o
N THE ANTIQUE
DETECTIVE
Anne Gilbert
Old Chinese Rugs
Still Bargains
If it’s antique and Chinese,
usually price tags are high. An
exception are Chinese mgs and
carpets.
Compared to Oriental carpets
from Iran and Turkey of the
same vintage, Chinese examples
are on the low side. If you bid at
a recent Skinner auction of Ori
ental mgs and carpets, you could
have walked away with a fine 10’
10” x 8’ Chinese carpet for
$3,105. Although the mg and the
others that were sold had slight
wear, the mgs were in good
shape.
Listed as 18th century, but
with wear and repairs, a mg with
a circular cloud medallion sur
rounded by colorful peony bios-
“Horst Auctioneers”
PUBLIC SALE
ANTIQUES, HOUSEHOLD
GOODS, COLLECTIBLES,
TOYS & TOOLS
WED., DEC. 20, 2000
AT 2 P.M.
Sale to be held at the Horst Auction Center,
located at the corner of Rt. 322 & Durlach
Rd. (Approx. 2 1/2 miles west of Ephrata),
Ephrata, Lancaster Co., PA.
FURNITURE: Grained fHigh Cujsbcfardr
Blanket Chest; Tilt Top Table; Spool Rope
Bed; Eastlake Mirror; Spool Washstand;
Plank Chairs; Stepback Cupboard; OAK -
High Chest Of Drawers; Dresser Base;
Refinished Hoosier Kitchen Cabinet; Wood
Cigar Store Indian; MAHOGANY - Flip Top
Card Table; Floor Model Victrola; Gateleg
Table; Cloverleaf Table; Cedar Chest; Birds
Eye Maple Dresser; DEPRESSION - Dining
Room Furniture; Buftet Mirror; Wardrobe;
Chest Of Drawers; Cane Rocker & Chairs;
Trunk; Rock Maple Bedroom Set; Lg. Oak
Hutch; MOD. PINE - 9 Pc. Dining Room
Suite; Desk; Dry Sink; Basset Bedroom Set;
Lane Record Chest; Child’s Rockers;
Formica Breakfast Set; Wicker Chairs; Deco
Breakfast Table; Filing Cabinet.
APPLIANCES: Freezer; Auto. Washer &
Dryer; Microwave; Antique Porcelain Gas
Stove; Cookware; Lamps; Exercise
Equipment; Pewter; Silver Plated Pcs.
CHINA & GLASSWARE: Late Adam’s; Soft
Paste; Transfer & Blue Willow China; China
Bowls; Set Of Christmas China; Old
Florentine Set Of China; Pottery Bowls;
Redware: Mod. Set Of Stoneware Dishes;
COLLECTION OF HUMMEL FIGURINES &
PLATES; Hummel Collector Club Pcs.; Anri
Plates; Pressed & Pattern Glassware; Ruby
Glass Ovenware Bowls; Kerosene Lamps.
LINENS: Coverlet; Baskets; Butter Paddles;
Chippendale Mirror.
TOYS: LIONEL & AMERICAN FLYER
ENGINES & CARS; Lionel & American Flyer
Accessories; Complete Set Of Plasticville
Buildings; Novelty Train Sets; Buddy L
Trucks: G.i. Joe Collectibles; Collector Farm
Tractors & Implements: Hubley Tractor;
Sensenich Bros. Propeller; Theorem
Painting: Prints R. Atkinson Fox Print.
TOOLS: WINCO BKW GENERATOR; Alum.
Ext. Ladder: Hand Tools; Old Wrenches: Hay
Hook; Tobacco Shears; Wooden Barrels; Nail
Keg; Wood Boxes; Sprinkling Can; (2) SAND
STONE MILLSTONES; Wood Shutters;
Antique Porch Post.
No Out Of State Checks Without Prior
Approval.
Horst aucts.
T. Glenn 717*738*3000
Timothy G. Fax # (717) 738-2132
Thomas A. ■ voices of experience •
soms and butterflies (7’ 9‘ x 5’
9”) sold at $690. Could be there
was uncertainty about its age.
Not many 18th century Chinese
carpets are seen outside of muse
ums. Most that come to market
are from the tum-of-the-century
to the 1930 s despite the fact
that they are often dated earlier.
The oldest Chinese rugs still
existing were probably woven
near the end of the Ming period
or during the first half of the
17th century. Some of those rugs
were intended for the Imperial
court or for wealthy Mandarins.
The rug had a pile of silk attach
ed to the warp and weft of cot
ton. Others were made complete-.'
ly of silk. The most luxurious
were rugs of silk’
woven on a web
of metal threads.
The central me
dallion, sur
rounded by a dia
per patter is one
of the earliest de
signs. However,
many had all
over patterns of
octagonal shapes.
Another early
pattern had a
field completely
covered with a
swastika-fret and
AUCTION
SAT., DEC. 30, 2000
10 AM
AT THE RIDGE FIRE CO.
ALONG RT 23 BETWEEN RT.
100 AND PHOENIXVILLE, PA
MODERNISM & ANTIQUES
FINE PORCELAIN •
BRONZES • NETSUKES
20th Century Modern Furnishings: Gilbert
Rohde Bedroom Suite. Frankl Cork Top
Dining Room Suite. Light-O-Lier Chandolier.
Funky Upholstered Chairs And Sofas. Wild
1950’s Lamps.
Antiques: Vernis Martin Curios. Carved And
Inlaid Chests, chairs And Taborsts. Gilded
Mirrors Tiffany Studios Lamp #?22. Fancy
And Figural Lamps. George Steck Baby
Grand Piano. Victorian Accessories.
Important Bronzes, Large And Small.
Collection Of Netsukes And Othe Antique
Ivory Carvings.
Hundreds Of Pieces Of Fine Porcelain,
Primarily Royal Worcester. Large, Profusely
Decorated Figures, Urns, Vases, Bowes And
Other Decorative forms. Royal Doulton Toby
Mugs. Lots Of Fancy Dinner Ware. Plenty Of
Other Well Known Manufacturers, As Well.
Mettlach. Royal Copenhagen. A Few
Hummels. Parian Ware. Orientalia. Art Glass.
Contemporary Art.
500+ Lots Of Fine 19th And 20th Century
Furnishings And Decoration, All From The
Estate Of A Prominent NY Attorney.
Preview; Friday, Dec. 29th 6-9 PM And
Saturday Dec 30th 8-10 AM. Please Direct
Phone Inquiries During Preview Hours To:
610-495-5504.
Directions: From PA Tpk Exit 23
(Downingtown) Go North On Rt. 100, Then
East On Rt. 23. Three Miles To Fire Hall On
Right.
Terms: Cash Or PA Check w/Photo I.D. 10%
Buyer’s Premium. E-Mail Photos Available
For Select Items Only. KHBF3
Kathy Maurer
Auctioneer And Gemologist w jj
(AU003006-L) m.
610-970-7588 BTk
market at regular intervals with
diagonal rows of bats (a symbol
of happiness). Other early motifs
were dragons and flowers. Cor
ners often contained simple
scrolls.
Chinese rugs from the late
19th to early 20th century were
mostly made at the inland Chi
nese weaving centers of Ningh
sia, Paotou, and Sinkiang. These
were in the wool-raising areas
that extended through Inner
Mongolia into Sinkiang. Their
designs were influenced by the
Turk and Muslim population.
Clues: Just as Oriental rugs
from Iran and Turkey can
usually be identified by regional
designs, so can Chinese rugs. For
example, Ninghsia rugs often
used prayer squares, while Pao
tou designs included over-all pat
terns of small scale motifs. These
range from fretwork and flower
heads to “rice-grain.” This re
gion is also known for pictorial
rugs, which have stag, horse, and
crane scenes. Rugs from Sinki
ang, the westermost province,
combine designs from the Turk
ish and Muslim culture along
with Chinese symbolism. Pome
granate and vase patterns, along
with Chinese type mythical ob
jects are also typical.
After the 19205, the traditional
styles and colors disappeared.
Color combinations are one
way not only to identify the re
gion, but also the age of Chinese
rugs. From the 1920 s to the
19405, new color combinations
were introduced. Among them
were lime green, lilac, and pink.
At this time, another type of
rug was introduced that used Art
Deco stylized motifs and bold
colors. Current interest in Art
Deco furnishings has upped their
price.
Another thing to consider, you
may pay more for certain colors
and designs in one section of the
Listed as 18th century Chinese rug, this sold for $690.
Photo by Skinner Auctions. Bolton/Boston, Mass.
country than in another. How
else can I explain my purchase
several years ago of a c. 1920 Chi
nese carpet priced at $250? It
was leftover from a Florida es
tate sale. Nobody had wanted it
because the ground color was
amethyst, with an apple green
border, and floral and bird motifs
in turquoise and pinks. Yet at the
same sale, a Chinese carpet with
Question And Answer
A narrow, four drawer French chest, on cabriole legs was a
wedding gift to my cousins in 1930 from a Chicago antique deal
er. It has a white marble lop and inlaid parquetry sides and gilt
metal trim. It is stamped “France. ” Any idea of value?
S.P.-Naples, Fla.
The “France” stamp shows it was made after 1870. Similar pieces
sell at auction for $3,000 or more.
/ recently found an old iron Christmas tree holder from the
19205-’3os in our mother’s attic. What could it sell for?
L.Z.-Chicago, 111.
I have seen some priced from $45 to $75 at antique shows.
COIN Tt/CTJON 1 .
TUESDAY, DEC. 19, 2000
6:00 PM
RENTZELS AUCTION BARN
LOCATED; 1-1/10 MILE N. OF MANCHESTER, ALONG
RT. 181, (N. GEORGE ST. EXTD.), IN YORK COUNTY PA,
TURN RIGHT AT GRAY ROCK, AUCTION BARN SIGN.
COINS
OVER 300 LOTS OF COINS FROM A PRIVATE
COLLECTION. HUNDREDS OF MORGAN & PEACE
DOLLARS. INDIAN CENTS, LIBERTY NICKELS
(INCLUDING 1912 S), BUFFALO NICKELS AND
MERCURY DIMES, BULK LOTS OF SILVER DIMES,
QUARTERS, HALVES AND OTHERS. MANY MINT &
PROOF SETS FROM 1953-1982. SILVER CERTIFICATES
AND OTHER CURRENCY. UNC. ROLLS OF COINS, AND
MUCH MORE.
PREVIEW: 4:00 - 6:00 PM DAY OF SALE
TERMS: CASH OR GOOD CHECK
AUCTION CONDUCTED BY
BLAINE N. RENTZEL AU # 761
EMIGSVILLE, PA 764-6412
TODD HATTERER AU # 3440
DAVE CONLEY AU # 3269
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 16, 2000-823
a circular floral medallion, dark
blue on ivory sold for several
thousand dollars.
Fast forward to a couple of
years ago when amethyst and
purple were the new “in” colors.
A visiting dealer friend from
New York visited me in Florida.
He offered to “take it off my
hands for $1,500. Wonderful col
ors,” he said.