George Brown Toy Side-Wheeler, ca. 1880
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GUEST:
Well, the boat was in my grandparents' house, and I played with it when I was a baby-- ten years old. They passed away and my mother gave it to me. My mom is 99. And so we know the boat's been in the family for at least 100 years. I don't know if it was my grandparents' or my great-grandparents'.
APPRAISER:
Well, you are right about the age. It is a good hundred years old. Probably around 1880. And it was made by one of the really great American toy makers, named George Brown, in Forestville, Connecticut, and it's what we call a painted tin. That's the category, American tin. And he was one of the best toy makers of that period. And this side wheel configuration is probably one of his most popular, enduring designs. These pieces have a crossover appeal, because people who collect toys like them, but also people who collect folk art, because they have this sort of primitive folk art quality to them. It's really charming work, with all this filigree, the pierced tin work, and the stenciling. A lot of this paint did not survive, so this is a really, really fine example. This boat would have come with a clockwork mechanism or also as you see it here, as a floor toy. I notice there is one little problem here on the condition. There's a piece missing here. Now, you said you have this piece?
GUEST:
Yes, I have it.
APPRAISER:
Well, there are people expert in repairing this kind of toy that they could re-attach that, and it would be a real help to the toy, so it would be worth fixing. Also, the little separation in the prow there.
GUEST:
It happened on the way in.
APPRAISER:
Oh my... oh, no! I hate that. I hate that when that happens. Well, you brought us a gem. The market on this has been fluctuating over the last few years, possibly because there's been so much restoration work done on these toys, because the paint did not hold up. What you have here is an example that is absolutely 100% original. And being fresh to the market with all this wonderful stenciling still intact, I would say this boat at auction today would easily bring $3,000 to $5,000.
GUEST:
Elizabeth! (laughs) Oh, goodness gracious.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, yeah.
GUEST:
I'll take a little bit better care of it going out than I did coming in.
APPRAISER:
Yes, I would.
GUEST:
Thank you so much.
APPRAISER:
Hey, I appreciate you bringing it in.
GUEST:
Thank you.
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