Items of Value

     Think of things that are French.  Then think of Paris.  Perhaps you have been there or not.  This is an occasion to purchase items that are French, especially of Paris.  The family lived there.  They also lived and traveled in North and Central Africa, so we have African items for sale as well.  Remember that Paris is going to host the next summer Olympics, so memorabilia of Paris and France will shortly become of greater interest and older items will be offered by ebay and elsewhere at higher prices.  This will be a unique shopping opportunity for you.  If you have not been there, know that President Macron wants to make the Seine River swimmable so that some of the Olympic competition will be in the river.  Good luck.  Notre Dame cathedral is supposed to be completely renovated by then.  That work is coming along fine.

     Let's begin with Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.  We have for sale a rare painting of Notre Dame, rare because the scene shows Notre Dame viewed through trees on the Left Bank and a little farther east up the Seine.  We also have a fine carved wood bas-relief plaque of the Eiffel Tower.  Both date from more than a half century ago.  We have a 1721 hand-colored map of France by Guillaume Delisle.  In addition, we offer you 4 framed mid-18th century hand-colored prints of Paris environs.  They are exceedingly rare and probably predate the French Revolution. Who will go home with the painting of Sacre Coeur or the one of Claude Monet's home in Giverny?  For those of you who have been there, this will be "memory lane".  The Giverny painting is large, at 40"x60" and is titled "Pond at Giverney", by Andris Leimanis (born 1938 in Latvia, later moved/studied/worked in Canada).  We have a 1997 handwritten price quote from Mihalis Gallery in Boca Raton for this painting @ $8,000.  

     Because many people in Europe live in apartments, this one follows the tradition of a small dining table with chairs for only 4 people.  The chairs are antique and have been nicely reupholstered.  The hanging chandelier is for sale.  You may like the style of the reproduction French Directoire chest of drawers with marble top and brass trim, the diminutive writing desk with pull-out writing board, the table lamps of which one features a quartz block mounted on post, another has a gently curved glass body.  You will find in the dining area or living room one or perhaps 2 of each of the following:  Baccarat, Lalique, Daum, St. Lambert.  We have clear crystal items, also a collection of hand-painted and signed French teacups/saucers.

     Other European countries are represented by the English Spode plates, the Royal Doulton figure, the collection of small pottery pitchers and vases that you will find in the kitchen on hanging shelves.

     From the African continent, we offer you a Moroccan brass-tacked chest, a very bright red kilim, which is hanging on a wall between the entryway and the kitchen, a Ruandan drum with elaborate bead and tassel decoration around the head, a small and very appealing Congolese carved wood chest, an African mask, a pair of Kenyan carved wood male and female.  A pair of metal figures painted black of a hunter and antelope are on the wall to the left of the large round brass-frame mirror with stones in the entryway.  We even have for sale what we are told is an oscelot pelt.  Over the sofa hangs a large repousse copper African scene.       From the eastern Mediterranean, we offer you a hand-painted mirror frame having two doors.  It is a fine piece. The family also had an interest in Asian items.  Four framed silk embroideries hang on the wall over the two twin beds.  So, you will find Chinese and Japanese porcelain in the way of plates and bowls, a square black display table with drawer.  Of course, you will find framed French prints and posters throughout the apartment.  The hand-painted ceramic plates that we have rehung on the walls are either Moroccan or Turkish.

     Of course, the master bedroom includes reproduction French-style tall chest, nightstand, long dresser with mirror.  Two stylish hats sit on top of the tall chest.  There too you will discover a black Asian chest on legs and a large tin-lined tea box.  There are Turkish kilims folded on top of one of the beds while the other is partially covered in purses.  More are on a closet shelf.  You will find small size women's clothes and shoes in 4 closets.  You may like the Frenchy-style writing table with brass trim and chair that are there.

      If you need a small safe, we have one camouflaged beneath a table cloth on which we have assembled fine silverplate items, glass, and stoneware.  Note the very colorful red/blue/yellow rectangular coffee table in the dining area as well as the rugs we have distributed around the unit.  We put the large ceramic plant pots on the table on the balcony.  The largest one is Asian style still inside, sold separately from the live plant that is in it.

     You will enjoy discovering sewing items, wrapping paper and ribbons, vintage LPs, books, many plastic storage containers, cookware, stationery, blank note cards, greeting cards, several small sets of plates, holiday decorations.  So, look forward to another fine Items of Value sale.

      SPECIAL NOTE TO EDMUND WRIGHT:  You left your credit card at our last sale.  We have it for you.