From the monthly archives:

September 2008

The Robinson Crusoe Sideboard

September 30, 2008

I just received my copy of the December 2008 Victorian Homes magazine (yikes, Christmas trees already) and within the “Antiques” column was this extravagant piece of Victorian furniture, the 12 foot Robinson Crusoe sideboard, which was highly praised at the 1862 London Exhibition.  It is currently being offered for sale by M.S. Rau Antiques.
It was [...]

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Yesterday’s Fontaine Sale Encourages Me

September 28, 2008

I’m encouraged by some of the prices realized at the Fontaine sale yesterday.  Here’s a sampling of some of the healthy results:

Meeks Hawkins sofa – $10,000
“Pottier & Stymus” Aesthetic Sideboard – $12,000
Meeks  Rosewood Etagere – $50,000
Belter 3-piece Milwaukee parlor set – $21,000
Pierce-carved Belter slipper chair – $17,000 (expected $6-8k)
“R.J. Horner” Library Table – $15,000 (interesting [...]

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Rare Victorian “Special Finds” Changes

September 27, 2008

I’ve been offering an ancillary service here on Rare Victorian called “Special Finds”.  With it, I try to highlight pieces that may be lost in Ebay-land, either mis-priced, mis-identified, mis-categorized, or just plain lost amongst the tens of thousands of Victorian furniture items on Ebay where discriminating buyers won’t find them.
Even if you aren’t in [...]

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Fontaine’s Exceptional Antique Auction Sept. 27th

September 25, 2008

Plenty of high-end Victorian coming up in the Fontaine sale in a few days with all the usual suspects: Belter, Roux, Meeks, Jelliff, Baudouine, Pottier & Stymus, and Horner among others.  The Meeks Hawkins pattern set above is expected to bring $35,000-$50,000 and a Belter Milwaukee 3-piece set, $20,000 to $30,000.  A surprisingly unassuming bedstead [...]

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Allen and Brother Winged Griffin Desk

September 24, 2008

This desk is being attributed to the shop of Allen and Brother of Philadelphia and being dated to around 1875.  I happen to have seen this desk in person – it sat in Adamstown, PA for a number of months and I drooled over the carved griffins on the base, but I couldn’t part with [...]

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Are You Selling Yourself Short Selling On Ebay?

September 22, 2008

James Conrad and Steve Sika commented on a recent post about a pair of high-end Neo-Grec chairs that were being sold on Ebay (unsuccessfully) and I thought I’d move Steve’s question into it’s own post as it deserves some more visible discussion.  Here’s what Steve had to say:
I continue [to] ask myself if a fine [...]

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Victorian Is Dead In Alexandria, VA

September 21, 2008

I spent a good part of the weekend in Alexandria, VA this weekend with some long-time friends for a certain milestone birthday bash, and on the way to their house my wife and I did some antiquing there near King Street.
I will officially declare Victorian completely dead in Alexandria.  Yes, there are historic Victorian structures [...]

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