Sign of the Whale Antiques

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

~~~~~~~
Home / About Us / Furniture / Folk Art and Textiles / Early Smalls / Past Sales / Blog / Links

~~~~~~~
Bannerette Weathervane, early 20th century, in original gold leaf surface, excellent condition.
24" long x 17" tall.

$975

~~~~~~~
Small Hooked Rug, village scene with a church and houses, wool on burlap, circa 1920, mounted for hanging, 15 1/8” x 12 3/4”,

$365

~~~~~~~
Set of Three Carnival Knockdowns, early 1900s, found in Brickerville, Pennsylvania. Fun to find three. Structurally tight with expected wear from use. 10 3/4" tall.

$475 set

~~~~~~~
Striped Wool Homespun, hand stitched center seam and hem at both ends, selvages on sides, superb condition with no stains. 44” x 82”.

SOLD

~~~~~~~
Watercolor of an Early Brick Schoolhouse in original round frame, circa 1870, excellent condition.
8 5/8" diameter x 3/4" deep.

$325

~~~~~~~
19^th Century Marine Art Multi-Media Portrait of a Schooner, by Thomas H. Willis, Danish-American (1845-1925). This is a more scarce small size example of Willis’s work, flying the American flag, in its original gold frame with wood backboard. Small loss to the silk fabric on one sail. 11 ½” x 11 ½”. Willis combined marine art, folk art, and needlework in his portraits of sailing ships. They featured oil painted backgrounds with vessels made of silk and embroidery floss. He advertised as a maker of "silkware pictures" and collaborated with Antonio Jacobsen who sometimes painted the backgrounds. His work is found in many museums. A large silk-work portrait by Willis sold in the August 2022 Skinner auction for $2250.

$895

~~~~~~~
Two Carved Birds on a carved nest with wall mount, early 1900s, original paint, found in Pennsylvania.
6" tall x 8" wide x 2 1/2" deep.

SOLD

~~~~~~~
Geometric Hooked Rug, checkerboard with hit or miss border, shades of orange, brown, and gold, excellent condition. Wonderful color and texture in this rug.
33 ½” x 21”.

$275

~~~~~~~
Pencil Drawing of a Whippet, circa 1900, in a painted tramp art frame. Inscribed with the dog's name "Jim Crow" and signed by the artist, Wm. Richardson. 9' x 11"

$265

~~~~~~~
Early 20^th Century Hand-Painted Hand-Held “STOP/SLOW" sign, octagonal shape, original paint on early plywood with an attached wooden handle. All original. Overall 19” tall; sign itself is 14” tall x 13 ½” wide. Likely used to control traffic at a school crossing, construction site, etc.

$190

~~~~~~~
Small Watercolor Theorem, circa 1900.
9 1/4" x 7 1/4".

$175

~~~~~~~
Pen and Ink Drawing of a Child on a swing in original paint decorated frame. Signed and dated "Arthur Tompkins Nov. 9, 1887". Excellent condition.
9 1/2" x 7 3/8".

SOLD

~~~~~~~
Early Reverse Painting on Glass, house on a hill amid the trees, original lemon gold frame with original ring hanger. Wonderful original condition. 12" x 8 1/4". (Please excuse the artifacts of photography.)

$395

~~~~~~~
Theorem Painted on an Early Lap Board with breadboard ends, mid 19th century, depicting a wire basket filled with pineapple, strawberries, grapes, peaches, etc. Some scrapes to painted surface. 27" long x 15 1/4" x 1/2" thick.

SOLD

~~~~~~~
Wall Mounted Carved Bird on a half turned post all in original paint decoration, circa 1920-30, great patina. Found in Pennsylvania.
5 3/4" tall x 4 1/2" wide x 4 3/8" deep.

SOLD

~~~~~~~
Figural Molded Thistle in Gilt Paint, late 19th century, set in a 19th century black frame. 11" x 8 3/4".

$240

~~~~~~~
Painting by Illinois Artist Alfred Montgomery (1857-1922), circa 1900, with a pumpkin and corn spilling out of a barrel, signed lower right, excellent condition. 32 3/4" x 28".

SOLD

~~~~~~~

Pennsylvania Lock Box, circa 1850, with working lock and key fitted with a till inside, dovetailed. Original dark green paint decorated with fruit and spray of flowers, great condition.
16” wide x 8 1/2” deep x 7” tall.

$575

~~~~~~~
Circa 1880 Red on White Mariner's Compass Quilt, pieced and appliquéd, with turkey red, cheddar, and double pink fabrics, a small amount of solid green for leaves, red binding, smaller size at 60" x 66". The maker added handled fruit baskets with apples and pears as well as small red baskets containing strawberries with hand embroidered seeds and stems in the center of the quilt and also as a border. This quilt is in very good condition with no stains or fabric loss, wear to binding especially at the top. A muslin sleeve has been applied to the back of the top for hanging by a previous owner. A very charming, one-of-a-kind quilt.

$1650

~~~~~~~
Wall Mount Barber Pole retaining original paint with expected wear and great surface, early 1900s.
40" long x 4 1/4" wide x 3" deep.

$650

~~~~~~~
Three Kittens in a Basket, oil on canvas, circa 1880, original deep walnut frame with gold liner, small repair to canvas upper left as shown in close up photo.
22 7/8” x 16 7/8”

$395

~~~~~~~
Penny Rug, 19th century, in red, green, burgundy, and black star patter. Expected minimal wear but very good overall. 60" long x 23 1/2" wide.

$465

~~~~~~~
Navy Blue and White Quilt, circa 1930, hand pieced and hand quilted, southern Ohio, excellent condition with one small spot as shown. Navy blue tends toward deep purple. 76" x 80".

$450

~~~~~~~
"Guests Only" handmade standing wood sign, circa 1930, in original polychrome paint decoration, double sided, 48" tall x 16" diameter base.

$445

~~~~~~~
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"

SOLD

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
"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

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

$365

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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.

$195

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

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

$475

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

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

$185

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~~~
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

~~~~~
Home / About Us / Furniture / Folk Art and Textiles / Early Smalls / Past Sales / Blog / Links