Posted 13 years ago
aabigdogdad1
(5 items)
I recently acquired this sign from an estate sale. The sign has written on it Doctor Samuel Whitecell Surgeon & Pysician, EST. 1801 Herbal Remedies it measures 24 inches wide and 20 inches high. The wife of the doctor who collected this sign said it was from England so I was hoping someone could tell me more about this wonderful piece of folk art. I you look at the back this sign is not from a novelty shop it's very old.
Why did you delte mine and Oilman's comments? Not the answer you wanted to hear?
Here are my thoughts...gut reaction - it's a fantasy item. I looked around on line and found this...
http://reviews.ebay.com/Antique-and-Vintage-Signs-Is-it-a-Find-or-a-Fake_W0QQugidZ10000000001628751
Then I looked at the sign again... The sign is supposed to be over 200 years old. REALLY ? You know that the copper would not look like that after 200 years. Heck the pipes under my house look worse than that and they only go back to 1986! If you were a surgeon and a Physician would you pay for a sign that didn't spell pysician correctly ?...and no, that isn't the English spelling. It very well may have come from England, just not 200 years ago.
You might also research the hack saw and the ice tongs to see how old they are.
Hey, we have all been burned. The seller may have believed it to be real. If you enjoy it then you win. Good luck with your research.
Look its a nice peice of folk art. I never said it was 200 years old I just wrote what the sign had written on it, just in case the people who thought it was nice folk art couldn't read it. You know old could mean 25, 50, or even 75 years ago but it is not a novelty peice found at a five and dime store. Most of the things I bought from this estate were made in England and they all had England Engraved or stampings on them. So if you don't like it thats your prerogative. Me I love it and had several offers on it go figure.
Looks like we're both hearing things that aren't being said. While you didn't actually "say" it was 200 years old, I did think you were presenting it as such. So, I stand corrected. Conversly, I did not say that I didn't like it.
When you list it as "unsolved mystery" you invite opinions of others. This is mine. I have no desire to denigrate your item. You seem concerned that it might be mistaken for a dime store item. On the contrary...see the listed site
http://www.asimplertime.com/gifts/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_name=Three%2DDimensional+Signs&dept_id=1002&WT.svl=deptnav2
As you can see, these can be pricey. If you wish to believe it is folk art, that's fine. I believe it is commercially made to do just what it has done...capture your imagination and make you want to buy it! and no, it is not suprising that you have had offers, a lot of people like these signs. That is why there are so many companies making them!
Soooo, no harm, no foul...show us some more stuff you got from this estate...
Show more, but don't ask for opinions unless you are ready to take the good along with the bad. We have all made mistakes, had questionable items, or bought a prince that turned out to be a frog.
Here, you will get answers, and if not, you will get leads to continue your search for information.
Deleting comments that don't tell you what you want to hear will only get you ignored.
Deleting the answers you don't like just gets you a lot of people that will ignore your posts.
That's cool and When I can I will post me items. LOVE and PEACE
Agree with savoy-- believe it is a fantasy item.
I don't think it is very old either.
It does have a nice look to it.
I also have to agree with Savoy. I sold these in my store in the mid 1990's. They were imported from the Phillipines. The aging was incredible. I clearly marked them reproductions. The same company that sold these made victorian doll buggys, horse tricycles, victorian birdcages, signs ect. I have seen these sell at many auctions and flea markets being represented as original antiques. I also agree with Esther110, the whole purpose of this site is to share and learn.