Page 52 - JOA-Apr-22

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

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$6,699.99 (12 bids, 5 bidders): Fabulous Antique circa 1860 Album PH: Namikawa Yasuyuki (Japanese, 1845–1927) started work as an enamel
Quilt Applique Red Green Blue Yellow. Fabulous 19th century antique artist circa 1868 and worked for the Kyoto Cloisonné Company from 1871
museum-quality album quilt! It is large, measuring 99 x 97 inches. There to 1874 before starting his own company. Namikawa is considered by collec-
are twenty-five 16 x16-inch blocks featuring several different appliqued tors to be the best of the Kyoto, or naturalistic, school and is one of the most
floral patterns, some with urns. Beautifully done border. The hand quilting famous cloisonné artists of the “Golden Age” of Japanese enamels (approx.
consists of half-inch squares and a vining leaf pattern all around the border, 1890-1910). He won prizes at 51 exhibitions, including at Japan’s National
approximately 12 stitches per inch. The appliques are all hand-sewn and Industrial Exhibition, and was appointed a Japanese Imperial Household
beautifully executed. Age spotting and tanning could possibly be removed Artist in 1896. He helped develop a semi-transparent mirror black enamel
with laundering. Will leave that up to the experts out there. No odor. This that became his hallmark.
is a very special antique quilt; a labor of love. Hard to let it go! Work by this Japanese cloisonne artist is highly collectible, and signed
Comes from a non-smoking environment. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller pieces bring high prices. Signed works reported sold at auction include a
whiteswanantiques.) 2.75-inch round dish in May 2021 at Bonhams (London) for £7,000.
In January 2021, Abington Auctions reported selling a 5.25-inch vase for
$14,000, and in November 2018, Tremont Auctions reported selling a
3-inch incense box for $10,000. Pieces of this quality that are just attributed
to or unsigned bring much less.

$13,100 (21 bids, 9 bid-
ders): Antique French
Emile Ouchard Violin
Bow, Silver-Mounted,
1947, Nice! Maker: Emile
Ouchard, round pernam-
buco, wood, sterling silver
mounted frog, French fitted
hill square, stamped “47”
PH: Album quilts originated on the U.S. eastern seaboard in the first quarter (1947) on the butt under
of the 19th century. The most famous are the exquisitely detailed Baltimore the frog, pearl-eye with a
album quilts associated with the geographic area around the city of silver ring.
Baltimore, MD, in the second quarter of the 19th century. The panels are This comes with a 2001
very detailed and contain 100 to 175 individual applique pieces per panel. appraisal of $2,000. Bow
Album quilts are also from the inland west to the Mississippi River, shows wear, measures 29 1/4 inches end to end. (Photos courtesy of eBay
Pennsylvania, and the Ohio Valley. The number of panels in an album quilt seller privatescreening@mac.com)
can vary from relatively few to many (I found examples with 12 and up to
72); each possibly contributed by a different maker. Some designs have PH: Emile Francois Ouchard was the founder of a three-generation
decidedly Pennsylvania Dutch-style panels. dynasty of French instrument bowmakers. Born in 1872, he apprenticed
Most album quilts at auction cross the block for less than $1,000 except to Eugene Cuniot at age 14 and after Cuniot’s death took over the bow
for exceptional examples. The most expensive album quilts reported sold at business with Cuniot’s widow.
auction that I could find were Baltimore examples, and they sold 10-12 years Ouchard married and had nine daughters and one son, Emile Auguste,
ago in the $24-28k range, indicating the market may have cooled somewhat. who apprenticed to his father, and who, at age 30, moved to Paris and opened
his own shop. He married twice and had two sons, Bernard and Jean-Claude,
both of whom made bows. While all are collectible, Bernard is considered one
$5,655 (38 bids, 14 bidders): Antique Japanese Cloisonne Snuff Bottle of France’s greatest bow makers. Emile F. died in 1951, Emile A. in 1969,
by Namikawa Yasuyuki. Late 19th century, Meiji Period. Signed “Kioto Bernard in 1979, and Jean-Claude is living as of this writing.
Namikawa” (Namikawa of Kioto), also signed in Japanese. The violin bow listing states it was made by Emile Ouchard – why and
The bottle is 2 1/2 “ tall by 1 7/16” wide. Extremely good condition! which? The accompanying appraisal does not say nor does the listing say that
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller armoryantiques.) the bow is signed. Emile F. reportedly signed his bows “Emile Ouchard” or
“Cuniot-Hury.” Emile A. signed his bows “Emile A.” or “E.A. Ouchard”
(possibly with “Fils, NY” or “Paris” following). Bernard signed his
“Vidoudez” (the Geneva atelier he worked for). Few are signed “Ouchard.”
Two Emile F. violin bows sold at Skinner Auctions in 2021 for $3,500
and $3,200. An Emile A. gold-mounted bow sold at Skinner in 2009
for $12,000, and a silver-mounted bow also sold at Skinner in 2007 for
$7,500. “School of” and “attributed to” bows for either bring much less.
If this bow is right, our seller should be well pleased with the sale;
hopefully, the buyer is pleased with their purchase.

Philip Hawkins, ISA AM, AAG is an accredited member of the International Society
of Appraisers and a founding member of the Appraisers Association of Georgia. He
can be reached via the ISA website or at 404-320-7275.
50 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles