Wood Primitives

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...

Most unusual Georgian oak tea caddy fashioned from a single block of timber, hollowed out from the inside, retaining original gilt lacquer brass handle and iron lock, the whole with ...

Interesting early 19th century English Folk Art carved and painted wooden tray with traces of original paint. This tray is a charming example a country craftsperson attempting to imi...

Primitive root bowl, Sweden, circa 1790. Large sized root-wood bowl with primitive mending. Measures: 20" W x 16.5" D x 7" H.

Large lattice form with nail construction.

American wood horse tack rack, late 19th century. The rack originally was made for horse tack. It has a lovely old surface. Dimensions: 8 inches high ...

Unusual English 19th century brass bound dough trench, a shallow long bowl with four spindle handles all carved from a single bock of larch, having the owner's branded initials, L.K....

A large and important artifact, this hardwood and hand-carved African tribal granary door measures approximately 65" in height and has been kept in amazin...

with interesting form and color

Primitive wood figure with original remnants of clothing, uniquely carved

Primitive wash stand with unusual three legged base, the front leg is carved as a lions claw

A stylized Indian polychrome wooden figure of a woman in a standing posture retaining the majority of its original painted surface. Circa 1850-1880.