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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TheOLdGuy, post: 84306, member: 878&quot;]First, the long story.</p><p><br /></p><p>About 50/55 years ago, on a nice autumn day, my wife and I went for a ride through the countryside. Really no idea where we were. Saw a sign “ANTIQUES” on a large, old barn. Went in. Huge, clean. Nicely laid out. Wandering to the very back we saw a picture Not just dusty, but <u>dirty</u>. We took it to be a pen and ink of a horse’s head. Price on glass in black grease pen $50, maybe $55. Took it to the guy up front and, because it had obviously been there for years, made an offer of $25. He laughed, saying his wife took a rare day off and if she found out he sold it for that he’s toast. We agreed on $50. and found our way home.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dusted it off – outside – and started cleaning it. First noted price was not $55, but $550.00. Aw shucks! I felt sorry for the guy. But not even knowing what town we were in, with no receipt, no card, NADA, I had no idea how to reach him with a warning.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/redface.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":oops:" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Years later, having been transferred to another State, we decided to quit moving unopened boxes of antiques and called in two dealers, at the same time, to talk business. This picture was over the fireplace. After haggling over carnival glass, tin boxes and whatever else, one lady asked about the picture. Sorry, NFS. One popped out with $1,000. NFS. Got to 5K. NFS. When the little private auction went to 10K I told them both to quit or everything else would be renegotiated. They left us a bit richer but disoriented.</p><p><br /></p><p>Probably spent 40 to 60 hours overall dragging that little baby around in my car and learned a few things. Frame very likely custom made. Interior gold was <i>probably</i> 24K. Thread used is silk. Pic <u>might</u> have been a stitch by number, but doubtful. <u>And then</u>, Alma (Frappia Frappier, maiden name?) was a member of a well to do family in upstate New York. That estate had been liquidated mid-1900s.</p><p><br /></p><p>Years later I actually found an antique dealer – actually Mr. and Mrs. - who dealt ONLY in this genre. They advised me that it was very well done, had only one spot that might be a minor flaw or could be intentional due to a slight difference in the horse’s neck coloring. Overall, said it was unusual, and they would be happy to handle it for me. Sorry, NFS.</p><p><br /></p><p>OK, my daughter now has this ON LOAN. Out of State. (She’s the only one who has a strong desire for family heirlooms and already has many of them.) I know it’s not coming back to me unless, God Forbid, she goes before I do. She also, believe it or not, is a bit less gadget savvy than I. She took these pictures and e-mailed them. Please forgive some shadows, discoloring and reflections. I had fun trying to cover up pic flaws.</p><p><br /></p><p>My personal opinion is that I have an excellent sample of 19th Century needlework that could sell – as AR says – at a well-attended auction for $600 +_.</p><p><br /></p><p>Just my curiosity here. Do any of the exceptional folks here have anything that might add to its provenance?</p><p><br /></p><p>P.S. The color around the picture is the wall. I couldn&#039;t crop it out.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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