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Item Ships From: New Orleans
Antique English Victorian Brass Telescope in a Tabletop Design, Circa 1870-1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Telescope in a Tabletop Design, Circa 1870-1880.
In working order
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
19th C. French Provincial Carved Cherry Prie-Dieu with Woven Rush Seat
Located in New Orleans, LA
A charming 19th century French Provincial prie-dieu/chair of carved cherry wood and handwoven rush seating, having lovely, scalloped details. The top chair seat pulls up in order to ...
Category
1850s French French Provincial Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cherry, Rush
World War II Ten-Rotor T52 Enigma Machine
Located in New Orleans, LA
Ten-Rotor T52 "Geheimschreiber" Cipher Machine
Dated 1944
This extraordinary Ten-Rotor T52 Cipher Machine, also known as the Geheimschreiber, represents the pinnacle of German wartime cryptography and stands as one of the rarest encryption devices from World War II. Manufactured in 1944 during the final phase of the conflict, this sophisticated cipher machine—codenamed "Sturgeon" by Allied intelligence—was exclusively deployed in high-level German command centers for their most sensitive communications. Its exceptional historical significance and extreme rarity make it arguably the most important cryptographic artifact available to private collectors today.
The T52 presents a commanding physical presence that reflects its technological sophistication. Substantially larger and more complex than standard three or four-rotor Enigma machines, this teleprinter-based device features an imposing mechanical construction with ten precisely engineered rotating pinwheels arranged in intricate patterns. Its comprehensive keyboard system and internal mechanical components demonstrate the extraordinary engineering achievements of wartime German cryptographers. The machine's robust metal casing, designed for operational durability in high-command environments, remains in remarkable condition, preserving its historical integrity.
The T52 series, manufactured by Siemens & Halske in Berlin, represented a family of cipher machines that evolved through several increasingly complex models. Unlike the simpler Enigma machines which required manual operation, the T52 functioned as an online teleprinter encryption system capable of automatically processing high volumes of communications at 50 baud (approximately 66 words per minute). This automation allowed for real-time secure communication between German high command centers, with messages encrypted and decrypted without the need for time-consuming manual transcription—a revolutionary advancement in wartime communication security.
Developed for exclusive use by the Luftwaffe and German Navy high command, the T52 represented such a formidable cryptographic challenge that Bletchley Park...
Category
20th Century German New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Revolutionary War Powder Horn
Located in New Orleans, LA
Powder Horn
Engraving by Charles Goodrich
1776
Powder horns stand among the rarest and most treasured forms of American folk art. Unlike commercial objects, these deeply personal items were crafted by soldiers, sailors and explorers for practical use during their journeys. Through scrimshaw—an intricate technique of engraving bone or horn with a simple jackknife and filling the crevices with available pigments like soot or ash—these individuals left tangible marks of their hopes, dreams and experiences. This exceptional American Revolutionary War powder horn belonged to Charles Goodrich (1720-1816), a significant figure in early Pittsfield, Massachusetts history. The horn displays distinctive period characteristics with the inscription "PITTSFIELD" clearly visible on its amber-colored surface.
Charles Goodrich, born in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1720, became a prominent civic leader in Pittsfield. He built the first house in the settlement in 1754 and served in various official roles, including Justice of the Peace and town representative to Boston. While Goodrich's name may not appear prominently in history textbooks, historical documents—particularly his September 3, 1776 petition to the Massachusetts Assembly—reveal his compelling story. The petition shows that Goodrich faced accusations of being a British sympathizer and draft evader. According to his account, he was targeted for his public office, physically assaulted by a man named James Morey and subsequently fined by a local committee. Goodrich maintained that he merely defended himself when attacked and claimed ignorance of requirements to either serve as a drafted soldier or hire a substitute—accusations that branded him unpatriotic during the revolutionary fervor.
The Massachusetts Council's concurrence with Goodrich's petition likely inspired his subsequent military service. His powder horn, bearing the inscription of Pittsfield, accompanied him to Fort Ticonderoga, where Simonds' Regiment of Militia (2nd Berkshire County Regiment) was stationed during the difficult winter of 1776-1777. Fort Ticonderoga, a strategic stronghold in upstate New York, had been seized from the British in May 1775 by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. By the time of Goodrich's service, American forces occupied the fort while preparing for an expected British counterattack. In August 1777, Goodrich and Simonds' Regiment participated in the Battle of Bennington—a decisive engagement where Patriot forces under General John Stark defeated British and Hessian troops. This victory significantly weakened General John Burgoyne's invasion force, contributing to his surrender at Saratoga in October 1777—a pivotal turning point that helped secure French support for the American cause.
Powder horns captivate elite collectors and major museums alike. The Metropolitan Museum of Art recognized their significance by dedicating an entire exhibition to American Engraved Powder Horns...
Category
18th Century American American Colonial Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Horn
Renaissance Rock Crystal and Gold Agnus Dei
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rock Crystal and Gold Agnus Dei
Late 16th, early 17th century
Case made in Milan
Agnus Dei in wax from the Vatican
Among the most significant religious artifacts of the Renaissance, the Agnus Dei medallion exemplifies the height of Catholic devotional culture. Believed to hold sacramental blessings and even miraculous power, these sacred wax objects were crafted from the melted remains of the Paschal candle used in Rome and personally blessed by the Pope. Their rarity was compounded by their fragility—few survived intact, making them among the most coveted religious items of their time.
This extraordinary example, dating from the late 16th to early 17th century, defied the odds of survival. Encased in its original rock crystal and gold setting, among the most luxurious materials available when it was made, the wax itself features subtle yet remarkably preserved imprints—an almost impossible feat given its delicate nature. It is the only known example outside of a museum, with possibly two others in institutional collections.
Made for a patron of exceptional wealth, this late Renaissance masterpiece marries religious significance with extraordinary craftsmanship. The oval rock crystal frame encases the wax Agnus Dei, encircled by exquisite gold mounting with black enamel detailing and twisted gold cord. Rock crystal caryatids shaped as dog heads with gold collars transition into female busts that curve into scrolls, resting on teardrop elements adorned with vibrant enamel. Two elegant gold scrolls wrap around back-to-back dog muzzles at the top, crowned by an enamel-decorated knob and suspension ring—creating a devotional object of unparalleled artistic refinement.
The fragile composition of Agnus Dei medallions meant that most were easily damaged—cracking, collecting dirt or crumbling over time. Their pristine whiteness held such sacred significance that in 1572, Pope Gregory XIII issued a Papal Bull...
Category
Early 17th Century Italian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Rock Crystal, Gold
Antique English Silver Plated Dinner Bell Mounted on an Oak Base, Circa 1890's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Silver Plated Dinner Bell Mounted on an Oak Base, Circa 1890-1900.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
English Stick Barometer by Worthington of London
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional English stick barometer is a classic example of these intriguing meteorological instruments. Crafted by the esteemed Worthington & All...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Edo-period Green-Laced Samurai Suit
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional Moegi Odoshi Nimai-Dou Gusoku (Green Laced Armour), crafted in the 17th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Edo-period samurai armor design and craftsmanship. Made ...
Category
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Copper, Iron
Edo Period Samurai Suit Of Armor
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Tetsusabiji Uchidashi Gomai Dou Gusoku (Five-Plate Russet Iron Embossed Cuirass Armor), crafted in the 18th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Edo-period samurai arm...
Category
18th Century Asian Edo Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Copper, Iron
Antique English "Broadhurst Clarkson & Co." Telescope on Stand, Circa 1910-1920.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English "Broadhurst Clarkson & Co." Telescope on Stand, Circa 1910-1920.
72" High as shown in the photographs.
Category
Early 20th Century English New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique Swiss Music Box, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Swiss Music Box circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of 32" Terrestrial and Celestial Globes
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair of Terrestrial and Celestial Globes
G & T London
20th Century
This extraordinary pair of 32-inch terrestrial and celestial globes, crafted by G & T London, pays homage to the m...
Category
20th Century English New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
19th c. Giltwood Barometer
Located in New Orleans, LA
Carved and Giltwood Louis XVI Style Barometer
Category
19th Century French Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Embossed Copper and Brass Gun Powder Flask
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th Century Embossed Copper and Brass Gun Powder Flask.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Copper
Carl Zeiss Cold War Binocular Periscope
By Carl Zeiss
Located in New Orleans, LA
Binocular Periscope
Carl Zeiss
Circa 1965
This exceptional binocular periscope, crafted by the renowned Carl Zeiss optical works, represents the pinnacle of mid-20th century German ...
Category
20th Century German New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique English Brass and Enamel Binoculars in Original Case, Circa 1920-1930.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English brass & enamel binoculars in original case, circa 1920-1930.
Category
Early 20th Century English New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Rare Antique English Victorian Solid Brass Playing Card Press, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare Antique English Victorian Solid Brass Playing Card Press, Circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Swiss Gold and Enamel Telescope
Located in New Orleans, LA
Scientifically advanced and exquisitely crafted, this rare 19th-century gold and enamel Swiss telescope is an item of exceptional luxury. The Swiss cre...
Category
19th Century European Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Enamel
Antique Steinway & Sons Gold Bronze & Satinwood Baby Piano Circa 1910
Located in New Orleans, LA
This piano was made in the Hamburg Steinway & Sons factory and decorated in France. It is a beautiful instrument. As with most pianos, special shipping will be needed.
Category
Early 20th Century German New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ormolu
Mandolin Singing Bird Automaton Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...
Category
19th Century Austrian Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Satinwood
French Nécessaire de Voyage
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional and rare French nécessaire de voyage is almost certainly the work of the highly respected Parisian manufacturer Pierre-Dominique ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model B Music Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model B music cabinet is among the rarest and most advanced automatic music players of its time. The remarkable machine, crafted by renowned Leipzig firm of Ludwig Hupfeld, is one of the most mechanically complex music players ever made, boasting three self-playing violins accompanied by a self-playing piano. Once made in the 1000s to entertain patrons of upscale hotels, restaurants, and cafes, these extraordinary machines...
Category
20th Century German Other New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
19th Century Chilean Huaso Spurs
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare and authentic pair of Chilean spurs is stunning to behold. Traditionally worn by huasos, or Chilean cowboys, these silvered steel spurs, or esp...
Category
19th Century Chilean Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
19th Century Watch Winding Display Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible, one-of-a-kind watch display cabinet brings together the beauty of an antique with the functionality of modern technology. Crafted of mahogany, this 19th century jewelry display cabinet...
Category
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Pair Antique English Sheffield Silver Mounted Trophy Horns, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique English Sheffield Silver Mounted Trophy Horns, Circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Edo-period Orange-Laced Samurai Suit
Located in New Orleans, LA
For samurai warriors, the functionality of their armor was as vital as its striking beauty—both elements held equal importance. This orange-laced armor is one of the rarest and most stunning complete Edo-period samurai suits ever crafted, designed for a military leader to convey the gravity of his power and warrior spirit at a single glance.
This particularly rare armor...
Category
18th Century Asian Edo Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Copper, Iron
Swiss Gold Musical Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket.
Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes...
Category
19th Century Swiss Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
The Mills Double Deluxe Violano Virtuoso
By Mills Novelty Company
Located in New Orleans, LA
One of only a handful ever made, this Double DeLuxe Violano Virtuoso, created by the Mills Novelty Company, is an extremely rare example of American musical automata, featuring not one, but two brilliantly tuned violins. Singled out by the U.S. government in 1909 as one of the eight greatest inventions of the decade when it was introduced at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, the Mills DeLuxe Violano-Virtuoso stands as one of the most important and incredible musical devices ever made. The “Double Mills,” as it was nicknamed, plays classical, operatic and popular music. It can play on a single or up to 15 nickels and has the ability to run for approximately an hour. It produces exceptional sound with a crisp tonal quality and melodious notes. Housed in a beautiful quarter-sawn oak case, each violin produces 64 notes and is accompanied by a 44-note piano.
It is truly rare to find a historical musical mechanism so complete, with such remarkable sound quality and in excellent condition. This particular Violano has been updated with a digital player system that allows song selections to be made over a WiFi connection. This gives the user a choice between digital downloads or traditional paper rolls for added convenience.
Perfected and patented in 1912 by Henry K. Sandell, the Violano-Virtuoso was produced in limited quantities until 1929 and could be found in the very finest restaurants, hotels and oceanliners. In fact, the Violano-Virtuoso was one of the few American-made mechanical musical devices to be distributed worldwide to the most exclusive international clientele.
The below testimonial was sent to the Mills Company by the Governor of Idaho, aptly describing the incredible music produced by the Violano-Virtuoso.
Dear Sir, Have just had the pleasure of listening to your wonderful Automatic Violin and Piano on exhibition at the Government Building here. This marvelous instrument certainly far surpasses anything that I have eve heard in automatic music. The tone and expression of the violin and the piano are so perfect and clear that is really hard to believe but that there is the human hand playing..."
Indeed, for the price of a nickel, the Mills Violano...
Category
20th Century North American Art Deco New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
French Musical Automaton Picture Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
One of the most amazing timepieces we have ever acquired that offers far more than meets the eye, this incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. While it is clear to see the integrated clock residing within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale.
This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of this fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular farrier scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back, middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting.
A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which must run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting...a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...
Category
19th Century French Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paint
Antique French Carved Walnut "Prie Dieu" or Prayer Chair, Circa 1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Carved Walnut "Prie Dieu" or Prayer Chair, Circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Yates Gold Cup
By Hannah Northcote
Located in New Orleans, LA
Remarkable in scale and artistry, this George III-style cup and cover was created by the famed London silversmith Hannah Northcote. Set on a circular foot and taking the form of a vase, the cup features two leaf-capped handles and a detachable domed cover crowned with a bud finial. Astounding in craftsmanship given the scarcity of gold at the time of its creation, the sentimental message engraved within the frontal cartouche indicates the prestigious provenance that further distinguishes this cup.
Originally commissioned by Robert Peel, the father of 19th century British Prime Minister Robert Peel, the gold cup...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Antique American "Bausch & Lomb" Compound Monocular Microscope, Circa 1890-1910.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique American "Bausch & Lomb" Microscope in Compound Monocular Design, Circa 1890-1910.
Rochester, NY
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Regina Upright Music Box
By Regina Company
Located in New Orleans, LA
An extraordinary and rare coin-operated Regina Sublima upright music box crafted by the Regina music box company, one of the most recognized music bo...
Category
19th Century American Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
Ornamental Turning Lathe, No. 1906 by Holtzapffel & Co
Located in New Orleans, LA
An essential tool in the creation and finishing of furniture, this 19th-century English ornamental lathe is an object of beauty in and of itself. The extraordinary machine...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Iron
Portable Copying Machine by James Watt & Co.
By James Watt
Located in New Orleans, LA
Considered the first step into the world of modern photocopying, the copying machine was among the first widely used devices to successfully produce an ex...
Category
18th Century English Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
19th C. English Carved Mahogany Jewelry Box in the Form of a Miniature Dresser
Located in New Orleans, LA
A very unusual and handsome English carved mahogany Gentlemens jewelry box in the form of a miniature dresser, the upper section with an upward slidi...
Category
1870s English Late Victorian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Silverplate Cannon With Wheels
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional objet d'art is modeled after a cannon from the siege of Mafeking, a 217-day conflict in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It is composed of silverplate over c...
Category
20th Century English Victorian New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate, Copper
John Bennett Georgian Barometer
By John Bennett
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional Georgian barometer by the leading London instrument-maker John Bennett strongly reflects the prevalent furniture style and archite...
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Musical Jewelry and Sewing Casket
Located in New Orleans, LA
This charming musical jewelry and sewing box is a work of sublime artistry. Almost certainly German or Austrian in origin and crafted of deep, ebonized...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Other New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Swiss Nema Cipher Machine
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Swiss-engineered cipher machine is a fascinating piece of 20th-century military and engineering history, and this particular example is one of the ...
Category
20th Century Swiss Other New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Bavarian Pharmacy Balance
Located in New Orleans, LA
This amazing and extremely rare Bavarian Biedermeier-period pharmacy balance stand would have been at home at any apothecary’s shop during the mid-19th century. Crafted of walnut with bold giltwood accents, this stand holds eight separate sets of balances with brass beams and pointers, and weighing pans made of Horn, brass and porcelain. The balances measure out varying sizes; the largest is capable of measuring up to 500 grams, while smallest weighs up to 5 grams. Such balances would have been essential tools in the practice of compounding, or creating customized medications to suit a specific patient's needs. The delicate porcelain scales even indicate what they were used to weigh: one set is marked “Jodoform,” or iodoform, a disinfectant and antiseptic once used to treat wounds, and the other is marked “Venena,” which is Latin for “poisons.” Each scale also exhibits stamps indicating that they have been tested for accuracy. It is extremely rare to find such a large array of scales, especially those in such wonderful condition, in one collection. This intriguing piece is a must for any medical antiques enthusiast.
The units of measurement in which apothecaries worked were often minute: grains, scruples, drams and ounces. As they were typically used to measure very small amounts of ingredients, apothecary and analytical balances...
Category
19th Century Balkan Biedermeier Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Polyphon Autochange Disk Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
As exceptionally scarce as it is fascinating, this autochange disk player by the Polyphon Musikwerke in Leipzig, Germany can change between six disks and play with the incredibly rare addition of bells that accompany the music. Before a coin is dropped into the slot, slide the brass indicator until it points to the desired music selection, insert a penny, and the chosen song will play automatically. An extremely limited number of these automatic disk changers were ever created, and even fewer have survived in such outstanding condition.
Standing over seven feet tall, this particular model boasts a magnificent walnut case with handsome burl panels on its original, matching storage cabinet. A true technical marvel for its day, Polyphon’s automatic disk changer symbolizes pure ingenuity and superlative craftsmanship. This antique player...
Category
Late 19th Century German Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Gold and Agate Sewing Nécessaire
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stunning specimen of agate distinguishes this diminutive French sewing nécessaire. The segments of beautiful hard stone are perfectly complemented ...
Category
18th Century French Rococo Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Agate, Gold
19th Century Exhibition Model of Expanding Table by Samuel Hawkins
By Samuel Hawkins
Located in New Orleans, LA
A masterpiece of both cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering, this one-of-a-kind expanding table was crafted by the renowned cabinetmaker Samuel Hawkins of London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Diminutive in size, the fascinating table was designed as a model to demonstrate Hawkins’ innovative patent screw movement to visitors of the Exhibition – six million people in total over five months. It was exhibited again a century later at the Victoria & Albert Museum during the Festival of Britain, an event intended “to symbolise two main qualities of the national character: realism and strength on the one hand, and, on the other, independence and imagination” (Catalogue of the Exhibition, 1951, p.117). To this day, the miniature masterpiece demonstrates the quest of English furniture makers to combine technical innovation with superb craftsmanship.
Displaying exceptional ingenuity, Hawkins’ wind-out screw mechanism allowed one to extend the table’s base to accommodate concentric leaves with the simple crank of a handle. It is based on the inventive expanding table originally designed by Robert Jupe in 1835, which used a swivel mechanism to separate sections of the tabletop and allow for segmented leaves to be inserted. Hawkins’ tabletop, on the other hand, extends outwards directly from the center in order to accommodate additional leaves around its diameter. This unique design allowed the mechanism to also smoothly operate on rectangular tables, which could be wound out from the middle to allow for more table space.
Hawkins was not alone in his endeavor to combine the technical merits of engineering and mechanics with the most artful pursuit of cabinetmaking. The first half of the 19th century saw a prolific increase in the popularity of applying new ideas to traditional furniture principles, which allowed furniture to serve many purposes. The resulting “patent” furniture was practical and refined, though few were as innovative as Hawkins’ prodigious design.
Carved with the year of the Exhibition on the beautifully designed pedestal base, the table is a testament to the significance of this innovation. The model is mentioned in detail in the catalog of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first international exhibition of industry, manufacturing, and science. Held at London’s dazzling Crystal Palace, its visitors were treated to exhibits from around the globe, including feats of engineering, innovations in industry, and marvels of design. Queen Victoria herself was a frequent visitor, along with her husband, Prince Albert, and others including Charlotte...
Category
19th Century English Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Mermod Fréres Station Cylinder Music Box
By Mermod Frères 1
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptionally wonderful and rare automaton cylinder musical box by the Mermod Fréres firm of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland is a marvel of musical crafts...
Category
19th Century Swiss Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Onyx & Cloisonné Benetier "Holy Water Font", Circa 1920's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Onyx & Cloisonné Benetier "Holy Water Font", Circa 1920's.
Category
Early 20th Century French New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Onyx, Enamel
Swiss Gold and Enamel Musical Vinaigrette
Located in New Orleans, LA
A musical movement distinguishes this wonderful early 19th-century gold vinaigrette box. The vessel is covered in delicate engraving highlighted by bl...
Category
19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique American Sterling Silver and Warthog Tusk Cigar Cutter, Circa 1920-1930.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique American sterling silver and warthog tusk cigar cutter, circa 1920-1930.
Category
Early 20th Century American New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Domestic Medicine Chest by Thompson & Capper
By Thompson & Capper
Located in New Orleans, LA
An invaluable addition to the 19th century home, this domestic medicine chest contained nearly everything needed to nurse a member of the house...
Category
19th Century English Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Guillotine
Located in New Orleans, LA
An incredible and extremely rare artifact of world history, this mutton bone model of a guillotine was created during the Napoleonic wars by a French prisoner of war. Many of the inmates at the prisoner of war camps were skilled artisans long before they were soldiers, and because of the long duration of the conflict and cost of care, their captors encouraged detainees to use their skills to create objects to be sold at civilian open markets. Because of the intricacy of these fascinating objets d'art, very few of these models have survived the test of time. This masterpiece is impeccably detailed with soldiers and cannons lining the platforms. Adding to the rarity of this piece is that it has moving parts, as only a scant few model carvings were ever created with such mechanical accuracy. The soldiers have movable arms, while the guillotine features a movable "blade" for added authenticity.
By many accounts, Napoleonic prisoners of war...
Category
19th Century French Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bone
Antique Early 19th Century English Crimping or Goffering Iron, circa 1840
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique early 19th century English crimping or goffering iron, Circa 1840.
Used to make ruffles, frills, flounces, and pleats in starched linen, the crimpling iron was first introduced in Italy in the early 17th century. Very popular from the Elizabethan era...
Category
19th Century Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Iron
19th Century Swiss Gold Musical Vinaigrette
Located in New Orleans, LA
This early 19th century Swiss gold vinaigrette has the charming addition of a musical mechanism. The entire box is crafted of 14-karat yellow gold envelo...
Category
19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Era Walnut Chess Table, Circa 1885
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century English Victorian era walnut chess table, circa 1885.
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Jean-Gabriel Domergue's French Academician Sword
By Odette Domergue
Located in New Orleans, LA
This important and unique sword was presented to the famed French painter Jean-Gabriel Domergue to commemorate the painter's election to the illustrious Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1950. One of the highest honors bestowed on a French artist, the ceremonial induction into the French Academy has been accompanied by the presentation of a sword since the age of Napoléon. Rather than a weapon, the sword became part of the Academician's uniform, and, over time, its design came to represent the interests and aspirations of its recipient. This example was designed entirely by Domergue's wife Odette, a great sculptor in her own right, and thus it represents both a highly personal gift and an important art historical relic.
The design of the sword is simply magnificent. Odette Domergue found her inspiration in antiquity, a theme that is also seen in the neoclassical sculptures that occupy the gardens of the couple's famous home, Villa Fiesole - also known as Villa Domergue - in Cannes. The impressive weapon boasts a solid gold handle that takes the form of a sinuous caryatid, who is nude save for a single swath of drapery. While the female figure recalls the sculpted supports prevalent in ancient Greek architecture, she also calls to mind the subjects for which Domergue was renowned - languorous, slightly risqué women with a seductive air.
Other decorative elements such as fauna, cypresses, and grotesque heads enhance the whimsy and imagination of the incredible neoclassical design. Furthermore, the scabbard that contains the finely etched blade is also an impeccable work of art. Crafted of black Moroccan leather in imitation of the snake skin, it displays intricately engraved foliage patterns with a lion's head and Domergue's coat of arms.
Though imagined by his wife, the sword was expertly chiseled by the celebrated goldsmith R. Delsinne and assembled by the atelier of the famed sculptor and medalist Raymond Delamarre...
Category
20th Century Neoclassical New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Antique English Coromandel Fitted Traveler's Box Compendium, Circa 1850-1860
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Coromandel wood fitted traveler's box Compendium, Circa 1850-1860. Made by J.T. Needs, Late Bramah: Purveyor to Her Majesty, Prince Albert & the Royal Family.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Silver
OSS Agent Personal Collection
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare collection offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secretive life of Eli Popovich, an engineer, master parachutist and friend and collaborator to one of the most influential underground leaders during WWII, Josip Broz...
Category
20th Century American New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood
South American Presentation Sword
Located in New Orleans, LA
Believed to have originated from the collection of a South American diplomat, the exquisiteness of this presentation sword conveys its ownership by ...
Category
19th Century South American Other Antique New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Brass, Bronze
Vintage Croquet Set with Stand
Located in New Orleans, LA
A timeless game, this vintage croquet set is a great way to bring friends and family together.
The stand is 16"W x 25"H x 8"D. The mallets are each 8"W x 25"H.
Category
Mid-20th Century French New Orleans - Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
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