Featured Antiquers: Share Your Favorite Purchase Of 2019

DS, following Mr. Nate's example, polish the bowl and sent a picture back. He is delighted.

Well darn, the picture didn't load. Take my word, it looked terrific.

 

The bottom critter is a wolf.
The guy on top.....looks like a human transforming into a mountain goat....

 

I’m more of a 20th century pop culture/icon collector, but, 2019 was a very good year for me, and I made many acquisitions, in both vintage and antique. I focus on “many items” that catch my eye (For example, I have a vintage record collection that dates back to 1950, about 90% of that collection is in mint condition, and that goes with “most everything“ I collect, depending on it’s rarity), but I’m especially interested in fine original photography prints. I made a number of additions to my collection, and all of them are my favourites, so it is difficult to choose. Two that stood out this year are a 1956 un-retouched original proof of Audrey Hepburn by Richard Avedon, I have six original Hepburn prints throughout my vintage original collection ranging from 1951 to 1963, one of which I own the negative for. The second is a 1918 signed print of Mary Pickford taken by photographer Fred Hartsook. I acquired the Pickford from a collector who lived a mere few blocks away from where I live. I also own several original photos from Mary Pickford’s personal collection. ❤️Maven

 

@komokwa It's not a wolf, Bell depicted wolves differently. I think it’s specifically a Tahltan bear dog. The humanoid on top has two fins and a single horn. Heiltsuk cosmology is filled with all sorts of beings and entities, short of asking Bell I think it’s impossible to identify, but it gives a more marine vibe.

 

@Joe2007 I really love the colours in those bookends. ❤️Maven

 

It has a Shamanic feel, a Shamanic transformation of some sort. Not that I am a specialist in NW art, I just love it. I have a Shamanic background (as do the Heiltsuk), so I may be filling things in from that perspective.
Great find, btw, and I really love it.

 

I can't think of a favorite purchase this year. Maybe I'll come up with something and take pictures after I return home from the current holiday trip.

Nice discussion thread, @Joe2007 !

 

I think mine is one I've showed in the finds thread - Thomas Webb "rock crystal" glass vase/urn engraved by William Fritsche - was very "sick" when I got it (thrift store find if you can believe it), but I had it cleaned and now it's gorgeous:

 

Wonderful!

 

Stunning photo Aaron. How did you get rid of the sick glass? No rush, whenever you can say.

 

Was beyond my capabilities - I sent it off to a professional glass cleaner. I can give you his contact info - very reasonable rates and I can't complain about the results.

 

Oh, thanks Aaron, right now I don't have any sick glass to worry about, but the person who did your item did a fantastic job. It is a wonderful piece of glass.
Enjoy it and thanks.

 

This was gifted to me vs a direct purchase but it’s still my favorite item by far to have arrived in 2019. Vintage vs Antique but simply stunning. It’s a cameo signed G. Noto on the back. Larger piece set in gold and vintage. It can be worn as a pin or as a pendant.

And no.2 is this set of earrings and pendant I bought for myself. These are an antiquity, hardstone cameo along with a photograph of Ms. Hermione, the original owner, who was gifted the set in the late 1800’s wearing the brooch. Set in gold.

 

Since it wasn’t specified that our favorite purchase had to be antique/vintage…
My favorite 2019 purchase is my three-piece IKEA Liatorp bookcase set. I had been eyeing this on the website for over a year. Finally, a place to put (some of) my stuff!

 

I could definitely use one of those Bluumz. Love it.

I see you have the Joy Of Cooking Cookbook there and some pie birds. I like them all.

 

I din't buy much this year, but this li'll guy stole my heart.....sits right next to my screen....
( finding a tiny makers mark on his butt, at a later date...was a bonus..!..)

 

The things one finds on a Pixiu's butt....

 

A man's washstand attributed to Brooklyn's Thomas Brooks. I'm having fun establishing a time period for it at the moment....I'm leaning towards late 1850s. More in the Furniture Forum.

 

Thanks! It really does. I love it, too. I worked with objects by Bell at the Smithsonian this summer, and I was really surprised to see this one for sale.

 

These are my favorite buys form 2019.

I love Victorian English pressed glass, but as you can imagine, I don't find much of it in the US, this year I did. All four are Sowerby, the nursery rhyme posy vase came from an antique show, the little blue basket is from an antique shop, the open salt and the other basket were screaming deals from a local flea market

I found the open salt and the little basket next to it in a reprint of a catalog from 1882.