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What’s Selling on eBay: June 2019

What’s Selling on eBay: June 2019

by Deborah Abernethy and Mike McLeod
$1,565 (47 bids, 15 bidders): Antique Victorian Intaglio Glass Pocket Watch Fob Pendant Goldfish in Bowl, 1890s.
This is a lovely old pocket watch fob/pendant from around the late 1890s … the Victorian Period. It is made from intaglio thick glass as a goldfish in a bowl with a dark gold metal frame and loop enabling it to be hung on a chain, etc. It measures approximately 1 inch x 3/4 inch x 3/8 inch deep. It is in good condition for its age. It has a tiny chip at the bottom, and a few marks in the old glass but nothing serious.
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller nikkidrippin.)

 
DBA: For younger folk who did not have a great-grandfather with one of these, here’s a description of what we have here. Before wristwatches came in use (about 1920), watches, or “timepieces,” were kept in a man’s pocket. To make it easy to retrieve, a chain would be attached. A fob was a decorative object to help retrieve this. The fob could contain advertising, represent a fraternal order, or it could be “man jewelry.” This one falls into the category of “man jewelry.”
There are a number of collectors for this type of object and all different price points.
This particular fob is different in that while most were more like jewelry, this one is glass that has carving on it (intaglio). There are many gold watch fobs, but I have not seen one in glass, especially carved glass. It is hard to say if the buyer or the seller got the better deal when no other fobs like this can be found.
$2,501 (47 bids, 5 bidders): Antique Motorcycle rim 28” x 2 1/2” Eclipse Harley, Indian, Henderson, Simplex.
Nice old Eclipse motorcycle wheel. Eclipse made wheels for many manufacturers. Surface rust, but very usable. Have not taken bearings out, so do not know about bearing condition. One spoke has a minor bend. There was a 28 inch x 2 1/2 inches clincher-type tire on it that was shot. Actual measurement of the rim is 24 inches. Width of rim from outside edge is 2.25 inches. Bead width is 1.5 inches.
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller lonetree09.)

 
DBA: My areas of specialty are antiques and artwork. I will admit to knowing little about motorcycles, but this is what I have found from researching this item: this is almost the cost of getting a new one custom made. I can find no data on why this particular one would be valuable. With the description, I am not sure if this one was purchased by a collector or for personal use. This is one area where I can find no similar items selling (except new) for anywhere near this much money.
$1,612 (24 bids, 9 bidders): “DuPont Smokeless” Gunpowder Western Party 1899 Badge Pin.
Grand American Handicap gunpowder badge pin pinback. The badge measures 2 1/2 inches across the top bar, 3 inches tall, and 1 3/4 inches in diameter on the round part. Clasp on the back works great; no repairs, all the enameling on the top is in great condition! Cool piece!
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller c.1901.)

 
DBA: This is from a time where the smokeless powder was replacing gunpowder or black powder. It was a vast improvement but also had problems with its use, as it was more powerful. These rarely come up for sale, but this price is not excessive.
I did find a poster advertising DuPont Smokeless Powder from the same time period which, with buyer’s premium, sold for around $1,700.
$2,425 (19 bids, 11 bidders): Rarest Antique German Blown-glass Head Lantern with Glass Eyes, Christmas Ornament.
It has no horns, but it looks like a devil, or maybe it is a water ghost because of its green color. The lantern for itself (without wire hanger) measures about 2 5/8 inches in height and about 2 1/2 inches from ear to ear. All original and in nice condition, no damage to the glass at all. The darker spots on the sides are chipped paint from the wire hanger, but there is no damage to the glass! We have never seen this rare ornament before!
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller vintageheartandpassion.)

 
DBA: I have searched unsuccessfully as to why this particular ornament sold for thousands of dollars when most other similar ornaments sell for hundreds of dollars. German blown-glass ornaments have been collectible for several decades. (Note: Christopher Radko started his ornament company after he was responsible for setting up his family’s Christmas tree of collectible German blown-ornaments and having it collapse, breaking the ornaments.) These unusual face shapes have always been a part of the genre.
This has nothing to do with the Green Lantern group of super heroes, which the DC comic series created in 1940. Who knows why this sold for this price? Maybe the buyer thought that this ornament inspired the comic series which has spawned the Green Lantern cult.

What’s Selling on eBay: June 2019