The Daily Croissant

Rosary [German] ca. 1500–1525
- 28 Dec 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 27December11 Antiques Death Life Religious Sculpture
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
Rosary, ca. 1500–1525
German
Ivory, silver, partially gilded mounts

"Each bead of the rosary represents the bust of a well-fed burgher or maiden on one side, and a skeleton on the other. The terminals, even more graphically, show the head of a deceased man, with half the image eaten away from decay. Such images served as reminders that life is fleeting and that leading a virtuous life as a faithful Christian is key to salvation."

via metmuseum.org
Nicolaus Schmidt Skull and Crossbones Automaton Table Watch
- 27 Nov 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 26November11 Antiques Automaton Timepieces
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
"Designed & built in 1610 by Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger (Augsburg, Germany) as a skull set on two crossed shinbones and mounted on a gilt brass tripod, the hinged skull cap (restored) disclosing the dial. Later hexagonal ebony molded base. D. Silver champlevé enameled dial with floral decoration. Gilt brass single hand. M. Hinged oval gilt brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel two-arm balance without spring, gilt brass pierced and engraved irregular cock secured by a screw, with matching click for the ratchet wheel set-up. The movements of the automaton jaw and the snakes in the eyes are controlled by two six-spoke cams driven by the fusee and revolving twenty times an hour, so that the jaws take three minutes to open and then close suddenly while the snakes alternately pop out of, then return back into, each eye socket, twice a minute. Height 14 cm, including the base. Back plate signed."

via watchismo.blogspot.com
The 1953 Keaton Music Typewriter
- 1 Nov 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 31October11 Antiques Typewriter music
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
"The Keaton Music Typewriter is an extremely rare typewriter that prints musical notation on to sheet music paper. The typewriter was invented in 1933 by Robert H. Keaton and was originally available with 14 keys. A 33 key version (pictured) was released in 1953. Exact production numbers are unknown, but estimates for the number of machines still in existence range from 6 to two dozen."

via laughingsquid.com
The Bird Book : Illustrating in Natural Colors ...
- 12 Sep 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 11September11 Antiques Books Libraries Natural History Online birds
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
read online via archive.org
What the hell is a singing bird pistol ?
- 2 Sep 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 01September11 Antiques Automaton Pistols Treasure birds
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
"Christie's recently sold a pair of matching singing bird pistols at auction for $5.8 million . The objects themselves are impressive and nutty."

found at stumbleupon.com

Sent by Stephanie...Thanks !
Record-Setting Appraisal at Antiques Roadshow... Tulsa
- 5 Aug 2011
- 0 Responses
- views
- 04August11 Antiques World Records
- Edit
- Delete
- Tags
- Autopost
TULSA, Okla. - On Saturday, July 23, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, PBS’s Antiques Roadshow recorded the highest-value appraisal in the series’ 16 years of production. Veteran Roadshow Asian arts expert Lark Mason identified a collection of five late 17th/early 18th-century Chinese carved rhinoceros-horn cups and valued the set at $1 million to $1.5 million.

via funtobebad.blogspot.com

Rosary [German] ca. 1500–1525

Nicolaus Schmidt Skull and Crossbones Automaton Table Watch

The 1953 Keaton Music Typewriter

The Bird Book : Illustrating in Natural Colors ...

What the hell is a singing bird pistol ?

Record-Setting Appraisal at Antiques Roadshow... Tulsa

About

Archive

Get Updates