Fire Fighting Collectibles
Various Owners
Contact David Hillier at drh@aaawt.com or Lynn Morin at lfm@aaawt.com for details.
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Silver Cap Badge
Eureka Hose 3
"Hudson"
With cotter pin mounts on reverse, in a Maltese cross shape, and marked "EUREKA / HO /3/ SE / HUDSON" on the obverse (Eureka and Hudson are sans serif).
Condition: excellent.
Dimensions: 1.5 by 1.5-inches.
Price: $265
400-28
A Fine And Rare Watercolor
Volunteer Fireman...in parade uniform
Philadelphia
Circa: Late 1840's
This scarcely encountered format depicting a young firefighter in his parade best parade uniform holding a trumpet containing flowers signifying that the trumpet was presented. (Dimensions: 13.75 x 17.75 inches framed; view area: 5.5 x 9.5 inches.)
Price: $12,750
505-26
No. 13 Eagle
Eagle Engine Company
New York City.
Oil On Board
First Half 19th Century
Signed, I. Tice
"In 1830" writes Mr. Zophar Mills, "the company was mostly Quakers of the highest respectability. They were generally merchants and merchants clerks. They had their new engine-the first one in this city that was silver plated, and probably the only one in this country whose brass work was silver plated. The engine was painted black, gold striped, highly polished. She was the most elegant engine ever seen in those days, and all this expense of decoration was paid for by the company and their friends."1
The picture is painted on pine and remains in original condition; having minor losses and never cleaned as depicted. (15.25 by 11.25 inches.)
1 Our Fireman The History Of The New York Fire Departments From 1609 To 1887 by Augustine Costello, page 589.
Price: $11,500
339-4
Outstanding Oil On Panel
Eagle Engine Company
New York City.
Oil On Board
First Half 19th Century
"In 1830" writes Mr. Zophar Mills, "the company was mostly Quakers of the highest respectability. They were generally merchants and merchants clerks. They had their new engine-the first one in this city that was silver plated, and probably the only one in this country whose brass work was silver plated. The engine was painted black, gold striped, highly polished. She was the most elegant engine ever seen in those days, and all this expense of decoration was paid for by the company and their friends."1
The picture is painted on clear white-wood; panel is chamfered on all sides. Extremely minor re-touch otherwise superb in all aspects. Frame: 23 by 19.5 inches; View: 17.75 by 14 inches.
1 Our Fireman The History Of The New York Fire Departments From 1609 To 1887 by Augustine Costello, page 589.
Price: $25,000
339-5
Watercolor
Fairy Hose Cart-5
E.J. Lines Foreman
Signed...Henry C. Curtis
27 Congress Avenue
A scene depicting an early hose cart with fireman in parade hat.
The work is mounted in a period painted frame and as depicted has stains.
Frame: 19.75 by 16 inches; View: 15.5 by 11.5 inches.
Price: $11,500
339-3
Jacob G. Bauman (Active circa 1870)
Firehouse Memorial Picture-Tribute to Firefighters
Signed on lower right: J.G. Baumann, Artist
Detroit, Michigan, Circa 1870
Features an eagle perched atop the stars and stripes shield with a banner reading “Liberty and Prosperity” above the heat and fiery light of a conflagration...and a firefighter rescuing a child
Oil on canvas
Little is known of the life and work of Jacob Baumann, Arthur Hopkin Gibson, in Artists of Early Michigan, A Biographical Dictionary of Artists Native to or Active In Michigan 1701-1900 (Detroit, Michigan, 1975) page 47, offers only scant information: Jacob Baumann was an amateur artist working in Detroit, who studied at the German-American Seminary in Detroit during the year 1875. His only other known work, depicting the old Tollgate at Gratoit and Mack Streets in Detroit is known from a photocopy in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library, mentioned in the Detroit News, July 26, 1925, The Metropolitan Section, Page 5.
This unusual painting commemorates the life of a heroic firefighter...The central design-composed of a flag, helmet, floral wreath and accouterments-appears to be painted from life. Other vignettes include a steam engine, a firefighter rescuing a child, and a stack of firefighter’s equipment including a coiled hose, hook, trumpet, leather belt labeled Red Jacket”; helmet with badge also labeled “Red Jacket” along with “4” and “J.P.”, the American flag, and a bouquet of flowers. The two vignettes of firefighting activity were probably inspired by the popular series of lithographs by Currier and Ives from the 1850s and early 1860s entitles “The Life Of A Fireman.”
Literature: American Expressions of Liberty (Mingei International Museum, 1996) and will appear in American Visions of Freedom and Liberty (Virginia Historical Society.) Also, The Billy Pearson Collection of American Folk Art, by David A. Schorsch.
The picture, mounted in a custom frame has been relined and there is minor in-painting. (29-inch x 35-inch view area; overall: 35-inch x 41-inches.)
Price: $43,000
232-53
FIREFIGHTING
Extremely Rare Presentation Trumpet
Cranberry cut to clear...
19th Century
Probably presented to an honored fire chief upon retirement. A cranberry and leaf motif within cross-banded grid. Published, page 234 of Hot Stuff-Firefighting Collectibles by Andrew G. Gurka. (Height: 16-inches.)
Price: $21,500
505-27
Franklin Fire Society-Charlestown-Protection in Danger
Probably owned by Albert Tufts, Charlestown, Massachusetts
Fire Bucket
Washington Cenotaph
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Circa 1800
Fire buckets such as the depicted having identified historic motifs are scarcely encountered. This example, a leather bucket decorated and identified with "Franklin Fire Society-Charlestown-Protection in Danger", with owners name below...( rt) Tufts; only the last two letters of the first name are visible due to surface losses. Charlestown is painted along the vertical seam on the back. The central device is a large cenotaph or memorial urn with initial "W". This urn motif was used on a variety of medals, ceramics, prints and textiles circa 1800 in the months following Washington's death. The paint is 90% intact, all decoration and lettering is original; minor touch-up to small area on the reverse. The handle is period but may be a replacement; detached at one "D" ring with the other ring being a replacement...easily repaired by or leather restorer or yours. Our supposition is that the bucket was owned by Albert Tufts who was born 17 August, 1804; son of Hutchinson Jr. and Mary Locke Tufts.
Price: $9,500
232-88
Pair of Painted Leather Fire Buckets
From Brighton, ME
The buckets are marked "KAVANAUGH / Relief / 1803" in black letters in a blue oval surrounded by a laurel wreath, tied with a pink ribbon. The buckets themselves are painted green. Very good condition. Both buckets measure 12.5-inches in height.
Price: $8,000
348-19
Unique Large Wood Presentation Fire Trumpet
Wilmington, Delaware to Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Association
Circa 1879
This unique wood presentation fire trumpet is approximately 55-inches long. It has an inscription painted in black letters with red and gilt highlights that reads “Presented to / Washington S.F.E.H. & L. Co. No. 7 / Of Wilmington Del. By / The Secret Eight Of / Washington H, & S, F, E, Co, No, 1 Of / Conshohocken PA. / Dec, 24, 1879.” The mouthpiece is detachable and there are two movable rings with black tasseled rope attached. We are awaiting what the consignor states “is a considerable amount of paperwork” that will accompany the piece.
Price: $16,000
232-57
Woven Wool Firefighter Parade Belt
"Independent 1"
Woven white wool fireman's parade belt with red trim; stenciled in black "INDEPENDENT" and "1" on the slide; closes with two hidden brown leather belts and buckles; mothing, sewn repairs, and dark staining.
Price: $165
110-281
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