Ordeshook's Antiques
I do not operate an open shop but prefer instead to treat my interest in Americana in a more relaxed manner. Indeed, my primary preoccupation is teaching at the California Institute of Technology, which affords me the luxury of pursuing a tertiary interest in American history. This feeds my interest in Americana and gives me the flexibility to pursue offering a selection of American country and formal antiques that represent the best of what we might otherwise associate with Back East tastes and design. In fact, after 40+ years of collecting Americana, with the last two and a half decades spent scouring the estate sales and flea markets of Southern California, the time has come to begin letting go. What you’ll find here, then, are things from my personal collection with the occasional addition of some treasure I found in my ongoing compulsive hunting. Needless to say, there’s a full “L.L.Bean-type” no questions asked guarantee on anything I sell. I do make mistakes, but I try not to pass them on to anyone. Tel #s: 818-952-8106; 818-618-7984 (cell). Email address is mordess@aol.com. Want to add that I've just finished a book on experiences, lessons learned, etc, so check out my website at www.ordeshookantiques.com. I warn though that the text is constantly under revision as new lessons and experiences arise.
vintage folk art hand carve mountain lion
Here is a hand carved lion that looks to me to correspond to Penn State's Nittany Lion mascot. Be that as it may, carved from a single block of wood, it measures 13 1/4" l x 4 1/8" h x 2" deep overall.
Price: $80
19th C reverse painting on glass silhouette
Here is a 19th century eglomise reverse painting on glass silhouette in what appears to be its original birds eye maple frame. Measuring 16 3/8" x 12 1/2" framed with sight dimensions of 12 5/8" x 8 5/8", she's in perfect condition so my pictures tell the rest of the story.
Price: $225
19th C Apothecary trade sign original surface
Offered here as the underside shows evidence of it having been mounted on something other than the current iron stand. The mortar, excluding the pestle's handle, measures 13 1/8" high x 11 1/4" diameter at the top. The iron mount is 38" high and projects appx 14 1/2". The mortar itself has a coat of its original gold guilt, whereas the gray is a thin coat of painted gesso. I believe both the gold guilt and gesso are original. The very top of the mortar is covered by a sheet of tin. My pictures give a good account of the wear owing to age and the elements .. it was after all a sign that hung outdoors, doubtlessly off the side of a building ... but additional pictures are available on request.
Price: $1350
Gorgeous 19th C theorem on velvet
Thgis 19th century theorem on velvet is in perfect condition, with but minimal tonong to the background, and vibrant colors throughout. Sight dimensions are 23" x 17 3/4".
Price: $950
19th C miniature tiger maple 4 drawer chest
Offered here is this somewhat unique 19th century miniature tiger maple 4 drawer chest that measures 16" h x 13 3/4" w x 7" deep. Cut nail construction throughout and 100% original.
Price: $595
12+" diameter ash burl bowl
Offered here is this ash burl bowl, late 18th or early 19th century, that measures 12 1/4" x 12 15/16" in diameter x appx 4 1/2" high. In perfect condition.
Price: $975
Tiger maple Chippendale style mirror, 40 1/2"
The first question is: Is this of the period (ca 1790), and frankly I'm not sure. I'd tend to doubt it but can find no contrary evidence ... and as my 3rd picture shows, the back reveals all the hand chiseled tool marks of a legitimate period piece. Be that as it may, I'll price it as mid-19th C just to be safe. As for dimensions, she's 40 1/2" x 22 1/4", with obviously replaced backboard and mirror. Two lower ears to one side broke and are reglued (but not replaced).
Price: $895
19th C miniature cupboard, original paint
Here's a beauty ... a miniature 19th century jelly cupboard bearing its original paint. The sole apology is the replaced back and backsplash. Measuring 22" high (not counting the backsplash) x 16 1/2" wide x 11 1/2" deep.
Price: $1975
19th C blanket chest, faux birds eye maple paint
Here's a 19th century dovetailed blanket chest bearing its original faux bird's eye maple paint on all sides (hence perfect for a coffee table). She measures 32 1/2" x 19 1/2" x 20 1/2" high. I can find no flaws ... no restorations, repairs or repaint.
Price: $495
Stage Coach & hand carved people & horses
Here is a veritable masterpiece of American folk art .. a stage coach with drivers, riders and four horses, all hand made, all in its original paint. As for dimensions, each hand carved horse measures appx 10" x 9" high, the coach itself measures 18"l x 12" h x 8" wide (including the wheels), while the two carved drivers measure appx 10" each. There are three hand carved riders.
Price: $595
Unusual 19th C tin horse roof fragment
When I first saw this from a distance I assumed it was a weather vane .. but no, the horse has always been attached to the tin base. And since that base has the fragment of a hinge underneath, I assume it covered something on a roof. Be that as it may, its a great piece of 19th century folk art. The base measures approximately 29" x 12" whereas the sheet tin horse measures 23" x 19" and retains remnants of its original paint.
Price: $450
J. MEADE 19th C American School O/C Hunting Scene
Here is a wonderful American School (19th century) oil on canvas hunting landscape with Daniel Boone like trailblazing figure with musket and powder horn, with his four hunting dogs at the side of a dead stag, signed to the lower right J. MEADE (from Maine, United States). The canvas in its original silver gilded frame, fastened by the original hand cut wrought iron square nails (it has never been out). Dimensions 14 x 20in; framed 24 1/4 x 18 1/4in. The painting is in excellent condition, no major issues, craquelure throughout as expected. The original silver gilt frame too in great shape is a bonus to the folky deer hunt subject. My only apology is a scuff to the upper center of the canvas, but nothing major, measuring approximately 1 1/2".
Price: $375
Offered here is an excellent American Theorem painting on velvet, first half 19th century, probably of Maine or Northeast origin. In stunning condition, minimal wear overall. The back with possibly the original signature and greeting inscribed in pencil, "Miss Nancy Dulton Ellsworth ME" (Maine), this is now cut out and re-attached to the back of the new framing. Height 18in (45cm); width 22in (55cm); framed 25 3/4 x 28 3/4in. Condition is great, and better than most other examples you often see. Some light brownish toning to areas of velvet as seen in the photographs. No apparent damages, in-painting or repairs. Professionally framed, matted and glazed.
Price: $995
single sided framed & on tin trade sign
a single sided wood framed on tin trade sign advertising Peter's Press (whoever that might have been), she's 100% original without touchups to the paint, etc. Measuring 33 1/4" x 19 3/4" x 1 1/8", if I had to date her I'd say 1920s or 30s based on the lettering style.
Price: $275
Tramp Art 5-drawer, 7 & 8 tier "box"
This is simply one spectacular and monumental example of early 20th C Tramp Art ... a 5-drawer jewelry or trinket box (and calling it a box does it no justice) that stands appx 22" high (x 16" wide x 10 1/2" deep). With 7 levels to the drawer faces and 8 to the sides, she's in overall superb condition with the one exception of the missing side handle to the left side of the top tier. Notice in particular now the somewhat unusual quality of the chip carving ... more than the common triangular chips, they're actually slanted ovals interspersed with small cuts. Made with better quality wood that usual for tramp art, the only identifying mark I can find on the piece is the bottom of the top drawer that leads me to conjecture an American origin.
Price: $650
Dated 1886 O/C painting of Midwest homestead
Here is an oil on canvass painting of a Midwest homestead signed N.M Thomas and dated 1886. A sod roof outbuilding (see my second picture) offers a symbolic narrative of the pioneering spirit of the early American pioneers. One suspects that the sod building was the original homestead used before the farm house shown in my 3rd picture. The painting is in very good condition though glued down to a sheet of Masonite, and measures 24” by 14”.
Price: $175
One-of-a-kind ca 1760 Cherry Bannister back chair
Yes, it's lost some height ... I'd guess between 1 to 2" (current seat height is 15 1/2"). BUT, just look at that crest rail ... if it isn't one-of-a-kind, its only because its maker made more than one. All cherry except for the ash or chestnut turned stretchers, so odds are it was never painted. Almost surely New England in origin, but I can't pin it down more than that (although if forced to make a guess, I'd say Connecticut). Seat most likely isn't original, but it's real rush so probably 19th century. As for dimensions, she's 21 1/4" across the front, 15" deep, 44 1/4" high.
Price: $225
18th C Mass. serpentine tilt top candlestand
Offered here is this Massachusetts (North Shore or Boston) tilt top mahogany candlestand with a serpentine top. She stands 26 3/4" high, with a top that measures 23" diagonal corner to corner (appx 16 3/4" square) with an appx toe-to-toe spread of 16 3/4" to the feet. Beautifully formed with no repairs whatsoever, she bears an early and possibly original surface and is thus in original untouched condition.
Price: $1,250
Unique 19th C animated schoolboy / girl watercolor
Not sure, of course, whether this is schoolboy or schoolgirl folk art, but it is unique. A 19th C watercolor that's animated by the pulling of strings. Pull one string in back and the two men will move together or back to their respective houses. Pull another string and the shade to the upper right window rises or falls. And pull a third string and the chimney sweep rises from or drops into the chimney. All obviously hand crafted, drawn and colored. Framed in a ca 1840 mahogany veneered frame it measures 13 1/2" x 12 1/2" with sight dimensions beneath the new matting of 6 1/2" x 5".
Price: $150.00
18th early 19th C adjustable tin dual candlestand
Offered here is this late 18th or early 19th century two-candle "table model" adjustable tin table model candle stand. Overall height is 29 1/2", diameter of the weighted cone base is 6 1/2" and spread on the arms of the candle holder is appx 10". Both candle sockets are pushups. The candle holder arms are actually made in 3 pieces ... two arms and a center leather ring that connects to the two arms. It was that leather ring that originally provided the friction that held the arms in place together at whatever height was chosen. Over time, though, that ability, due to wear, was lost, so I inserted an additional felt washer that is invisible but provides the necessary friction so that the candle holder operates as intended. There appears to be some spot soldering repairs, but nothing obtrusive and the candle holder is otherwise wholly original.
Price: $425.00
Five signed ca 1928 Folk Art carvings, original paint
Herbert Mills (b. 1878, d. 1948) is buried in the military cemetery in San Antonio Texas and served as a 1st Lt in WWI. These five folk art carvings are all, with the exception of the WWI doughboy, signed "Herbert Mills San Antonio Texas ca 1928". One can presume that the doughboy (9 1/4" h) is Mills himself whereas the largest carving (10 7/8") is Punch from Punch & Judy. The man (10" h) reminds me of those cartoon-like drawings hanging on the walls of various restaurants corresponding to the celebrities who frequented that establishment from time to time. In any event, offered as a set ...
Price: $395.00
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