Rare Engraved and Signed Iron Tobacco Box

A rare English sheet iron tobacco box engraved with an unusual scene of a gentleman shooting at a flying bird with his musket (precariously close to a house!) This type of draw box, with patterned pierced holes on the reverse (whose function remains obscure), has variously been called a "boot powderer” or a “hand warmer”, but the recent discovery of one with the saying “Good Virginia Within I have…” makes clear that they were made as tobacco boxes. Often made in Birmingham, dating from the 1730s to the 1780s, they were often signed by the maker, in this case by  "T (Thomas) Shaw”. 
Birmingham, England, c. 1760-75.
4 3/4” x 2 1/8"

For illustrations of other boxes of this form, and for much more information about their manufacture, use and history, cf. Fennimore, Iron at Winterthur, pp. 330-339.

SOLD.

 
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Folk Art in Furniture

An imaginative cherry Connecticut Queen Anne highboy, with square carved Spanish feet,  knees carved with hearts, carved shells and rosettes on the body, fluted and canted quarter columns, and original finials
Woodbury/Southbury area, CT, c. 1760.
83” h., x 35 1/4” w. (upper case), 38 1/4” w. (lower case).    

SOLD.

 
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Extremely Rare Stoneware Miniatures

Left:

Miniature 17th c. Westerwald flagon with marked pewter lid, in very fine condition.
Germany, c. 1600-25.
5 ¼” h. overall, 4 ½” h. (stoneware).
SOLD.

Right:

Miniature Westerwald ewer with excellent detail and in superb condition.
Germany, c. 1650.
5 ½” h.
SOLD.

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William & Mary Ballfoot Blanket Chest

A lovely William and Mary one drawer blanket chest with unusually well laid out double arch molding design and especially elegant turned ball feet. Chest is one of a group with similarly distinctive ball feet.
New England, early 18th c.
39” w. x 35 ½” h. x 17 ¾” d.
Excellent condition, in untouched red painted surface with evidence of slightly later faint yellow decoration. Escutcheons original, two brasses on drawer replaced.

SOLD.

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"M.H. 1790"

Extremely rare signed and dated 18th c. quillwork mirror.
American or English, 1790.
11 1/2” x 12 1/4”.
Stamped on the reverse “John S. Walton Inc.”

For similarly dated and initialled (“LH 1737”), though much more elaborate, work by Lydia Hutchinson, cf. Women’s Work, Embroidery in Colonial Boston, p. 16, fig. 7. The simplicity of the border and the late 18th c. date may suggest further research into a possible American origin. 

SOLD.

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“Prudence Catechiseing (sic) the Children"

An extremely charming New England needlework and watercolor picture illustrating a tale from John Bunyan’s allegorical Pilgrim’s Progress (1678). In the narrative Prudence, a damsel who lives in the House Beautiful, asks Christiana if she can cathechise Christiana’s children James, Joseph, Samuel, and Matthew. She speaks to the children in order of their age.
Connecticut or Massachusetts, c. 1800-20.
Silk and watercolor on silk.
20” x 17 ½”

SOLD.

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Two Early Brass Candlesticks

 

Two exceptional late 15th c./early 16th c. brass candleholders in superb condition.

L: A beautifully balanced candlestick with opposing pear-shaped teardrops and balanced by three discoidal knops. Northwest Europe, c. 1500; 9 1/4” h. SOLD.

R: An extremely fine, unusually elegant, candleholder with corrugated baluster. Nuremberg, Germany, c. 1500; 9 1/8” h. SOLD.

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Early 18th c. Folk Art

 

A wonderfully charming early 18th c.needlework pastoral riff on the story of Cupid and Psyche—a determined Cupid about to “smite” the unaware object of his affections.
England, 1st quarter 18th c.
In great color and condition.
9” x 8 1/2” (needlework); 12 3/4” 12 1/2” (framed).

SOLD.

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