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WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay
WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$10,228 (19 bids, 8 bidders): Antique Violin Bow, Signed for Eugene $3,274 (37 bids, 14 bids): Circa 1777
Sartory of Paris, Inlaid Frog, 29” This bow was originally retailed by C. H. American Revolutionary War Broad-
Hildebrandt & Son of Baltimore. Charles Herman Hildebrandt operated the side, Philadelphia, the Remonstrance of
business with his son until his death in 1896. The Hildebrandt firm was Israel Pemberton, John Hunt, and
famed for making violins and retailing fine, antique violins. The original Samuel Pleasants. Pemberton, Hunt, and
owner of this bow was Oliver Parker Hagerty of Baltimore. O.P., who died Pleasants were Quakers protesting their
in 1930. The bow, violin, and case were most likely purchased shortly after seizure and pending exile to Virginia
Charles passed. Eugene Sartory (1871-1946) was a famed bow maker who because of suspected Loyalist sympathy.
established his own shop in 1893. This is an estate find that was found exactly Printed by Robert Bell as the British Army
as you see it. Considering all the dates provided, I would say the bow was approached Philadelphia. Printed on a 10” x 16 ½” sheet of hand-laid paper.
produced a couple of years before or after 1900. The record price for a Sartory This broadside is fresh from the estate of a Colonial Rhode Island family.
violin bow was over $200,000 (sold in 2017), but that was for an exposition There are three small holes on the vertical centerfold; otherwise, this
bow. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller t-townauctions.) 243-year-old Revolutionary War broadside is in very good condition. (Photos
courtesy of eBay seller armoryantiques.)

PH: A broadside is a large sheet of paper, printed on one side, used as posters,
event announcements, proclamations, commentary, or advertisements.
Broadsides are ephemera: items that were not expected to be of use but for a
short time and therefore, whose life expectancy would be short. Historical
paper from the American revolutionary era is highly collectible, and
broadsides with particular historical, military, or social subject significance
PH: Stringed instrument bow makers, or in French, arche- can and do regularly bring high prices. This one has interesting subject matter
tiers des instruments à cordes, remained relatively anonymous and is in good condition, with some level of provenance, it is in the mid-range
until the standardization of bows in late 18th century France of auction sales over the last few years. Many can be had for $1,000 or less,
by Francois Tourte. Most bows before this time were not but the more significant the subject, the higher the price – one of a poem
signed, though exceptions exist. Eugene Sartory (1871-1946) about Bunker Hill fetched $120,000 in 2015.
was known for high quality, well handling, sturdy, and
consistent bows. He favored a darker wood in his earlier bows $1,47$4,000 (51 bids, 15 bidders): Large Antique Bronze Aesthetic Bank
and lighter wood in later ones, and he made bows for violins, Teller Cashier Architectural Gate Window. On either side of this antique
violas, and cellos. Auction prices generally range from $5K to solid bronze cashier teller Window are two columns decorated with owls,
$70K with retail prices for authentic Sartory bows typically in snakes, birds, and butterflies along with flowers and leaves. The top reads
the mid-5 figures and up. It appears that the buyer of this “Cashier,” and it has a light on the underside to shine down while doing your
bow was convinced that the bow was authentic and may have transaction. The original gates are not attached. This will need some work.
been persuaded by the provided provenance and photographs. There are The top caps are original and present; but not mounted need new screws to
copies and some bows with added Sartory marks. This is an example that be reattached. Missing one of the back decorative corner supports, and one of
knowledge is key when looking at specialized items. the knobs on the top of the gates. A few of the small glass panels are missing;

the glass in the door that opens down to change the light bulbs is broken.
$1,474 (26 bids, 4 bidders): Antique Punsit Insect Poison Tin Litho Can, Overall, this measures 42” tall by 34” wide by 5” thick at the top. (Photos,
Philadelphia, Native American Indian. Punsit “Chief of All” tin litho with eBay seller wwolst21.)
incredible graphics! The orange, black and green colors are great. The yellow
background is nice, but it has some background staining throughout that I PH: A nice example of what was a common
don’t see on the other colors. A perfectly solid can! I don’t find it offensive at sight in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
all … but see for yourself. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller hat-trick.) when most banks had something similar to
brass, bronze, wood, or iron. Often, pieces and
PH: This can appears to be quite parts of these sell as architectural salvage. Rarely
rare – no references turn up in do full cages or counters appear as most don’t
online sources for the manufac- have room for such large items, but a few remain
turer in Philadelphia. I was able and get used in clubs, restaurants, or large
to locate a hand pump sprayer residential game rooms and bars. This is a nice
for the same product that sold example. I was able to locate others
at auction in a lot that had having sold at auction for $100-
previously sold on eBay between $1,500. In this instance, it looks like
2007 and 2014 (two in better the seller found the right, interested
condition and one comparable), buyers at the right time, willing to
but all of them sold for less than $50 each. In general, this can checks all the go much higher for this example.
boxes for advertising collectibles: good colors, nice graphics, an Indian figure,
and reasonably intact paint condition combined with seeming rarity – and it Philip Hawkins, ISA AM, AAG is an accredited member of the International
Society of Appraisers and a founding member of the Appraisers Association of
appears that the seller got top dollar for his example.
Georgia. He can be reached via the ISA website or at 404-320-7275.

12 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles