Sign of the Whale Antiques

r pintillistic

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630-469-5320
558 Crescent Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
info@signofthewhaleantiques.com

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Pair of Early 19th Century Maine Portraits of Jonathan Smith, Esq. and his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Bean Smith, Portland, Maine origin, oil on board, 1828, in the original deep gold leaf frames. 27 7/8" wide x 32" tall x 1 3/4" deep. The identity of the sitters and notes on their character and appearance come from hand-written notes from their daughter, A. A. Monroe, on the back of each painting. An early hand-written cardboard tag on the back of his portrait reads “Grandfather Smith”. Only a remnant remains of the tag on her frame.

Jonathan is believed to have been born in Loudon, New Hampshire July 22, 1780. Elizabeth was born in October, 1783. The couple were married May 28, 1802.

Their daughter, Adeline A. Smith, married Charles Monroe in Portland, Maine December 28, 1833. She died March 6, 1896.

The condition of the paintings is excellent. They have been professionally lightly cleaned and damage to a small area in the upper left edge of his frame has been repaired. Seldom do you find a pair of early portraits of known sitters in this condition in their original frames with family notes attached. Some genealogical research has been done on Jonathan, Elizabeth, and their daughter. Documentation available to buyer. Nothing is known about the artist at this time.

Notes read (portions difficult to decipher):

"My mother, born October 1783, died 1872. My mother's portrait taken in 1828. A good likeness. She was brought up a Quaker and after her marriage she dressed as her associates excepting her hair, she never wore a curl but always wore it parted on one side as she did when a schoolgirl. Her dress is black satin, mutton leg sleeves and otherwise made as the fashion was at that time. Her cap and neck ruffle the style of those days for fashionable ladies. She was a handsome woman and a good one. I must say it if she was my mother. There was no gadding about or gossip about her - clean table. [Toward] the poor serving - following Christ (sic) example to the sinning woman - Has no one condemned thee, No one Lord, Neither do I condemn thee, Go and sin no more. A A Monroe"

"Portrait of Jona. Smith, Esquire. My father J Smith, born 1780, died in Portland, Maine 1832. This is a very good likeness of him taken 1828. Gentlemen wore their broadcloth, his suit is blue broadcloth coat and pants, long tail coat and high neck vest of some woolen material of a buff color and very fine, long and open low in front, ruffled bosom shirt a high linen collar, a cravat of fine linen or lawn a yard square folded crosswise and went around the neck twice and tied in a large bow in front. Hair parted on one side and comb up on the top of the head. [Illegible] out of fashion at this time tho I can remember when he wore one. A. A. Monroe"

$2,850

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Painting of Kittens in the hay with a blue blanket, oil on canvas circa 1910-20, excellent condition. Frame not original. 12 1/4" x 10 1/4".

$325

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"Three Chimneys", oil on canvas painting of an early farmstead under a sunny sky, circa 1880, original deep gilt frame (loss to upper left corner), a couple flakes in the grassy area of the painting.
18 1/2" x 14 1/2".

$395

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Oil on Board Painting of a Greek Revival Country Church, signed and dated 1904, original frame in very good condition, 16" x 13".

$365

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Small Cast Iron Shooting Gallery Targets circa 1920, used for BB guns, with remnants of original white paint, approximately 3" x 3": hopping rabbits, sitting rabbits, and quail.

$98 each

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American Indigo and White Summer-Winter Coverlet with dated corner block, "Rebecca Stout 1839", body in floral design with borders of churches, birds of various types, and trees. Clean as found condition with two edges unhemmed but stable with no fraying, two areas with browning as shown.
72" x 88".

$265

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Pair of Whimsical Handmade Wire Shoes with mesh bows, circa 1920-40, 10" long x 2 3/4" wide x 4" tall. Very good condition with some loss to one bow as shown.

$195

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Hooked Rug with Flowers and Stars, American, circa 1900, wonderful colors set within an effective striped border in excellent condition. Professionally mounted for hanging.
34 3/4" x 15".

$1295

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Folk Art Wood Model of a Building, Maine, c1860, with applied striped barber poles, dry original paint, tiny square nails. Wonderful condition.
19 1/4" x 9 1/4" x 10 3/4" tall.

$395

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Double-sided Dartboard in original red, dark green, and white paint, circa 1940, Lake George, New York. One side heavily used, the other relatively pristine. The size of the board was extended and secured with metal staples prior to painting.
18" square, hung on point.

$295

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Irish Chain Variation Quilt, circa 1860, with zigzag border, in red and white print and solid green fabrics on white ground, thin hand-applied green binding, 75 1/4" x 83 1/4". Wonderful workmanship and quilting at 10 stitches per inch. Excellent condition with one light age spot and light surface dirt in extreme bottom right corner. A wonderful early quilt in great condition.

$1275

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Penny Rug, diamond shape, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1890-1910, excellent condition.
38 ¼” x 25 ¼”

$395

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Carved Native American Chieftain in weathered original paint, early 1900s. Likely a Tobacconist counter display, found in northern Ohio.
29" tall x 17" wide at the shoulders x 11" at the deepest.

$1100

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Carved Wood Pointing Hand Sign, 19th century, great detail and patina, 16" long.

$475

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Topsy-turvey Doll, early 1900s, hand embroidered facial features and hair, missing skirt, scarce.
15" tall x 13" wide at the hands.

$135

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Native American Carry Pouch, circa 1920-40, with leather tassels, fine beadwork including around the opening, excellent condition.
16" long including fringe x 6" wide.

$450

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Small folk art Farrier's Box circa 1860. A "farrier" is a craftsman who trims and shoes horses' hooves. This box features applied black painted decoration of what appears to be a full-bodied Morgan horse on the lid, and farrier's tools on the front and two sides, all on a brown painted base. The lid is edged with applied sawtooth and swag borders. There are also oyster white and mustard painted embellishments and pinstriping on all sides. The interior contains divided compartments and was likely used to hold small nails, etc. The owner's initials "J. B" are painted on the inside lid. Superb original condition.
9 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 4" tall.

$850

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Rare Circa 1860 Applique Quilt features a rare pattern of berries and flowers with lovebirds in the borders. Actually there are 5 borders (!) in this quilt, setting off the interior design very effectively. Striking colors of red and green with a bit of double pink fabric on an unusual dark ground--the color is difficult to describe, but it is like aubergine. The backing fabric is a solid light green cotton. A large quilt at 95" x 96". It is not perfect, with scattered background fabric breakdown and repairs (example shown). A special quilt for a special buyer.

$1475

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Native American Medicine Pipe, mid 1900s,
17 7/8" long.

$185

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Portrait of a Lady on a garden terrace with fountain, early 1800s, oil on hand-chamfered mahogany board.
7 1/2" x 11 1/8".

$325

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Midcentury Hooked Rug, wool on burlap, Iowa, turquoise, oranges, and creams, with turtles, butterflies, and a duck frolicking among the funky flowers set in a triple border. Excellent condition.
44 1/2" x 38".

$495

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Black Doll circa 1920-30, in original clothing: dress, petticoat, and pantaloons are in excellent condition. Nicely embroidered face, some wear around chin and neck, loss to hair. 14" tall.

$95

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Rebecca W. Morgan’s Sampler, dated 1830, 19 ¾” x 19 ¼”, stitched on linen ground, excellent condition, conservation framed. Includes 6 alphabets in different stitch forms, also dated upper right corner, strawberry border on the bottom and a dog. Artifacts from photography.

$625

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Wonderfully Carved and Painted Nuthatch on oval base, 2" tall x 3 3/4" long, signed "Brian Mitchell".

$245

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Evaline Thompson's Sampler, dated 1816 on a tag applied to the glass, includes 3 alphabets and numerals, with a large central motif of a home surrounded b trees, flowers, and birds, all within a decorative stitched border. The motto reads: “Love permit thy gracious name to stand as the first art of an infant’s hand and while my fingers ‘oer this canvas move make her tender heart to seek thy love.” Perhaps this sampler was done one in honor of the birth of a child? 17” square. No losses. Some fade in verse.

$1200

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Blue and White Double Irish Chain Quilt in cadet and indigo blue on white, hand inked provenance signed "To Julie from her Great-Grand-Mother Mary Tilp, pieced in her 77th year 1903". Hand-pieced and hand-quilted at 8-9 stitches per inch, excellent condition . 78" x 78"

$895

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Authentic Ohio Amish Variable Stars Quilt, cotton, 70" x 72", treadle machine pieced and hand quilted with the date "1947" stitched in the bottom right corner. Wonderful black framing around the central stars, thin batting, dark blue machine stitched binding and backing fabric, quilting around the perimeter of each pieces and in cable designs in the wide border. Excellent condition with no apologies--and truly, so much better in person.

$1865

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Carved Frame, circa 1920s-30s, made to resemble a slice of watermelon with rind and seeds and shaped contours. Houses a Black Americana print of children enjoying the fruit. Probably mounted on a tray.
24" wide x 17 1/2" tall.

$675

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Folky hooked rug, diamonds and flowers, good condition, 40" x 25 1/2".

$165

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