Miscellaneous Tools - The Best Things

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Antique Tools at The Best Things

Miscellaneous Tools

MI80151 Michelle Erickson This is a spectacular reproduction of an 18th Century Delft Bowl, dated 1769, depicting a period workshop scene. The original piece sold for tens of thousands of dollars some years back at one of the big auction houses. Our consignor knew the buyer, and borrowed the piece, to have it copied by the reknown contemporary ceramics artist Michelle Erickson. This is a highly accurate copy that of the original piece, which is primarily identifiable as mordern only by its pristine condition. It is signed my Michelle. I recently returned from the New York Ceramics Fair, where Michelle is one of the few contemporary artists invited to exhibit. She is certainly one of the most gifted artists in this medium alive today. The replacement cost of this piece today would be far higher than what we are asking. This is the perfect centerpiece to accent your 18th Century dining table. New $1995

MI80157 Goosewing Ax This is one of the nicest European goosewing axes that I have seen. I had it up next to a Pennsylvania ax by Stahler that I will be listing soon and it is amazing how similar the lines are, but I am pretty sure that this one is European, probably Austrian, but could be Swiss or German as well. The surface on this ax is untouched with as good a patina as you ever find on axes. It is double marked with a touchmark, but I am not aware of a reference with which to identify these. The blade is also nicely decorated. It shows use but not abuse, with wear to the center of the blade. The handle looks old, but I question if it is original to the ax only because at both ends it shows evidence of having been recently trimmed. This is subtle and it certainly looks original until you study it. If you want just one great example of this classic form, I recommend this one. G+ $595

112 Inlaid Tool Chest This is a very unusual chest. It is very large, 45"W x 27"D x 26 1/2"H. The interior lid is inlaid with a map of the solar system, complete except for Pluto, which has not been discovered when this box was made. Even shows some moons around Venus. The interior does not have a plane or saw till as is standard in a cabinetmaker's box. This, combined with the inlay that seems a bit too scientific for a cabinetmaker, leads us to suppose this might have been a scientific instrument or clock maker's box. The interior is fitted out with two banks of drawers and a drawing board. All made to the highest standards of English joinery. At the back of one drawer is a name, possibly a town, and the date 1822 or 7. The box has had some restoration some years ago in England, but it is overall very nice and original. Better condition than most for an early box. This box was bought in Plymouth, England back in 1976 by Dermott Roche, the legendary dealer and collector though who's hands some of the best tools of all time have passed. Dermott sold it to us a few years back, but with a new baby and space at a premium, it is time to find a new home for it. Good $3995

MI70899 Melhuish This is a Melhuish gentlemen's workbench. This bench folds up to look like an elegant piece of furniture, or opens up to expose a workbench and tool storage chest. These benches were very expensive when new and appeared in the Melhuish catalogs for years, in various models. This is one of the better models. They were marketed to wealth city dwellers wanting to do woodwork. This one is oak. It spent its life in a small village in Derbyshire called Little Hayfield, before being bought by local dealers, the Warehams, about 25 years ago. From them it passed to me about 9 years ago. The condition is fantastic, as you would expect for a piece that has changed hands so little. It also has the original carving attachment. The vise was missing, but I have a replacement vice of the same style. I never put the vice on as it really gets in the way if you use it like I do as a display piece. The Hammacher Schlemmer benches, which are better known in this country, are based on the Melhuish style of bench, but are not as well made. Even in England this benches are very scarce and I have never heard of one in this country before. We had it imported by container. The Melhuish benches are all bench made in London. Quality does not get any better than that. Each bench is individually serial numbered. This bench is quite heavy and we will need to discuss shipping options before you order it, so if you are interested, please call on this one. G++ $3999Sold