Scandinavian-style Box with Map
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GUEST:
I bought it at an estate sale, and it was at a home between Racine and Kenosha, here in the area, and I paid $75 for it. I knew it was a find because I'm a wood carver also and I certainly would never have attempted to do something like this myself, so I understood it to be a really good piece.
APPRAISER:
Well, one of the things that you look for when you go from region to region are objects that are expressive of the heritage of the people in a particular region, and the hardest thing to prove sometimes is whether something is American or Scandinavian, in that case. We know that we had, for instance, in this area people with Scandinavian heritage coming here executing arts and crafts in the style of the Scandinavian heritage. And you brought something with you today which I guess you acquired at the same time that you got the box. Now, I just want to hold it up for a second so everybody can see it. This is a Range and Township survey, and on the back of it, it says, "Sample of work done in the late '70s," which I would assume to be the 1870s, "by S.A. Quale." So that puts us over to the bride's box, which is an incredible example of carving, and we see that he also signed it on the bottom, which makes this a documented piece that was carved in America rather than in Scandinavia, and it's something which I think is of great local interest. There's an incredible amount of detail in this, and good age, perfect condition. You as a carver know how important all the foliate carving is and everything, and the reason we think this is a bride's box is because it does have the heart on the handles. In my opinion, something like this would be worth, in the local market up here, I would say at least $1,000, $1,500.
GUEST:
Okay, good. Good return on my $75, I'd say.
APPRAISER:
Yes, you made a pretty good investment.
GUEST:
Yes, I did.
Appraisal Details
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