Exceptional Ash Burl Mortar – Circa 1780-1800

An excellent, large and unusual burl mortar in very heavy ash burl that has an unusual tapered shape with very thin walls, and an inner cavity that follows the outside wall taper.  It is decorated on the external surface with multiple turned incised lines and raised ribs top to bottom, which encircle the sides in a wavy way due to the heavily twisted burl grain with muttiple burl eyes.

This mortar is pictured and discussed on pages 76 – 77 of Steven Powers, “North American Burl Treen”.  It is in excellent condition with a perfect surface patina both inside and out, and would be a very unusual mortar to add to either your burl or your mortar collection or both.

The size is 6 5/8 ” High  with  a  top diameter of 6 ” and a base diameter of  5 5/16 “.

A1403H     –     MHON

Nicely Fingered Shaker Oval Pantry Box – circa 1840

This is a nice early shaker oval pantry box with the tapered fingers and in the original aged surface patina.  The fingers are metal tacked, while the top and bottom boards are wooden pegged to the sides.  It is in perfect condition save for a fine tight hairline along the grain on the lower left side, which runs about 3 inches long, and that can be seen in the photo.  It does not detract at all from the box’s visual appeal.

Size is 7 1/2 ” L  x  4 5/8″ W  x  2 7/8″ H

A716D     –     HDD

Very Rare Ash Burl Covered Bowl with Double Channel Cover Lip – circa 1780

At the publication of “North American Burl Treen” by Steve Powers  in 2005, the covered burl bowl example with the double sealing lid lip, seen on page 64 in the book, which is in the collection of Sturbridge Village,  was thought to be unique.  Since that book was published two more examples had subsequently surfaced.  

This latest new example now becomes the fourth example known of a double lipped covered burl bowl, all of which were obviously made by the same unknown craftsman.  It was purchased by us this past summer from a private collection in New York State.  This collector had originally purchased it during the late 1970′s/early 1980′s at Brimfield, MA, and at that time it had just come out of a home in Cambridge, N.Y.  He had paid $650 for it at that time and it had been marked $750 by the dealer who had acquired it from the home, as per a note which the collector left himself inside the bowl.  

The bowl retains remnants of its original orange shellac exterior finish.  The lid and the sealing edges are thinly turned due to the double design of lid lip, and there are some edge losses there, as well as a shrinkage crack in the straight grained area of the lid.  This is consistant with the lip damage on the Sturbridge Village bowl example for the very same reasons. 

I believe the ivory finial on the lid is original to the piece (very rare) and was custom ordered from the turner at the time by the original purchaser, perhaps to match other table items within the household.  The finial had come off at some point in time and been glued back on, but slightly off center.  Steve Powers disagrees with my assessment of the finial, as he has never seen an ivory finial on a burl cover lid before, and he believes the ivory finial was a replacement for an wooden knob that broke off.  To my personal view a make do replacement knob of ivory is less likely to have occurred than having an ivory knob specifically ordered for a new piece as it was being made.  

Whether original or replacement on the ivory finial, an opportunity to add a covered American burl bowl with double lid lip like this will seldom arrive.  Very rare example of a covered American burl bowl.

Size is 6 9/16″ H  x  8 1/8″ Diameter

A1144H     –     TODD

Extremely Rare Ash Burl Pincushion – circa 1850

Purchased directly from a private collector who had originally acquired this black ash burl example during the early 1980′s to go with their collection of sewing items.  No pincushion example is even pictured in the book “North American Burl Treen” by Steve Powers.  In speaking directly with Steve, Steve states that he personally is only aware of approximately three other burl pincushion examples, so this one is perhaps the fourth now known.  All original, including surfaces, fabric and ribbon.  The thumbscrew itself is carved out of ash burl as well.   These are no cracks, hairlines or breaks anywhere on it.  Both the thumbscrew and threaded hole are now of round from age, so only a few turns of the screw are possible.  A seldom occuring opportunity to own a very rare example of American ash burl.

Size is 3 1/4″ High (w/o thumbscrew) x 2 1/4″ diameter

A1145H     –     NODD

Fine American Shallow Ash Burl Bowl - Flaired Lipped Edge & Broad Collared – c1780-1800

This is an excellent shaped shallow ash burl bowl that is 9 1/4″ in rim diameter and sits 2 5/8″ high.

It has a great flared rim, a wide stepped broad collar band underneath the rim, and a raised foot.  Around the raised foot is very small decorative gouge carving.

The bowl exhibits an undulating surface from the excellent grain, a good dry surface, and the remnants of the original red wash on the exterior.  If you collect early ash burl bowls, and desire one that is different from the normaly found food preparation bowls, this bowl is for you.  This example was designed and turned as a more formal food bowl for the table, has a very desirable and well executed shape, and would make a perfect example to add to your collection of American burl.

A1134H     –     NFOE