American Collectibles and Curiosities

Brutalist Tortured Metal Wall Art Perforated textured gold 26 h x 26 wood art 24 .38 x 24.24 Preowned original vintage condition Refer to images LA delivery

This vintage 20th century ladies “purse size” lorgnette is designed in silver with a stunning marcasite handle. The “hard to find” spectacles fold snugly into each other & “lock” int...

Fine and rare antique American hand engraved coin silver presentation birth spoon, fiddle pattern, with maker's marks by silversmith: Eleazer Wyer, Jr. (...

Limited edition, numbered 2477 of 4000 copies. From the Visionaire website: 44 TOYS, in collaboration with Kidrobot, consists of ten humanoid characters created by designers like K...

Justice Warren Shepro Collection of Clocks: Sotheby's NY, April 26, 2001. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. The catalogue of a famous collection sold in New York. Shepro collected e...

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...

The Man Who Was Vogue: The Life and Times of Conde Nast, by Caroline Seebohm. Published by The Viking Press, NY, 1982. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Em...

A meticulously curated glimpse at the career of a design-world superstar. "Stylistically, Salvagni is an avowed modernist; his work displays an elegant economy of means that is ut...

Late 19th-early 20th century, the birds on a breakfront base. Measures: 11.25'' H x 8.25'' W x 4.75 D.

Frank Lloyd Wright interior design book, published by Schumacher, "Wallcoverings." Measures: 12" H x 9" W x 1.5" D. Thia volume was originally part of a three volume box set (a whole...

Solid brass yacht binnacle with highly polished and lacquered finish. Fitted with a compass by Ritchie of Boston. The binnacle is topped with a six sided skylight top. The base is so...

Cute pair of miniature bottlebrush Christmas trees on an Italian gold leaf wood tray, with two blown glass Santa’s figurines and two porcelain miniature polar bears. Decorated with m...

Ahoy Sailor! offers the reader another mesmerizing foray into the mind of uber collector and archivist of the everyday, Daniel Rozensztroch. We are transported across the ocean, from port to port, as Ahoy Sailor! gathers and presents a singular collection of objects, images, and representations of sailors and seamen. The ocean has inspired an expansive world of vernacular and popular imagery, much of it uncanny and unique, produced by the tension between the laws of nature that rule the oceans and the miniature floating societies left to their mercy. Adventures, secret ritual, solitude, and comradery are all given their place. Meticulously drawn together, and with an individuality that has become his trademark, Rozensztroch gives the reader a visual feast that ranges from antique toys and postage stamps to French artist Jean Cocteau’s beguiling sketches found in Jean Genet’s cult-classic Querelle de Brest. DANIEL ROZENSZTROCH was a longtime consultant to the magazine Marie-Claire Maison and is the former creative director of Merci in Paris, France. He is also the co-author of a number of titles in the Style Series published by Clarkson N. Potter / Random House. For Pointed Leaf Press...

George Washington's America: A Biography Through His Maps by Barnet Schecter. Signed by the author and inscribed to the underwriter of this publication Joan Kaplan Davidson, a very w...

The Forties: As Reported By The New York Times By Keylin, Arleen; Cohen, Jonathan. Title The Forties: As Reported by the New York Times Author Keyli...

San Francisco Directory 1856 Complete in 138 numbered pages, Spine covered in leather with gold letters covers are board in original boards, decorated with commercial advertisements ...

A cribbage board made from brass and steel with intricate inlayed brass details. A felt-lined drawer on one end holds a deck of cards while the two drawers on the opposite end hold pegs for scoring. Each drawer has magnetic retention to keep them snuggly within the box when not in use. This design is modeled off of the traditional board, containing four runs of 30 holes, with each run divided into 5 point sections. An Old English game...

Stunning Art Deco, Machine Age aluminum cigarette lighter collection, new or old stock, never used, all in perfect working order. Beautiful design, polished aluminum sculptures...

The proof (printed before the hardcover, sent out to reviewers) and final first printing, first edition of American poet, Anne Sexton's final collection of poetry printed in her life...

Original painted game board - signed and Dated 1935.

A Building History of Northern New England by James Garvin. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Published by University Press of New England, 2001. The first and only full-scale techn...

Southern Plains decorated pony bow. Buffalo hide, beads and red ochre. Original string of twisted horse hair. Period: Mid-19th century Origin: Southe...

Rare 18th C, Map titled "A plan of the town of Newport in the province of Rhode Island". Earliest printed plan of Newport, published for the use of the British just prior to their o...

Seascape with Clippership by George Howell Gay (American: 1858 - 1931), circa 1890, an oil on canvas bow view of a clippership under full sail, running with stun'sls and skysails set, on lively sea under blue cloudy sky, with a second square-rigger visible in the background, signed in the lower right, and titled on the reverse "Clipper Ship Before the Wind." A beautiful and dramatic painting with a cool, brisk feel. The painting is in fine condition, with one small patch along the upper margin and a tiny spot of corresponding inpainting. Measures:24 in H x 20 in W Framed: 29 in H x 25 in W George Howell Gay was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and educated in Chicago under Paul Brown and Henry Elkins, and in 1889 moved to Bronxville, New York. He worked in all media, but was especially fond of watercolor, which allowed him to capture the transparency of the ocean and the luminous qualities of sunlight and clouds. Gay worked along the Northeastern coast from Rhode Island to Maine, but also painted summer and winter landscapes throughout New England. Gay’s seascapes were exhibited at the Boston Art...

An extremely rare Columbia Studios motion picture reel case with three reels of 35mm movie "Tarzana", circa 1969. The case was manufactured by Goldberg...

Vintage Anatomical Pull Down Chart 'OSTEOLOGY ,GH Michel Company,Black background,amazing color contrast.Beautifully screened printed,linen backed.S...

The treasury of San Marco, Venice by David Buckton. Olivetti, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1984. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Grand Palai...

An actual airplane propeller in brushed aluminum mounted on a thick base.

1930s Replica Tom Blake hollow wooden surfboard. Wooden panels joined by metallic fasteners with daffodil yellow outline. Patented by the late Tom Blake (1902-1994) in 1931. The inte...

One hundred stunning wood engravings by Thomas Bewick in two beautifully presented portfolios with an introductory volume, enclosed in a slipcase. One of 150 limited edition copies ...

An early 20th-century sign for Rav Naftali Horowitz in Boro Park, New York for the diverse Jewish population who emigrated to New York in that period. Painted in green, black, and o...

The Collection of Alice and Murray Braunfield : January 17, 2004 at Sotheby's. Published by Sotheby's, New York, 2004. 1294 lots on 176 pages in color and fully described. great Ame...

A delicate pair of handmade brass ladies magnifying wire rim eye glasses from the American Civil War era, circa 1860. A unique pair of antique spectacles, cleverly designed with ext...

Sotheby's: Property from the collection of Mrs. Marella Agnelli New York 10/23/04 Sale #8014. Softcover auction catalog 178 pages with 140. Marella Agnelli, widow of Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli...

The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale by Christopher Gilbert. New York: Tabard Press, 1978. Hardcover with dust jacket. 288 pp. An extensive resource book on the life and work of T...

Figurine statue of Droopy in a sport red cabriolet car by Demons & Merveilles. Made in 2000 in its original box in perfect condition. Perfect gift and a part of a large collection....

Very colorful and graphic collection of 13 vintage megaphones from the 1940s-1970s. Tallest example measures 38 inches, smallest measuring 8 inches.

Stalingrad to Berlin: The German Defeat in the East by Earl F Ziemke. United States Army, Office of the Chief of Military History, Washington, DC, 1968...

Eastern ball headed war club of native walnut with carved face having square nailed spike set in lead. Ex. Norm Johnson Estate. Period: Mid-19th ce...

The Nostromo Bench commands attention with its strikingly minimalist form, drawing inspiration from the Brutalist design movement. Its monolithic solid wood slab top, supported by ...

A late 19th century cast iron elevator indicator panel from the famed Fisher Building designed and built by Daniel Burnham in 1896. The indicator de...

A Gold Cantor Brooch from the Independent Order B'nai Abraham dating back to 1904 is a piece of historical and cultural significance. Independent Order B'nai Abraham (IOBA) was fou...

Windows on the Past: Four Centuries of New England Homes by Jane Nylander. Published by Bulfinch Press/ Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 2000. Stated 1st Ed...

Authentic, original D.F. Barry photo (3 marks), 11" x 14". Noted on back "William Cody, left of him is Red Cloud and right of him American Horse. Photo ta...

At Home With Carolyne Roehm by Carolyne Roehm. Published by Random House, Incorporated, 2002. Stated 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Former fashion designer Carolyne Roehm is reno...

The New Painting; Impressionism 1874-1886. by Moffett, Charles S.Published by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 1986.Hardcover coffee table book.204 illustrations in full color...

Riverside park: The Splendid Sliver by Edward Grimm. Columbia University Press, 2008. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Riverside Park is an illustrated tribute to Frederick Law Olmsted's "other" New York City sanctuary. Since its conception in the 1870s, the park has undergone a number of transformations and suffered from periods of misuse and neglect, but in 1984, much-needed renovations turned this city oasis into what is today one of Manhattan's most beautiful attractions. "If the West Side does not stir you, you are a clod, past redemption."-Robert Moses...

Buffalo hunter skinning set of 4 knives in leather covered wood pouch with tacks. First knife as 6.75" blade length, overall 11.25" with hickory handle. Second knife has a blade length of 5.75, overall 10.75" with hickory handle. Left side of the blade marked "Vanator Tool Wks." Third knife has blade length of 5.75", overall 10.25" with hickory handle. Marked "Wilson." The fourth knife has blade length of 6", overall 10.75" with hickory handle. Marked "Worth & Sons." Period: 19th Century Origin: Plains Size: See Description Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Personal Service Cisco’s operates on old fashioned values – honesty and integrity, and all of our items are backed by our money back guarantee. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. cowboy and western old west fur trade...

A lovely “LOVE” box numbered 3465 of 4000 edition by Tiffany & Co. A rare very desirable edition. From a Palm Springs Visionaire Collectors estate.

Howells, William Dean Venetian Life; With Illustrations from Original Watercolors Boston: Houghton Mifflin, The Riverside Press, 1892. 2 volumes, 8vo 7 x 4 3/4 inches (172 x 120 mm); viii, 279 pp; 287 pp. 18 illustrations from watercolors by Childe Hassam, Ross Turner, F. Hopkinson Smith, and Rhoda Holmes...

The Hardy Collection of Early Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art From the Sze Yuan Tang: Sale #8218, with original printed invitation. Christie's New Y...

Very Rare 1925 United States Navy Sailor's Whimsical Certificate for "The Domaine Neptunes Rex" admitting sailor Allen Smith as a "Shellback" aboard the USS RELIEF. Sailors from man...

Bing Surfboards 1966 model pintail Pipeliner. Gorgeous red tinted bottom/wrapped rails and blue fin with white halo. Dual t-band balsawood stringers. Shaped by the late Dick Brewer (...

Sotheby's Ariane Dandois, October 2007, Volumes I and II. Pair of 1st Ed softcover auction catalogs with slipcase. Sotheby’s New York presented a sale o...

Mid-century large-scale wood carved Folk Art Cargomaster C-133A. An actual barn find discovered in Washington State farm country. Hand-carved and painted. Two pieces: wing piece atta...

Northern Plains hair drop with red beading with accents on hide, long quilled drops ending in tin cones with red feather fluffs, long black horsehair drop now doubled up on beading. Period: 19th century Origin: Great Plains - Northern Plains, Native American Size: 6" x 35" overall Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Personal Service Cisco’s operates on old fashioned values – honesty and integrity, and all of our items are backed by our money back guarantee. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. Native American, garments, Blackfeet, headdress, collectibles, antiques, Native American beadwork...

A very cool and extremely rare Teledyne Ryan Firebee II contractor's desk model, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition and super high quality. It is made of wood and mount...

Antique Hand Colored Photograph of Nantucket Street Scene by Marshall Gardiner (1884-1942), circa 1910, a period hand tinted photograph entitled "Nantucket Shearing Cart and Quakers" showing classic grey shingled houses on a cobblestone paved street, with a couple in horse drawn cart riding away from the viewer, and four women on doorstep and sidewalk, all dressed in period Quaker attire. It is interesting to note that the couple in cart are seated on antique Nantucket Bow Back Windsor chairs. The photograph was titled and hand signed in pencil across the bottom of the old acid foxed mat; the photograph is now mounted in new archival acid free matting, and a photocopy of the original pencil inscription has been preserved on the reverse. The photograph itself remains in excellent condition. H. Marshall Gardiner (1884-1942) was born on September 18, 1884 in Windsor, Ontario, and immigrated to the United States circa 1890, where his father W.H. Gardiner opened two photographic studios, one in Detroit during the winter months and a second at Mackinac Island during the more tourist-oriented summer months. Recognizing the potential of Florida's rapidly growing tourist trade, around 1894-95 he moved with his family from Detroit to Daytona, Florida which proved much more accommodating to the family's photographic business during the colder winter months. Marshall learned many of his photographic techniques from his father prior to going out on his own at a relatively early age. Whereas his father generally used wet collodian negatives, technology had advanced to where he was able to use gelatin dry plates in his earlier years, and later the less expensive and much more convenient roll film. Another very important lesson learned from his father was strategy of setting up shop in a tourist resort. Early in his career he traveled to Bermuda where he shot a series of beautiful Bermuda scenes that he hand-colored and successfully sold over a number of years to the local tourist trade. Around 1910, at the age of around 24, he first traveled to the island of Nantucket. The year-round population of Nantucket was then just over 2500, not nearly enough to sustain a photographic business for the entire year, so he opened a joint Photography and Art Supplies Store. Working as Nantucket's exclusive agent for Eastman Kodak, his business expanded to include the island's only photo-finishing service. However, with such a small year-round population, even the addition of a Gift Shop to compliment the hand-painted photographs, general portrait...