$1 SCORES A RARE GEM
Lacrosse book piece of history
Q I picked up a great little book at an estate sale for $1. I was told it’s quite rare. It is hard cover, approximately 15 x 10 cm (6 x 4 inches), 256 pages and titled Lacrosse — The National Game of Canada, published by Dawson Brothers, Montreal, 1869, authored by W.G. Beers. It does have one page of pictures missing at the front. Is it valuable?
Austin, Ottawa
A You were given good advice. This is a very rare book. The photographs were taken by renowned 19th century photographer William Notman of Montreal. The unofficial game had been played for centuries by the peoples of First Nations prior to the National Lacrosse Association of Canada being formed in 1867. Enthusiast Dr. William George Beers, a dentist in Montreal, became known as ‘the father of modern lacrosse.’ He designed rules for the game and campaigned hard for it to be the national game. This book has the subject of sports and the Notman name going for it. Weighing heavily against it is one missing photo page. Complete, this book is worth $225 to a serious collector. ‘As is,’ this original copy containing some great Canadian history is well worth $50. Q I have an antique that my husband thinks is ugly. I don’t. It is a wrought iron floor lamp with a bizarre three-triangle base, two plant holder (?) hoops and a ‘perforated’ brass lamp shade. Braided iron cable wraps the tripod legs together. It is 172 cm high (68 inches) and it works! Thanks so much. Cheryl, Vancouver, B.C.
A Since the year 2000, interest has been strong worldwide in buying furniture and decorative accessories made during the Modern Design era. In the 1930s prior to the Second World War, new designs with a minimalist flavour coupled with the use of new technology and materials, such as tubular steel, became the norm. Your lamp design, probably meant for fitted coasters or drinking glasses, is a further minimalization in design and material with the wrought steel frame in the post-war time of the 1950s— now called midcentury modern. The tripod ‘hairpin’ or coat hanger base fits into the linear lighting category — a big one with many individualistic designs. You will come close searching the designs of the American husband and wife team of Charles and Ray Eames — legendary mid-century designers. This type of lighting would reach its potential in an auction held in the major cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, New York and London. I’d say you could share a drink and discuss its $950 value. Q I bought this hand-carved cabinet about 10 years ago. All I know is that it came from Belgium. It measures 188 cm high by 37 deep and 53 wide (74 x 14.5 x 21 inches). The door locks and I have the key. Any information you can provide will be most appreciated. Helene, Orléans
A This small sideboard is called Renaissance Revival and originates from styles widely used across France, Germany and Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. Many of these more recent cupboards have originated from Belgium. The valanced top, carved panels and shelved base are typical and this narrow form would have had a mate to function the same as a single large sideboard.
The carved panels with genre scenes are typical in depicting scenes of a beggar tipping his hat to receive a coin from mother and child and a man playing bagpipes. It dates circa 1890 and will suit smaller modern dwellings. It’s worth a very reasonable $750. John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to his column, go to the ‘Contact John’ page at www.johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A high-resolution jpeg photo must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.) * Appraisal values are estimates only.