A R TW O R K S O F& a n t i q u e s

360 Court Street #28, Brooklyn, NY 11231 | 718.625.1715 or 917.518.0809 | burlsnuff.com | member: ADA

S T E V E N S . P OW E R S

TEASER

METROSHOW

2012

The 'Washington' Lafayette Presentation Gold ButtonCirca: 1825Medium: Gold (from North Carolina)Size: 13/16" (20mm )

When General Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution and dear friend ofGeorge Washington returned to the United States in 1824-25 he visited the then24 states of the Union and received a hero's welcome. The firm Leavenworth,Haydon & Scovill of Waterbury, CT, purchased a large nugget of North Carolinagold from Ladd’s on Wall Street, NY and made plans to fashion a set of buttonswith the image of George Washington in the center to present to Washington’sold friend and fellow American Revolution commander. When the buttons werefinished they were displayed at Mr. Ladd’s store until they were presented toLafayette.

After Lafayette's death, the buttons were lost to history, when in the late 1880'san English maid, Margaret Thornton found eleven of them amongst the general’s effects in the attic of Lafayette's family manor, La Grange (outside ofParis). Ms. Thornton was given one for her find and dutiful service. The otherten were again lost to history until the 1950's when they were rediscovered andput on display in the Lafayette Museum. The Thornton button remained quietlyin the family until the late 1960's when the story of Ms. Thornton and her discovery of the historic buttons came to light.

The button herein is the Thornton button and remains the only one known inprivate hands.

This exceptional piece of history will be offered at the The Metropolitan Show,where for the first time in 187 years it will return to New York City.

Literature: Davis, Edward, H., The Lafayette Presentation Button 1824, MattatuckHistorical Society, 1959 (updated from 1951 after the rediscovery of ten originals)

Illustrated and discussed: Albert, Alphaeus, S., Record of American Uniform andHistorical Buttons, SCS Publications, 1977, pps. 408-413

“Thank you, gentlemen. They’re MAGNIFIQUE!”

The partners, Leavenworth, Haydon & Scovill from Waterbury, CT present the ‘Washington’gold buttons to General Lafayette. Lafayette was said to exclaim, “Thank you, gentlemen.They’re Magnifique!”

...at 30 Wall Street,a lump of pure gold,found in MecklenburgCounty, N.C. whichhas been sold...for thepurpose of making a setof buttons forLafayette.

—Nile’s Register, NYOctober 23, 1824

• • • • • • •

...a set of Buttons,with the head ofWashington on them,manufactured of NorthCarolina Gold ... another example of theskill of Americanartists.

—New York GazetteJuly 7, 1825

Back side reads:

"PRESENTED TO GENERAL

LAFAYETTE • BY L. H.SCOVILL • BUTTONMANUFACTURERS • WATERBURY CON"

Tie pin attached to backcirca 1915

Cast Iron Gate WeightMid 18th centurySize: 10 1/2" H

Sublime simplicity—remarkable surface. New England,purportedly Massachusetts. The sun face is an ancientsymbol and crosses many cultures—the above may havebeen associated with a Masonic lodge as the sun (sometimes shown with a face) was key to Masonic imagery.

Stoneware Bust of an African AmericanCirca: 1880Size: 5 3/4" H

Arresting bust marked, "WM. M. DEE ESQ. 164 E.Adams St. Chicago, IL." Dee was a sewer tile manufacturer. Eyes, teeth and collar detail in whiteclay. Has the power of Edgefield Pottery.

Illustrated and discussed: Maresca, Ricco, AmericanPrimitive, Alfred A. Knopf, 1988, p. 85

Clarke Fitz-Gerald (Maine 1917-2004)Eye of the NeedleMedium: ElmCirca: 1977Size: 35"W x 33"H

Fitz-Gerald mainly did public commissions and hiswork is represented at many universities, librariesand parks. This work was created for the 1977 inaugural exhibit at The Joan Whitney PaysonGallery of Art, Westbrook, ME.

Exceptional Folk Art SeascapeMaine IslandOil on Canvas BoardCirca: 1870Size: 18" x 24" (sight) | 24" x 30" (frame)

A single hilly Maine island within a Milton Avery-esque composition with vibrant waves leading toa private beach.

J. Marsching, NYC artist board label on back.

African-American Made AndironsCirca: 1820Size: 14 3/8" H

Male and female figures with ridged posturing —communicating power. These diminutiveandirons were found in Jackson, Tennessee andare believed to be slave made. Similar postures arefound on African power figures (see above).

(l) Female Iginga, Lega culture, 19th–20thC, Brooklyn Museum (74.66.1) - noteposture and triangular notch in pelvis; (r) Akuaba Figure, 19th–20thC, Akan peo-ples; Ghana (Metropolitan Museum (1979.206.75) - note posture and flat discshaped head.

Southern Folk Art Keepsake Boxfound in South CarolinaPolychrome on relief carved wooden boxCirca: 1930Size: 9 1/2" H

Book form box carved in high relief on all sideswith a man and woman holding hands, black cat,woman holding a compact mirror, initials ‘WB’and the cartoon characters, Mutt & Jeff.

The interior with compartments, the side with aconcealed drawer.

Alonzo Blanchard, Albany New YorkGeorge WashingtonCirca: 1843Size: 10" H

A first rate rendering of Washington—casting is crisp and refined. Beautiful surface.

Fragment of a dumb stove that Blanchard patented in 1843.

Let The Dice Fall Where They MayCollection of 3326 Bone DiceCirca: late 18th-late 19thCSizes: vary from 3/16" - 1/2"

A remarkable collection of 3326 American,British and Continental hand-made bone dice.Some marked with tax mark, GR "GeorgiusRex."

American Folk Art Carpenter’s StickCirca: 1820-40Size: 42" H Profusely carved hardwood trade stick with over 60 carved

implements relating to the woodworking trade; including a12" ruler, Jesus upon the cross, axe heads, chisels, clamps,planes, compasses, saws, augers, etc....all over a stippled andsnow flaked ground. Top capped with pewter. Wood appearsto be mahogany. Extraordinary object.

A R TW O R K S O F& a n t i q u e s

360 Court Street #28, Brooklyn, NY 11231 | 718.625.1715 or 917.518.0809 | burlsnuff.com | member: ADA

S T E V E N S . P OW E R S

SHOW LOCATIONTHE METROPOLITAN PAVILION125 W 18TH ST. 10011(BETWEEN 6TH/7TH AVE)

GALA PREVIEWWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 | 6 PM—9 PM

SHOW DATES AND HOURSTHURSDAY, JANUARY 19 | 11 AM–7 PMFRIDAY, JANUARY 20 | 11 AM–7 PMSATURDAY, JANUARY 21 | 11 AM–7 PMSUNDAY, JANUARY 22 | 12 PM–5:30 PM