Every now and then, I stumble upon an item at auction that stumps me. What’s its history, I wonder. How was it used? If the item is a painting or a print, I always want to know who the artist was.
I enjoy finding items that are unfamiliar to me – and there are plenty of them out there – because the stories behind them turn out to be fascinating. Researching them allows me to learn about buried treasures of our shared history that may not be considered significant enough for the history books.
Readers of “Auction Finds” seem to appreciate it, too. From time to time, I get emails from people who were trying to identify an item and found the answer in one of my blog posts. Sometimes, folks write because a post sparked a pleasant memory and they wanted to thank me for reminding them.
Today, I’d like to share some of those emails – and my responses to some of them – and the blog posts that spurred them.
Balky Mule water tray with African American motif
Reader’s comment:
I’ve been sitting here for a couple of hours trying to find out about the Balky Mule water tray which I inherited from my mother who died last year at 94. She said the tray came from a family friend in the late 30′s. It is nice to have the mystery of the date and maker cleared up. Thank you.
Background:
The Balky Mule blog post grew out of a question posed by a reader about a similar tray that she had bought at an estate sale. It showed an African American family trying to force its obstinate mule to cross the railroad tracks as a train raced toward them. The reader wanted to know more about it because it was driving her “a bit crazy.”
Reply from original reader:
Thank you so very much!!! I checked all the links you provided – what a wealth of information. I also now know what a Balking Mule is. A mule balks when asked to carry (forward or backward) too much weight, under stress. Thank you again for all your research.
Reader’s comment:
Hi Sherry, I’m so glad you posted your remarks here. I’ve had my doll since around 1954, I believe. I immediately named her Betty Anne, probably because I heard my grandmother calling my mother “Betty Anne” all the time! I’ve always loved her but never really looked up what kind of doll she was until today when I was cleaning her. Constance Bannister had an interesting connection to babies and it is very nice to know that my doll is related to her.
I particularly liked seeing your pictures of her light-colored skin. Mine has darkened through the years … oxidation probably, but also both my parents smoked. Also I still have the pink outfit you show her wearing in the pictures. I still have it, but didn’t know it originally belonged to her!
She was my favorite doll growing up, that is until Toodles came along. Then she became and still is my favorite baby doll.
My response:
She is a sweet little doll. I’m glad you still have her and enjoyed her. And I’m very glad I was able to give you some information about her and her maker. Constance Bannister seems to have been an amazing woman – a photographer, no less – at a time when it was tough for women.
Background:
A few months earlier, I had gotten an email from another reader pertaining to the doll:
Reader’s comment:
Hi Sherry. I read your posting with interest. I have a Bannister Baby — only mine was given to me one Christmas and I still have her, in perfect condition. She was a loved baby doll, well cared for, and is now on display in a basket in our guest room. Thank you for the nice reminder of the Bannister Baby and a happy Christmas for me many, many years ago.
Emails from relatives of authors, artists and places I’ve written about
“Turky Trott and the Black Santa (1942)” children’s book by Kate Gambold Dyer
Reader’s comment:
Kate Gambold Dyer was my great-grandmother and she won some award from the black community at the time. We all loved this book as children!
Camac bath house, Philadelphia
Reader’s comment:
I saw your blog. Unbelieveable! Camac Baths was owned by my wife’s family. Alexander Lucker was her grandfather. Arnold was her dad. Do you have any Camac items? Can you send me a copy of the picture of the sign? What auction house sold the sign? I am looking to buy old Camac items.
My response:
I responded by answering the question in a blog post with suggestions on how the reader might find other Camac items. I didn’t have any for sale.
Cream of Wheat illustrator Edward V. Brewer
Reader’s comment:
I have recently been doing some family tree research and wanted to learn more about artists I’m related to (Edward being my great, great, great uncle), and really enjoyed reading this! It’s a great feeling to know someone in your lineage was able to speak to people through paintings such as this and leave behind such a powerful, uplifting message.
My response:
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It was refreshing to find a Cream of Wheat ad with such a lovely image.
Hi. I enjoyed the story of your auction find and congratulate you on the acquisition. It turns out that Carlos was my grandfather’s first cousin and a frequent visitor to their home throughout his life. My mother remembers these visits well. She has an oil painting of kids playing in a school yard titled “Fox and Geese” that hung in their house and will pass to me next, some day.
Curling iron for man’s moustache
That is fascinating, I had no idea (there) was a thing!!
