Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Folk Art (4)

Very nice dovetailed wooden writing box or work box, the hinged lid decorated with a handpainted grapevine motif against a mustard painted background. The interior of the box has four fitted compartments along the back side. The bottom and top are attached to the dovetailed sides with old square nails. The inside of the lid is inscribed illegibly in pencil "Hannah ??".

Origin: New England, ca. 1870. Condition: very good paint, the original lock is now missing, an age split to the bottom and to the front side of the lid. Size: 10-1/4" x 8-3/4" x 4-1/4".

A very nice pair of 19th century wooden Russian Easter eggs handpainted with traditional motifs. One egg is brightly painted with a maiden wearing peasant clothing and the traditional kokoshnik headdress. The reverse side is painted with the letters “XB” for Khristos Voskrese (“Christ Is Risen”). The other egg is painted with a scene of a peasant woman walking through a birch forest toward her log hut. This egg, too, is painted with “XB”. The eggs are strung on very old, possibly original, satin ribbon. The wood appears to be mahogany.

The tradition of giving eggs to loved ones at Easter was popular throughout Russian society. The common classes gave decorated wooden eggs, while the Tsars favored their loved ones with the creations of Faberge.

Origin: Russia, mid- to late-19th century. Condition: excellent, all original paint. Size: 2” long & 1-3/4” long.

An extraordinary pair of painted tin toleware planters in the form of canoes. One is painted white with blue and red accent stripes and the other is red with blue and white accents. Each of the canoes has its original leather-wrapped wire hanger, and the undersides have trays to catch water drips. The drip trays also allow the canoes to placed on a surface instead of hanging. The paint is completely original and has a great crusty surface. The shape has the distinctive exaggerated upturned bow and stern associated with birchwood canoes.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, white canoe has some paint loss on the drip tray legs, red canoe has some paint loss long the top edges of the plant holder. Dimensions: 15-1/2 x 4-1/4 x 7-3/4 inches.

An amazing whimsical game board reverse painted on glass. The checkerboard design is worked in bright shades of lime green and burgundy, the individual squares outlined with borders painted in orange, red, lavender ocher and gray. The board is decorated with ornate flourishes at each corner bearing the names “Agnes”, “Edd”, “Beulah” and “Mother”. The outer edge is painted in burgundy. The overall appearance is very graphic and reminds us of a good patchwork quilt. The glass retains its original heavy wood frame highlighted with gilding. The backboard is original and the glass appears never to have been out of its frame. The piece could be hung on a wall or custom-fitted with a stand for use as a table.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, superficial scratches to the glass surface and wear to the finish of the frame from use as a game board, no paint loss. Size: 20-3/4” x 20-3/4”.