Collectibles and Curiosities

The Classic Jumbo desk lighter with bridge scoring by the Clark Brothers. This is a very nice desk-petrol table lighter created in England during the art-deco period, back in 1930. ...

Rare 1930s Elastolin Farm / Yard. over 65 pc. O&M Hausser.. Antique toys, made in Germany,,Over 50 year collection. Amazing Early Elastolin Farm compri...

Large size Vornado vintage antique electric fan powerful performance Art Deco era electric table desk top fan with modern industrial design. One speed operation. 18.75 H x 16 W x 8...

Black Bakelite bangle bracelet with sterling silver band adornment. Measures: 2 3/8" inside circumference.   

Circa 1940 is polished to chrome steel with walnut-finished handlebars in the style of Bowden Tricycle. This large tricycle with easy fit a small adult 5' 6". Feel to message me wi...

Desk cigarettes humidor box with lighter designed by Ronson. This is an amazing desk cigarettes box & touch-tip lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Lighter Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1937. This is a rare near mint box with a single lid with a five-barrels hinge and an integrated touch tip striker lighter. It was designed with strong geometric patterns and crafted in solid chromed steel. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great color contrast and the interiors are lined up with natural cedar wood. Extremely well made and solid construction with great care and attention to details. This surely is a very decorative piece and should be a great conversation item. Model: 16268. Country: New Jersey, United States. Period: Art Deco, 1937. Materials: Chromed steel, cedar wood, black lacquer. Weight: 897.5 Grams, (1.96 Pounds). Measurements: 203 mm by 102 mm by 89 mm (8.0 x 4.0 x 3.5 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "FASHIONED BY RONSON NEWARK NJ US PATS BRITISH PAT IN CANADA 1935 NEWARK NJ-USA-ART METAL WORKS INC. RONSON-TOUCH-TIP ". The Ronson Lighter Company The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Louis Vincent Aronson Louis Vincent Aronson was an American inventor, industrialist and philanthropist who is best remembered as the inventor of Ronson lighters. "He was a son of Simon and Jennie Aronson, who were natives of Prussia. He was born December 25, 1869, in New York City, and there his boyhood was spent. Aronson was an exceptionally gifted young man who graduated from public school at the age of 12 before entering a New York Technical School specializing in metallurgy, practical metal working and mechanical drawing. At the same time, he set up a laboratory in the basement of his parents' home where he experimented with plating processes and turned-out money-making items while he devised ways of metalizing common items, in a durable finish of matte gold, including flowers, butterflies, animal claws and baby shoes. Aronson natural ability for designing was honed at the technical school and served him well throughout his life. He excelled and completed the School four year academic program in three years. When he graduated in 1886, at the age of 16, he was qualified as an Expert Metallurgist, Draftsman and Designer, he also had a high-level knowledge of Chemistry. He returned to the school five years later as an instructor in metallurgy for several years before devoting all his time to his own company. When he was 24 years old, he sold the rights to a commercially valuable metal plating process according to Urban Cummings book Ronson, The World’s Greatest Lighters, Wick Lighters 1913–2000. He gained public recognition when he won an award in 1893 from the Belgian government for the creation of the first non-toxic match, and young businessman Aronson received 50,000 Francs, equaling $10,000 in U.S. dollars. In 1897 he received a U.S. patent (592,227) for a match design (called the Wind-match) that would light in windy conditions or when wet. He continued working on his match designs including inventing the “Birds Eye” or “Kitchen” match that had a dual-tip design in 1903; this was an important safety improvement because friction matches of the day would sometimes light accidentally especially when stepped on or while in one’s pocket. He realized that placing a small friction ignition chemical on the tip instead of the entire match-head greatly limited accidental ignition. This style of match is still in use today. Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter: Wick Lighters 1913-1966 Bird Dog Books, California. 1992. Pp-168 Figure-187 for this box illustrated. Note: This piece and the touch-tip lighter are empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier, Condition: The overall condition of this Ronson cigarettes...

Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. New York: Random House, 1930. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. First trade edition (thus). Octavo. Original publisher’s pictorial black front cloth board, s...

Alpine Ski photograph. 'St. MORITZ', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Prior to being a recreational activity skiing was purely a means of travelling from A to B through the snow, it only started to become the sport it is today in the mid-1800s. St. Moritz is a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland's Engadin valley. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, has the Cresta Run...

Interesting Department Store Window Display Prop Shelf. Heavy clear glass cloud form abut 3/16th on steel jack base, rubber feet to one side and ball feet...

Original Poul Hennigsen piano, circa 1930. Has been fully remastered and in beautiful condition. In 1930, the Danish creative genius, Poul Henningsen, reimagined what a piano could be when he created the PH Grand Piano...

The original 1948 handmade boutique pocket lighter with an elongated tank shape reminiscent of the M4 Sherman Tank. The textured silver surface displays intricate ornate patterns, a ...

Original 1940 Swiss-made gold-filled Men's dress watch by Helbros features an elegant Art Deco design with a unique tonneau-shaped case. The watch is adorned with rubies at the corne...

An original edition of the Coronation Souvenir Book of King Gorge VI 1937 by Gordon Beckles, Published by Daily Express Publication, London, 1937 This edition was published to mark ...

World War II era Imperial Japanese Type 30 bayonet with hooked quillon, wood grip, and metal scabbard. This early model was made between 1936 and 1943 and came from the Tokyo or Koku...

Spanish wood Montserrat virgin statue made of painted. Made in Barcelona, Spain. The Classic religious figure is beautifully ornate and has wonderful details throughout her rob...

A 1940s handmade silver pendant with a 55 cm handmade silver chain. Made by the Danish Royal Court Silversmith Einar Dragsted circa 1948-50. The pendant measures: 55mmx38mm. Fully ha...

Stylish Art Deco wood airplane propeller model mounted on a geometric wood and metal display. This Art Deco model airplane is in solid wood with a lovely warm patina. It has one larg...

Wonderful cross with micro mosaic inlays, it is an early example of a souvenir - perhaps from a pilgrimage - to Rome, Italy, made in the 1920s / 30s. This so-called Grand Tour objec...

Japanese Ex-navy 20 x 120 binoculars. A large pair of Japanese ex-navy observation binoculars mounted on a vintage adjustable wooden tripod. The WWI...

Original French film poster for Mickey Mouse - Silly Symphony 1938. To-date this is believed to be the only known surviving example. The Silly Sympho...

Vintage Art Deco Silver Cigarette Case. Very good condition.

What makes this model so special is that all the hunting devices are still present: spears, harpoons, spear thrower, wood float board, and bladder, paddles and other equipment used for seal hunting. Please note how well these are made in a stunning combination of wood and bone and lashed on deck under bone and sinew spear securers. Despite the kayak frame...

A decorative building sculpture as a souvenir. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is due to age. Made of metal. This item was purchased as a souvenir in Paris, France and was pro...

This set took me over 20 years to procure.....Dont miss this opportunity!!!!Being offered extremely rare collection of aluminum string instruments,,string bass, ,cello,,and violin....... circa 1930s, all 3 instruments originaly wood grain painted, have been stripped and polished.. re-strung and set up, new bridge and custom (alcoa) tail piece, original ebony fret board, All play and Sound amazing. If purchasing to play, wonderful decorative sculpture, Pfretzschner aluminum bass In 1928, The Aluminum Company of America manufactured 50 aluminum double basses...

American brass ship's double engine order telegraph mounted on circular mahogany base. E. O. T. has been electrified and has a faint bell ring when changing positions. Bendix Corpor...

Art Deco period penny scale by Mills Novelty co. Period green porcelain pedestal with cream colored foot hold.

Vintage, Alpine ski photograph. 'Happy Skiers', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Black and white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge. Prior to being a recreational activity skiing was purely a means of travelling from A to B through the snow, it only started to become the sport it is today in the mid-1800s. The price displayed is for the mounted photo only. Image size 25.5cm x 40cm = 10 x 15 ½" ". The alpine photograph...

Made by Houzex, this brown and green slag ashtray features a spelter metal sculpture of a nude flapper girl smoking a long pipe. This is a great example o...

A stunning Art Deco style platinum ladies wristwatch with diamonds. This beautiful watch features a platinum case surrounded by 1.75-carat of diamonds. The case is marked 900 platinu...

Decorative chrome Art Deco Round Ball lighter on a black enameled stepped base with a chromed figural sculpture of a ball player in mid-throw. This matchin...

First edition of this iconoc, definite text on cocktails features highly decorative pictorial endpapers. The book is illustrated throughout in Art Deco manner by Gilbert Rumbold. On ...

Vintage Cartier goldstone and silver lighter. A most handsomely chic objet by Cartier from the Forties. Carved goldstone with smooth varied patterning in cylindrical form with silve...

An Octette desk lighter designed by Ronson. This Ronson Touch-Tip Octette table lighter was made between 1935 and 1951 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jers...

Cobalt blue and gold Forties cigarette case card holder. Vintage enameled blue metal case on gold ball feet with hinged curving lid with small har...

Art Deco ashtray stand This beautiful and rare Art Deco Ashtray Stand from the 30s/40s is in the streamline modern art deco style. The designer of this extraordinary object has succ...

Zeiss German Jumelles WW2 12 x 60 Binoculars . These Zeiss Binoculars were primarily used by Luftwaffe Flak Artillery ground crews for spotting and identifying enemy aircraft and directing the crew served Rangefinders, Searchlights and Flak Cannons of the Anti-Aircraft batteries based around many German and occupied ports, cities and industrial centres. Due to their superb optics they naturally also proved useful on the battlefield for tactical observation and from the outset of 1939 were used in many theatres of war by the German Army. Presented here are a very high quality set of binoculars, manufactured by Zeiss bearing the marker of 'Jumelles 12 x 60' , indicating that they would have been made between 1942 and 1944 in occupied France. This set are unpolished in original dark grey with red stripe and are fitted to a polished cradle. They are fitted with adjustable and variable light shades (marked farbglasser) for use in all daytime and darker light conditions and have the later war style rain shield...

Superb 20th Century pond yacht known as "Sea Mist". This J Class beauty showcases a meticulously crafted planked wood hull, adorned with gaff rigging supporting four sails, alongside...

Original artwork used to create the British front of house stills. Gouache on artboard. This original artwork features the films scene where Pinocchio is under the sea. Exceptionally rare. Original artworks rarely surface, as the majority were destroyed. Pieces on the Classic Disney films are always highly prized. This original artwork only recently surfaced, and was previously owned by an English lady, who had been given this piece in the 1940s. Prior to this discovery no other Pinocchio artwork for posters or front of house stills had been seen. Walt Disney's second animated feature film was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, (1937). Pinocchio, the world’s most famous wooden puppet, is originally the creation of the Italian writer and social commentator Carlo Collodi. Entitled The Adventures of Pinocchio...

Very impressive eight spoke ships wheel mounted to a geared pedestal. The pedestal head is engraved Dake Engine Company, Grand Haven Michigan, Serial numbe...

Vintage Sonora Sonorette Radio. 1st Series 1934. Fair condition.

Monumental Art Deco throne chairs, manufactured by The Henderson Ames Co. amazing design! Wonderful scale and proportion. I believe these to be out of ...

1930s English hand painted wooden toy fort. Made as a toy fort for lead soldiers, the fort included a working draw bridge and moveable ramp. The towers are also removable to assist w...

Alpine Ski photograph. 'The Race', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s photograph. Black & white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos and winter landscapes. The photo is showing a biplane racing a car on a frozen lake. This amazing photograph was taken in Grainau, a small town in Bavaria, at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. The pilot is General Ernst Udet - the World War I flying ace...

Early 20th century polychrome painted Papier-mache Halloween Candy Box, with painted Black Cat on lid. Overall W 14.25 x D 8 x H 19 in Box W 10.25 x D 7.5 x H 5.75 in

An art deco tall desk-lighter designed by Cartier. This is a beautiful and very rare desk-club petrol lighter, created in Paris France by the atelier-Frontin for the jewelry house o...

A beautiful cigar cutter and ashtray. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of brass. Steel cutting blade at the tail. Blade rusty but this does not affect the func...

Pair of circa 1930s brown leather footballs / soccer balls manufactured by Mark Cross Company. Made in England. Dimensions: 5.5" x 5.5" x 5.5" (Width x Depth x Height)

Vintage, antique Alpine Ski photograph. 'HAIRCUT SIR', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Prior to being a recreational activity skiing was purely a means of travelling from A to B through the snow, it only started to become the sport it is today in the mid-1800s. The price displayed is for the mounted photo only. Image size 40cm x 25.5cm = 15 ½" x 10". The alpine photograph...

A rare set of 5 Christmas ornaments. Each is made from thin mouth blown glass, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Included is a nice Reflector ornament from the 1930s, 2 small walnut feather tree ornaments from the 1910s and two flower bunch ornaments with glass balls and Dresden Sebnitz Christmas paper...

A rare large feather tree glass Christmas tree topper. It is made from mouth blown glass, would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or ...

Made by J. Chein & Company Circa 1935 in New York City; originally inventoried as #258 (same number as similar looking Popeye toy dated 1932) and was named "Mechanical Clown Barrel Walker". The name of the maker "Chein" is stamped as a logo to the rear of the barrel (see image). This is one of the earlier toys that Chein made. The lithography and hand paint are in gorgeous original condition with bright colors of red and gold to the barrel, flesh tones to the clown, who sports a multi colorful smiling face. The toy works great; simply wind the attached key wind in the back 1/2 revolution; place on the hard surface----the clown waddles across the floor, back and forth, while shaking his head to and fro (see accompanying video with this listing to see it work) In addition to being quite a scarce toy it is even more difficult to find in this fine condition. Often times the head is lacking or replaced from rough usage and surface rarely maintains this beautiful finish. This particular example is completely original with no restorations, repairs, or touch up paint of any kind. There is a small 5/8" superficial indentation to the front top of barrel (see image). This would make a proud addition to any collection of vintage toys or Americana. Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 3 1/4" wide x 4" deep See my other listings of over 100+ vintage toys and antique children's toy savings banks from which to chose. Provenance: From a recently acquired West Coast collection of fine quality tin toys. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described. it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage...

A rare vintage clip-on bird ornament collection. The size given in the dimensions section refers to the largest item seen in the first picture. These ornaments, were made from ultra-...

1940s The Viking scale & weights by F.J. Thornton & Co Ltd, Wolverhampton, UK. Cast iron black painted with gilt manufacturer's information & emblem. Brass weight & dry goods holders...

A rare Christmas ornament. It was made from wire and cotton, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. You can also use it just to display it in a de...

Condition: Original Vintage Condition Style: English Antique

Pair of Unopened Congress Art Deco Playing Card Decks in Original Box – Sealed with 10-Cent Tax Stamp This pair of unopened Congress Playing Card decks is a rare find, preserved in its original Art Deco box. The exterior of the box showcases an elegant floral block print design in black and gold on a deep red paper, exuding classic 1920s-1930s sophistication. The interior is lined in gold paper and features two compartments, each containing an unopened deck of cards wrapped in original wax paper and sealed with the U.S. Playing Card seal and a 10-cent playing card tax stamp, a mark of authenticity and a nod to its historical significance. The two decks exhibit stunning Art Deco motifs, one featuring an intricate symmetrical pattern, while the other presents a bold geometric portrait of a man, titled "Serge" at the bottom. A sample card with a cut corner is included in each compartment, allowing a glimpse of the designs without breaking the seals. Despite its age, the cards remain in excellent antique condition, with only minor creasing and a tear/minor loss on the wax paper wrapping. First introduced by The U.S. Playing Card Company in 1881, Congress Playing Cards were known for their luxurious quality and artistic designs, often featuring elaborate backs that reflected the era’s artistic trends. By the early 20th century, Congress decks became a status symbol, frequently gifted and collected for their refined craftsmanship and decorative appeal. The 10-cent tax stamp on each deck dates back to the Revenue Act of 1894, when the U.S. government required playing card manufacturers to affix a tax stamp as proof of payment. These stamps remained in use until 1940, making them a valuable feature for collectors of vintage playing cards and historical ephemera. Condition & Collectability Cards: Pristine, sealed in original wax paper with only minor creasing; one tear in the wax paper. Interior Box: Clean and well-preserved. Exterior Box: Shows signs of wear with paper loss, dented and torn corners, water damage, and an affixed white sticker—evidence of its long history and original use. This sealed pair of Congress Art Deco playing cards...

FER model logarithmic circular slide rule H 39 No. 1675 from the 1930s, Italian Patent No. 1680, housed in its original round-shaped wooden box like the instrument, complete with in...

A beautiful dog candy container. Made of paper mache, covered with mohair and has glass eyes. Nice addition to your Christmas or new years collection or decoration. It is from the 19...