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Flamestitch Wallet with Silver Clasp, 18th Century

A colorful crewel wool wallet of flamestitch design. The scallop-edged silver fastener has unusual multi-positioned closure holes. An interior single divided pocket is lined in olive green fabric. Price: $1,300.

Very Rare "Lover's Eye" Gold and Paste Brooch, c.1800

Jewelry has been a symbol of love and esteem for centuries. Fine early examples are hard to find, but perhaps none is quite as scarce as the authentic, illusive “lover’s eye”. This example features a sensitively painted amber-brown eye, framed by a double row of chestnut curls. The miniature is surrounded by 24 sparkling foil-backed paste stones and set in 15-carat rose gold with an engraved border, pin fastener, and a small ring for suspending the brooch from a chain. The brooch measures 1 ½ “ in length. SOLD

Fine Pair of Paste Buckles in Original Shagreen Case, 18th Century

A definite step up from plain cut-steel buckles! This stunning pair is enhanced by paste stones set in a floral design flanked by graduating round brilliant paste stones. The original shagreen case is in excellent working condition and is lined with plush green velvet. SOLD

Pair of Paste Shoe Buckles, 18th Century

Sparkling paste stones are set in cut steel in a circular design. The top, bottom, and each side are further decorated with a trio of set stones. All stones are intact. The approximate size of each buckle is 2 inches. Price: $395.

Rare and Unusual "Beetle Wing" Embellished Mat, 19th Century

Beetle wing embellished fabrics were imported to Europe from India and provided a touch of the "exotic" from distant lands. The iridescent wings are shed as part of the beetle's life cycle. In this example, the wings emulate jewels and are surrounded by gold metallic and plaited threads. Teal, forest green, magenta and ruby red silk floss complete the symmetrical design. There are some areas of staining to the organdy fabric, but the rarity of the piece, makes it a treasure. Reference examples in the National Museum, Delhi, India, the V & A, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. SOLD

Pair of Pewter and Brass Shoe Buckles, Late 18th Century

Distinctive oval shoe buckles, comprised of a series of individual overlapping pewter disks each mounted with a small brass sphere. These buckles were acquired from a Scotland, Connecticut estate. Reference a pair of similar design in the Lady Maufe Collection of Shoe Buckles at Kenwood House in England. Price: $285.

Rare Signed & Dated Whitework Reticule, 1817

This was Hannah Blake Meredith's charming drawstring reticule, completed in 1817. On one side is a raised work grape vine/floral motif. The reverse displays the embroiderer's name and date, surrounded by a sprig-decorated medallion. The reticule is all original, including the tasseled drawstring closure. Price: $950.

Fine Fichu Pin Brooch, 19th Century

A pin such as this was originally worn to secure a fichu (a woman's triangular scarf of lightweight fabric, worn over the shoulders and crossed or tied in a loose knot at the breast). This small elegant gold brooch is adorned with delicate seed pearls and garnet-colored glass. With its secure clasp on the reverse, it is extremely wearable today. Dimensions: approximately 3/4" x 3/4". Price: $165.

Embroidered Sleeve Band, China, Late 19th Century

A sleeve band is a strip of embroidered fabric on the sleeve of a woman's robe or jacket. This beautifully designed sleeve band seen here is hand embroidered in graduated shades of pink, blue and green on white silk damask. 4 x 18.5 inches. Price: $125.

Gladstone Bag Cover, English, 1860

Natural linen embroidered in white silks with leafy scrolls/foliage, black wool tape edging bands, circular ends, carrying handles at top and mother of pearl type buttons. Quite rare, and in excellent condition. Price: $475.

Embroidered Sleeve Band, China, 19th Century

Exquisitely delicate polychrome silk stitching on lustrous silk satin fabric. Reddish-gold metal coached threads highlight the piece. Coaching refers to a method of embroidering in which a thread, often heavy, laid upon the surface of the material, is caught down at intervals by stitches taken with another thread through the material. Excellent Condition. Full piece: 3 1/4 x 36 inches. Embroidered Area: 3 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches. Price: $125.

Court Suit Waistcoat, English, Last Quarter of the 18th Century

A lavish gentleman's court dress waistcoat in rarely found near pristine condition. This treasured item is fashioned from the finest grade of ivory silk, which has a beautiful sheen. The elaborate embroidery–densely worked along the edges, pocket flaps and collar–was clearly executed by a very skilled hand. The buttons, which are all present and intact, are covered in silk and also embroidered. The waistcoat is backed in wool, and both ties at the back are still intact. A piece of such fine quality as this would likely have been worn as part of the extensive English court suit attire. Price: $1,450.

Embroidered Fabric Trim, English, 18th Century

An exquisitely designed example of early 18th century embroidery. This was perhaps a border from a petticoat, dress or apron. Polychrome silk threads highlighted throughout with laid couched gold and silver metal threads. A stunning array of stitches and techniques is displayed. SOLD

Cut Steel and Painted Enamel Button, 19th Century

This is a delightful button with small facets of cut steel framing a central painted panel.The hand painted image is of a frolicking cupid or putti. Price: $125.

Needlework Single 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: $450.

Pair of Cut Steel Knee Buckle Frames, Late 18th Century

As an alternative to paste stones, cut steel was often used to simulate sparkling faceted jewels. Cut steel "gems" were at first set in claw-like settings and then after 1770 cast in steel and secured in position. Manufacture of buckles was divided into two skills: ring-maker (or frame-maker) and chape-maker. These delicate, intricate frames are quite interesting as they were never fitted with their chapes, the working parts of the buckle. These are 2" wide. (Research resource: Georgian Shoe Buckles by Bernard & Therle Hughes). SOLD

Crewel Embroidered Panel, English c. 1750

From the personal collection of renowned Nantucket needle artist, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of: 200 Years of Nantucket Needlework, comes this amazing piece of 18th century needle artistry. Plumed birds, a charming squirrel, and an array of insects live amid exotic flora and fauna. This colorfully chaotic piece also includes chinnoiserie imagery, reflecting a decorative style that hit its peak in the mid-18th century and remains popular to this day. The person who worked this piece surely had a fun sense of playful abandon! Mounted on stretched linen. 25 1/2" x 36". Price: $1,400.

Girl's Calico Printed Muslin Dress, American, c1850

A wonderful original circa 1850's girl's boldly calico printed muslin dress with a lined bodice. Piped at the neckline, the armscyes, the ruffled sleeve hems and above and below the cartridge pleated waistband. Incised shell buttons to the back closure, and an unlined skirt with one tuck above the turned hem. 14" from shoulder to shoulder, a 28" chest, 25" waist and 31" from shoulder to front hem. SALE: Now $165.

Gentleman's Crewel Pocketbook with Owner Identification, 18th Century

This wallet is worked in wool on canvas in an overall flamestitch design. The fuchsia lining is inscribed as follows: "W. Benjamin Maynard New Salem, Ohio". The wallet does have heavy losses. Price: $650. Acorn thimble and heart pincushion are sold.

Blue and Cream Shoes, 1770-1780

The fashionable woman of the 18th century wore shoes made of the finest dress silks, often matching her gown.This is a finely shaped pair of shoes made from cream and blue “spot weave” silk. The toes are pointed and slightly domed. The heels are shaped. The leather soles are the uppers have a butted back seam and latchets, which cross over the vamp over a pointed tongue. The linings are of white kid. Buckles are sold. Price: $1,200.

Girl's Linen Day Dress, c.1850

A charming printed day dress from a Massachusetts family in the Peabody area. The linen dress features a gathered bodice and skirt with a wide, slightly dropped, waistband. Outstanding condition. Price: $350.

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.

Man's Needlework Pocketbook, American, 18th Century

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: $900

"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: $2,000.

Silvermine Antiques - New Canaan, CT

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