West Sea Company

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12.05


12.05  ESKIMO KAYAK.  Very fine early 1900’s model of an Eskimo kayak, faithfully made in the traditional manner with seal skin over a wood frame connected by sinew and embellished with walrus tusk ivory components.  This detailed model features a single Eskimo hunter carved of wood, clad in coarsely-woven, hand-stitched cloth.  His handsome kayak is replete with two long walrus ivory-tipped harpoons and two wooden grappling tools.  There are numerous other small ivory fasteners on the top of the craft connected with sinew.  The bow and stern are further reinforced with ivory caps and runners attached with small wooden pins!  This near scale, realistic presentation measures 20 ½ inches long by 2 3/8 inches wide.  With the Eskimo caricature it stands 3 ¾ inches high.  Outstanding original condition, beautifully preserved.  795


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12.47 LAUNCHING RELICS. Rare, early World War II launching commemorative in the form of a sterling silver cigarette box. This jewelry-quality box is signed on the bottom "Shreve & Co San Francisco Sterling." The inside of the gold-washed lid is beautifully engraved with the presentation reading "Mrs. O.A. Mechlin, Sponsor of "S.S. THOMAS MACDONOUGH" on January 28th 1942 Built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation for the United States Maritime Commission." This wood-lined humidor is two-tiered, separated by a glass partition. On the bottom are shards of the original champagne bottle used in the launching ceremony. In the top is the red, white and blue ribbon which was tied to the bottle. Together with this presentation is an original newspaper article dated January 29, 1942. It shows a picture of MACDONOUGH during launch and a close-up of Mrs. Mechlin with the champagne bottle in her hand. The caption reads, "PORTLAND Mrs. O.A. Mechlin, wife of maritime commission's co-ordinator of plant construction on the west coast, is shown about to christen the new liberty ship Thomas Macdonough at launching ceremonies at Oregon Shipbuilding corporation Wednesday. Mr. Mechlin watches her wind up with a bottle of champagne." 9 1/2 inches long by 3 1/4 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches high. Perfect condition. 695

The S.S. THOMAS MACDONOUGH United States Maritime Commission hull number 179, was a Liberty Ship of 441 1/2 feet in length with a beam of 57 feet. It displaced 14,425 tons with a registered tonnage of 7176 tons. With a shaft horsepower of 2500 its maximum speed was 11 knots. MACDONOUGH was one of the first ships of its type, launched just weeks after the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor. It saw uneventful service as a war cargo carrier. Put in mothballs after the war, it was eventually scrapped in 1960.


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12.04

12.04  SEA SHELL MUSIC BOX.   Really special, mid-century jewelry/music box decorated with literally hundreds of different and unique sea shells from around the world!   This amazing jewelry box has a hardwood interior lined with blue tufted satin.  The hinged lid has a mirror in the top.  Two “fold-out” compartments are fitted with hinged lids having tassel pulls.  A high quality mechanical French music player is located on the lower right along with an additional covered compartment.  All contents are in pristine, untouched original condition.   The outside of the box can be described as nothing short of a work of art!  Obviously entirely hand-made, it is profusely covered with individual genuine sea shells of totally different types, the sum of which would literally amount to a museum-quality compendium!  The top even has a real seahorse! Only the back of the box is covered with recurring cockle shells interspersed with a few other shells of similar size and shape.  This box  measures. 9 ½ inches wide by 7 inches deep and 6 1/2 inches tall.  Remarkably pristine, totally unused condition.  There is not a single loss or repair!  The music mechanism is wound from the bottom and plays the well-known song “I Could’ve Danced All Night” for more than a minute on a single wind.  This piece is really special.  An incredible bargain at this price!  495


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12.38 LIGHTHOUSE. Impressive early 1900's lighthouse made of solid bronze! This unusually large example stands 17 1/2 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide at the base and weighs a hefty 17 pounds. The "lantern" at the top is removable and contains its original clear glass lens. The sides of the lighthouse are cast in the form of bricks, beautifully finished and retaining their original statuary bronze surface. There are three windows and a door in the lighthouse, all hand-painted for further realism. The massive base is cast in the form of craggy rocks with a stairway leading to the door. The base is in its original deep green verdigris finish which simulates sea rocks perfectly! Certainly one of the biggest and nicest lighthouse statues we have yet seen. 695Special Packaging

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12.02  SAILOR’s VALENTINE.  Impressive, genuine 19th century shellwork valentine of the type purchased by sailors in the Caribbean as mementoes of their visits.  This large single valentine was once part of a double as evidenced by a key hole for a lock.  The hole was obviously filled long, long ago and the wood had acquired a patina rendering it practically invisible.  Only the earliest of these valentines came with locks.  This particularly lovely example has a central heart with an old fashioned anchor above – a graphic statement of a sailor’s love for his sweetheart.  The central theme elements are surrounded by fields of hundreds of decorative exotic shells from those tropical waters.  The octagonal Spanish cedar case retains its original old wavy glass and is in excellent untouched condition.   14 inches across on the flats by 2 inches thick.  A truly exceptional example. PORSpecial Packaging

Literature.    John Fondas, “Sailor’s Valentines.”  2002, Rizzoli International Publications, New York City.  Anchors depicted in shell valentines are relatively rare.  In his comprehensive book, Mr. Fondas depicts only two examples on pages 31 and 43.

Ex. Collection Evalene Pulati, former President of the Antique Valentine Collectors Association.


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12.99  NAVAL CERAMIC.  Mid 19th century or earlier earthenware plaque known as “Sunderland Lusterware.”  This classic English marine ceramic plate features a stenciled image of an early 3-masted barque under sail in a peaceful harbor with buildings depicted on the shore in the background.  The hard fired glazed image is clear and bright, surrounded by the distinctive, colorful hand-painted scalloped decorations on the rim which made this form famous and so desirable amongst naval ceramic collectors today.   7 ¾ inches high by 8 ½ inches wide (19.4 x 21.25 cm).  Absolutely pristine original condition.   349

Literature:   D. Gordon and Margery Pugh, “Naval Ceramics,” 1971, The Ceramic Book Company Newport, England.  Several similar wall plaques are depicted and described in this comprehensive work.  A very similar example is shown as Plate 71C. described as “Sunderland Pink Lusterware Wall Plaque Inscribed “Duke of Wellington – 131 Guns,” H. 24 cm c. 1854.”  Another is shown as Plate 95A described as “Wall Plaque Inscribed “Northumberland 74” Pink Luster Earthenware, Sunderland 22 cm x 20 cm c.1815.”


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12.90

12.90 ANTIQUE SAWFISH BILL.  Interesting anatomical relic in the form of the snout of a sawfish.  This fearsome specimen has 30 razor sharp “teeth” symmetrically spaced down the edges of the bill.  The bill itself is a thin, very stiff, leather-like extension of the fish’s snout which was apparently used to hack and capture prey.  This example measures 18 ½ inches long by 6 inches wide at the widest.  One side is deeply hand-carved, “KILLED – 1901.”  Very good original condition noting that two of the teeth are chipped.  195

Unmistakably unique, the small tooth sawfish resembles sharks in appearance but is actually a large, bottom-dwelling ray. The name makes reference to the long, saw-like bill, edged by numerous razor-sharp teeth.  This has been a mixed blessing for the species.  The small tooth sawfish can use its jagged snout to great advantage to sense and capture prey. Yet its bill makes it especially prone to capture in fishermen’s nets.  Throughout the twentieth century people killed the sawfish as a curiosity — a novelty to be mounted on a wall.

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12.83  EARLY SAILOR’s KNIFE.  Classic, blunt-tipped knife as issued to and used by seamen in the 18th and 19th centuries.  This nice example has “jigged” carved wooden grips on each side, a metal bolster and a pivoting bail on the working end.  This single blade knife has a thumbnail indent for pulling out the blade which locks into place with a sure action.  It measures 5 ¼ inches closed (inclusive of bail) and 8 ½ inches extended.  Excellent original condition with some minor spotting on the blade, as expected of an antique knife used in a marine environment49

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 12.79  BATTLESHIP MAINE CANDY DISH.  Very rare, genuine, late 19th century milk glass candy dish with cover.  This charming commemorative is cast with high detail in the form of the famous Battleship Maine which blew up in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898.  That event sparked the Spanish-American War.  The resultant outpouring of patriotism led to a ready market for such commemoratives, and the famous slogan “Remember the Maine.”  This example, made by Atterbury later that year, is cast in relief “MAINE” on both sides of the bow.  It measures 7 ¾ inches long, 3 ¾ inches high and 4 1/8 inches wide.  It is in exceptionally fine condition for such a fragile item of this vintage, with only a couple of very minor fish eyes on the rim. 199Special Packaging

See Everett Grist, “Covered Animal Dishes,” 1987, Collector Books, page 93. This large, covered milkglass dish is one of the rarest.

 

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12.77 EARLY BOOKENDS.Matched pair, turn-of-the-last century bookends in the unusual form of a bow-on sailing ship.These precisely-cast sculptures are in their original antique statuary bronze finish.The front of each bears the inscription, "IRON BARQUE MACQUERIE" while the backs are incised with the ship's statistics:"BUILT IN 1875. BY MESSRS R & H GREEN OF LONDON HER REG. TONNAGE IS 1977.LENGTH. 269.8 FT.BEAM: 40.1 FT.DERTH:23.7 FT."The rear is embossed "JB 2503" indicating Jennings Brothers Manufacturing Co. of Bridgeport, Connecticut.These handsome bookends stand 6 1/2 inches tall, 4 inches wide, by 2 1/2 inches deep and weigh just under 3 pounds.Outstanding original condition.A rare pair of antique bookends made contemporaneously with the vessel they honor.195/pr

Jennings Brothers began their manufactory in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1891 and continued business into the early 1900s. The company produced some of the finest crafted art metal pieces ever made.The product line included high grade bookends, candlesticks and figurines. Their methods were exacting and meticulous, not lending themselves to mass production.Rather, they relied upon the expert skills of individual artists, sculptors and metal craftsman.Today Jennings Brothers metalwork is highly prized. Surviving examples bearing the distinctive "JB" mark are avidly sought after by collectors world-wide.

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12.75 BOOK ENDS. Finest quality book ends made by the prestigious firm of Bradley & Hubbard as marked on the backs, "B&H." This matched pair is constructed of heavy cast brass in high relief with extraordinary detail! Each depicts a 17th century galleon at sea with sails set and pennants streaming. The vignette is encircled by an ornate "rope" border with mythical winged dolphins of the period flanking either side. The backs feature a hand-punched surface of the most exceptional quality. Each book end is in its original gold finish with polished brass highlights. 2 1/2 pounds each. 6 1/2 inches tall by 4 inches wide each. Circa 1920. Perfect original condition! 295

In 1854 Nathaniel Bradley and his brother William formed a partnership with Walter Hubbard named Bradley and Hubbard in the town of Meridian, Connecticut. The same company, under its previous owners, was engaged primarily in the production of clocks. But bells and sewing machines were added to the line through the 1860's.

During the Civil War Bradley and Hubbard expanded its market west of the Mississippi, adding flags, hoop skirts, spring measuring tapes and match safes to its production during the war.

With the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in 1859 Bradley & Hubbard decided to begin production of kerosene burning lamps. By 1871, kerosene virtually replaced whale oil for heating and illumination. New ways of burning it more efficiently were needed. Between 1868 and 1875 Bradley and Hubbard secured 33 patents relating to oil-burning lamps. In 1875 the firm was reorganized and renamed The Bradley and Hubbard Manufacturing Company.

Growing rapidly during the 1880's, the company added new products such as architectural castings, railings, fences, window guards, and elevator enclosures. By the 1890's the Bradley and Hubbard name was synonymous with high quality and artistic merit.

The company continued into the early 20th century, surviving the Great Depression. But after 88 years in business, it was sold in 1940 to the Charles Parker Company, also of Meriden.

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12.71 CIGAR CUTTER/ASHTRAY. Authentic, 19th century German figural ashtray with the dual purpose of being a cigar cutter. This is without question the finest example of such a nautical novelty that we have ever offered. It consists of a realistic solid brass ship's engine order telegraph mounted to an ashtray with two supports for lit cigars. The double sided dial of the telegraph head is marked in relief with the standard engine orders (in German) with STOP (HALT) marked in red. The moveable handle swings indicator arrows over both dials while moving internal knife edges on both sides. These were used to cut off the tips of old fashioned cigars. The threaded removable base also acted as a repository for the tips. One of the nicest features of this presentation is the hand-hammered brass ashtray which exhibits hundreds of small impressions done in a repoussé manner. 6 1/2 inches high by 6 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches from front to back. Outstanding original condition, totally functional, and with a lovely statuary bronze age patina to all surfaces. 495

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12.67 EARLY SHIP COMMEMORATIVE. Genuine, early 1900's framed photograph of the American steamer identified as the S.S. STEEL WORKER. This handsome presentation consists of a period black and white photograph of the vessel that has been hand tinted. It is mounted under glass within a turned redwood frame in the form of a ship's wheel. The frame is decoratively hand-painted in a distinctive style, "S.S. STEEL WORKER" with a fouled anchor. The image measures 5 1/2 inches in diameter with the entire presentation being 12 inches across. Excellent original condition. 179

The S.S. STEEL WORKER, call sign KDBJ, was built by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (a division of United States Steel) Kearney, New Jersey in 1920. She was of 5,860 gross tons, 3,450 net tons, had a length of 424 feet, a breadth of 56 feet and a draft of 26 1/2 feet. With a crew of 34, S.S. STEEL WORKER operated under the ownership of the Isthmian Steamship Company, home ported in New York.

The distinctive style and format of this presentation is quite recognizable and has come to our attention several times before. (See West Sea Co. items 5.13, 5.14, 5.74, 5.77 and 15.68). Although the authorship of these commemoratives is unknown, they apparently were produced by a cottage industry in the San Francisco Bay Area in the first quarter of the 20th century. They are quite collectible and are still very inexpensive for what they are -- decorative, real time ship mementoes made for the crew!

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12.57 P.O.W. STRAW WORK "BOOK." Very scarce late 18th or very early 19th century dressing/jewelry box made in the form of a book. This cleverly constructed box, is made of wood with all surfaces meticulously covered with split straw in a marquetry fashion. The resulting effect is a remarkably lustrous surface with intricate geometrical star burst, pinwheel and fan designs. The end pages of the "book" appear to be genuine gilt paper which have been fitted with faux drawer pull knobs made of bone. Opening the hinged lid secured with a button latch reveals the beautifully preserved interior fitted with a mirror and two hinged doors covering two tills within. The entire interior is also decorated with straw work in the same phenomenal fashion. This "book" measures 6 1/4 inches high by 4 1/4 inches wide and 2 inches thick. It is in an exceptionally good state of original preservation given its great age and fragility of this medium. As is typical of such straw work, there is evidence of wear and small losses on the exterior. The interior is virtually perfect and original. 695

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12.37 SHIPWRIGHT'S TOOL. Very scarce 19th century auger used in shipbuilding to drill holes in timbers for attaching same with iron or copper spikes. This hand wrought iron and cast steel hand drill has a one piece oak handle secured to the shaft by means of an iron collar with thumb screws. The helical drill shaft terminates in its original 2-bladed cutter with sharp threaded screw tip. This drill is of a very impressive size, measuring 17 inches wide at the handle by nearly a yard long, and is capable of cutting a hole 1 3/8th inches in diameter! Outstanding original condition showing good age and use with excellent old surfaces. 249Special Packaging

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12.19 P.O.W. SNUFF BOX. Absolutely charming late 18th or very early 19th century carved bone folk art snuff box depicting a handsome gentleman suitor courting a lovely maiden. This intricately constructed box is indicative of the incredible output of French prisoners in British prisons during the Napoleonic War era. It consists of an inner core of solid wood that has been hollowed out. Overlaying the wood is sheathing consisting of bovine bone attached with tiny brass pins. The box opens with fine hand-made brass hinges and is equipped with a tiny friction latch which allows it to close with a positive fit, assuring preservation of its precious contents. The front of the box is engraved with the initials "CT DW." It is both relief carved AND engraved with floral motifs and a "brick" pattern. It measures 3 1/2 inches long by 2 1/4 inches wide and 1 1/4 inches thick. This snuff box is in an incredible state of original preservation with no damage or repairs whatsoever. A superbly rare example of 200 year old P.O.W. work with a delightfully endearing subject! 1895

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12.26 SCULPTURE. Genuine 19th C. French statue of a handsome young fisherman carrying his net entitled "PECHEUR." This spelter metal statue is mounted to its original turned wooden base painted to resemble marble. 11 1/4 inches tall. Good overall condition noting a small section of the wood has been reattached. Decorative and pleasing. 199


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