826-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 25, 2003
Q THE ANTIQUE
DETECTIVE
Anne Gilbert
Affordable Old Chinese
Paintings Still Around
Surprisingly one of the most
affordable art categories is Chi
nese paintings from the 18th and
19th centuries. Even in antique
shops, prices can range from a
few hundred dollars to under
$3,000. They have never lost their
appeal to American collectors
since they were first introduced
to our shores by China traders in
the early 18th century.
The subjects were as varied as
the materials used.
By the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, as more Americans
traveled to China, they brought
back what they thought were old
paintings. Especially popular
were the ancestral portraits. Less
er known these days, but showing
up at auctions more often, were
the so-called “rice paper” paint
ings. Throughout the last part of
the 19th century, they were ex
ported in huge quantities and
sold in America.
In the 1950 s brushwork paint
ings, old and new, as well as cop-
Ancestor portrait of the
six Prince Yi (1816-1861)
c. 1905 is on a hanging
scroll with ink and color on
silk. Photo credit: Sackler
Gallery, purchased by
Smithsonian Collections
Acquisitions Programs and
by a partial Pritzlaff gift.
TOYS TOYS TOYS TOYS TOYS
Public Bankruptcy
Auction
Sat. Nov. 15th, 2003
@ 9:00 AM
Murray Auction Emporium
23 North Water/Lititz, PA 17543
ONE STOP CHRISTMAS SHOP !!
Smarty Pants, Inc. of Shillington, PA • entne
contents of retail store with all types ot learning
toys and supplies, new display racks, shelving.
Royal cash legister
Brief listing: games, large variety of puzzles,
paint and create, phonies, matching games, dart
ball. Star Wars items, tie dye kits, greeting cards,
7 m one super game sets, learning maps, stickers,
building blocks, play boards, flower presses,
Disney items, Science and Fiction books, ABC
blocks, magnetic learning calendars, small
erector sets, Breyer horses, various popular Brio
educational toys, hundreds of elementary
educational toys not listed.
Please note that all items are without reserve.
Auction by Order of
Robert H. Holber Trustee
Bankruptcy Case #O3-22668
Stut&t “THunnu s4tccti<ut&,
-AU-648-L
Professional Auctioneer, Appraiser and Advisor
Our Services Are Not a Sideline .
(717) 626-2636 Fax (717) 627-6757
ies, were fashionable decorator
items. One of the most common
subjects were the black and white
horses, copied from early art.
Another form of art combined 1
calligraphy with small paintings
to tell a story. It is still popular
with interior designers. There are
also pages taken from calligraphy
books and framed. Other exam
ples are strictly religious and
combined dieties with Chinese
calligraphy.
During the Boxer Rebellion
(1900), when homes were looted,
these religious books, (Siutras)
were brought back to America by
servicemen. Elaborate examples
with gold ink illustrations of die
ties can sell for thousands of dol
lars.
CLUES: Paintings from the
early Chinese dynasties are in
museums and private collections.
However, there are still plenty of
ancestor portraits still around.
These were often done by com
mercial artists, using photos of
the deceased, in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Before pho
tography, the artist keep a supply
of facial features on hand.
The client would work out a
composite and the artist would
dress the “ancestor” in a Manda
rin costume. However, as they be
came popular in America, artists
created their own versions for ex
port. Prints also flood the mar
ket, with details accented with
hand painting. The largest can
sell for $3,000 or more in a gal
lery. They weren’t signed.
“Rice paper” paintings were
originally made into albums, with
four or more paintings on a page.
The albums were in different
sizes; 7x5-inch to Bxl2-inches.”
They used watercolors and
gouache on pitch paper made
from the papyrus plant. Since it
was quite fragile, examples may
not be in good condition. How
ever, the paintings have retained
their vibrant colors. The earlies
examples depicted members of
the Imperi
al Court,
using much
gold, silver
and pearl
dust in their
costumes.
- JMI COINS -
Selling 400+ Lots of Collector and
Investment Quality Coins
Half Cents thru Gold - Raw and Certified
At the Holiday Inn - Arsenal Rd. in York, PA
Preview 7:45 AM
DIRECTIONS: PA Rt 83 Southbound take Exit
21, Northbound use Exit 21A (Rt. 30 East,
Arsenal Rd.) Right at first light. Hotel is on the
left.
HIGHLIGHTS: 24 pcs. US Gold mcl. 1907 $2O
PCGS MS62; 19 Half Cents, Cents - 1798, 1799,
1804, 1810/9, 1861 XF, 1866 XF, 1870, 1871,
1872, 1908 s BU, 1914 d XF/AU. Dimes - Rare
1822 VG, 1837 Bust AU, 1942/1 Quarters -
19325, 1950d/s. Halves - 1806 VF. 1936 Rhode
Is. NGC MS6S, BU Dollars -1878 cc, 1883 cc,
1889 s Cert. MS63. Also 1889 cc F, 1921, 1928,
and 1934 s Peace, 58 piece set of BU Silver
Dollars (sold as one lot).
Proof Type - 1867, 1878, 1896 Dimes, 1883
Quarter, 1843 Half Dollar. 40+ Lots of
Currency.
BU Rolls: Cents - 1939, 19395, 19485, 1955 d,
(4) Rolls 1954 Quarters, (2) Rolls.
1948 Halves, Dollars - 1896, 19010
**** Mint Sets - 22 original Double Mint Sets
(1948-1958), 12 Commemorative sets (1986-
1993) with gold, 1979 s Type 2 Proof Set, 5 lots
of Stamps including a Mint Set of Graf Zeppelins
(65c., 1.30, 2.60) and 1893 Columbian Expo $5.
Catalog and info, call Mike @ (717)993-2588
or leave message at (888)632-1914
Auctioneer: Martin Heaps
(PA License #AU0002762-L)
A most charming and unfor
gettable old stove-related column
written by columnist Jack Mab
ley (titled Nowadays Clashes
With Her Old Ways) which ran
in the Chicago Tribune on Sep
tember 8, 1980, tells about Mary
Walley and her old wood-burning
stove that Mabley wrote saying
“An Environmental officer
knocked on the door of Mary
Walley’s Park Ridge, IL home
and told Mrs. Walley it was OK
for her to bum wood and paper
in her wood stove, but she had to
stop burning other materials,
which created an odor and a
health hazard. Mrs. Walley (who
was 83 at the time) said she
would continue to bum whatever
she pleases in her beloved stove.
By the late 19th century subjects
included festivals, landscapes,
birds, animals and flowers. The
albums were painted in a series
and often named. A complete
album can sell at auction for $6OO
or more. Originally they sold for
a few dollars to tourists.
Rice paper paintings aren’t
signed. However, some have the
shop labels or signatures of well
known Chinese painters.
They were, afterall, studio
productions with several
artists working each paint
ing. The album covers
themselves were works of
art, covered in brocade.
Gold pheasants, flowers
and fruit were depicted.
The pictures were often
framed in colored ribbons.
Other times the pictures
were sold separately.
Another category are re
ligious paintings in scroll
or banner form
Generally they were
done on paper or brocade.
At auction they can sell for
as little as $2OO. Things to
consider are age, condition
and subject appeal. Are the
paintings really prints? Are
they painted on quality
paper or textiles?
If you are serious, get
help from experts.
Carefully examine any
you see at the next antique
show.
PUBLIC
COIN AUCTION
SAT., NOV. 1, 2003
9:30 AM
Cookin’ Up The Past
“All day, anything I don’t like
wrappers, junk mail I put in
the stove,” she said. In the morn
ing I light a match to it. It bums
so dry that when I throw potato
or banana peels in it, there’s
nothing left.
I’ve been doing it here for 58
years and all of a sudden this bird
comes over and says I’m causing
a health problem and an odor.
I’ve used this stove before these
officials were bom, and I’m going
to keep using it.”
Mrs. Walley has loved wood
stoves all her life. When she and
her late husband and two chil
dren moved to Park Ridge, they
found a house with a chimney in
the kitchen. So they bought a
wood and coal-burning kitchen
stove. Mrs. Walley said her
earliest recollection from child
hood was the comfort and plea
sure derived from the warmth of
the black wood-burning stove in
her mother’s kitchen.
“While the dinner was cooking
on the top,” she said, “the meat
roasting or the bread baking in
the oven, the water for the dishes
was heating in the reservoir, and
the tea kettle was humming
PUBLIC AUCTION
COMPLETE LIQUIDATION OF IMPORTANT
COLLECTION OF ADVERTISING MEDIA AND
ANTIQUES INCLUDING FURNITURE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15,2003 - 9:00 am
PREVIEW - NOVEMBER 14,2003 - 3:00-6:30 pm.
AUCTION HELD AT:
106 Kelly Court - Grantville, PA 17028 - Dauphin County
Presenting, for complete liquidation, a collection of single owner vintage
advertising, country store and other misc. related antique items including; a
magnificant oak 40’ cabinet - circa 1919 from a pharmacy in Elwood City;
upper section with Greek Key molding - adjustable shelves & original glass
doors over a bowed glass mid section over paneled glass door lower shelf
bottom. In Wonderful Condition! To be sold as a complete unit (photo avail
able upon request). Important bar/mirror back and marble front unit from
Grantville PA Hotel; 10’ Ligonier oak vintage refrigerated display case -
operable cooling units; 2 oak seed counters; grained store counter; marble
base store display cabinet; oak Colgan’s display cabinet, assortment of early
varied type floor and table display cabinets: ribbon display cabinet; brass
National cash register; collection of ice cream parlor items; fine Spencer's
Jersey Ice Cream sign; Hopalong Cassidy ice cream container along with
many other early ice cream containers; dippers, cone and straw holders; mar
ble top ice cream table along with ice cream parlor chairs & tables; early
double sided Hershey’s ice Cream enameled sign; fine ice cream tray; Hines
Root Beer items; Green River and other ice tea dispensers; large amount of
paper; metal, and enameled ice cream signs; hundreds of tin adv. containers
of all types; early Coca Cola tray: Lancaster Peanut tin; various tobacco, tea,
and spice tins; Polar Bear tobacco store display unit; great oak adv. Mirrors;
cheese cabinets; fine 1860-63 bound storage ledger; old country store wood
en display tables; bakery cabinets; blind 3 drawer step back cupboard; oak
extension table, drop lear tables, one drawer stands; pine gallery desk; oval
marble top table; late Victorian arm chair and table; fine mirror back oak buf
fet; easel; great painted wheelbarrow; brass buckets; wooden biscuit boxes;
Lightning Glider sleds; along with many interesting country store and ice
cream parlor advertising items. HERSHEY ITEMS: Rare salesman’s sam
ple Hershey Products presentation portfolio; rare 7 bottle salesman’s sample
case of cocoa beans; Haverstick “The Hershey Flower” Book; scarce count
ei advertisement Hershey Chocolate, soldier form.
! V, |i‘
> . r -wil.;.
AUCTION ORDER:
Misc. Unnumbered Lots
Numbered Lots of Small Ice
Cream Items
Numbered Lots of Advertising
Items Along with Misc. Small
Furniture
12:00 NOON Hershey Items
Antique Display Cases will be in Separate
Numbered Lots at the Conclusion of Small Items
and 40’ Display Unit
9:00 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
DIRECTIONS: From Hershey take Rt. 743 North to Route 22, Cross Over
Rt. 22 and go 300 yards to Auction on Left. Look for signs.
AUCTION HELD IN TENT
Over Four Hundred Lots To Be Offered For Complete Liquidation Of
The Collection
Conditions By; THOMAS & PATRICIA BURROWS
AUCTION CONDUCTED BY:
Roy D. Shirk, Auctioneer - License #: AU-003248-L
Any Questions Cali: Ken Fegan - License #: AA-002867 (717) 867-1572
PHONE (717) 867-1119 - FAX (717) 867-5606
988 HORSESHOE PIKE - LEBANON, PA 17042
away.
“On blistering hot days its
warmth dried the humidity in the
air and made life more comfort
able. Returning from school on
bitter cold days, we hung up our
clothes, took off our shoes and
boots, and gathered around the
stove with the oven door open.
The family cat made herself com
fortable behind the stove among
our boots, shoes, and socks that
were drying.
“In 58 years,” Mrs. Walley
said, “this stove has consumed
tons of refuse, and saved me
miles of steps to the garbage cans
in the alley. The ashes have
served as fertilizer in the garden.
Shall I now, after all these years,
be denied the use of this stove be
cause someone does not enjoy the
smoke from its chimney?”
Park Ridge has not been too
sticky about it, and I think Mrs.
Walley will continue to enjoy her
stove , if she doesn’t thrown any
old tires in it,” said Mabley.
To receive the entire article,
send an addressed,stamped enve
lope marked “Old Stove” to
Anita Gold, P.O. Box 597401,
Chicago, IL 60659.
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