Featured Help anyone can tell me info on this box

Any provenance on those pieces? Perhaps done in a wood not found in America? Have to suspect if my Dutch ancestors who settled in New Amsterdam in the 17th century were inclined to woodcarving, they would have worked in the traditional manner...

~Cheryl

 

I have seen a lot of antique Dutch 'kerfsnee' pieces, not just Frisian ones, and I can tell you that I've never seen a colour stained one like that greenish spoon rack. The second one doesn't look Dutch to me either, the last one could be, although Dutch pieces are usually dark and shiny, saturated with wax.
Hope that helps.

 

Some antique Dutch 'kerfsnee', province not specified:




Holland:


Friesland:

 

It gets worse, A LOT WORSE! For instance, next week starts the
AMERICANA WEEK in NEW YORK CITY, it's the biggest event of the year for all things americana and everybody who is anybody in american antiques is there. Furniture, silver, metal, textiles, pottery, fine art, bla bla bla will all be there at shows & auctions.
The star of the auctions so far as american furniture goes will be a wainscot chair. Now in england, 17th century wainscot chairs are a dime a dozen (not quite that cheap but cheap) but this wainscot chair is supposed to be 100% american and since there are only 27 american wainscot chairs known, this one has an estimate of 300,000 to 500,000 US dollars. It will not surprise me if this chair hits the one million dollar mark.
I am not saying this chair is fake, it probably isn't, i am saying an english example would go for a couple hundred to a couple thousand pounds but, one million bucks? That is a hideous number for a chair.
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/important-americana-n09805/lot.723.html

 

So furniture by the same maker, who emigrated to America during his career, would be virtually worthless in England and cost a fortune in America.

 

In a word, YES! It happens ALL the time!!!
Thomas Dennis, america's most celebrated 17th century joiner, apprenticed in Devonshire England & emigrated to america in the 17th century, try buying one of his pieces made here, JUST TRY!

 

And, you can say that about many different nationalities, english, irish, german, dutch, french, bla bla bla.

 

Got so carried away with my rant i forgot to answer!
The best provenance i saw on those 3 spoon racks was the last one, it was at Keno auction a couple years ago before he got disgraced it looked good on paper but i really don't know.
The green one that AJ thought was iffy was from a very well known dealer, David Wheatcroft, a big gun in the folk art world. It was on sold page so no provenance was provided.

 

The only one who needs a chair in that price range must be an ass!

 

No emos...
But I got that.

 

Nice carving. Friesians have the most beautiful horses. Check out youtube videos. I feel good just watching them.

 

Oh, yes, the most beautiful horses in the world. I believe they are the only Baroque horses that still exist:



They are now talking about shaving their legs because 'all that hair doesn't look good' when they compete with other horses.
Leave them as they are, you can't improve on perfection.

 

Well, let's not get carried away here, IF this chair is what it claims to be, i could see an institutional buy (aka museum) as it claims a very early date. The point i was trying to make is, these price differences between the old country & america for basically the same object are so large now that much mischief is caused by them.

Yes, very pretty horses! and, they kept INTRUDING on my friesian carving searches!

 

Such a beautiful intrusion though.

 

True, gorgeous horses, no doubt!

 

My ex owned a Friesian horse and we went to Holland to their annual show and sale for them in Leeuwarden. Beautiful animals that can also be quite pricey. I was just along for the ride but found the trip amazing. Was glad that the entire trip did not revolve around horses and also glad that we did not come home with another one.

 

There are some lovely historic towns in Friesland, and nice museums.

 

My BFF has a Knabstrupper. Massive great spotted thing, a mare, close on 16 hands. Unshod and it loves mud.

We went to the Olympia horse show: the silliest thing I've ever seen was the Shetland Grand National. The Met horses got rather sniffy with them.

 

There are a few breeders here bringing in Knabstruppers, nice horses, related to our Appaloosas - Eagle, the equine love of my life was a snowflake Appy, sweetest boy ever, but a mischievous brat sometimes. I've a weakness for parti-colored horses - all mine were either Appaloosas or Paints...

~Cheryl

 

funny how the oval box reminds me of a Mi'Kmaw ..( Micmac ) quill work box design....

Human cultures are funny that way....