 19th century, maybe to 1890 at the latest. Note the wood peg style construction of the frame. Condition is clean overall though there do appear to be a few old small discolored areas, ...

A very nice and unusual pencil face doll with sewn on brown ticking skirt that was made as a stump doll. She never had legs, see picture. She is 10" to the bottom of her skirt and 8" to the bottom of her body. She is firmly stuffed with cotton and is truly a prairie type country primitive doll. Circa 1880-90.

17" black sock doll with shoe button eyes, flat black button nose and applied soft red floss mouth. She is stuffed firmly with rags. She has on a while slip, white pantaloons and a gray blouse with red trim. The clothes are old but not original. She bends so she sits nicely. She has a cute expression that says, no fooling around here I have lots to think about. Circa 1900-1920

A wonderful cutlery tray, probably of Vermont origin, made around 1840. What makes it so exceptional is the decoration, closely akin to "vinegar painting." Red paint was put on a yellow base, and a solvent added. This made the combination of colors run together, producing a somewhat mottled effect.

Another notable point is that the tray is in excellent condition, with no cracks or breaks. The paint is all original and untouched, with a nice dry surface. The wood used is pine, and construct...

A nicely decorated document box featuring red and black grain painting, the edges with yellow and green striping.

The box is 13 1/4 inches in length, 7 1/4 inches in depth, and 6 1/2 inches tall. Overall condition is excellent, with no cracks or breaks, and virtually all of the original, unrestored paint is present. The lock and hinges are original and in fine shape. There is the normal amount of wear along some of the box edges.

This doll is a tough little cookie. She is heavy and round and firmly stuffed with rags and something else that add up to being heavy for her size. She has spindly arms, very sturdy legs with fabric boots sewn on. She is all stockinette. Her slip and panties are sewn on. Her dress is a red calico print and is mended on the front with a red panel and one arm of the dress is badly torn. Her face has with button eyes and a pinched raised nose, and a very tiny red embroidered mouth. She has the astr...

A charming oil on cardboard American folk art painting of a white clapboard house with a red porch, set amidst trees and greenery. Overall very fine condition with some truly minor scuffs. The gilt frame is period. Sight size is 16 inches by 12 inches.

This is an extremely unusual American 12 tube candle mold, made of tin and painted black. I have seen many candle molds in my time, but don't recall ever seeing one with the type decoration that this one has. The front and side have charming and whimsical squiggles of gold paint.

Overall condition is excellent, with the usual spots of paint loss and wear, and some nicks to the base. All the tubes are present, all the paint is original, and there have been no repairs. The base is stable ...

A fine old charmingly naive watercolor drawing of a boy dressed almost as a girl, in the style of the times, titled in pencil at bottom "William John Babb March 1834". This work appears to be in its original weathered old frame, the original surface beautifully alligatored. Measuring 7 1.2" by 5 1/2" (10" by 8" including frame), the drawing is perfect for the small wall. Colors are perhaps a little faded after nearly 200 years. On the wood backing a sort of mathematical problem: the year 19...

This wallpaper box in the shape of a man's stove pipe hat has a wonderful blue and mustard wallpaper with yellow brim trim. The hat box is all about looks! And the looks are from eye level up meaning that the top and the bottom of the hat box are long missing. I have used it with a print works cat sitting in it...see picture. (Sorry you have to find your own cat!) But if set on a shelf or on top of a cupboard you don't know anything is missing. As I said it has a great look. It is 8" by 11" wide...

An uncommon tinsel, or foil, painting on glass. Extremely vibrant, with deep colors, the painting shows a bluebird surrounded by a variety of fruit, with a compote of fruit behind it. It is rare to have a foil scene without a lot of open space between subjects.

The painting is in excellent condition, as is the later frame, which measures 16 1/4" by 13 1/4".

DESCRIPTION: An antique circular form egg gathering basket of woven splint oak with bent splint oak handle. Good condition with only minor wear. DIMENSIONS: 9-1/4" high x 9-1/4" diameter

Dressed in a blue calico dress this sweet little stump rag doll has a lot going for her. She has an ink drawn face, a lollipop head, and a body that flares out but stops at the hips and never had legs. If I was a mother back in the 19th C. I would have been mighty pleased with myself that I thought up the stump doll concept. It really works, and makes for a very nice doll. She is rag stuffed, has dainty little arms, and a nice blue calico striped dress. The dress has a hole in the back and it co...

A finely painted and carved danish Hammer-wood, carved and painted 1826.

The hammer-wood or hammer-board was used when doing laudry together woith the mangleboard, and was made in the same style also for weddings as wall-hangers in the 17th.-19th. century.

This Oak hammer-wood is exceptionally finely carved with fine chiseling of a sun-symbol and geomethic forms.

Size: 44 cm. long.

Condition: Nice Very fine, sound and strong with much remaining paint...

An absolutely charming group of small schoolgirl paintings of animals, soldiers, plants, etc., mounted together and presented in three period gilt frames. The back of each framed group indicates that these were all done around 1840 by Miss E. Green of Pennsylvania.

The condition is generally very good, with some rippling to the paper. The frames have expected wear but display well. Framed sizes are 13 3/4" by 6 3/4", 9 1/2" by 6 1/4", and 7" by 7".

These would be wonderful for a child's room...

Finely decorated Danish Mangle board with traditional carvings, Denmark, dated Juli, 30th. 1801!

The board with a particularly fancy horse handle and some beautiful original paint,

Size: 56,5 cm.

Condition: Good Very fine, light shattering of insect bites as always, but really nice for the type with much remaining original decoration!

Provenance: Private Collection of Bjørn Roepstorff, an important Danish castle / mansion collection of Early European ...

A desirable circa 1830 American tin "tole" box with charming original stenciling of leaf motif on the front, 8 1/2" by 6" by 6", in a rare pink-salmon color. Most of these of course classic folk art pieces are black background with floral motifs painted thereon, in red/green (roses etc.) and some yellow. This color is just spectacular. I'm not a toleware specialist by any means but cannot recall seeing a tinware American box of this color. Obviously the piece shows evidence of 200 years of a...

Antique, American Folk Art, early 20th century, fine quality hardwood ladle, finely hand carved in relief with stylized crane and woman holding basket and a loaf of bread, with book carved into handle/arm - arm extends downward and on the reverse a carved hand holds the bowl - bowl with scalloped edge - all carved out of one piece of wood.

CONDITION: In good condition and shape, considering its age, with signs of age and usage, with old dark glossy patina, the top corner of the handle with...

This black doorstop bottle doll has a great embroidered face. The stitches are big and bold and raised. She has on a cream colored dress and a pinafore over the dress. The kerchief around her neck might have been added but the one on her head is original. She is 15" tall and is on what feels to be a double necked bottle. I don't see these bottles often but they do work really well for doorstop doll. She is circa 1890-1900

True to the name this doll is rag stuffed simple and straight forward. Her body is two gingerbread shaped pieces of cloth, sewn together and firmly stuffed with rags. Her eyes are two old snaps sewn in place and they do the trick. Her legs have been bent so many times that she sits nicely. She has on the dress she came in. It is a soft worn red dress with with a ruffles down the front and around the neck and sleeves. She is 19" tall and is circa 1900. Something tells me that a child helped with ...