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Child’s Needlepoint Shoes, American c. 1840

An exquisite pair of children's slippers worked in polychrome wool on canvas with tiny grosgrain bows and quilted, bright crimson, silk lining. Straight leather soles. 5" in length. $ 950

Child's Challis Gown, c. 1840

Charming floral, wool/cotton challis gown with two-tiered ruffled, puffed sleeves and set-in waistband. Tiny teal and orange floral sprigs on a pale peach ground. Ankle-length skirt evenly pleated into waistband. Edges trimmed with delicate piping. The bodice with vertical folds of fabric gathered into a flat yoke with wide neckline. Completely stitched by hand. Unlined. Price: $395

Man's Needlework Pocketbook, American, 18th Century

A man’s wallet, often embroidered by a special female member of his family or his wife-to-be, might contain important correspondence, documents, and currency. This wallet exterior (no lining) features rich, graduated shades of deep reds and pinks, olive, deep cream, and celadon crewel yarns worked in a carnation design. Archival framing with acid-free backing and UV glass. Old frame. Price: $1100

Gentleman's High Hat & Box, American, c. 1825

Black fur felt hat with a tall cylindrical crown, wide brim, and grey leather sweatband. Interior label with owner's name: "Micajah Speakman", most likely Micajah Speakman of Chester County, a Quaker farmer whose home served as a station in the underground railroad (Source: Cornell). The crown has an embossed paper lining stamped, "KIMBER & DICKINSON 19 N. FOURTH ST. PHILADA". The fitted box is covered with cream wallpaper stenciled in grey and gold. The lid is lined in printed paper with scriptural writings and "M. Speakman/West Nan_/ Chester Co. Pa." in ink script. Provenance: Tasha Tudor Historic Costume Collection. Price: $950

Paste Shoe Buckles, Late 18th Century

Twenty brilliant round paste stones surround a scalloped border of smaller round stones on each of these buckles. The frame is of hallmarked solid silver. One could imagine how these buckles sparkled in the candlelight on a lovely pair of ladies shoes. 2 1/2 by 1 5/8 inches. Price: $450

Satin Slippers, France for the U.S. Market, c. 1830

Elegant Napoleonic Regency black satin slippers with tiny hand stitches and delicate bows at the square toes. Rarely worn and in fine condition. Several paper labels inside the shoes indicate that they were made in France and then retailed in London and Boston. One shoe is missing its ribbon tie. Straight soles with no left or right. The satin uppers are soft and supple. Price: $ 465.

Embroidered Apron, c. 1740

Decorative short aprons were fashionable in the first half of the 18th century, adding a touch of richness to a lady’s ensemble. This one is of cream silk taffeta vividly embroidered with tulips, lily of the valley and peonies, worked in silks and laid couched gold and silver metal thread in shades of puce, pink, green, blue, bronze and ivory twisted silks . The bottom is scalloped and edged in puce colored silk. There is a similar example in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection. Price: On Request.

American Labeled Lady's Kid Shoes, New Haven, CT, c. 1840

A very nice pair of circa 1840 lady's ivory kid leather shoes with an original footbed paper label that reads "Bristol & Hall, Makers, New Haven CT". Fashionable long square toed vamps, cloth linings, ribbon bindings, kid foot beds, and straight leather soles with spring heels. Price: $ 465.

Ladies Dated and Initialed Busk, English 1788

Busks were inserted down the center slot of a woman's corset to keep the corset rigid. This is an early, graphic busk, made of Lignum Vitae, the rare 'wood of life', the heaviest and densest wood in the world. It was first imported into England around 1515 from the West Indies and Central America and was used in shipbuilding and for medicinal purposes. It is now quite rare. The busk is initialed "M.Q." and dated 1788. It has a chiseled tulip, double-heart, and pinwheel design. Price: $795.

Infant's Brocaded Gown, Early 18th Century

Prior to the late 18th century, children were dressed as miniature adults, and a child from a prominent family wore opulent garments such as this child’s gown, on special occasions. This garment is of a heavy brocaded fabric with metallic and polychrome silk threads and silver lace trim at the neck and sleeve edges. Shorter in the back than the front, it laces along each arm with fine cording and was likely worn as a shift over a simple white garment. Price: $1,700.

Pair of Silk Satin Ladies Shoes c. 1735

A woman's shoes in the 18th century were more than functional; their style and lavishness reflected her status and wealth, thus "Lady Rich", the owner of these shoes, lived up to her name. This elegant pair clearly reflects the Rococo sensibility of opulence, grace, and playfulness. Their characteristic underslung, shapely heel is typical of the Rococo period and its curvilinear form. Shoes of dull gold color with salmon ribbon trim. White kid rand, 2" covered shaped heel, latchet closure. Owner identification 'W. Ly. Rich' on the inside. Price: On Request.

Gentleman's Silk Neck Handkerchief, American, 18th Century

The 18th-century man almost always wore some sort of neck cloth, whether fashionably dressed or at labor. The neck handkerchief, a large square of linen, cotton, muslin, or silk, was generally worn by sporting gentlemen and working tradesmen alike. This handkerchief was owned by Samuel Davis (1762-1856), a Revolutionary soldier and Mayflower descendent. (Stickpin Sold). Price: $395.

Silk Brocade Open Gown, c. 1770

An open gown, or robe a l'Anglaise, was a popular form of fashion for women in the late 18th century, This style of dress dictated that the front panel of a woman's skirt be open, so her petticoat, usually quilted for warmth, was meant to be seen. The front panels of the bodice were either open to accommodate a stomacher or fastened edge to edge as in this example. The back of the bodice is arranged in flat pleats that run from the top of the dress, through the waistline and into the skirt. This construction is referred to as a fourreau back. Cream satin damask with brilliant floral brocade in reds, plum and green, bodice lined in homespun linen. Beautifully elaborate silk fly fringe on neckline and cuffs, B 34", W 27", front L 53", back L 61". Price: On Request.

Man's Dated and Initialed Double Pocketbook, American 1770

Initialed "GW" and dated 1770.

Brilliant, graduated shades of yellow, pink, blue, green and plum in a carnation design with black/brown delineation. Crewel wools worked in Irish stitch on canvas. The wallet opens to reveal a salmon silk lining. 4 1/2" x 7 1/2" (closed). Ex-Weld collection. Price: $3,800.

Crewelwork Waistcoat, English c. 1720

The waistcoat was the focal point in a gentleman's ensemble in the early 18th century. This boldly embroidered example features a profusion of color and pattern executed in worsted wool, on a twilled linen and cotton ground. The lush floral-and-foliate motifs, including carnations, pansies and roses, are worked along the borders, skirted areas and scalloped pocket flaps, in an exact mirror-image pattern on either side. Lavishly trimmed in gold. The long, flared skirts and pocket flaps at low waist level are characteristic of early 18th century waistcoats. Provenance: Cora Ginsburg. Price: On Request.

"The Seduction", English circa 1700

A fine early 18th century silk worked picture. This tent stitched piece shows an amorous man with a winsome shepherdess in a lush pastoral landscape. In the background is a mansion house, originally with mica windows. The background is Parisian stitched using cream colored silk; the pool of water and the sheep are worked with furry silk chenille. 12 1/4" x 10 3/4", period frame. This piece is further discussed in an article by Kathleen Staples in the book Common Thread: Common Ground. Price: On Request.

Rare Beaded Silk and Metallic Pincushion “Etui”, English 18th Century

Elaborately decorated accessories such as gloves, purses, needlecases and pincushions were treasured gifts. They provided the perfect format to demonstrate needlework artistry. This “Etui” or needlecase was created by combining a number of precious materials. The shape is rounded at the top and tapers to the bottom where it ends with a stuffed rectangular pincushion. The upper portion is comprised of five trapezoidal sections each with a mirror (silver-nitrate painted glass) adorned by loops of metallic coils outlining flat, teardrop-shaped metallic discs and beading. The oval and heart-shaped glass lozenges alternate from the top: oval, heart, oval, heart, oval. The entire piece is edged with metallic lace. The pincushion has a narrow metallic trim with four corner looped embellishments. Silvered glass was a luxury item, thus the extensive use of mirrors in this piece and the complexity of its design, indicate that it was indeed a gift for a much beloved person. 21" x 7" x 1 1/4". Price: $3,600.

Needlework Pocketbook, American, c. 1800

Irish-stitched crewel wool needlework pocketbook worked in a diamond-within-diamond pattern. Excellent color with vivid shades of coral, violet, green, brown, pink, and cream. Jagged shapes outlined in black. 6" wide by 3" high. Lined in silk. Price: $895.

Small Embroidered Silk Bag, Love Token c. 1830

An exquisite little handmade bag made from two pieces of card, each side embroidered in silk, with a small white silk drawstring bag sandwiched in between. There are long green tassels that open and close the bag and another tassel at the bottom. It measures 4" by 2" with each drawstring measuring 9" long. One side has a beautifully embroidered rose while the other has an embroidered oval with C. G. to W. J. C. written in ink. The edges of the card are embroidered in thread that matches the tassels, each stitch so tiny that some measure less than 1/16". Price: $495.

Ice Blue Silk Shoes, Late 19th Century

These shoes are fashioned of a white kid leather and linen base that is completely covered in an ice blue charmeuse silk satin with an accordion pleat and ruched rosette and bow accenting each vamp. The bottom of each leather sole is stamped "Paris". 2 1⁄4 inches in widest width and 9 3⁄4 inches from toe tip to heel following the natural curve of the foot. Fabulous condition. Price: $675.

Set of Three Samplers (one redwork shown, plus two darning), Trotter Family, Pennsylvania, 1879

Darning work shows some of the greatest precision of all needlework exercises. This set, from the Trotter family of Pennsylvania, is a particularly fine example. One of the three samplers bears the date, 1879. Price: $495 for the set of three.

Silvermine Antiques - New Canaan, CT

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