Page 14 - JOA August 2020

WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay

by Philip Hawkins, John Sexton, and Mike McLeod

$2,053 (26 bids, 12 bidders): Rare Set of 8 Antique Anatomy Medical of anatomical charts for $10 or less per set. Other publishers offered similar
Human Body Charts Cutters School Dated 1849. A very rare set of sets, and they were continuously being updated with advances in knowledge.
anatomy charts with each having the title “Cutter’s District School Prices for sets vary, and demand may depend on planned use (perhaps
Anatomical Outline” along with a plate number. The set was created by well dividing for sale?). Individual charts sell for $100 to $500 each at auction.
known New Hampshire doctor Calvin Cutter who put out numerous books This set appears to have sold for a reasonable price for a complete set,
and charts on the human anatomy. We found an advertisement in a book given comparables information, with perhaps some premium given for
from 1855 which advertises some of Cutter’s works, and in the list is this set the condition, scarcity, and the early publication date. Three comparables
of eight charts which he made for schools. It is very rare to find a complete are noted below.
set of charts like this from the mid 19th century. Age: At the bottom of each
is a date of 1849. Size: Each chart measures approximately 31 x 19.5 inches.
Condition: The overall condition of the set is very good. There is one chart 1,125 (18 bids, 8 bidders): Antique 1860s RARE French L.T. Piver Pot
that appears to have gotten wet at one point and has some damage. The other Admirable Pommade du Lion Lid and Base. A rare, circa 1860, French
seven are wonderful for their age and still have great color. black transferware porcelain pot of L.T. Piver Admirable Pommade du
Lion. The company’s Paris and London addresses are printed on the lid
which features a majestic male lion. There is a shallow chip to the lid side
and a few very minor chips to the lid edge. Traces of gold trim.
The base shows a lion hunt scene with Arabs, one on horseback.
“L.T. Piver a Paris” is printed on a rock in the picture. The inner rim of
the base is discolored and chipped in two places. There are also some
fleabites to the rim edges. No makers’ mark. Height: 6 cm, diameter: 6.4
cm, weight: 255 g. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller inkietta.)

PH: L. T. Piver, a Parisian perfume house,
traces its origins to 1774. By the middle of
the 19th century, Piver had expanded to
over 100 branches around the globe and
listed Napoleon Bonaparte, European
royalty, and an elite who’s who among
Above Left: W. and A. K. Johnston Charts (8), mounted on linen and attached to a its clientele. The company continues in
wooden roller, – 20.5 x 26 inches. Asking $1,375 or best offer (eBay). business today (www.piver.com). They
Above Right: White’s Physiological Manikin, James T. White & Co., 1886. provided, then as now, a line of quality
Chromolithographic prints hinged in layers in a folding wooden frame personal care products for men and women.
with easel, - 69 x 23.75 inches. Realized $500 Pommade du Lion, a hair care product,
(Thomaston Place Auction/Live Auctioneers, 2/28/2020).
invokes the image of taming a lion’s
mane. Another hair pomade of the era was
Moelle de Boeuf made from beef bone mar-
row and was sold in a similar jar with
similar decoration.
This white enameled earthenware lidded
jar is attributed to Creil-Montereau, a
porcelain factory in Creil, France, and is
transfer-decorated with hunting scenes and
a lion fighting against a snake. The lid features
the product name and the perfumer’s first
address: 103 Rue Saint-Martin in Paris.
The jars for these types of products were
W. & A.K. Johnston’s Anatomy and Physiology Charts (9 chromolithograph charts), often dis-
ca. 1903, 30 x 40 inches. Asking $700 or best offer (eBay).
carded just
PH: The study of human anatomy first shows up in Egypt around 1600 BC. as they are
In the 16th century, the study of anatomy was greatly advanced by cadaver today. They
dissections (most often of executed criminals) and remained controversial are made of
through the end of the 18th century. The nature of anatomical knowledge, quality
and therefore the drawings used for study, became quite good in the early- to material and attractively decorated, and
mid-19th century when this set of charts was produced for use at medical while scarce, several examples have been
schools and such. sold via eBay and at various worldwide
Today, complete sets of 19th century anatomical charts do seem to be auction venues in the last few years. A sim-
scarce in the market as there are few public records of sales. Someone is much ilar example recently sold at auction for
more likely to find individual charts from these sets framed as artwork. A 750 Euros (about $825). I’d rate this an
reference to teaching supplies offered by Calvin Cutter includes multiple sizes appropriate price for a collector to pay.

12 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles