M.S. Rau More Furniture and Collectibles
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19th Century Tester Bed
Located in New Orleans, LA
This lavish American tester bed exhibits superior craftsmanship and detail. The design is embellished with elaborate carvings on the headboard and sides. The stunning wood grain enha...
Category
Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Silk, Wood
Goyard Travel Trunk With Bar
By Goyard
Located in New Orleans, LA
This early 20th-century Goyard travel trunk with a fitted bar stands as a testament to the splendor of its era. Adorned with the iconic Goyard chevron pattern meticulously hand-paint...
Category
20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Edo Period Samurai Suit Of Armor
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Tetsusabiji Uchidashi Gomai Dou Gusoku (Five-Plate Russet Iron Embossed Cuirass Armor), crafted in the 18th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Edo-period samurai arm...
Category
Antique 18th Century Asian Edo Arms, Armor and Weapons
Materials
Copper, Iron
Victorian Mahogany Jockey Scale By Leuchars & Son
By Leuchars & Son
Located in New Orleans, LA
An excellent piece of horse racing history, this English jockey scale was specially crafted by Leuchars & Son of London. These handsome scales were used at English tracks to determin...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Materials
Brass
Bronze Napoleon I Death Mask, From The Dr. Antommarchi Cast
Located in New Orleans, LA
This mesmerizing antique bronze death mask of the Emperor Napoleon I is cast from the mold created by Dr. Francesco Antommarchi, Napoleon’s personal physician and companion during th...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
French Metamorphic Opera Glasses, 18K Gold
Located in New Orleans, LA
These unique 18K metamorphic gold French opera glasses are the epitome of both elegance and luxury. Exquisitely engraved with delicate floral motifs, these glasses fold up perfectly ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Gold
William IV Terrestrial And Celestial Floor Globes By J. W. Cary
By John & William Cary
Located in New Orleans, LA
This stately pair of William IV Terrestrial and Celestial Globes was crafted by the esteemed mapmaking firm J. & W. Cary, exuding the essence of late Regency-era elegance. Beyond the...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Materials
Mahogany
The Mills Chicago Upright Slot Machine
By Mills Novelty Company
Located in New Orleans, LA
This impressive Chicago upright coin-operated slot machine was built by the leader of the slot machine movement in Chicago and around the world, the Mills Novelty Company. Manufactur...
Category
20th Century American Games
Materials
Nickel
Silverplate Cannon With Wheels
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional objet d'art is modeled after a cannon from the siege of Mafeking, a 217-day conflict in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It is composed of silverplate over c...
Category
20th Century English Victorian Models and Miniatures
Materials
Silver Plate, Copper
English Jockey Scale By Pooly & Son
Located in New Orleans, LA
This handsome English jockey scale comes from Pooly & Son of Liverpool, one of the leading manufacturers of weighing machines in the 19th century. These ingenious scales were used at...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Materials
Wood
Silver Cannon Lighter By Gibson & Langman
By Gibson & Langman
Located in New Orleans, LA
Ideal for both cigar aficionados and military enthusiasts, this Late Victorian silver cannon and carriage table lighter showcases four fully functional wheels, allowing it to be effo...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Silver
Arburo Orchestrion Organ By Bursens And Roels
By Arburo
Located in New Orleans, LA
Once a fixture in bustling dance halls, cafés and fairgrounds throughout Belgium and the Netherlands in early to mid-20th century, this incredibly rare, early Orchestrion organ is a masterpiece of automated music. Crafted by the Arburo firm run by Arthur Bursens and Gustav Roels, this mechanical marvel is essentially an entire band set within an elegantly constructed Art Deco cabinet. No two Orchestrions were ever created alike and each was made-to-order, one at a time. Each was crafted entirely by hand, even down to the paper music rolls...
Category
20th Century Belgian Art Deco Musical Instruments
Materials
Wood
Silver Fusée Singing Bird Box by Charles Bruguier
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extremely rare, early Swiss fusée singing bird box by the renowned Charles Bruguier combines exquisite artistry with outstanding mechanical cra...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Other Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Enamel
19th Century Swiss Gold Musical Vinaigrette
Located in New Orleans, LA
This early 19th century Swiss gold vinaigrette has the charming addition of a musical mechanism. The entire box is crafted of 14-karat yellow gold envelo...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold, Enamel
Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennial Silver-Gilt Casket
By Ian Calvert
Located in New Orleans, LA
"The Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell with him" — Queen Elizabeth II’s toast on October 21, 2005, at the official Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennial dinner
In 2005, the United Kingdom marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in grand fashion. Celebrations included memorable speeches by Queen Elizabeth II, awe-inspiring re-enactments of the renowned battle and extraordinary artwork commissions. This silver-gilt creation, one of the exceptional commissions to honor the bicentennial, represents an unprecedented collaboration of the best artists and craftsmen of their day. As one of only five of its kind ever made, this remarkable silver-gilt commemorative casket immortalizes Lord Horatio Nelson's legacy in captivating form.
The objet d'art intentionally evokes a graceful wave with its artfully crafted curved sides and bracket feet. The front showcases a hand-painted enamel portrait of General Horatio Nelson, exquisitely rendered on 18K gold by Gillie Hoyte Byrom. Turning the casket reveals a compelling scene of the legendary Battle of Trafalgar painted by Commander Geoff Hunt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Other Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Gold, Silver
Polyphon Autochange Disk Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
As exceptionally scarce as it is fascinating, this autochange disk player by the Polyphon Musikwerke in Leipzig, Germany can change between six disks and play with the incredibly rare addition of bells that accompany the music. Before a coin is dropped into the slot, slide the brass indicator until it points to the desired music selection, insert a penny, and the chosen song will play automatically. An extremely limited number of these automatic disk changers were ever created, and even fewer have survived in such outstanding condition.
Standing over seven feet tall, this particular model boasts a magnificent walnut case with handsome burl panels on its original, matching storage cabinet. A true technical marvel for its day, Polyphon’s automatic disk changer symbolizes pure ingenuity and superlative craftsmanship. This antique player...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Brass
Mermod Fréres Station Cylinder Music Box
By Mermod Frères 1
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptionally wonderful and rare automaton cylinder musical box by the Mermod Fréres firm of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland is a marvel of musical crafts...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Claude Montal Exposition Universelle Piano
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted by renowned French artisan and author Claude Montal, this piano was presented at the famed Crystal Palace exhibition in London in 1851, where it ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Musical Instruments
Materials
Bronze
French Malachite Backgammon Board
Located in New Orleans, LA
This stunning malachite backgammon set is almost certainly one-of-a-kind. Handcrafted of malachite, gilt brass and dyed leather, the favorite household game takes a luxurious form in this exquisite objet d’art. The backgammon board is cleverly concealed by two covers featuring exceptional Russian malachite. Its green swirls are resplendently elevated by intricate acanthus leaf ornamentation. The box opens to reveal the gameboard made of perfectly cut original red, black and green leather inlay. Exceptional and functional, the backgammon board is the epitome of fine French recreation.
Beyond the stunning materials and craftsmanship employed in its construction, this game set is further distinguished by its illustrious provenance. A testament to its immense beauty, exquisite craftsmanship and rarity, the backgammon board was acquired and loved by Sir Arthur and Rosalie Gilbert, among the 20th century’s most renowned philanthropists and art collectors. The couple made their fortune in the plastic, clothier and fashion industries. After retiring at the young age of 35, the couple went on to amass one of the world’s most extensive collections of fine and decorative art. The Gilberts’ collection, most of which was bequeathed to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London at their passing, celebrates some of the most astonishing items ever made, including objects crafted for Napoleon Bonaparte, Frederick the Great and William Beckford.
20th century
4" high x 14 7/8" wide x 23 1/2" deep
Provenance:
Private Collection of Sir Albert Gilbert...
Category
20th Century French Games
Materials
Malachite, Brass
Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope
Located in New Orleans, LA
Scientifically advanced and exquisitely crafted, this rare 19th-century gold and enamel Swiss telescope is an item of exceptional luxury. The Swiss cre...
Category
Antique 19th Century European Scientific Instruments
Materials
Gold, Enamel
Coronation of King George vi and Queen Elizabeth Glass Tankard
By Thomas Goode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Intricate engravings symbolic of the English monarchy decorate this limited edition glass tankard commemorating the 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. On one side...
Category
20th Century English Glass
Materials
Glass
Elizabeth II Commemorative Coronation and Accession Goblet
By Thomas Goode
Located in New Orleans, LA
This impressive engraved goblet was created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of England and coronation. Crafted by Thomas Goode & Co. around the coronation on June 2nd 1953, this vessel would have been a treasured souvenir of the joyous occasions. The historic events are marked by an engraving around the rim of the glass, which reads: "The Coronation of Queen...
Category
20th Century English Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Silver
Yates Gold Cup
By Hannah Northcote
Located in New Orleans, LA
Remarkable in scale and artistry, this George III-style cup and cover was created by the famed London silversmith Hannah Northcote. Set on a circular foot and taking the form of a vase, the cup features two leaf-capped handles and a detachable domed cover crowned with a bud finial. Astounding in craftsmanship given the scarcity of gold at the time of its creation, the sentimental message engraved within the frontal cartouche indicates the prestigious provenance that further distinguishes this cup.
Originally commissioned by Robert Peel, the father of 19th century British Prime Minister Robert Peel, the gold cup...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Gold
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Glass
Located in New Orleans, LA
This engraved glass was crafted to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Sixteen years following the coronation of her father, King George VI, the official coronation of Queen Elizabeth II represented a fascinating mix of tradition and modernity. Held at Westminster Abbey, it was the first official celebration of its kind ever to be televised — approximately 27 million people in the United Kingdom alone tuned in to watch their new Queen don her crown for the first time. Considering the widespread popularity of the event, commemorative objects such as this became highly desirable, as people around the world sought remembrances of the joyous occasion.
This glass is an exceptional example of its type that remains in excellent condition. One side reads "The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1953," while the other displays the initials "ER II...
Category
20th Century English Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass
Holland Circle by Baumann and Kinzelbach
Located in New Orleans, LA
This intriguing item is almost certainly a Holland Circle by German scientific instrument makers Baumann & Kinzelbach. The Holland Circle, sometimes referred to as a Dutch Circle, was used in land surveying and is a precursor to the theodolite, an optical instrument for measuring angles. Baumann and Kinzelbach were based in Stuttgart, Germany, and in addition to crafting surveying instruments...
Category
Antique 19th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Gold and Agate Sewing Nécessaire
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stunning specimen of agate distinguishes this diminutive French sewing nécessaire. The segments of beautiful hard stone are perfectly complemented ...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Rococo Collectible Jewelry
Materials
Agate, Gold
Oak and Walnut Tester Bed
Located in New Orleans, LA
This lavish American oak and walnut tester bed exhibits superior craftsmanship and detail. The design is embellished by elaborate carving throughout ...
Category
Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Silk, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
19th Century Chilean Huaso Stirrups
Located in New Orleans, LA
This striking and rare pair of Chilean wooden stirrups are true gems. Also known as estribos, these stirrups are carved from a solid block of wood. Tak...
Category
Antique 19th Century Chilean Other Arms, Armor and Weapons
Materials
Silver, Steel
Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Guillotine
Located in New Orleans, LA
An incredible and extremely rare artifact of world history, this mutton bone model of a guillotine was created during the Napoleonic wars by a French prisoner of war. Many of the inmates at the prisoner of war camps were skilled artisans long before they were soldiers, and because of the long duration of the conflict and cost of care, their captors encouraged detainees to use their skills to create objects to be sold at civilian open markets. Because of the intricacy of these fascinating objets d'art, very few of these models have survived the test of time. This masterpiece is impeccably detailed with soldiers and cannons lining the platforms. Adding to the rarity of this piece is that it has moving parts, as only a scant few model carvings were ever created with such mechanical accuracy. The soldiers have movable arms, while the guillotine features a movable "blade" for added authenticity.
By many accounts, Napoleonic prisoners of war...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Models and Miniatures
Materials
Bone
Agate Grand Tour Obelisks
Located in New Orleans, LA
These impressive Egyptian Revival obelisks are crafted of dynamically patterned agate. The rare 19th-century models were almost certainly made in Italy during the height of the Grand Tour when the fervor for all things ancient pervaded the decorative arts. Rich in neoclassical elegance yet possessing an exotic worldliness, pieces such as these were extremely popular as Grand Tour souvenirs among members of the British aristocracy...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Egyptian Revival Natural Specimens
Materials
Agate
Rococo Style Pair of Twin Beds
By François Linke
Located in New Orleans, LA
Superior craftsmanship and elegant adornment characterize these exceptional, matching pair of mahogany twin beds by François Linke, the most influent...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
French Musical Automation Picture Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. A clock is integrated within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, and, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale.
This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of these fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back and into the middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting.
A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component, plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting -- a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Other Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Swiss Station Cylinder Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tiny dancers twirl to the melodious tunes produced by this Swiss station cylinder music box. The cylinder is joined by a drum and bells that give richness and depth to the wonderful music the box creates. Music boxes were at the height of fashion in the late 19th century and served as a status symbol for the European gentry. Switzerland was the birthplace of cylinder music boxes and home to the great majority of the most renowned manufacturers. This example, in its finely crafted English walnut case, boasts two combs, allowing the box to play in harmony for a richer, more complex song.
This particular style, commonly referred to as a “station” or “showcase” box, was used to entertain guests in hotel lobbies, train stations and other similar public places, and as such would have been coin-operated. This example, however, does not accept coins. This, combined with its overall quality, complexity and beauty, indicates it was made for a private household of significant means. Today, these ingenious musical masterpieces are highly sought-after by collectors of musical automata...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Brass
Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model B Music Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model B music cabinet is among the rarest and most advanced automatic music players of its time. The remarkable machine, crafted by renowned Leipzig firm of Ludwig Hupfeld, is one of the most mechanically complex music players ever made, boasting three self-playing violins accompanied by a self-playing piano. Once made in the 1000s to entertain patrons of upscale hotels, restaurants, and cafes, these extraordinary machines...
Category
20th Century German Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Wood
Jockey Scale by W & T Avery
By W & T Avery
Located in New Orleans, LA
A fantastic piece of horse racing history, this English jockey scale was specially crafted by W. & T. Avery of Birmingham. These handsome scales were used...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Materials
Iron
Domestic Medicine Chest by Thompson & Capper
By Thompson & Capper
Located in New Orleans, LA
An invaluable addition to the 19th century home, this domestic medicine chest contained nearly everything needed to nurse a member of the house...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Other Apothecary Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Mandolin Singing Bird Automaton Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...
Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Satinwood
19th Century Exhibition Model of Expanding Table by Samuel Hawkins
By Samuel Hawkins
Located in New Orleans, LA
A masterpiece of both cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering, this one-of-a-kind expanding table was crafted by the renowned cabinetmaker Samuel Hawkins of London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Diminutive in size, the fascinating table was designed as a model to demonstrate Hawkins’ innovative patent screw movement to visitors of the Exhibition – six million people in total over five months. It was exhibited again a century later at the Victoria & Albert Museum during the Festival of Britain, an event intended “to symbolise two main qualities of the national character: realism and strength on the one hand, and, on the other, independence and imagination” (Catalogue of the Exhibition, 1951, p.117). To this day, the miniature masterpiece demonstrates the quest of English furniture makers to combine technical innovation with superb craftsmanship.
Displaying exceptional ingenuity, Hawkins’ wind-out screw mechanism allowed one to extend the table’s base to accommodate concentric leaves with the simple crank of a handle. It is based on the inventive expanding table originally designed by Robert Jupe in 1835, which used a swivel mechanism to separate sections of the tabletop and allow for segmented leaves to be inserted. Hawkins’ tabletop, on the other hand, extends outwards directly from the center in order to accommodate additional leaves around its diameter. This unique design allowed the mechanism to also smoothly operate on rectangular tables, which could be wound out from the middle to allow for more table space.
Hawkins was not alone in his endeavor to combine the technical merits of engineering and mechanics with the most artful pursuit of cabinetmaking. The first half of the 19th century saw a prolific increase in the popularity of applying new ideas to traditional furniture principles, which allowed furniture to serve many purposes. The resulting “patent” furniture was practical and refined, though few were as innovative as Hawkins’ prodigious design.
Carved with the year of the Exhibition on the beautifully designed pedestal base, the table is a testament to the significance of this innovation. The model is mentioned in detail in the catalog of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first international exhibition of industry, manufacturing, and science. Held at London’s dazzling Crystal Palace, its visitors were treated to exhibits from around the globe, including feats of engineering, innovations in industry, and marvels of design. Queen Victoria herself was a frequent visitor, along with her husband, Prince Albert, and others including Charlotte...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Other Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Musical Automaton Picture Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
One of the most amazing timepieces we have ever acquired that offers far more than meets the eye, this incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. While it is clear to see the integrated clock residing within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale.
This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of this fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular farrier scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back, middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting.
A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which must run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting...a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Wall Clocks
Materials
Paint
George VI Coin Coronation Goblet
By T. Goode & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
A special silver coin commemorating the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth is inset into the base of this limited edition glass goblet. Crafted...
Category
20th Century English Other Glass
Materials
Glass
George III Silver Tray for Lt. Robert Chester
By Hannam & Crouch
Located in New Orleans, LA
This fascinating George III silver tray is a work of skillful English artistry, intricately chased and engraved it represents a prestigious commemorative gift for service. The tray rests on 4 bracket feet with oval handles and a delightful gadrooned border. The tray is distinguished by a spectacular engraved inscription of unmatched quality that bears a presentation inscription. The inscription is surrounded by a laurel wreath border with arms, two coat of arms and flags, two of which bear the monograms for King George III and George Spencer...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Platters and Serveware
Materials
Silver
Regina Upright Music Box
By Regina Company
Located in New Orleans, LA
An extraordinary and rare coin-operated Regina Sublima upright music box crafted by the Regina music box company, one of the most recognized music bo...
Category
Antique 19th Century American Other Musical Instruments
Materials
Oak
Cx-52 Model Swiss Cipher Machine
Located in New Orleans, LA
A triumph of ingenuity and craftsmanship, this Swiss cipher machine is a fabulous example of mechanical precision. Cipher machines are used to encrypt a...
Category
20th Century Swiss Other Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
Elizabeth II Commemorative Coronation Tyg
By T. Goode & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Created to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this engraved glass tyg is a beautiful celebration of this historic event. Held at Westminster Abb...
Category
20th Century English Other Glass
Materials
Glass
Swiss Gold Musical Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket.
Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Other Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Materials
Gold
Victorian Necessaire De Voyage
Located in New Orleans, LA
A wonderful English coromandel travel case, or necessaire de voyage, boasts toiletries adorned with Victorian silver, cut crystal, and mother-of-p...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Napoléon's Footbath by George Bullock
By George Bullock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This amazing footbath was created for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was part of the toilet service to be used during his exile on St. Helena. Just before shipm...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Empire Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Porcelain
Musical Jewelry and Sewing Casket
Located in New Orleans, LA
This charming musical jewelry and sewing box is a work of sublime artistry. Almost certainly German or Austrian in origin and crafted of deep, ebonized...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Other Decorative Boxes
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Bavarian Pharmacy Balance
Located in New Orleans, LA
This amazing and extremely rare Bavarian Biedermeier-period pharmacy balance stand would have been at home at any apothecary’s shop during the mid-19th century. Crafted of walnut with bold giltwood accents, this stand holds eight separate sets of balances with brass beams and pointers, and weighing pans made of Horn, brass and porcelain. The balances measure out varying sizes; the largest is capable of measuring up to 500 grams, while smallest weighs up to 5 grams. Such balances would have been essential tools in the practice of compounding, or creating customized medications to suit a specific patient's needs. The delicate porcelain scales even indicate what they were used to weigh: one set is marked “Jodoform,” or iodoform, a disinfectant and antiseptic once used to treat wounds, and the other is marked “Venena,” which is Latin for “poisons.” Each scale also exhibits stamps indicating that they have been tested for accuracy. It is extremely rare to find such a large array of scales, especially those in such wonderful condition, in one collection. This intriguing piece is a must for any medical antiques enthusiast.
The units of measurement in which apothecaries worked were often minute: grains, scruples, drams and ounces. As they were typically used to measure very small amounts of ingredients, apothecary and analytical balances...
Category
Antique 19th Century Balkan Biedermeier Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Portable Copying Machine by James Watt & Co.
By James Watt
Located in New Orleans, LA
Considered the first step into the world of modern photocopying, the copying machine was among the first widely used devices to successfully produce an ex...
Category
Antique 18th Century English Other Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Mahogany
Swiss Nema Cipher Machine
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Swiss-engineered cipher machine is a fascinating piece of 20th-century military and engineering history, and this particular example is one of the ...
Category
20th Century Swiss Other Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal
King Edward VIII Abdication Cup
By T. Goode & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This limited edition glass cup memorializes the accession and imminent abdication of King Edward VIII. Titled the Prince of Wales on his 16th birthday, Edward was crowned King of England in January 1936, but famously and scandalously abdicated his throne after less than a year in order to marry the American divorcee and socialite Wallis Simpson...
Category
20th Century English Other Glass
Materials
Glass
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Stonemason's Mallet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional and one-of-a-kind wooden mallet commemorates the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, which occurred on February 10, 1840. Exqu...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Wood
Aqueduct Wood Memorial Trophy Won by Personality
Located in New Orleans, LA
A rare and exceptional trophy, won by the thoroughbred personality at the 1970 Wood Memorial Stakes race held at the Aqueduct Racetrack. Beautifully craf...
Category
20th Century American Other Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Materials
Silver
The Mills Double Deluxe Violano Virtuoso
By Mills Novelty Company
Located in New Orleans, LA
One of only a handful ever made, this Double DeLuxe Violano Virtuoso, created by the Mills Novelty Company, is an extremely rare example of American musical automata, featuring not one, but two brilliantly tuned violins. Singled out by the U.S. government in 1909 as one of the eight greatest inventions of the decade when it was introduced at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, the Mills DeLuxe Violano-Virtuoso stands as one of the most important and incredible musical devices ever made. The “Double Mills,” as it was nicknamed, plays classical, operatic and popular music. It can play on a single or up to 15 nickels and has the ability to run for approximately an hour. It produces exceptional sound with a crisp tonal quality and melodious notes. Housed in a beautiful quarter-sawn oak case, each violin produces 64 notes and is accompanied by a 44-note piano.
It is truly rare to find a historical musical mechanism so complete, with such remarkable sound quality and in excellent condition. This particular Violano has been updated with a digital player system that allows song selections to be made over a WiFi connection. This gives the user a choice between digital downloads or traditional paper rolls for added convenience.
Perfected and patented in 1912 by Henry K. Sandell, the Violano-Virtuoso was produced in limited quantities until 1929 and could be found in the very finest restaurants, hotels and oceanliners. In fact, the Violano-Virtuoso was one of the few American-made mechanical musical devices to be distributed worldwide to the most exclusive international clientele.
The below testimonial was sent to the Mills Company by the Governor of Idaho, aptly describing the incredible music produced by the Violano-Virtuoso.
Dear Sir, Have just had the pleasure of listening to your wonderful Automatic Violin and Piano on exhibition at the Government Building here. This marvelous instrument certainly far surpasses anything that I have eve heard in automatic music. The tone and expression of the violin and the piano are so perfect and clear that is really hard to believe but that there is the human hand playing..."
Indeed, for the price of a nickel, the Mills Violano...
Category
20th Century North American Art Deco Musical Instruments
Materials
Wood
Terrestrial Globe by W. & A.K. Johnston
By W. & A.K. Johnston
Located in New Orleans, LA
Measuring a monumental 30 inches in diameter, this impressive globe was crafted by the renowned firm W. & A.K. Johnston. Founded in 1825, the Johnston firm is considered the foremost...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Globes
Materials
Brass
Ornamental Turning Lathe, No. 1906 by Holtzapffel & Co
Located in New Orleans, LA
An essential tool in the creation and finishing of furniture, this 19th-century English ornamental lathe is an object of beauty in and of itself. The extraordinary machine...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vacheron Constantin Chronometer
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptionally rare and important precision chronometer, or deck watch, was crafted by the famed Vacheron Constantin. One of the most accurate instrumen...
Category
20th Century Swiss Other Nautical Objects
Materials
Mahogany
Commemorative King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Coronation Goblet
By T. Goode & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegantly formed glass goblet was crafted specifically to celebrate the coronation of Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The cup's bowl ...
Category
20th Century English Other Glass
Materials
Glass
Victorian Nécessaire de Voyage
Located in New Orleans, LA
A work of extraordinary craftsmanship, this exquisite English vanity case is as much an item of luxury as it is of necessity. Known as a nécessaire de voyage...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Glass, Wood
