Miscellaneous Archives - Antique Sage

Vintage 14K Gold U.S. Ruptured Duck Pin From World War II

Photo Credit: Maison Rive

Vintage 14K Gold U.S. Ruptured Duck Pin From World War II

Buy It Now Price: $199.99 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This vintage World War II era U.S. military Ruptured Duck pin, also known as the Honorable Service Discharge pin, is made from solid 14 karat gold.

-This vintage military pin measures 0.625 inches (16 mm) across and weighs 1.9 grams (0.0611 troy ounces), excluding the clutch.

-The Honorable Service Discharge pin allowed a veteran to continue wearing his military uniform after being discharged - a point of great importance in the immediate post-World War II era when civilian clothing was often hard to find due to rationing.

-This pin features a screw-back fastener with a threaded post, which is consistent with its 1940s attribution. This type of fastener was last used during the World War II era when it was replaced by the smooth post, Ballou clutch type.

-According to tradition, the Ruptured Duck pin gained its bizarre nickname because the ungainly eagle emblazoned on the pin looks more like a misshapen duck than a dignified raptor.

-This vintage Ruptured Duck pin is marked "M14K" and "Gordon B. Miller & Company, Cinti. O." - a respected jewelry manufacturer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They specialized in corporate service pins for major American firms like Proctor & Gamble, Glidden, Chevrolet, etc. Gordon B. Miller operated from the 1930s until 1990 when it was purchased by Jostens, Inc.

-Vintage U.S. military insignia are rapidly gaining the attention of militaria collectors due to the loss of the World War II generation.

-This period pin comes in its original case, which reads "in Recognition of SERVICE to COUNTRY in the U.S. ARMED FORCES WORLD WAR II". The inside of the case says "14 Kt. Gold Authorized HONORABLE DISCHARGE EMBLEM - Mfgd. under license by General Motors". The reference to GM - the 20th century's leading car manufacturer - really boosts the appeal of this piece.

-Because this vintage Ruptured Duck pin is rendered in 14 karat gold and comes in its original box, I believe the $200 asking price is justified. It is quite rare to find World War II U.S. military insignia in solid karat gold, making this example an exceptional investment.

Vintage Sterling Silver & Karat Gold U.S. Ruptured Duck Pins For Sale

Cons:

-The asking price for this piece is definitely on the upper end of the typical range for vintage U.S. military insignia. However, it is also a tremendously handsome specimen - possibly the finest Ruptured Duck pin I've ever seen. If you are interested but don't like the $200 price tag, the seller is open to lower offers.

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Antique Wood Panels from Brittany

Photo Credit: Yesteryear-Antiques-of-Oregon

Antique Wood Panels from Brittany

Buy It Now Price: $125 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This pair of antique wood panels from 19th century Brittany features a rosette motif and are hand-carved from solid European chestnut timber.

-Each one of these old French wood panels measures 12.25 inches (31.1 cm) tall by 7.55 inches (19.2 cm) wide by 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) thick.

-These antique wood panels are made from European Chestnut (scientific name: Castanea sativa), which is also known as Sweet Chestnut. European Chestnut, a distant relative of the commercially extinct American Chestnut, is renowned for its light weight, high-strength and rot-resistant timber.

-These architectural wood panels are salvaged material. This means that they have been recycled, which is much better for the environment than if they had simply been burned or allowed to rot in a local dump.

-Brittany, a peninsula in the extreme northwest of France, has a tradition of architecture characterized by half-timbering, stone walls and thatched roofs. These two panels have a distinctly rustic architectural feel and would have matched quite nicely in a classic half-timbered Breton house of the 1800s.

-European Chestnut timber, much like its American Chestnut counterpart, is a rather expensive and difficult wood to source today. Prices typically start at around $10 a board foot, but can easily go to $20, $30 or even $40 a board foot depending on a board's dimensions and quality.

-These chestnut panels probably began life as interior decorative elements in a well-to-do Breton home or perhaps as cabinet doors in a piece of old French provincial furniture.

-These hand-crafted antique wood panels would look great on a fireplace, mounted on a wall or incorporated into a custom-built piece of furniture.

-At a buy-it-now price of only $125, I think this superb pair of antique chestnut wood panels is well worth the asking price. The patina and wear are lovely and completely consistent with a 100+ year old antique. This is the kind of old piece that you simply can't replicate convincingly today, regardless of how much money you're willing to spend.

Architectural Antique Wood Panels For Sale

Cons:

-If old wood and provincial French craftsmanship are your thing, then there is absolutely nothing negative to say about these exceptional panels.

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French Pre-WWI 18K Gold Mesh Purse

Photo Credit: jewelry-halfprice

French Pre-WWI 18K Gold Mesh Purse

Buy It Now Price: $2,067.06 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This opulent solid 18 karat gold mesh purse is from the French Belle Époque, a period of European culture and artistic dominance between 1870 and 1914.

-This pre-World War I French gold mesh purse measures 3 inches (7.6 cm) long by 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide. Even though it is fairly compact, the purse weighs a heavy 35.8 grams (1.15 troy ounces) due to its solid 18 karat gold composition.

-This French gold mesh purse is in the Louis XV style, which was characterized by elegant ribbonwork, garland and fluting. The Louis XV style first gained popularity during the late 18th century, but then experienced a revival during the late 19th century. For those who are interested, I recently featured a charming set of Louis XV style French silver liquor cups that have many features in common with this mesh purse.

-This elegant French antique has period appropriate hallmarks. It has been stamped (twice) with the Mercury head hallmark, indicating it was made in France, but then exported abroad. This hallmark also guarantees a gold purity of at least .750 fine, or 18 karats.

-Dating a piece like this can be a bit tricky due to its use of a revival style, but I believe this gold mesh purse is from the late 19th or early 20th century. In any case, I am certain we are dealing with a pre-World War I antique.

-The delicate ribbon and fluting decorative motif covers not only the outside of the rim, where it is easily visible, but also the inside of the rim, where it is less visible. This is a sure sign of quality.

-With a current gold spot price of $1,290, this antique French purse has a melt value of just over $1,100. This means the purse's asking price is only 85% over its bullion value, which is quite reasonable in light of the item's superb craftsmanship and age.

-This French gold mesh purse is in perfect condition, with no damage or visible wear! Antique metal mesh purses are prone to developing snags and holes over the decades, so finding a pristine example is always exciting.

-$2,000+ might seem like a lot of money, but I assure you this sublime treasure is a worthy investment. I would not be surprised if in future decades people talked wistfully about the days when you could own such a superlative piece for less than $10,000!

Antique Solid Karat Gold Mesh Purses For Sale

Cons:

-This gold mesh purse has a maker's mark (initials: R.G.), but I have been unable to indentify this goldsmith yet. Determining the artist who created this masterpiece would increase its desirability.

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Edwardian Ketcham & McDougall Thimble in 14K Gold

Photo Credit: antique palace furniture home decor

Edwardian Ketcham & McDougall Thimble in 14K Gold

Buy It Now Price: $225 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This antique 14 karat gold Ketcham & McDougall thimble, circa 1910, has the delicate lines and whimsical feel characteristic of Edwardian design. It is engraved with "1859 FB 1909", indicating that it might have been a high-end 50th wedding anniversary gift.

-This old, size 9 thimble is made from an impressive 6.2 grams (0.2 troy ounces) of solid 14 karat gold, which indicates good build quality.

-This Ketcham & McDougall thimble comes in its original fitted cardboard case printed with the name of the retailer - "John Wanamaker; Jewelers & Silversmiths; Philadelphia, New York, Paris".

-Sewing was a required skill for practically all middle and upper class women in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike today when clothing is often discarded as it becomes damaged or outdated, clothing was regularly mended, altered or otherwise modified in households before World War II.

-Wanamaker's was a Philadelphia department store founded by its namesake, John Wanamaker, in 1876. Wanamaker's revolutionized retailing via its pioneering use of print advertising, mail order sales and no-questions-asked refunds. It eventually became a template for Sears, J.C. Penny and other great American department stores of the 20th century.

-This antique 14K gold thimble was made by the well-regarded firm of Ketcham & McDougall. Established in New York City in 1832, Ketcham & McDougall produced exceedingly high quality thimbles that are quite collectible today. The company finally ceased production in 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression.

-This Edwardian thimble is in good condition, with no apparent dents, holes or other major defects. The plain gold band around the bottom has some tiny scratches, which is to be expected on an item over 100 years old.

-At the current gold spot price of $1,315, this Ketcham & McDougall thimble has a scrap value of about $152, meaning that the premium above melt for this wonderful antique is a paltry $73.

-Because it was made by a famous firm and comes with its original fitted case, I believe this gorgeous Edwardian Ketcham & McDougall thimble is well worth the $225 asking price.

Antique 14K & 18K Gold Thimbles For Sale

Cons:

-Antique thimbles are out of favor right now, which allows you to sometimes find solid karat gold examples for ridiculously low premiums over scrap value. In fact, I was watching an eBay auction earlier this week where a gold thimble was selling for less than $100 - only $20 over melt. Predictably, it sold quickly. On the whole, a $73 premium for this fine Ketcham & McDougall specimen is quite low too - so this is hardly a con.

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