A New England Sugar Shack – An Oil on Board in its Original Frame by Samuel S. Thrope (1933 – 2005), Townsend, Massachusetts, circa 1976. Thrope was a Well-Known Artist who Painted New England Scenes from his studio in Townsend and Kennebunkport, Maine. Having studied with numerous artists and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Thrope had a wide-ranging knowledge of Painterly Techniques. His Classic Works are of New England Villages, Country Landscapes, Maine Waterfronts, and Traditional Customs. Thrope’s Focus on an Unknown Farmer working his Horses to bring another Load of Sap to the Sugar Shack in the Woods is the embodiment of a New England Tradition. Every detail of the vibrant colors from the piles of snow and the muddy road, the dominance of the shack and the horses arriving, to the smoke of the shack escaping into the wintery blue sky allows the composition to capture the essence of the experience. Thrope was, in fact, an artist who not only provided collectors with a lasting work of art but also helped cultivate an understanding of painterly techniques. Any exceptional work of art is a consequence of many years of experience, not simply the common question of how long did the painting take. Sam knew that only too well. The image size is 15 ½” width x 11 5/8” height; the Original Frame is 21 ¼” x 17 1/8”.

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Price $350 plus shipping

An 1826 New York State School Girl Sampler by Zorada Ransom (Jan. 27, 1814 – Dec. 15, 1903) completed when she was 13 years old living in Champlain, Clinton, New York. In 1842 she married George Dudley (June 16, 1807 – Feb. 2, 1860), Champlain, New York, who is listed as a Lumberman in the 1850 U.S. Census, with considerable assets for the time period. After George died, Zorada Dudley is listed as a Widow Keeping House in the 1880 U.S. Census, so George Dudley must have left Zorada enough money to survive until her death in 1903. Both individuals are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Champlain, New York. Within the border of the Sampler, there is an Undulating Vine Border with a House, Flower, Tree, and Square at each Corner. Within the Border are 3 Alphabets and Numbers, Her Age and Date for Completing the Sampler, and a Final Verse: “The End of Learning is to Know God and Love Him”. The Sampler is the Work of Silk on Linen in a Variety of Stitch Patterns. Measures: Sampler 12 ½” x 11 ¾”; with Frame 13 ¾” x 12 ¾”. Condition is Very Good with Minor Stains.

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Price $765 plus shipping

Neat Wire Egg Basket with 7 Vintage Wooden Eggs found in Pennsylvania, circa Early 1900s. Interestingly, a quick review of wire baskets on the Internet indicates that they are still being produced with handles as decorative items. This basket was apparently designed to sit on a kitchen counter without any need for handles to allow a batch of eggs to sit in the open air. The “eggs” are made from wood and have a rustic finish. Though not found with the basket by the original owner, they do make the decorative aspect of such baskets appealing. All were purchased together. The Bottom of the basket is 6” in diameter and the top is approximately 8” wide. The wiring process must have been quite tedious, but truly enhances the display. The eggs are approximately 2 ¼” in length and are egg-like in their look. A nice addition for a country kitchen.

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Price $95 plus shipping

Nice 14” Dove-Tailed Candle Box from New England, circa Early 1800s. This Slide Top Candle Box is a Wonderful Representation of Early New England Life. Candles were a necessary part of Daily Life and these Larger Candle Boxes are typical of the Need for Light in Homes, whether rich or poor. Candle Molds were roughly 12” in size, so these Boxes were constructed to hold those candles. The Dove-tailed Construction allowed for a Long-lasting Joint and a Tight Fit. The Slide Top was also Long-lasting and avoided the use of wire hinges which broke with use and age. The Bottom is Held in Place with Cut Nails which were typical of the period. The overall length is 14”; the interior length is 12 ¾”; the box is 5” in width and 5” in height. The Box displays appropriate wear from age and use with age lines and wear to the wood. There is an early split to the wood on one side where the top slides in and it was repaired with the same early cut nails. A Wonderful Early New England Candle Box.

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Price $375 plus shipping