Early 19th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

This very rare early 19th century tailor's dummy for a young boy has been handcrafted out of painted paper mache and wood.

Early 19th Century Sycamore Butter Curler This beautiful piece has been hand carved in the Georgian style, with a double curved shape and a ribbed blad...

Crafted in Italy circa 1850, this elegant pair of antique church reliquaries stands on molded rectangular bases and showcases beautifully hand-carved scrollwork adorned with floral a...

Mortar with inscriptions. Bronze. Spain, 1823. Con maza. Mortar made of bronze with an enlarged mouth and a cone shaped body developed without discontinuity and with a decreasing diameter to the base; It has two handles or "pieces" towards the smooth decorative moldings that it has on the upper part. The piece presents, almost on the edge, an inscription (I AM FROM D GREGORIO OCANA ANO DE 1823) in capital letters and a date in roman with spaces between them; and the text (the other way around) “Mazon fecci”; both flanked by a simple molding above and another below. This large-sized mortar is of the type that is usually known as "hospital" because it is usually used for medicines in environments with many patients or in important apothecaries. Typologically, it follows the usual line in these examples of the Spanish school during the 19th century: smooth, with moldings and, as a general rule, without those ribs (or derivatives thereof) that used to appear in the previous ones. Compare, for example, with the large pharmacy mortar in the Municipal Museum-Archive of Calella (with inscription, ribs and human heads as handles), a large pestle...

Collection of framed antique Italian plaster intaglios Italian, Early 19th Century Height 34cm, width 34cm, depth 4cm This exquisite collection of eighteen plaster intaglios was cr...

An early 19th century well-figured and faded mahogany miniature bowfront Chest of 2 short and 3 long graduated drawers. The Chest retaining original brass handles, with crosshatched ...

This fine impression of the celebrated print engraved by mezzotint engraver John Raphael Smith after a painting by Henry Danloux shows the subject on the deck of a ship in the heat of the Battle Camperdown. It is framed in an ornate giltwood frame with a paper label on the reverse showing a coat of arms flanked by the inscription ‘Admiral Lord Viscount Duncan when Victorious off Camperdown, is by permission most humbly dedicated to the Hon. Miss Jane Duncan by her most obedient Servant H.P.Danloux London. Published by H. P. Danloux No 11 Charles Street, Middlesex Hospital...

1815 Spanish passport hand written on paper. Part of a large collection.

C & J GREENWOOD MAP OF THE COUNTY OF DEVON, FROM AN ORIGINAL SURVEY, PUBLISHED 1827, WITH ENGRAVING OF EXETER CATHEDRAL AND MAP OF LUNDY INSET, 6ft 2 ...

Turned column, executed in the early 19th century, measuring 51x13.5 cm, of Italian manufacture. An architectural element in the full Neoclassical style, an architectural style that ...

“Kaart van het eiland Curaçao.”, “Algemeene kaart der Caraïbische eilanden”, “Plan van het fort Amsterdam op Curaçao” from the atlas “Atlas der overzeesche bezittingen van Zijne Maje...

Rare pair of antique freezes with grapes in gilded wood: very beautiful. Probably they were part of some large mirror that broke, who knows where, when and how. They can be laid over...

Set of three ancient simple wooden capitals to use as You wish: in a wall structure, as a base for sculptures, on columns even in the GARDEN because they are made of teak. Look to ...

A pair of antique Neoclassical framed carvings. Dating to circa 1820, this pair of unique carvings showcase stylised foliage and fruits, that create a sense of movement as they flow...

Brass Hanukkah lamp Menorah, Poland, circa 1810. Cast in Bench form, on four feet. The backplate is cast and pierced featuring scrollwork. This lamp was made by the technique known as "sand casting". This process begins with a wooden mold that was carved out to create negative space, which in turn is used to make the inverse form or shape to be used for the casting of metal. The mold is pressed into fine sand mixed with clay, then removed, and molten brass poured into the impression. When a mold wears out, a casting from that mold is often used as the mold for the next generation. Those later lamps...

A large circular micromosaic panel representing the so called "Tomb of Cecilia Metella on the Appian way" near Rome. This plate shows superior quality and m...

Coleccion de libros del 1833, de "L'Histoire Universelle, Ancienne et moderne; A L'usage de la Jeunesse; Par M. Le Compte de Segur, Histoire de France"

ST/520 - Old rare Italian map of England, dated 1826-1827 - by Girolamo Tasso, editor in Venise, for the atlas of M.r Le-Sage.

This pair of early Italian wood capitals exudes a sense of classical beauty, originally crafted to grace the tops of composite columns. Their ivory paint has matured into a finely ag...

1815 Spanish passport hand written on paper. Part of a large collection.

The enamelling on this quatrefoil gold pendant is attributed to Ray & Montague: ‘hiltmakers, goldworkers and enamellers’. The obverse is mounted with a vitreous paste profile portrait cameo of Admiral Viscount Nelson within four navy blue enamel panels with the gilt inscription: ‘H·Nelson·Died·for His·Country at·Trafalgar Oct:21·1805’ all within ropework borders. The reverse is mounted with an oval polychrome enamel plaque representing a blue Royal Navy ensign flying triumphant above the flags of France and Spain superimposed with an anchor and laurel wreath against a red background within four navy blue enamel panels with the gilt inscription: Glory to the Souls of the Brave, a line from The Battle of the Baltic written in 1801 by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Copenhagen. Cameo with incised signature Tassie F. 1805 English, 1805 John Ray and James Montague succeeded to the celebrated enamelling and goldsmithing firm of James Morisset (1738-1815) in 1800. Like Morisset, they specialised in presentation swords...

Rectangular micromosaic plate featuring a shepherd, seated and resting with his dog at his feet. The shepherd is wearing a woolen cloak over his colorful clothes. He is holding a hat in his left hand and his staff in his right. A wicker basket at his feet is filled with a bouquet of flowers and a bunch of grapes. This pastoral theme is characteristic of the micromosaic production of Gioacchino...

The adjustable spyglass with gilt brass trim and original leather case.

This English fabric map of Cornwall, rendered in pen-and-ink, showcases exquisite hand-drawn details and charming faded sepia tones. Encased in a classic frame, this piece elegantly ...

A white vitreous paste cameo of Emma, Lady Hamilton, attributed to William Tassie after Filipo Rega, of oval form depicting Emma facing right with her hair in a Grecian style, Englis...

A Pair of Davenport Admiral Lord Nelson Terracotta Wine Coolers, each relief moulded with a portrait of Admiral Viscount Nelson, in full uniform and medals, between two acorn-bearing oak boughs on one side and a naval panoply on the reverse. The rim comprises tied reeds with twin dolphin-mask handles attached to the sides. English, circa 1815. Two very similar examples from the collection of Horatio, third Lord Nelson, are illustrated in an article titled ‘Nelson Relics and Relic Hunters’ in The Windsor Magazine, Vol. XX. June-November 1904, p.519. (See also page 4.) A thirdwith a paper label stating ‘Exceedingly rare (Lockett)’ was exhibited at the Hanley Museum, item No.1721 (see Britain on the High Seas, from Nelson to Churchill, p.71, Wick Antiques...

19th century fruitwood mortar and pestle. Remnants of oxblood red and silver blue banded paint. Original pestle included. Origin: Eastern, United States Period: First half of the 19...

A bow-front marine barometer by John Dollond It is of slender cylindrical form with a silvered register plate enclosed by a hinged thermometer flap an...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique Atlas page map of Staffordshire printed in 1645 Amsterdam Staffordiensis Comitatvs Vulgo This o...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique Atlas page map of Cheshire printed in 1645 Amsterdam Staffordiensis Comitatvs Vulgo I have thre...

We are delighted to this lovely antique Atlas page map of Northamptonshire printed in 1645 Amsterdam Staffordiensis Comitatvs Vulgo I have three of th...

This superbly crafted wheel barometer and thermometer has a mahogany case surrounded by twisted brass stringing and central panels of foliate tendrils above Russell’s signature thistle motif in black and gilt verre églomisé. It is surmounted by a brass Prince of Wales feather finial. The long, rectangular thermometer plate is inscribed ‘Thermometers: Beaumar, Fahrenheit, Royal Society of London’, the latter being an early attempt to standardise temperature measurement. The circular dial is inscribed ‘Changeable, Fair, Settled Fair, Much Rain’ and ‘Rain’ and signed across the centre ‘J Russell, Falkirk, Invt et Fecit, Watch Maker to his R.H the Prince Regent’. The reverse has a paper label ‘Russell, Iden Collection Inventory 1896’. Scottish, circa 1815. Provenance: Mr Walter Iden. Published: Percy G. Dawson, The Iden Clock Collection, Woodbridge, 1987. No.125, p.280. These ‘royal barometers’ were so named because John Russell of Falkirk...

Turkish ottoman inlaid turquoise beads semi precious stones betel nut cutter. Circa 1820, very rare.

This monumental George III gold and hardstone intaglio fob seal comprises a profile portrait of the head and shoulders of Admiral Viscount Nelson, in uniform displaying...

This amazing footbath was created for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was part of the toilet service to be used during his exile on St. Helena. Just before shipm...

A fine and extremely rare early 19th Century Regency period wheel barometer by John Russell of Falkirk, barometer maker to the Prince Regent. This e...

This short Italian stand is gilded in gold and was made sometime in the early 19th century. The 4 supports were carved in a serpentine form with a leaf on each one. It has something ...

Pharmacy mortar. Bronze. Spain, 1816. Mortar with an excavated mouth, decoration of derived ribs in pilasters and a stripe in the upper area with an inscription (I am from Don Juan Antonio...

EXTRAORDINARILY EARLY (1806) PRINTED LINEN KERCHIEF GLORIFYING GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRINT WORKS, GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA Printed in blue ink on coarse, white linen, this patriotic kerchief shows a standing portrait of George Washington, above which is a swag valance and the words “The Effect of Principle, Behold the Man”. The portrait is based on a mezzotint after Gilbert Stuart’s very famous painting of Washington in his later years, most often referred to as the Landsdowne portrait. Stuart painted three versions of it in oil on canvas, one of which was completed in 1796 for a wealthy merchant by the name of William Constable, who commissioned the work for Alexander Hamilton. The kerchief is interesting because it is both American-made and documented. This is exceptionally unusual for any printed textile of the 19th century or prior and the earlier the time period the more unlikely an object is to be identified. This kerchief and a companion piece entitled “The Love of Truth Mark the Boy” (also glorifying Washington, through the fabled story of the cherry tree), were made circa 1806 by Germantown Print Works in Germantown, Pennsylvania. To the left of Washington's image is a portion of his infamous farewell address to his troops at the end of the Revolutionary War. To the right is a short excerpt from his eulogy. Below these are three images. In the center is a square-rigged tall ship with “Commercial Union” above it, flanked by the American eagle on the left and the British lion on the right. It is reasonable to assume that the textile may have been produced in demonstration of the maker's desire, and/or that of others, to advance trade with England. Commercial printers were very influential in early America, as they possessed the means by which to disseminate information. This kerchief and its companion piece are documented in Threads of History, Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 - the Present, by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press), p. 63, items 38 39.* The two pieces pictured are in the collection of Cornell University, but the Collins text also cites an uncut pair to be present in the collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH. The name "Germantown Print Works" is printed on the Western Reserve examples. Another example of the textile in question is documented in "Running for President, The Candidates and Their Images, 1789-1896" by Schlesinger, Israel, and Frendt, (1994, Simon Schuster), p. 15. I have seen three different color variations of this textile, including sepia, mulberry red, and blue. This particular example has a hand-sewn binding along the top, lower, and left edges. Mounting: The textile was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples. The gilded molding has a rippled profile and dates to the period between 1825 and 1850.The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color. The glazing is U.V. protective plexiglass. Feel free to contact us for more details. Condition: There is an all-over golden oxidation of the white fabric and there is very minor staining. There are tiny tack holes in each corner and there are minor nicks around the perimeter. * Collins relates that Germantown Printworks was operated by the Hewsons. In doing so he cites one of Worthington Chauncey Ford's books on George Washington, but it isn't clear which one (there are many) and no page numbers are given. John Hewson was an Englishman who came to America and opened his printing business on the advice of Benjamin Franklin. He was one of the first “calico printers” and is the earliest documented to have advertised printed kerchiefs. His ads for bandanas appear as early as June 20th, 1774. He is suspected of having produced the very first American kerchief that pictured an American president, which is documented in Collins as item 1 on page 48. Linda Eaton, curator at Winterthur, in 2012, is currently doing in depth research on the three printers of fabrics that were operating in Germantown in early America. She discovered that the owner and/or operator of Germantown Print Works, while not currently known, was not John Hewson. This information is not yet published. She also noted that Winterthur possessed examples of the two George Washington textiles...