$1000 Absolute Money Certificate -- 1880 Lampoon of National Greenback-Labor Party. One of the leading public issues of the immediate post-Civil-War period was related to  More »

$1000 Absolute Money Certificate -- 1880 Lampoon of National Greenback-Labor Party. One of the leading public issues of the immediate post-Civil-War period was related to the nation’s currency. The heart of the debate centered on an action the government had taken to fund the Union effort in the Civil War. Between 1862 and 1865, the government printing presses issued $450 million in greenbacks, paper notes that were not backed by reserves of specie. Simply stated, the agrarian and debtor interests wanted to keep the greenbacks in circulation and even urged that more be printed. Such a move would likely generate inflation, which was regarded as a favorable event since it would be easier to pay off debts with “cheap” money. Tensions were heightened during the depression that followed the Panic of 1873. Farmers and debtors bore the brunt of the economic distress and issued calls for the printing of additional greenbacks and the unlimited coinage of silver. These calls for action were transformed into a political movement in the mid-1870s and, in 1876, into a political party. The National Greenback Party took up the greenback refrain and pledged to fight the National Banking System created by the National Banking Act of 1863, the harmonization of the silver dollar and the Resumption Act of 1875, which mandated that the U.S. Treasury issue specie (coinage or "hard" currency) in exchange for greenback currency upon its presentation for redemption beginning on 1 January 1879, thus returning the nation to the gold standard. Together, these measures created an inflexible currency controlled by banks rather than the federal government. Greenbacks contended that such a system favored creditors and industry to the detriment of farmers and laborers. In 1878, a congressional election year, the organization changed its name to the Greenback-Labor Party and supplemented its membership by taking in workers. They received more than one million votes nationwide and elected 14 party members to Congress. In 1880 the Greenback Party offered a presidential candidate and broadened its platform to include support for a graduated income tax, an eight-hour work day and allowing women the right to vote, and proposed that public lands be given to settlers rather than sold to land speculators. However, the party polled only 300,000 votes, a clear demonstration that the greenback issue had passed its prime. The times had changed: Resumption had been a success, the depression had ended and the Bland-Allison Act had concentrated attention on the emerging issue of the coinage of silver. Despite its lack of success, the party made a last stab at the presidency, nominating Benjamin F. Butler in the election of 1884. His showing was dismal and the party disbanded. Its members drifted off to the Union Labor Party and the Populist Party. The Greenback Party made an important contribution to American politics by demonstrating the monetary policy could and should be part of the national debate. This certificate for “Absolute Money” in the amount of $1,000 was issued from “Swindlersville Avenue,” Washington City on July 24, 1880. It parodies the Greenback movement and Benjamin F. Butler, who is shown at left cranking out greenbacks from the US Mint.   « Less

Sword handle with accompanying parts for wakizashi sword. A rather plain 'working-model' piece, it is nevertheless highlighted with gold and silver work. The sword  More »

Sword handle with accompanying parts for wakizashi sword. A rather plain 'working-model' piece, it is nevertheless highlighted with gold and silver work. The sword guard/tsuba (and other fittings) is of an unembellished metal, most likely shakudo which is a combination of copper and gold: 96-90% copper 4-10% gold. The handle-grip ornament/menuki is of 14c gold and depicts a shishi (his back leg is a bit crushed). Unfortuntately only one remains, the right side one long gone. The butt cap/kashira is of undecorated metal while the grip’s metal sleeve/fuchi is ornamented all 'round with a design of plum blossoms with bamboo underneath formed in gold and silver. The two spacers/seppa are plain metal covered in a thick 14c gold foil. The scabbard sleeve/habaki is composed of silver over a metal core and depicts Mt. Fuji rising above clouds. I’m guess-timating the piece dates from the late 18th ~ first half of the 19th century. It is in good condition with age appropriate wear and tear.   « Less

A fabulous antique Art Nouveau five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920’s, in its original polychrome finish. The chandelier features a graceful polychrome finial  More »

A fabulous antique Art Nouveau five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920’s, in its original polychrome finish. The chandelier features a graceful polychrome finial at the top, accented with flowers. The chandelier body features a curvy volute design accented with blue flowers and hung with icicle prisms. Smooth chandelier arms support leaf-and-dart bobeches with a prism border. This light fixture is in excellent condition; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all the necessary attachments for modern installation. The chandelier body measures 19” wide and 17-1/2” tall, and the fixture is 32” long overall. NC1346-RW   « Less

Charming antique flush mount light with prisms and polychrome finish, dating from the 1920s. Sparkling icicle prisms hang around the perimeter of the light. This light  More »

Charming antique flush mount light with prisms and polychrome finish, dating from the 1920s. Sparkling icicle prisms hang around the perimeter of the light. This light fixture is in excellent condition with a nicely aged finish; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all necessary attachments for modern installation. The flush mount measures 5-1/2" wide and 7-1/2" tall. NC1347-RW   « Less

A delightful antique flush mount light with prisms, dating from the 1920s. Made and signed by H. P. Inc., the fixture features a fitter with a hammered texture and three  More »

A delightful antique flush mount light with prisms, dating from the 1920s. Made and signed by H. P. Inc., the fixture features a fitter with a hammered texture and three branches of leaves radiating from the center. A bronze bobeche at the center of the light, accented with scroll detail, supports a border of sparkling icicle prisms. This light fixture is in excellent condition with a nicely aged finish; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all necessary attachments for modern installation. The flush mount measures 7-1/4" wide and 6" tall. NC1348-RW   « Less

A fabulous salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an understated  More »

A fabulous salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an understated design with trim along the top and the bottom. This medicine cabinet measures 27” at the widest point, 24-1/4” wide across the middle, 30-1/8” tall overall, and is designed to be set into an opening approx. 19-3/4” wide and 27” long. NMC6-RW   « Less

A wonderful antique salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an  More »

A wonderful antique salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an understated design with amazing crackled green and yellow paint, and a beautifully aged mirror. This medicine cabinet measures 29-1/2” wide, 31-1/2” tall, and is designed to be set into an opening approx. 23-5/8” wide and 25-1/2” long. NMC18-RW   « Less

An amazing antique salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an  More »

An amazing antique salvaged medicine cabinet with a mirrored door, dating from the early 1900’s. Designed to be set into a wall, this antique cabinet has an understated design with a header across the top. This medicine cabinet measures 31-3/4” at the widest point, 30” wide across the middle, 30-1/4” tall, and is designed to be set into an opening approx. 21-3/4” by 25-3/4”. NMC19-RW   « Less

A wonderful large Egyptian Tapestry Panel decorated with a Pharoah, symbols, bird sun etc… A lovely and rare early piece Good Condition - staining (we have not  More »

A wonderful large Egyptian Tapestry Panel decorated with a Pharoah, symbols, bird sun etc… A lovely and rare early piece Good Condition - staining (we have not washed this item leaving it to a specialized dealer to do but do not think that removing the stains will be a problem. The red material mainly which is very thin is gone in places and should be easy to replace. Please study images carefully Circa 1920's - we are putting this date to conform with the discovery of Tutankhamun, however this might be earlier. If you require more images please let me know. It is a fantastic item and will looking incredible once it has been restored (as described above). A great Interior Design piece, these things do not appear on the market very often. 54 inches (137.2cm) length X 18.25 inches (46.5cm) width approx   « Less

An attractive Victorian double sided swivelling Mourning Brooch having a caved Stag / Deer in landscape on one side and locks of hair intricately arranged on the other the  More »

An attractive Victorian double sided swivelling Mourning Brooch having a caved Stag / Deer in landscape on one side and locks of hair intricately arranged on the other the Pinchbeck type mount being rope twist design. Nice quality item 2.5 inches (6.5cm) height X 2.25 inches (6cm) width approx Circa : 1880 Good Condition   « Less