Collectibles and Curiosities

Vintage style ski photography, framed Alpine ski photograph, Matterhorn & Skiers. 'MATTERHORN & SKIERS', a modern framed and mounted bla...

'PANORAMIC VIEW', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarit...

Antique Hand Carved Turkish Wood Camel Rocker with Leather Cushion Seat One of a kind and unique carved wood rocking camel. It’s a child’s size, hand made and very cool and very o...

Exceptional half model of an American sailing yacht. Beautifully carved hull with a rich dark patina. Large scale, quite beamy but still sleek. Mounted to an original backboard. This...

The first and only example of a walnut lamellar propeller of the Savoia Marchetti SM 85 prototype flown for the first time on 19 December 1936 by Adriano Bacula, the company's test pilot. During the tests some modifications were made, including the change of the propeller from wooden two-blade to metal three-blade. On the prop it reads: SAVOIA MARCHETTI 85 B.G. PIAGGIO VII DIAM: 2:70 PASS 170 – 2.84 DIS 0599 MN 029252 The S.M. 85 was developed by the Italian company Savoia Marchetti in the 1930s as a dive bomber based on a project by Eng. Alessandro Marchetti for the Regia Aeronautica...

This elegantly decorated Florentine album belonged to the young Dorothy Colles, who received it as a present in 1931 when she was 14 years of age. On the cover Colles notes "This boo...

Circa 1930s French silk brocade clutch with gilt brass & carved carnelian in woven brass clasp. Back with hand grip. Some losses near the top on both sides...

AUTHOR: ELKIN, R. H. (translator) - Rontgen, J. (tunes by) - H. Willebeek Le Mair - (illustrator). TITLE: Old Dutch Nursery Rhymes. PUBLISHER: London: Augener, Ltd., 1917. ...

Early 20th century solid brass ships porthole. Hinged door with four dog bolts. Clear glass. Highly polished and lacquered. Weight: 47 LBS Overall...

A petite antique German doll or doll house accessory. Made of depression glass. Nice for every decoration in your dollhouse or doll kitchen. It is in ver...

This is a larger set of colorful early 1900's lithographed blocks (seven blocks versus 5 blocks). Considered an early learning device, these turn of the century alphabet blocks...

Exceptional sixty-four-inch mahogany ships wheel with maple inlay. Round brass medallion marked with makers name of Williamson Brothers of Philadelphia. Large solid brass hub. Note: ...

A stylish dress cane or women's walking stick. Its made from black lacquered wood and features an ornamented handle in Alpacca Silver. Fully hallmarked from...

Original vintage heavy leather training ball with beautiful patina. The ball is made of handstitched genuine leather in former Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. It can be used as an origi...

Johnson fare box from the CTA - Chicago Transit Authority. With motor.

We are delighted to offer for sale this one of a kind hand made in England rocking horse in the form of a Sausage dog. What a charming period piece of children’s folk art...

Beginning in the Late 19th Century, the penny scale offered a means for passersby to quickly check their weight without going to the trouble of seeing a doctor; simultaneously - and perhaps more notably - they provided an irresistible opportunity for businesses to advertise and earn extra revenue. Penny scales quickly became a platform for creativity in advertising and design, as machines competed to attract the attention of customers on the street. This scale - the "LoBoy" model - was produced by the jukebox manufacturing company Rock-Ola in the 1930s and features a Classic skyscraper-inspired Art Deco Silhouette in black and white porcelain enamel. The mirrored glass display features instructions ("Stand Still - Keep Clear") as well as a reference chart which provides 'healthy' weights for men and women by height. The scale itself has been modified to function without needing to deposit a coin. This piece would make a super unique and functional addition to any retro bathroom!

Vintage industrial tuna reel from Simplex Foundry and Machine Works LTD., Victoria British Columbia. With three reels, two rigged with wire. Quite a piece of gear. This has been meti...

Vintage, antique Alpine Ski photograph. 'Panoramic View', 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, so please do check out our other ski photos...

Vintage, antique alpine ski photograph. 'Matterhorn & Skiers', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Black abd white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos...

Royal Doulton Series Ware Golf jug. Royal Doulton jug with polychrome golf scene and the proverb, "Give Losers Leave To Speak And Winners To Laugh", designed by Charles Crombie...

Plastel medal of Mussolini made by Aurelio Mistruzzi, in the 1930s. Measures: D 10 cm. Good conditions.

Solid brass highly polished ships portlight with tempered glass. The glass has imperfections from years at sea. This porthole has been polished and lacquered. Weight: 16 LBS Over...

Penny bank made by Italian Angelo Biagioni for the French market (see image with marking on the back of the chair), circa 1910. Biagioni, born in 1870, was a well known sculptor who crafted objects for resale to the European market. Money boxes (or still banks as they are called in America) were one of the more unique and more difficult items to find by this artist as most objects were basic uni-dimensional sculptered pieces. What makes it more rare is the unfortunate requirement to break and smash the bank open to get the coins out, as there was no mechanism to remove the money. The subject matter of the bank is that of a nicely dressed older lady seated in a chair reading a book. The bank is in all original condition and paint with no restoration or touch-up of any kind. This is a nice addition to any bank or toy collection, or simply to have as a "stand alone" unique item. Dimensions : 4 1/4" deep x 3 3/8" wide x 8 5/8" high. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys and banks, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage still banks...

Mashie-Niblick golf club by Gibson of Kinghorn. A good Mashie-Niblick iron (Smith's model) made by Gibson of Kinghorn with a hickory shaft and suede leather grip. The head with hand...

Horsemanship - The Way Of A Man With A Horse, Lonsdale Library Book. One of the volumes from Lonsdale Library, Horsemanship - The Way Of A Man With A Horse. The book with over ninety illustrations, the first is of The Right Hon. The Earl of Lonsdale on 'Marble'. The Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games & Pastimes, Editors The Right Hon. The Earl of Lonsdale, Sir Theodore Cook & Mr. Eric Parker...

An outstanding bird cage in painted soft metal with a colorful Bird. To hang in your dollhouse or to put on a table in a salon or a parlor. Made of pewter. Nice for every decoration...

British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. George VI (Albert Frederick Arth...

An original unused 1930s cigarette case/lighter is stamped as being the Mastercase made by Ronson, with the original box and instructions. The case features geometric art deco desig...

RARE, LARGE COLLECTION OF GREEN, BLACK & CLEAR GLASS & FISHING FLOATS OR BUOYS WITH THE MAKERS MARKS FOR SMALL NETS c.1910 Displaying a variety of makers marks and symbols such as a...

According to Eleanor Garvey "The Artist and the Book" (p. 122) this work is "perhaps the most harmonious of Maillol's illustrated books." Aristide MAILLOL, illus.; LONGUS author Daphnis and Chloe; A Most Sweet, and Pleasant Pastoral Romance for Young Ladies, translated out of the Greek of Longus by Geo. Thornley. London: A. Zwemmer [printed in Paris by Philippe Gonin], 1937. Limited Edition. 8vo, 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 in. (200 x 132 mm); pp. vi, 211,colophon,12; Copy 21 of 250 numbered copies on hand-made Maillol paper and SIGNED BY THE ARTIST on the colophon, with 52 original woodcuts, and 4 woodcut initials, printed in bistre; leading and bottom edges deckled. Full vellum with laced-in thongs, gilt lettering on spine, faint; pencil notations and tipped in label from earlier booksellers on inside front cover, edges stained on first 2 and last 2 blanks. EXTRA SUITE of 45 WOODCUTS in a separate vellum portfolio, printed in black. Fine copy in simple cardboard slipcase. Colophon: "Aristide Maillol engraved with his own hand the wood-cuts which illustrate this book, The text is that of Thronley's translation of 1657, revised and augmented. Philippe Gonin of Paris undertook the achievement of this work, and printed it on his hand-press, for A. Zwemmer, London. Paris December 7th, 1937", followed by MAILLOL'S SIGNATURE IN PENCIL. Garvey 174; Garvey Wick 22; BNF32393010 Condition: FINE An ancient Greek novel written during the Roman Empire, the only known work of the 2nd century AD Greek novelist and romance writer Longus, translated by George Thornley...

Chinoiserie decorated circular barometer, circa 1930s. Black background with gold decoration,  Depicting, houses, temple, figures, trees & foliage, Brass face, Badge on back, re...

Author: AUSTEN, Jane. Title: The Novels (Works and Letters) of Jane Austen. Publisher: Edinburgh: John Grant, 1911-12. Description: The Winchester...

Wellington Cricket bat. A good willow cricket bat stamped 'TRADE MARK WELLINGTON' with the Wellington trade mark on the shoulders of the bat. The embossin...

Unusual set of butcher accessories. A solid brass measuring tape dispenser for measuring the chest/feed level (text in Danish) of livestock both pigs and cows and a 1930s pork meat display stick-in sign in zink or pewter. Measurements: dispenser: 5 x 2.5 cm, pork sign...

Highly polished ships porthole of solid brass with lacquer finish. Fitted with glass. This is by John Roby Limited of Rainhill. Roby produced portholes for the grand liner including ...

This Pre-prohibition round advertising beer tray, promoting "Pacific Beer" was a product made by "The Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. Tacoma" Washington, as is...

A carved and shaped teak seat back from the launch of minesweeper H M S Bluebell, of shaped rectangular form with a central panel with 3in brass lettering HMS Bluebell, with braced b...

Golf watercolour painting by Charles Ambrose Of British Politician Arthur Balfour. Original watercolor en grisaille on board of Arthur Balfour in golfing attire, by Charles Ambrose....

Antique forty six star large wool American flag by Horstmann Company, circa 1908-1912. Horstmann firm was founded by William H. Horstmann (1785-1850), who had immigrated to Philadelphia from Germany. Horstmann bought out a local swordmaker in 1828 and thereafter entered the military goods field. The firm benefitted from the Civil War, becoming the largest military goods supplier in the nation by 1864. WILLIAM H. HORSTMANN & SONS, Manufacturers of Dress Trimmings and Military Goods. 5th & Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, PA. This house was founded, in 1815, by William H. Horstmann, a native of Cassel, in Germany. He had learned the trade of silk-weaving in France, and, emigrating to the United States in the above-mentioned year, established himself in Philadelphia as a manufacturer of fringe, laces and trimmings of various kinds. He married the daughter of Frederick Hoeckly, a German settler in Philadelphia, and also a manufacturer of fringe, coach-lace and tassels. He devised several improvements in this trade, especially by introducing varieties in the styles and patterns of this class of goods, there being at that time only two patterns used in the trade, which were known as the Jefferson pattern and the Monroe pattern. In 1824, he introduced into this country from Germany the use of plaiting or braiding machines, and about the same time he was the first to introduce into this country the use of the Jacquard loom, for weaving patterns in textile fabrics. His location was in the first instance at No. 50 North Third street, but within a short time he removed to a store next to the Harp and Crown tavern, afterwards known as the City hotel, and continued his business within a short distance of this point for many years. In 1828, he commenced the manufacture of military trimmings as a special department, and this branch has grown to most important proportions, Horstmann's military goods being in demand throughout time country. The firm have also executed large Government contracts in this line for the War and Navy Departments. In 1831, he established a branch house in New York city, and about the same time erected a factory at the corner of Germantown road and Columbia avenue. The factory was continued here until time erection of the extensive building at Fifth and Cherry streets, where the works, salesrooms and offices of time firm now are. This massive structure is six stories high, and extends 140 feet on Fifth street and 200 on Cherry street, and reaches back to Race street. The separate departments into which the business is divided are thirty in number. More than 1000 distinct looms and machines are in use in the building, many of them very costly and some invented and used exclusively by this firm, the motive power being supplied by a steam engine of fifty horse power. The area covered by the works is about 11,000 square feet. Time number of hands employed is very large, about 500. When the erection of a vast factory at this point was first proposed, a strong opposition was made by time holders of the neighboring property. The ancient German Lutheran Church and burying ground, since removed, stood opposite the site, and a bill was introduced into the Legislature to forbid the use of a steam engine within 100 yards of any place of worship. The interests which such a bill would have affected injuriously, especially those of several newspapers, roused a strong opposition to it, and it failed to become a law. In 1845, William H. Horstmann, the founder of the house, retired from the business, and his two sons, William and Sigmund, assumed the management and it was under their direction that the new building, above described, was erected. The goods produced by this house are of almost endless extent and variety. They include goods woven from all the various textile fibres—cotton, wool, silk, etc.—in every style, color and pattern, and are used for an infinite number of purposes. Narrow woven goods are time staple production, made up into material for dresses for both sexes, for use in daily life, and for regalia for ""societies;"" for the costumes of the stage, the upholstering of houses and of carriages, the uniforms of soldiers, together with equipments for the same, and for funeral purposes. The raw material used in the manufacture is to a great extent very costly, and their store rooms often hold as much as $200,000 worth of goods in an unworked state. There are two rooms devoted to power looms in the factory, one for coach lace and one for other styles of weaving, in which about 250 of these machines are constantly running. The braiding machines in the coach lace room are very noteworthy. The cord to be covered with braid is drawn through an opening in time middle of a flat, circular, metallic plate, about 15 inches across. Up to a point on this cord, about a foot above the plate, the threads of the braiding material converge, like the ribs of a tent-roof, and there weave in and out and out and in, as the coating of braid grows, and time covered cord rises and is wound away above. The weaving is accomplished by the motion of the spools below that carry the different threads of the braid. These spools stand in uprights, which are carried round and amongst each other in curved slots in the above-mentioned broad metallic plate. All but two of these spools run in and out among each other, with a swift, easy and intricate motion, mind so rapid that time eye can hardly follow it, while one or two special spools run steadily round and round among time twisting spools with the most extreme swiftness. Many other machines, displaying equally ingenious mechanism, are used in the factory. The various details of equipment manufactured and supplied by this house are also important, both for their number and the superior quality of the manufacture. The one article of swords may be taken as an instance. This trade grew naturally and immediately out of the established army and navy goods department of the works, it being necessary that the sword itself should be furnished together with the sword-belt and other trappings all complete. Every part of the sword and trappings, with the exception of the blade, is made on the premises. The blades are almost all imported from the ancient German sword-blade emporium of Solingen, where, it is said, swords have been made ever since the year 1147, when Count Adolphus of Berg brought home from the East and established there the business of forging Damascus blades. There is in this department a stock of some thousands of blades, of many different patterns and sizes, ready to be set and finished. Any style or sword can be had from this warehouse, from the plainest kind up to a presentation sword...

British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. Flag shows King George VI alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor...

LENCI hand painted ceramic crucifix, decorator Maria BALOSSI ORIGIN Turin, Italy PERIOD 1930s AUTHOR Maria BALOSSI Decorator at the Turin ceramic factory 'Lenci' from...

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 ...

An authentic WWI-era Princess Mary box of brass. A stamped brass box, circa 1914, given as a thank you gift to all commissioned British troops at ...

Genuine rare 1917 hand carved WW1 wood propeller with brass tips. Manufactured by Matthew Bros MFG. Co. in Milwaukee, WI. These propellers were often seen on the US Navy's H16 Flying...

Royal Doulton Series Ware Golf plate. Royal Doulton rack plate with polychrome golf scene and the proverb, "EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, AND EVERY MAN HIS HOUR", designed by Charles Crombie. The rear of the plate with Royal Doulton trade mark, pattern No. D3395 and '15'. Charles 'Chas' Crombie (1885 - 1967) was an illustrator whose work is well known to the collector. His pictures can be found in many forms, on postcards, calendars, in books and on Royal Doulton ceramics. Royal Doulton Golf...

Art Deco era Etched zigzag steel cylinder Lighter named "The Executive" By AR. Circa 1930, Measures: 3.5" tall X 2" diameter.

Rare c 1930 steel Denoyer Geppert military chalk globe. Globe alone measures 22" in diameter, Retains original patina. Age appropriate wear. Minor dents.(see photo). Original patina ...

Author: Woolf, Virginia. Title: The Years. Publisher: London: The Hogarth Press, 1937. Description: First Edition. 1 vol., 7-3/16" x 4-15/16", boun...

Absolutely beautiful and unique saving pig / money box made by Swedish gold smith Olof W. Nilsson in Kristianstad Sweden in the 1930s. This money box is beautifully detailed shaped ...

An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...

- 1930s - suitable for framing - original, no reprint - good original condition with some damages, not seen when framed - jr.

Early 20th century scratch-built clockwork boat A brilliant example of an early 20th century scratch-built clockwork tugboat. Hand crafted from found o...

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...

Oak cased pigeon timer with clock face that is marked made in Germany. 7 jewel clock by Benzing. Keu is present. Varnished oak dove tailed box. Everyone...

Baines football trade card, Leicester City play the game. A rare circular football trade card in the shape of a leather football ball. Made by the toy shop owner from Bradford, John Baines. Baines went on to produce not only football cards...

Ribbonaire Bakelite Electric Fan designed by W.O. Langille in 1931 for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Aerodynamic Design that pivots front to back to angle the breeze. Unique des...

1930’s Era ship model of the Boston built American clipper ship “Flying Cloud”. This is a well-executed model from the 1930s. the carved wood hull has a scri...