FIVE ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of an English pink and white striped rose bowl, a yellow and white striped rose bowl in acid finish, an English cranberry and white swirled rose bowl, a blue and white opalescent swirl striped rose bowl and a teal and cream striped rose bowl. Three are pictured in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings fig. 493 pg. 152 and fig. 274 pg. 86. SIZE: Range from 2-1/2 in. to 3-3/4 in. dia. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60848, 5-60864, 5-60944, 5-60969
THREE BOTTLES. American 1st half-19th century. Pictured is an olive ludlow bottle 8 3/4''h. Together with two aqua clubs one with swirl ribs and one with broken swirl ribs 7 3/4''h. Blisters including broken ones on one aqua and the ludlow. Both clubs have 24 ribs Zanesville Ohio. The rim on one aqua club is a bit cloudy.
Burlon Craig Swirl Face Jug: (Vale, North Carolina, b. 1914, d. 2002) grey alkaline glaze with blue and white swirl, applied facial features including bulging kaolin eyes with blue painted pupils, large nose, ears, mouth with broken china teeth, wavy line decoration at back shoulder between two applied strap handles, "B. B. CRAIG, VALE, N. C. " stamp on base, 13 in. Provenance: The Collection of Carl and Marian MullisNote: Literature:ÿHarpe, Jason L. , Brian Dedmond, and M. Dawn Crouse. ÿValley Ablaze: Pottery Tradition in the Catawba Valley. 2012, Ill. pg. 96, bottom picture, top row, middle jug Condition good condition overall, firing separation to right eyelid as made, minor abrasion to glaze at back of jarÿ
Monumental Sgn. Tiffany & Co. Makers Sterling Silver Trophy Garland acorns & swirling oak leaves scroll work & fluted handles. Inscription reads: ''Genesee Breeders Association Challenge Cup for Best 2 yr. Old Presented by the Jockey Club Breeding Bureau.'' The sterling silver Tiffany cup was the Jockey Club Cup of the Genesee Valley Breeders Association from about 1914 the year in which the Association was founded until 1944. The piece dates from approximately 1902. Based upon a 1945 newspaper article and photographs taken in 1942 and 1944 the cup was won by Donald Scott of Canaseraga with his horse May Flare in 1942 won again by Mr. Scott in 1943 by his yearling Poplar Guy and won again by Mr. Scott in 1944 by his then two-year-old Poplar Guy. These three successive wins of the Jockey Club Cup caused the cup to be retired to the possession of Mr. Scott in 1944. In the 1942 and 1944 pictures May Flare and Poplar Guy are pictured with their trainer Louis Bailey of Geneseo and Mr. Scott's daughter Dorothy Scott Elsenheimer. The Jockey Club Cup is also shown in both of these photographs. 204 Troy oz. Small dent near inscription. Ht. 15 1/2'' Max. W 14 1/2''E
Tiffany Studios New York Patina Bronze "Pine Needle" Picture Frame, circa 1900: Exclusive on Bidsquare Tiffany Studios New York Patina Bronze "Pine Needle" Picture Frame, circa 1900, with green swirl glass panels, stamped, "Tiffany Studios New York" . 12 ½ in. x 11 ¾ in. Condition Items may have wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Please contact the gallery for further details prior to bidding. Any condition statement given as a courtesy should not be treated as fact. Overall Dimensions Unit: Height: 0. 00 Width: 0. 00 Depth: 0. 00 Weight: 0. 00
Includes a woven wool fabric measuring 32 x 64 inches; a red, yellow and aqua floral home decor fabric, textured, by Fifth Avenue Designs, Inc. measuring 47 x 42 inches; a tapestry home decor fabric in bright colors measuring 52 x 36 inches; two pieces of off-white on beige swirl cotton home decor fabric measuring 56 x 72 inches and 45 x 48 inches; a woven brown stripe remnant measuring 10 inches by 2+ yards; a bright paisley cotton fabric measuring 44 inches by almost 2 yards; a brown and blue plaid flannel measuring 36 x 30 inches; a contemporary turquoise cotton measuring 42 x 36 inches; ; a cotton-poly embroidered and eyelet fabric measuring 42 inches by 1+ yards; and a red blue and green on off white lacey stripe possibly a blend measuring 44 x 36 inches. All fabric is in very good condition. We do our best to describe all items in detail and provide pictures. If you have any doubt, please ask questions! We will provide extra pictures, or can schedule an in person or video conference preview at your convenience. In house Flat Rate Shipping of $20 is a domestic shipping estimate. We will gladly combine multiple lots for your convenience and economy. Depending on how many lots we can pack, it may cost an additional $5. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
PAIR OF FAMILLE ROSE 'COVERT EIGHT IMMORTALS' PLATES
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY ? ???????????each painted to the central medallion with attributes of Eight Daoist Immortals, including a double-gourd, sword, plantain fan, fish drum, flute, castanets, basket of flowers, and lotus, all borne on ribbons, resting on a large leaf issuing out luscious peonies, all beneath floral and auspicious emblem panels against a pink diaper and swirling ground band(2)32cm diameter eachProvenance: Kimmerghame, Duns, the Estate of the Late Major General Sir John Swinton K.C.V.O., O.B.E., D.L. (1925-2018)Major General Sir John Swinton began his military career in 1944 with the Scots Guards, rising in rank to Major General in 1976. He was also Brigadier of the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) in 1977, and retired from Army life in 1979. With his strong military background, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Berwickshire in 1980 and Lord Lieutenant from 1989 to 2000. A high point of his tenure was escorting the Stone of Scone back to Scotland in 1996.The Swinton family history and ownership of land in Berwickshire can be traced to the early part of the 12th century, when Ernulf de Swinton received one of the first private charters recorded in Scotland which confirmed his property from David I of Scotland (1084-1153). This is one of two original charters of David I kept in the cartulary of Durham; both are to Ernulf and also refer to Ernulf’s father (Udard), grandfather (Liulf) and great-grandfather (Eadulf) as holding the land before him. This would make Eadulf the first landowner of Scotland whose ownership could be proved, and means that the Swinton family would by this hypothesis be one of only three (the two others being the Arden and Berkeley families) that could trace its unbroken land ownership and lineage to before the Norman Conquest, making it one of the oldest landed families in Britain.Kimmerghame itself was the site of an earlier house, the home of Sir Andrew Home in the 1730s. The lands and estate of Kimmerghame came into the ownership of the family of Swinton in 1776 when Archibald Swinton of Manderston married Henrietta Campbell of Blythswood in Glasgow. This older house was demolished and rebuilt in the early 1850s, the architect being the celebrated David Bryce, who employed some materials from the older house. Bryce’s Scots Baronial house was substantially damaged by fire in 1938 and only partially rebuilt. The family still retains Kimmerghame and its contents.Captain Archibald Swinton (1731-1804) went to India in the service of the East India Company as a surgeon. He reached Madras in 1752 and took part in the campaigns being waged between the French and English Companies for supremacy in the south. He also took part in an expedition 1756-57 to Negrais in Burma. He reached eastern India for the first time in 1759 when he arrived at Ganjam in Orissa and from there went on to Calcutta. He also transferred from being a surgeon to an ensignship in the Company’s Bengal army.When Archibald Swinton left the Company’s service at the end of 1765, he took with him a letter from the Emperor to King George III asking for help to reseat him on the throne of his ancestors, since Clive would not do so unilaterally; Swinton took a munshi with him in case the answer should be written in Persian. So ‘Captain Swinton, bringing with him the Munshy (sic) (and including in his baggage the large Indian jars, the Indian pictures, Chinese pictures painted on glass, numberless ivory, silver and crystal handled arms, jewels, Persian books, etc. etc.), sailed from India …’ The important group of Indian paintings and other works of art are now in the care of the National Museum of Scotland having been accepted by the nation in lieu of inheritance tax.The Swinton family have had strong connections with the Army and the legal profession. Part of their impressive collection was sold at our saleroom in Five Centuries: Furniture, Paintings and Works of Art sale on 23 Feb 2022.
WEBB GEM CAMEO VASE. Extremely fine Webb Gem cameo vase decorated by Jules Barbe has bulbous body and long cylindrical neck. Neck has four arched panels in which are carved delicate flowers, leaves and swirling stems all of which are beautifully enameled in pink, yellow and green. Panels are surrounded by nicely carved gold gilt trim. The bulbous body of the vase has five nicely carved and gold gilt medallions which are surrounded by flowing bands of leaves and stems. All of which are enameled in lovely green. Top and bottom of bulbous body are trimmed with geometric design which is enameled in gold and fuschia. Vase is signed “Thomas Webb & Sons Gem Cameo”. PROVENANCE: Ex-Collection of A. Christian Revi. Vase is photographed on front and back dust cover of Albert Christian Revi's 19th Century Glass. Also pictured with description in the book opposite title page. SIZE: 8-1/4” t. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. 5-62033
FOUR SATIN GLASS ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of two embossed floral designs in pink and in green, a pink embossed fan design and a swirl rose bowl in yellow. Three are pictured in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings fig. 42 pg. 27 and fig. 23 pg. 22. Accompanying lot is an autographed copy of “Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings with Sean Billings. SIZE: Range from 3-3/4 in. to 4-1/4 in. dia. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60750
EIGHT ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of two miniature blue opalescent hobnail, one miniature white opalescent hobnail, two large opalescent hobnail rose bowls; one in vaseline and one in green, one white opalescent swirl, one yellow opalescent striped and one yellow spattered glass rose bowl. Two are pictured in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings fig. 422 pg. 129 and fig. 422 pg. 130. SIZE: Approx. 3 in. dia. CONDITION: The yellow spatter glass rose bowl is cracked, the remaining are very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60751
FIVE ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of two decorated milk glass rose bowls, one fireglow decorated rose bowl, a decorated blue satin rose bowl and an amethyst cased glass rose bowl in the swirl pattern. The amethyst rose bowl is pictured in fig. 7, pg. 16 in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings. Accompanying lot is an autographed copy of “Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings with Sean Billings. SIZE: Range from 3-1/2 in. to 5-1/2 in. dia. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60844, 5-60896, 5-60936, 5-60898, 5-60890
FOUR ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of a mid-Western Pomona type rose bowl with three applied crystal feet, a white opalescent rose bowl with swirls, a green vertical ribbed rose bowl with a crimped and gold enameled top and a cranberry vertical ribbed rose bowl. Two are pictured in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings fig. 331 pg. 102 and fig. 242 pg. 78. SIZE: Range from 3-3/4 in. to 4-3/4 in. dia. CONDITION: The Pomona rose bowl has a chip to one foot, otherwise very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60758
TWO SATIN GLASS ROSE BOWLS. Lot consists of blue MOP satin glass rose bowls, both having crimped tops and swirl patterns. Both are pictured in the "Collectible Glass Rose Bowls" by Johanna Billings fig. 92 and fig. 94 on pg. 39. SIZE: 3-1/2 in. and 4-1/2 in. dia. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Collection of Johanna & Sean Billings 5-60958
DEEP PURPLE CHAROITE BOX
Chary River near Aldan, Russia
Handcrafted in Italy
Rarely is the color purple represented in the mineral kingdom. The charoite that this box is constructed from is virtually a one locality lapidary material: a remote area of Russia provides the small amount that reaches the collector market. Charoite is easily identified; besides the bright purple color, the better material shows a swirling, chatoyant luster that is unique to this stone. Scattered sections of black aegirine and colorless quartz crystals are sprinkled over the surface, bringing a touch of complexity to the overall picture. This rich purple box has a black onyx interior, features gold plated brass hardware and measures 3 1/2 x 5 x 1 3/8 inches.
THE HIGHLAND SPHERE COLLECTION - 206 SPECIMENS A hand selected collection of the finest in Mineral Spheres Carved by Joseph McAnney, Wolfgang Mueller, et al. A magnificent collection of cut and polished minerals and stones fifteen years in the making featuring 206 specimens of precious gems and minerals from the finest localities in the world. Fifteen years ago a chance meeting at a gem show led to the creation of the Highland collection offered here. Wolfgang Mueller patiently explained the process of making a stone sphere to a neophyte gem dealer. He further explained that since many varieties of stone have no appreciable crystal form or shape, lapidary creations such as these are the only way to truly appreciate their inner beauty and patterns. This concept seemed fascinating, and the dealer began to seek out the most unusual and intriguing examples of the sphere making art wherever they could be found. Demanding only the best for his customers, thousands of custom spheres were commissioned to add to the variety and selection. Tons of 'potential' spheres in the rough were sorted, graded, and only the best materials were accepted. Old collections and hordes were also searched for unique and one of a kind materials, which led to offerings of a wide assortment of minerals no longer available due to mine closings or otherwise lost locations. Soon, if a collector sought something really different or unusual in the way of spheres, Highland Rock was the vendor to visit. As several tens of thousands of spheres were bought and sold, one by one, the most beautiful, most exemplary specimens were put aside. Most of these prime examples were hand crafted by top American artisans, though a few from other sources were unusual or intriguing enough to 'make the grade'. The spheres range in size from 1.5 to over 6 inches in diameter. Overall they weigh in at over 300 pounds worth of finished lapidary perfection. By comparison, it would take well over 1000 standard 'Idar eggs' to equal the mass of stone represented in this collection. Naturally, the collection includes dozens of unique or lost materials, with a special appreciation for those found here in the USA. With the drop in domestic mining activity, and the increase in land development, these spheres would be very difficult to replace or re-create. There is pink gem rhodonite, red calcozincite, and pale green prehnite from old collecting locations in New Jersey. From New York there is hexagonite, tremolite, and sparkly blue green lapis from the closed Balmat Mines, as well as a sphere entirely fashioned from a single oversized 'Herkimer Diamond'. From California there is swirled blue opal, mariposite, pink tourmaline accenting bright lavender lepidolite, light green jade, cat's eye ulexite, and the classic poppy jasper. There is black jet from the Pennsylvania coal regions, neon blue azurite from the Bluebird Mine in Arizona, and Petoskey Stone, the state stone of Michigan. This list continues - just the domestic portion of the collection alone would make a fine catch. Other specimens were chosen for themes and patterns, such as the wide assortment of picture jaspers and rhyolites from Madagascar, India, Australia, Africa, and the USA. No collection would be complete without the precious gem materials, so there is a special selection of precious spheres from ruby to aquamarine, emerald to jadeite, opal to kunzite, silver to lapis, sugilite to tourmaline, ametrine to charoite and much more. This collection is a notable achievement, possibly the finest such collection ever offered to the public. Each sphere accompanied by a matching hand lacquered wooden stand.
Assortment of Handmade Marbles. Description Includes approximately 68 marbles, most with swirls and a few onionskins, micas and Indians. Not all pictured.Condition (Excellent - Near Mint). Size Largest: 1 - 1/16" Dia.
DELTA: Native American Celebration Limited Edition Fountain Pen
The Indigenous peoples of North America are celebrated in traditional earth tones of umber, green and black swirled resin. The Celebration version of the pen features six diamonds set in the cap ring and is limited to 92 pieces, of which this pen is number 36. 5 1/2 " (14.5cm). Medium 18 K gold nib. The wooden box is designed as a picture frame, missing ink bottle.
Table Lamp Attributed to Riviere Studios Metal overlay and slag glass United States, early 20th century Etched metal cap over seven-panel reticulated metal overlay shade with drop apron, in a leafy vine pattern with beaded borders, and green/brown patina, over swirled green, white, and caramel slag glass, raised on four-socket, seven-sided illuminated base in same overlay and slag glass pattern, and round patinated and beaded metal trimmed base, ht. 29 1/2, shade dia. 20 1/2 in. Literature: A similar lamp and shade was made by Riviere Studios is pictured in Mosaic Shades Vol. II, by Paul Crist, published by Paul Crist Studios, California, 2005, p. 151.
TWO PIECES. American and Bohemian early 20th century. A green iridescent vase with swirl pattern and floral pewter mount. 11.25''h. Together with a brass Art Nouveau picture frame. 13.5''h.
Christensen Agate Four-Color Flame Marble.
Description Black base with salmon, brown, tan, and a nice swirling/flame pattern over the surface. Great pattern and look to this marble. This marble is pictured in Collecting Early Machine Made Marbles written by Robert S. Block in 2003, on pages 87 and 88.
Condition (9.3). Size 13/16" Dia.
Boxed Remington Beals Pocket Revolver lst Model 3rd Issue .31 cal. 3" octagonal barrel S/N 202. Blue finish with gutta percha grips in a tight swirl box. This type of cardboard box accounts for 10% of the production of the boxes used on 1st Model Beals. Flask mold loader included. Revolver is pictured in Schif Charles. Remington's First Revolver.?Mowbray 2007: p. 64. Condition: Revolver is very sharp and crisp with the finish a nice plum blending to a patina.? Flask mold and loader?are very nice and in mint condition.
(2) DANISH MODERN ART POTTERY HANGING LAMPS (lot of 2) Danish modern stoneware hanging lamps, c. 1970's, including: (1) flared shade having streaked blue body with brown abstract forms, including ceiling plate, signed "Stil Danmark" as pictured, shade: 7.25"h, 12.75"diam; (1) brown bell-shaped shade having swirl pattern, raised and pierced dots to bottom, signed ?Hahn?, shade: 11.5"h, 9"diam; both in need of wiring, 12.75lbs total Start Price: $80.00
Chinese Scroll depicting 2 beauties Chinese watercolor on silk scroll painting, depicting two beautiful women on a terrace or bridge, the ribbons or cords of their robes swirling in the wind. A large tree, prunus branches, and house are in the background. Calligraphy and seal marks upper right. Label en verso for Man Fong Picture Frame Maker, 41 Wellington St., Hong Kong. 46" x 18-3/4"; 48-1/3" x 19-3/4" framed. Probably Qing Dynasty, late 19th to early 20th century. Note: proceeds from the sale of this item benefit Angels Among Us Animal Rescue, Memphis, Tennessee. Provenance: a Memphis, Tennessee estate.
SILVER SPRINGS POTTERY, 3 Vases: Three Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 6" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 114 of his book ‰ÛÏOld Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise‰Û being ‰ÛÏThe Collector‰Ûªs Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966. ‰Û Condition This item will need to be shipped by a packing company of your choice. We maintain a list of reliable shippers, or you may choose your own. Available payment options on Bidsquare
SILVER SPRINGS POTTERY, 7 Vases: Seven Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 5" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 117 of his book ‰ÛÏOld Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise‰Û being ‰ÛÏThe Collector‰Ûªs Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966. ‰Û Condition This item will need to be shipped by a packing company of your choice. We maintain a list of reliable shippers, or you may choose your own. Available payment options on Bidsquare
SILVER SPRINGS POTTERY, 7 Vases: Seven Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 7-5/8" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 114 of his book ‰ÛÏOld Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise‰Û being ‰ÛÏThe Collector‰Ûªs Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966. ‰Û Condition This item will need to be shipped by a packing company of your choice. We maintain a list of reliable shippers, or you may choose your own. Available payment options on Bidsquare
JAY STRONGWATER FLORAL VINE PICTURE FRAME: Enameled & jeweled frame by Jay Strongwater having an overall Oak log frame with blossoming vines & foliate with acorns at 2 corners. Verso has a swirling tan enamel with a scrolling openwork stand having light green & pink jewels. Approx. 10.75'' h x 8.75'' w.CONDITION: One jewel missing at lower left acorn, wear consistent with age and use.
Two Mexican sterling silver picture frames, Third-quarter 20th Century; Taxco, Mexico First stamped: Los Ballesteros / Hecho en Mexico / Sterling / 925 / Eagle 42; Second stamped: Reveri / Sterling / Mexico / Eagle 40 Comprising a Los Ballesteros frame with swirled trim enclosing a hinged glazed oval frame with applied half spheres (3.25" H x 2.5" W), together with an oval Reveri frame with dotted trim (3.125" H x 2.125" W), 2 pieces 73.0 grams gross Provenance: The Collection of Cindy Tietze-Hodosh and Stuart Hodosh Provenance: The Collection of Cindy Tietze-Hodosh and Stuart Hodosh
Three Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 6" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 114 of his book “Old Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise” being “The Collector’s Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966.”
Seven Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 5" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 117 of his book “Old Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise” being “The Collector’s Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966.”
Seven Silver Springs swirl vases, the tallest about 7-5/8" high. Fine condition. From the collection of renowned Florida collector, Alfred R. Frankel, MD, and pictured on page 114 of his book “Old Florida Pottery: Potters in Paradise” being “The Collector’s Guide to History, Makers and Marks, 1859-1966.”
An Impressive Masterwork Andrew Clemens (American, 1857-1894) Labeled Sand Bottle
Made for Railroad Freight Agent Nicholas J. Goll (1840-1903), Dated 1889
visible through the top of the stopper of the bottle is a black and white printed paper label reading Pictured Rock Sand, Put Up By Andrew Clemens, Deaf-Mute, McGregor, Iowa.
Height with stopper 10 1/2 inches.
Height without stopper 8 3/4 inches.
Diameter 3 1/2 inches.
One side depicts a coal burning locomotive stopped at a railroad station, with freight cars stretching into the distance. A single figure is seen handling a large piece of freight, with others stacked on the siding in front of a train station. In the distance to the left, another locomotive can be seen pulling cars over a railroad bridge crossing a river. The decoration is polychrome, with shades of brown, black and gold predominate. The entire scene is set in a sharply delineated frame of sand set off against a white background. Below this scene, written in script, is the name N. J. Goll. The other side of the bottle is divided into two decorative panels. The top features a spread-winged eagle clutching arrows and green olive branches in its talons, and a patriotic shield and ribbon banner proclaiming E. Pluribus Unum. Below a sidewheel packet boat under a full head of steam is depicted with the name St. Paul in block lettering on the paddle box. The steamboat is set off from the rest of the bottle by a sharply delineated frame of sand grains. The decoration on this side of the bottle is en grissaile save for red details in the patriotic shield, an American flag at the stern of the packet boat, and a blue sky in the background of the river scene. The main panels are contrasted with varying swirling and uniform devices of colored sand, and near the bottom of the bottle, the date 1889. Nicholas J. Goll was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent most of his life in that town. At an early age, he embarked on a life-long career working for the railroad. Beginning in November 1861, his first job was as a way-bill clerk with the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad. From this point forward, he held successive positions with various railroads, ending his career as Assistant General Freight Agent, Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, a position he held for nine years until his death (1894-1903). Though most of his career seems to have been in St. Louis, at the time of his death he was living in Chicago, the home office of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul (Busby, editor, 1893:143; Cook County, Illinois Death Records). Goll’s work history is reflected in the bottle, and the routes of the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway are key to understanding its history. At the time the bottle was made, one of the major trunks of the railroad ran from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Rapid City, South Dakota through McGregor, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi River just upstream at Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. McGregor was a major transshipment point for midwestern wheat and was also a regular stop for steamboat traffic. The Goll Bottle Within Clemen’s Existing Body of Work At a height of 10 1/2 inches and a diameter of 3 1/2 inches, the Goll bottle is unusually large for Clemens’ body of work. The faceted stopper and the location of his printed label inside the bottle is also atypical. Clemens routinely used an American eagle and flag in his bottles. In the more than 100 bottles known to exist, this is one of only two known to incorporate an eagle and patriotic shield. Dated 1889, five years before Clemens’ death, the Goll bottle amply demonstrates Clemens’ mastery of his life’s work. Like most of his bottles, it was undoubtedly commissioned for its new owner. In this case, whether Goll ordered the bottle is not important. The bottle incorporates motifs that would have been important to his career: the railroad and packet industries. Trains were occasionally utilized in Clemens’ bottles, and he is known to have made more than one for railroad owners or executives (Sucholeiki 2015: 26-30). One of these bottles (now lost) weighed 20 pounds and depicted a train crossing a pontoon bridge over the Mississippi at McGregor. His most common railroad bottle incorporates a simple profile depiction of a locomotive pulling a coal tender and belching smoke. The Goll bottle departs from this convention by depicting a locomotive at work. In this case, the locomotive and attendant box cars are pulled up to a train station and loading dock with a worker wrestling a hogshead towards an open boxcar door. Crates and other boxes are piled on the dock, and in the distance another train crosses the well-known James J. Hill Stone Arch Bridge spanning the Mississippi at St. Paul, Minnesota. While the inspiration for his locomotive is unknown, his steamboat decoration is clearly copied from advertisements of the Diamond Jo Steamboat Line. The owner of the line, Joseph “Diamond Joe’ Reynolds (1819-1891), moved to McGregor in 1860 to take advantage of the burgeoning grain production and established a steamboat line to transport grain to the railhead at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Dubbed the Diamond Jo Line, Reynolds’ company eventually grew to incorporate several steamers plying the upper and lower Mississippi. Built in 1883, the St. Paul was part of the Diamond Jo Line running the St. Paul-St. Louis route and was undoubtedly a frequent visitor at the McGregor wharf (Way, 1883:414). Her depiction on the Goll bottle is a reminder of the position of McGregor’s place in regional commerce, and more than likely, Goll’s business. The same steamboat is found on several Clemens bottles, including the Grey Eagle, another Diamond Jo property. History of the Bottle Nicholas J. Goll (1840-1903) married Minerva Gordon (1841 -1904). They had one son, Walter J. Goll (1872-1943), who never married and at the time of his death was living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to family history, Minerva’s sister Elizabeth Gordon Voorhis died young, and Nicholas and Minerva helped raise her two daughters, one of whom, Maggie Dryden Voorhis was the consignor’s great-great-grandmother. Walter Goll never married and had no children but was close to Maggie and her daughter Margaret DePrez of Shelbyville, Indiana. At Walter’s death, his estate -- and presumably the bottle – was apparently left to Margaret DePrez. It is through this line that the bottle passed to the present owners. Probable Line of Descent Nicholas Goll (1840-1903)Minerva Goll(1841-1904)Walter Goll (1872-1943)Margaret DePrez (1870-1949)To the family of the current owner References Cited Busby, T. A., Editor. 1893, The Biographical Directory of the Railway Officials of America. Published by the Railway Age and Northwestern Railroad. The Lakeside Press. Chicago. Way Jr., Frederick. 1983, Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1983. Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System since the advent of photography in Mid-Continent America. Ohio University Press.
RUSSIAN IMPERIAL JADE AND SILVER PICTURE FRAMESmall Russian Imperial Jade frame with silver trim and decorative accents, marked '84' on swirled easel back stand. Measures 4.25"H x 3.5"W.