Folk Art

Beautiful federal two drawer blanket chest in the original blue paint ad retaining its gorgeous old dry surface. Beautiful cut apron across the front as well as the sides. This chest also retaining the original brass pulls with Greek key pattern. Height of feet is completely intact. The top is attached with the original cotter-pins. Likely Connecticut This item can be viewed in person at The Berkshire Galleries in Great Barrington...

Presented is a vintage, Bellamy-style, hand carved wooden eagle. This late 19th century to early 20th century wood eagle is bronze-brushed with a painted red, white, and blue shield. It supports a shield in its right talon as the head looks to its left. In its left talon is a bundle of arrows. When Charles Thomson put together the final design for the Great Seal, he placed a bundle of thirteen arrows in the eagle's left (sinister) talon. The official description specifies the bald eagle holding "in his sinister, a bundle of thirteen arrows." The thirteen arrows are tightly aligned – a symbol of "strength in unity" that's found in the traditional cultures everywhere, from the Romans to the Iroquois— in this case a nod to the unity of the original 13 colonies. The clutched shield has a blue chief. Twenty one alternating red and white stripes complete the shield design. With carved detailed feathers and a dramatic expression, this stylized eagle is an interesting work of art. The relief carving is styled after John Bellamy, a well known folk artist made popular in the late 19th century for his stylized eagles and ship carvings...

Antique American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889, a period silk made in the "Dancing Star" pattern, where the stars are oriented at an alternating upright and slanted angle (prior to being standardized by Congress). The 39 star flag was never an official American flag sanctioned by Congress, but was made by states to celebrate the two Dakotas admission into the Union in 1889. The flag is in very good condition, with only a few very small stains, just sufficient to call attention to the age of this flag. Conservation mounted on fabric backing in a tiger maple frame...

This is a stunning 1818 broadside engraving of the Declaration of Independence, the first engraved broadside of our nation’s founding document. The year 1815 saw the conclusion of th...

Scarce antique flag with the Commodore Perry motto from the War of 1812. A fine woolen bunting flag with machine stitched border (dating it to after 1841) and with hand cut and cross-stitched letters (in comparison stars were usually done this way until the 1880s, and rarely after the 1890s). The header has brass grommets which became standard by 1890 (until restricted during World War II). Despite having apparently only enjoyed light use, the fabric has warped a bit from age. Overall this flag clearly dates from before WW II, and all physical evidence strongly indicates an origin from circa the 1890s. "Dont Give Up The Ship" was the battle cry from the Battle of Lake Erie, echoing the dying words of Captain James Lawrence when the USS CHESAPEAKE was lost to HMS SHANNON off Boston on 1 June 1813. His friend Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry...

Antique American 46 Star flag, circa 1908, celebrating the admission of Indian Territory as the state of Oklahoma. An official flag of the United States f...

Antique American 45 star flag, circa 1896, a printed muslin flag with a "Dancing Star" pattern arranged in an 8 - 7 ---8 - 7 -8 - 7 format. This was an of...

Antique American 45 Star Flag with Gilt Metallic Fringe, circa 1896, a large flag with 45 stars set in a "Dancing Star" pattern on the blue canton - prior to Congress setting a stand...

19th century copper Eagle weather vane, likely by A.L. Jewell & Co., Waltham, MA, circa 1860, a diminutive cast and welded copper hollow eagle weather van...

With wings spread high and richly molded detail this gilt on copper eagle weathervane, dating to the late 19th century, is mounted on a belted...

A beautifully giltwood Federal style mirror featuring églomisé scenes of the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, a famous early naval battle in the war of 1812 won by USS Constitutio...

An absolute delight, this jewel has a wonderful early and complex red-wash surface over a dense tulip poplar body. The top is affixed on iron cotter pin hinges, lifting to reveal a t...