Side by Side
Lot 1390 in the March 25th Firearms, Militaria, and Sporting auction was a lovely example of a W. J. Jeffrey & Co side by side shotgun. The barrel bears the inscription “W. J. Jeffrey & Co. Ltd., 13 King St.,…
Pick of the Week
Starr of the Show
A recent crossing of the the auction block in our March 25th Firearms, Militaria, and Sporting auction was a fine, untouched example of a Nathan Starr model 1816 musket. This particular example was made for the Delaware militia, with a…
With Wings & Scales, Through Myth & Fable
As objects of Chinese culture, horses carry us beyond the borders of any one area or aspect. Closely related to dragons, horses flew, sometimes with wings and scales, through myth and fable in ancient China, carrying deities across the heavens.…
Gorham Versailles Sterling Serving Pieces
One of my favorite lots in our upcoming January 28th and 29th, 2021 Americana & International Auction is this group of sterling serving pieces by Gorham. The Versailles pattern was created in 1888 by the Gorham’s chief designer, Antoine Heller.…
Metamorphosis Femina Physicus
Where do 17th century art and science collide with a Doomsday cult? On the pages of “Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium,” a lavish folio of plant and insect engravings published in 1705 Amsterdam by the world’s first entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian, and…
Diary of a Not Wimpy Kid
On to the next auction! Pook and Pook Auction in Downingtown, Pennsylvania has been extremely busy with blockbuster sale after blockbuster sale. The estate sale of Linda and Dennis Moyer has come to an astounding conclusion, but there is not…
Hearts and Cows and Luck, Oh My!
I hope everyone gets the opportunity to come and visit the sales room for the preview of the collection of Linda and Dennis Moyer. The room looks fantastic! Call 610-269-4040 to set up a time to look. It has been…
Stella…STELLA!
I thought that I had better not miss the “pick of the week” this week. I have the dilemma of choosing items from the collection of Linda and Dennis Miller which is chock full of all the things that I…
No Bad Hare Days Here
Sitting here staring at this wonderful catalog and having my usual problem, there is too many items for pick of the week. Ship paintings have always been a favorite of mine and there are several to choose from, the Peter…
A Little Mercury Vapor, a Dash of Copper
Looking through the different photographs we have sold over the years, this daguerreotype really stood out to me. This full plate daguerreotype (lot 1410, 4/28/18 auction) was made by Jacob Byerly of Frederick, Maryland. Born in 1807, Byerly became one…
World’s Fair
My pick of the week this week looks back to March of 2018, when we sold this rare Columbian Exposition still bank for $3,416. The back reads “Complements of Smith Gray and Co Clothiers – New York and Brooklyn”. Tailer…
To Live Deliberately
For my pick this week, I decided to take a closer look at lot 1210 in our upcoming decorative arts sale on May 20th. It is a lot of three signed prints of Up From The Woods, a painting by…
Where did Antarctica go?
Tucked away in a corner of our upcoming May Online Only Decorative Arts auction we have a real treasure map! Or at least, it’s a really treasured map. An engraved map of the Western Hemisphere with hand-colored borders published in…
Roasting on an Open Fire
Our upcoming January 17th and 18th Americana and International Auction has provided many great things to choose from for our pick of the week. I focused on day one which begins on Friday January 17th at 6:00 PM EST in…
Schuetzen If You Got ‘Em
After an unexcused absence from my pick of the week duties, I am back for this week with a piece from the firearms and militaria auction to be held here at Pook and Pook Auction in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The sale…