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  19thC cat in crate oil on board
 
OUTSTANDING PORTRAIT OF A FORLORN CAT  $4950
American, oil on board, ca. late 19th century.  Gray and white cat wearing a red bow in a traveling crate.    Signed lower right "Gaylord".  Superb detail, down to the taunting fly and iron nails on the crate slats.  Overall size about 14 by 14 inches.  Sight size 9 x 8 1/2 inches.  Housed in an appropriate period walnut frame.  This painting sold at Skinner's on July 11, 2000 Americana Auction, lot 107.  From a fine collection of Americana and Folk Art.

 

 
Queen Anne Side Chair, Fantastic Red Paint
 

QUEEN ANNE SIDE CHAIR IN FANTASTIC EARLY RED PAINT  $3950
Connecticut, ca. 1790-1800.  Wonderful expressive folk art form in the best red painted surface.  Stylish, flaring crest rail with carved ears above turned rear posts flanking an urn-shaped splat.  Posts terminate in ball feet.  Probably maple and pine retaining an old red painted surface with mustard decoration, probably applied in the second quarter of the 19th century over an earlier red painted surface.  The form, paint, and surface unify into an exceptional example of rural folk art.  Found in Coventry, Connecticut, and probably made near there.  Fine condition!  41inches high; seat height 17 inches. A gem!  

 
oil on board, William Merritt Post, 19th century art
 
WONDERFUL STREAM PAINTING BY WILLIAM MERRITT POST  $2650
Oil on board, signed lower right "W. Post".  William Merritt Post (1856-1937) has been called the foremost painter of the American stream.  This painting was executed during his early period ca. 1880-1884., after which he signed his paintings "W. Merritt Post".  Beautifully rendered is a rushing stream and falls.  Housed in a terrific gilded frame that is probably original.  Overall size 22 3/4 inches by 15 1/4 inches.  Superb condition with no in-painting.  Has been in a private collection for many years.
An exhibition of William Merritt Post paintings was held at the Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, Connecticut, December 1997-February 1998.  The catalogue of this exhibition accompanies the sale of this painting.
 
remarkable full length folk art portrait miniature by Justus Dalee
  

REMARKABLE FULL-LENGTH PORTRAIT MINIATURE ATTRIBUTED TO JUSTUS DALEE  P.O.R.
American, active 1826-1848, watercolor, graphite, and ink on paper, possibly Massachusetts to Albany/Rochester/Buffalo, NY, to Ohio.  Sitter is identified on frame reverse as H. Lee Mason, Sr.  Consistent with other works by DaLee, the detail of clothing and hair are painstakingly rendered .  Note the riding crop, a prop commonly held by boys in pre-photography portraits, and the tiny feet and hand, features coveted in  early folk portraits.  Full length portrait miniatures by DaLee are seldom encountered, as are portraits with the wonderful tiny little feet and hands by any artist. Superb original condition.  Housed in a period red-painted reeded frame.  Overall dimensions including frame of  6 5/8 inches tall x 4 13/16 inches wide.  This is a rare opportunity to acquire an image iconic with American folk portraiture.

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School of William Mathew Prior folk portrait of a baby with hammer and red dress
  

OUTSTANDING FOLK PORTRAIT; CHILD WITH HAMMER  $17,900
American, Prior-school, ca. 1830-1840, oil on paper board, of a proud, chubby little toddler boy with hammer in hand, who can't wait to help his father, costumed in a colorful red dress with puffy sleeves.  Terrific condition except for minor touch up in the very upper right corner, well away from the image.  Housed in a period red painted frame as sensational as the painting. Overal size 16 7/8" tall x 12 7/8" wide; sight size 13 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches.
 
As endearing a portrait of a little child as one will find, 175 years young and anxious to be preserved safely into the future by a new family.

  
superb paint decorated valuables box
 

WONDERFUL DIMINUTIVE PAINT DECORATED BOX  $2850
American, New England, ca. 1820.  Fantastic box in truly remarkable untouched condition.  Patterned black paint decoration over mustard, with underlying salmon tones.  Very dry crackled varnish that has protected the paint for almost 200 years.  Retains original leather hinges, iron hasp and lock, and brass keeper.  Diminutive size of just 7 7/8 inches x 4 1/4 inches x 4 1/4 inches tall.  Fits well on a candlestand, mantel, or shelf. 

  
yellow smoke paint decorated dome top box
 

EARLY CROME YELLOW SMOKE DECORATED BOX  $1985
American, probably New Hampshire or Maine, ca. 1820.  Successful color scheme with chrome yellow ground with overpainted black, which plays well with the darkness of the original lock and hasp.  Also retains original hinges and dust barrier.  Perfect proportions of 24  wide x 12 deep x 10 inches tall. The dome creates a nicer aesthetic than if it were flat top. Terrific condition with just normal wear for a box of this period.

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Exceedingly rare portrait miniature by John Plumbe
  

EXCEEDINGLY RARE PORTRAIT MINIATURE BY JOHN PLUMBE  $2950
American, ca. 1840-1845. Portrait miniature of a lovely young girl, watercolor beautifully executed on ivory, intaglio stamped "Plumbe" for John Plumbe (1809-1857).  Blue ribbons, matching her dress, hold braids.  Housed in half of its original daguereotype case (3-1/8" X 3-1/8").  Portraits by Plumbe were rarely done, and seldom come up for sale.  

Plumbe was an important early daguereotype photographer, establishing studios in as many as 25 American cities.  Amongst many other "firsts", Plumbe was the first to photograph the White House, US Capitol, and President James Polk.   Prior to George Eastman, Plumbe did as much as anyone to establish photography. 

A rare and important find to have a painted miniature by Plumbe, let alone such a compelling image, and in superb original condition.

 
great ram woolen or tailor trade sign  

EXTREMELY RARE CARVED AND GILDED RAM TRADE SIGN    $7850.  SALE PENDING
Ca. mid 19th century.  Hanging sheep or ram signs were typically used for shops involved in the trade of wool, including woolen mills, dealers in drapes and cloth, woolen clothing, and tailors.  Carved from wood with superb curling horns standing proud from the head, with individually carved hoofed legs and ribbon surmount.  This symbol of the tailor shop originated in England, then spread to the continent, and then to America.  In fact, "Brooks Brothers" adapted a very similar logo in 1850.  One half the ribbon work is restored; scattered other minor touchups.  Custom stand; also comes with a wall hanging mount.  About 20 inches tall including stand; about 17 inches from tail to nose.  Shows well on both sides.  Acquired from a very fine collection of early Americana and Folk Art, pictured on page 103 of the Catalogue of Antiques and Fine Art, Summer, 2005.  See American Radiance, page 354, for a related hanging sheep trade sign in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.  A fantastic example of early commerce and sculptural folk art.