Art Dealers Association of America Historical Memorabilia

Cast Iron mechanical bank manufactured in Littlestown and Deer Park Pennsylvania. Imswiler and Saylor (note embossing on bottom plate) purchased casting rights and manufactured the f...

This is a rare tin that was used to sell and promote marshmallows. The top of the tin is decorated to reflect the Boy Scouts in their ubiquitous camping tradition of sitting around t...

The theme of the hand carving to this 19th century meerschaum pipe is that of a full bodied boar in full stride outside of a brick house with foliage above. A floral bouquet is carved in high relief to the underside of the bowl. The rough hewn long stem is characteristic of wood from a hard root tree; the stem ends in a horned mouthpiece. Meerschaum refers to the mineral sepiolite which was soft enough to carve with, yet hard enough to ward off the ill effects of the heat and tar, both in the long term aesthetics to the bowl, and to provide the short term pleasure of a "cool" smoke. This mineral is predominantly found in Turkey and is derived from fossilized remains of sea urchins. The 19 1/2" overall length of the pipe makes it one of the longer pipes you'll find, and along with the meerschaum bowl and hard wooden stem, both of these factors provided ample opportunity for the smoke to cool down before reaching the smoker. Pipes of this length are called "Churchwarden Pipes" and were made so that those smoking a pipe for a long period of time, like readers, could do so without getting smoke in their eyes. Worth noting is the date "1856" carved into the side of the bowl, obviously to commemorate an event; possibly the Crimean war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, which ended in that year and concluded with the Treaty of Paris in March of the same year. Being that the mineral used to make Meerschaum pipes...

This mechanical bank manufactured by "Duro Mold and MFG. Inc." (embossed underneath) was made in 1962 to commemorate John Glenn's triple orbit of the eart...

Fine walking stick made by luxury goods maker Tiffany & Co. of New York City; American, circa 1925. Made of fine quality grained black walnut, and standing 36" high, this is decorate...

This all original turn of the century coffee grinder was made commercially for the grinding of coffee in large quantities, thus it would have been on a counter top in a general store or used in places like hotels and restaurants. It is a great example of Americana, manufactured by the "Elgin National Coffee Mill...

This is the Cadillac of the commercially manufactured coffee grinders of the late 19th century, and a great piece of Victorian Americana. It is one of the largest of the counter top grinders, made for the country general stores by the “Enterprise Manufacturing Company” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1876. It was especially made to be presented and exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 where inventors and manufacturers were encouraged to bring their newest and most outstanding innovations to show the public, such as telephones (Thomas Edison), sewing machines (Singer), and this coffee grinder by Enterprise. With that in mind they produced a particularly fancy model (No. 10 as indicated on the wooden draw front), incorporating prolific decorative and elaborate multi colored stenciling throughout, and it was hand painted brightly in red and blue. This double wheeled coffee grinder is made of cast iron and very heavy, thus, the stenciling takes on a floral motif designed to soften the hard look of the cast iron to encourage the purchase of coffee. Another unusual aspect of this particular coffee grinder is the large solid urn...

This is one of the more rare and sought after still banks. Submarine on Base "Confederate Hunley" Still Bank depicts and commemorates, as stated on the facing name plate, "Sank Federal Gunboat Housatonic Feb. 17, 1864". Unfortunately, the 40 foot long "Hunley" also sank in the same battle killing it's entire crew. Only recently was it located at the bottom of Charleston harbor and raised in the year 2000. The reverse facing plate says " Citizens & Southern National Bank of South Carolina"; a bank which was established in 1887 but has since merged. Manufactured by Banthrico Inc. in Chicago, circa 1950s, this particular example is quite extraordinary in that, it is in mint condition; has the original banthrico key; comes with the original shipping box; and most significantly, it still has the elusive plunger which is missing almost all of the time. The reason being is because the plunger fits loosley in the small hole provided for it at the back of the submarine. There are no repairs of any kind. Olive colored paint is completely intact. Coins are deposited and removed via a locking coin trap underneath the base (see image). It is as if purchased from the store or acquired from the bank when opening an account. A great opportunity, to acquire for your collection, a totally complete, best condition example of this difficult to find still bank. Collectors of nautical memorabelia would also appreciate this item. Dimensions: 10" long (with plunger attached) x 2 1/4" wide x 2 3/8" high. Fits in 8 1/4" long box with plunger detached for shipping. The bank is noted as #501 page 121 in the extensive Banthrico reference book "Coin Banks" by James L. Redwine written in 2001. I am a leading specialist in the field of antique coin...

Oversized hand held fan with lithographed image on silk depicting "Agricultural Building World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1893. Mekim, Mead & White ...

Original and authentic tintype portraying a Civil War union soldier as indicated by the distinguishing hat, strap, buckle, and buttons of the uniform. Be...

Iconic lithograph, circa 1901, depicts a wagon train under siege. Advertising is by the leading wagon and coach producer, Mitchell & Lewis Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The image is from a painting by Gean Smith (1851-1928) who was a painter and illustrator, famous for his accurate depiction of horses. Some of his paintings have brought as much as $30,000. A copy of this lithograph is in the Library of Congress. Born in 1810, Henry Mitchell...

Wooden tip tray with San Francisco Cliff House images was probably used on sight in the bar or sold as a souvenir. It dates from the 1930s. Located on the Poi...