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.
Pr 1830s gold gilt frames, 35 1/2" x 30 1/2"
here is a pair of period American gold gilt frames with external measurements of 35 1/2" x 30 1/2", taking a 30 1/4" x 20 1/4" image (frame is 3" wide x 2 1/4" deep). Gilt is in overall good condition with no touchups or restorations and 100% original.
Price: $600.00
19 C folk art O/C painting log cabin in the woods
Offered here is a wonderful oil on canvas unframed folk art painting of a log cabin in the woods, with its split rail fence, and a man ostensibly chopping wood. Measuring 24" x 17", it's unsigned and clearly primitive in its execution. The sole apology is the dime sized damage to the surface (no holes) on the cabin's roof (there also appears to be some rubbed loss of paint surface to the lower right of the man)
Price: $275
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: $250.00
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: $675.00
19th C blanket chest w early paint decoration
here is a early 19th century blanket chest with fabulous early floral paint decoration. My best guess is that it's Scandinavian judging by the pine, but perfect as a coffee table since she's not overly large (40" x 22 1/2" x 19 1/4" high) and painted on all 4 sides. I suspect the floral decoration is a tad later than the chest itself but still early 19th century. There a small patched repair to the lid molding and a small patch to the base molding, all relatively inconsequential. Beyond that there's simply the usual age crack to the lid. One end has a bit of painted in writing on it ... possibly an address when being shipped by whoever emigrated to the US at the time.
Price: $250.00
vintage Coast Guard wood "trade" sign
here we have a vintage (I'd guess 1930s or 40s) Coast Guard "trade" sign made of a single board (not plywood) measuring 48" x 9" and 100% original with its original painted surface
Price: $250.00
hand made folk art wood & tin locomotive
here is this absolutely impressive and monumental (32 1/2" long x 10 1/4" wide x 12" high) hand made locomotive made entirely of wood and tin and retaining its original paint throughout. The detail is incredible and I have no doubt conforms to the real thing. Its "signed" on the front with the date 1991 which is when I assume it was made. I have no idea, though, what the Kumquat Lumber Co. is. Insofar as I can tell, there are no apologies whatsoever ... this incredible piece of folk art is 100% right.
Price: $475.00
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: $795.00
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