Page 10 - Nov 2020 JOA

WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay
WHAT’S SELLING ONeBay

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$3,150 (27 bids, 13 bidders): Antique Ophthalmophantome Dr. micro-mosaics can be
Albert Sachs Optical Museum Piece. Height: 31.5 cm; width: 17.5 cm. relatively large; a
Original, not restored. Materials: head and the base are brass. The other 9 x 12-inch floral
parts are iron. still life framed
Made in 1827 by Dr. Albert Sachs (1803-1835), an ophthalmologist panel just brought
practicing in Berlin, it was used to teach ophthalmic surgery by practicing $12,000 at auction
on a cadaver’s eyes or a pig’s eyes (which are similar in size to the human this past summer.
eye but more readily available). (Photos courtesy of eBay seller alborelo.) Examples of the best
quality micro-mosaics
are from the late
19th century and
earlier can require a
magnifying glass to
see the small, thin,
rectangular pieces of
colored glass or enamel that make up the picture. Artists created images of
animals, landscapes, floral still lifes, and portraits that, if well done and
fine, appear as paintings. These micro-mosaics were popular souvenirs of
world travelers in the late 19th century and often represented locations
visited instead of postcards and photographs.
Good gold set jewelry examples regularly bring in the $3,000-$5,000
price range at auction.

$2,950 (92 bids 15 bidders): Antique 1870s Purple Princess Bustle
Dress Train. Freshly selected from the estate of Alberta Drake (wife of
Walter Drake of Walter Drake & Sons, a nationwide mail-order catalog
PH: An Ophthalmophantome, or company) and offered today for your consideration is this regal antique
Eye Phantom, was used by eye
surgeons to study procedures on Victorian day bustle dress. This 2-piece dress is made of purple velvet and
pretty fawn-color silk taffeta. It is lined with brown cotton. The bodice is
a simulation head. The head
has two eye carriers that pivot Princess style, which was popular for a very short period during the early
1870s. It opens at the back with large, rounded, hand-painted mother-of-
naturally on an axis, and the
holder covers come off to allow pearl buttons. The cuffs are
beautifully hand-pleated with
the eye (pig or ox) to go in and
hold it in place. Small thumb silk ribbons. It is fully boned
and lined with brown cotton.
screws hold the eye carriers to the
The matching skirt is very
head. Apparently, though limited, there were several producers of these regal, and a piece of art in its
teaching/practice instruments. Some are more realistic looking than
others, and many can be found in scientific collections. I was able to locate own right. It has a series of silk
bows on the side. The front is
one for sale on Etsy made by George Pilling (American) with a price of
$5,850 and another by Adolph Waldau (German) that sold in March also decorated with purple vel-
vet, and the skirt hem has large
2019 at New Haven Auctions for $1,950.
arrow designs made of purple
velvet and piped with fawn
$2,862 (9 bids, 4 bidders): taffeta. The back of the skirt is
Antique 18/21kt Yellow Gold cut in process style and has
Micro Mosaic Floral Swan, large decorative bows made
Unique Dangle Brooch Pin. from matching purple velvet &
Weighs 16.15 dwt. Pin tests 21kt; fawn taffeta.
bottom dangle tests 18kt. The long training skirt is
Amazing craftsmanship. Measures beautifully draped and has
3 5/8 inches long and 1 3/8 inches room for a large bustle in
across. In great condition. (Photos the back.
courtesy of eBay seller rockys- The dress is in good,
goldandsilver.) most presentable/hardly worn
condition. No underarm
PH: Micro-mosaics are just that: discolorations. Only four
micro (meaning being made of missing buttons and a
very small pieces) mosaics. Some couple of small tears in the

8 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles