Fireman s Ladder, United States, circa 1900

Blackened steel door stop / bookend.

Leather fireman's parade belt with the word "LIBERTY in white on a red ground, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, circa 1900 This fireman's parade belt is of the type produced during the latter part of the 19th century, between roughly 1870 and 1900. Made of leather, the body of the belt is black. In the center is a recessed window, with a fancifully scalloped edge, behind which a red leather panel, upon which the word "Liberty" appears in raised, white letters. There is a white binding, it's edge trimmed with pinking shears to create a decorative border. The metal buckle fits into an opposing leather strap, small in scale and riveted beneath the outer one. The words that appear on fireman's parade belts were customized, sometimes displaying the title of the wearer (i.e., "chief" or "clerk"), sometimes the name of the city or town, and sometimes the name of the station, as-is the case in this instance. Attributed to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania (Columbia County), I acquired it about 25 miles southwest, in adjacent Union County. Bloomsburg's first fire house, Friendship Fire Company, was established in 1868, shortly following the Civil War. Like most volunteer departments of that time, it was staffed by returning Union soldiers who volunteered, enjoying the comradery. Three more would follow, including Rescue Hose & Ladder (1870), Winona (1881), and Liberty Fire Company (1900). In the early 1990's the process was begun to modernize and consolidate all four stations into one. Liberty's fire house still stands on the 100 block of Leonard Street. Probably made in the year the Liberty Fire Company was established, for related parades and festivities, the great thing about this belt is the combination of the wonderful, early, painted surface and the terrific verbiage. While words such as "Clerk," "Bloomsburg," or "Rescue" would have limited appeal, the word "Liberty" opens the playing field to a nation-wide audience. Fire memorabilia...

Georgian, Mahogany, Spiral Library Steps, United States, 20th c. Set of stained Mahogany library steps having turned supports and likely from the later half of the 20th century. Ma...

This 1900s French wooden painter’s ladder embodies the utilitarian craftsmanship and charming wear of early 20th-century workshop tools. Built from stu...

ABOUT Red wool fireman’s bib shirt marked “B.F.D.” across the chest (Benicia CA Fire Department) and heavy-duty metal buttons stamped with "FD". CREAT...

A highly unusual screen with United States Naval Insignia of Presidential interest. This three-fold screen is painted in watercolours with four roundels on each panel. One roundel encloses the Ogden family crest and the other eight have U.S. Navy Fighting Squadron insignia, all within a rope twist border. The squadrons represented include Fighting Squadron 6 or 31 (Felix the Cat holding a bomb), Observation Squadron 3 (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit on a missile), Cruiser Scouting Squadron 8 (leaping dolphins), Bombing Squadron 6 (leaping ram), Utility Squadron 3 (Pluto on a cloud), Cruiser Scouting Squadron 9 (Phoenix) and Utility Squadron 2 U.S.S. Saratoga (Rooster). American, circa 1935. Claude Augustus Swanson, the Secretary of the Navy appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reputedly gave this screen to Johan Trumpy, a shipbuilder who provided important services to the U.S. Navy in WWII. Trumpy’s company designed the Presidential Yacht USS Sequoia used by Roosevelt while he was in office (1933-1945) and his ships were frequently chartered by Walt Disney before the War. The insignia were created as part of a major public works program directed by Roosevelt’s Federal Emergency Relief Administration in May 1935 and can now be found in the Smithsonian Institute. The Ogden family were highly connected throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. Two brothers, John and Richard, had emigrated before the middle of the 17th century and settled in New England as architects and master builders. Their descendants have been prominent in politics, commerce and the learned professions. The crest signifies the vale of oaks (oak-dene) granted by Charles II to John Ogden...

This piece is a part of Brendan Bass’s one-of-a-kind collection, Le Monde. French for “The World”, the Le Monde collection is made up of rare and hard to find pieces curated by Brend...

1900s French vintage fruit picking / painting ladder. 1900s French vintage artists painting ladder library steps / shop display This ladder will be great as an vintage library steps...

Impressive vintage carved wood architectural ladder carved by Dogan people to access their dwellings. Mounted on a 12 x 15 base, the ladder is now a sculptural piece of African art.

19th C. rustic library ladder. Most of the original paint has worn off but it has a great patina.