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Vibrant Small
Paint Decorated
Pantry Box
Northeast, Pennsylvania to New England, ca. 1820-1850.
Round, thick walled, appears to be ash and poplar, with original rich forest green paint decorated by a central pinwheel/sunburst radiating outward, encircled by the rhythmic movement of two rows of alternating bittersweet and dark red-brown sawtooth patterns. The slightly irregular spacing and brushwork give the design an unmistakably handmade, folk-art vitality. The lid shows nice hand-planed tool marks.
Clenched cut-nail joinery. Appealing size of just 4 ¾ inch diameter x 2 5/8 tall. Structurally superb condition, retaining an undisturbed surface with scattered abrasions..
Double Wallbox
Rich Green Paint
.....SOLD
Probably New England, ca. early 19th century.
High character, beautifully worn original green paint with strong patina. Two wells for candles, etc., the upper well with sloped-forward side-walls
.
Robustly made. Large square-headed cut-nail joinery. Backboard exhibits pit-sawn and hand-plane tool marks. The underside unpainted with dark patina. Structurally excellent condition with minor imperfections.
About 15 1/4 inches wide x 14 1/4 tall x 7 1/4 deep. May be hung or rest on a horizonal surface.
From a premier Midwest collection of painted antiques. .
Painted
Fingered Box
New England, likely Hingham, ca. mid-19th century.
Dry, early soft mellowed red paint over first black. Pine top and bottom with maple side wall. Typical of the Hingham form, opposing fingers joined by cut nails, clenched over on the inside.
About 6 ¼ inches x 4 5/8 wide x 2 ½ tall. Strong color by itself or paired/stacked with other colors.
Early Painted
Dovetailed
Coffee Mill
Northeast America, ca. 1840.
In rich warm red paint on what appears to be poplar. A precursor of a later common form, this early example has cut-nail and dovetailed joinery. The bowl is made from pewter, the handle of iron with a turned-wood knob. The thumbnail molded drawer retains its original wood pull.
About 7 ½ inches square x 5 ¾ to the top of the case x the handle adding another 4 inches in height
Exuberant
Folk Art Painting
America, ca. 1840–1860.
Oil on canvas
Strong and unusual American folk art still life from the period of American Fancy. The composition centers on a floating arrangement of fruit, including a prominent pineapple, a symbol of luxury and hospitality. A bird in flight and highly stylized branchwork add movement and visual interest. The branches take on a suggestive, almost zoomorphic character. Bold color and a confident, folk-painted surface throughout.
American Fancy was a cultural, decorative, and artistic movement that celebrated imaginative, colorful, and bold design, reflecting the youthful optimism of the new nation. It marked a shift away from restrained neoclassical styles toward artistic exuberance, delighting in whim, surprise, and sensory experience, and was driven by the era's fascination with imagination.
Relined with new stretcher. Scattered inpainting. Housed in a very good period ripple frame. Frame size approximately 27 ½ x 21 ¼ inches. Signed lower right “C.F. Miller”.
Purchased September 15, 1979, from Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, lot 30.
Important provenance available upon request. .
Paint Decorated
'White Star'
Militia Canteen
New England, probably New Hampshire or Massachusetts, ca. 1800-1825.
Super bone-dry surface in original blue paint centered by a white star. The white star on blue ground likely represents the militia unit for which the canteen was decorated (reflecting the strong pride of the members to be part of this militia).
Thick walled, very stoutly made from what appears to be pine and ash. Although this canteen remains very solid, several places sustained damage in use at the interface with the back or bottom.
About 7 ¾ inches diameter x 2 ¼ tall.
Boldly
Chip-Carved Box
Probably Northeast, ca. late 19th century.
Softwood retaining a highly patinated brown pigmented varnish. Geometric carving on the lid, front, and sides, as deeply sculpted as one will find. Bracket base. The name “Carmella” is written under the lid.
About 12 inches long x 5 deep x 5 tall. Excellent condition.
Provenance: Over 25 years in a Northeast collection. Pictured insitu in Antiques and Fine Art Magazine, Summer, 2013 (a photo of its posting included).
Rare Firkin
POW’D SUGAR
.....SOLD
Northeast, ca. mid 19th century.
This very dry white-painted firkin is elevated considerably in appeal and rarity by the painted POW’D SUGAR label. Look closely to see that the hyphen is positioned below the letter D, and a period is placed after the letter R, the post-word period is often seen in earlier 19th century trades signs and labeled boxes.
Cooper made with staved construction, bands held by copper nails. This is the first powdered sugar labeled box or firkin I have seen in person or in reference.
The firkin presents as a lovely soft and quiet piece, very appealing alone, yet the label adds considerably to the interest and aesthetics.
About 11 ¼ inches tall. Very good condition with period paint wear and an ancient loss to one of the bands on the bottom back.
Provenance includes Jan Whitlock, and a superb private Northeast collection.
Early Painted
Tabletop Lighting Stand.
Rare Octagonal Base
.....SOLD
New England, ca. 18th century.
Skillfully turned from what appears to be chestnut, retaining the original very dry brown paint, the color presenting as reddish-brown in sunlight. The design features a rare form-slightly domed-octagonal base-the facets with “lambs tongue” crests. The base supports a baluster-turned lower section leading to hand-cut threads to allow raising and lowering the candle arm. The two-light candle arm echoes the baluster-turning on the column. Interesting to note that the figure (rings) of the wood are remarkably tight together due to the wood being from an old-growth tree having grown very slowly.
At just 21 inches tall, this lighting stand was not for the floor, rather would have been carried from room to room and placed on a table or chest. Terrific condition. Provenance includes Sam Forsythe and a private Midwest collection.