Curiosities

WWI Copper Flask in Original Bespoke Leather Carrying Case [Super Condition] – Captain McCracken

Captain Kenneth Mills McCracken was a member of the Royal Field Artillery attached to the Royal Flying Corps. His service record covered the entire of WWI 1914-1918 so likely one of the few that survived his dangerous role.

Born in 1895 and from Newcastle-Upon Tyne he was a medical student at Edinburgh University when World War One broke out.

The Royal Flying Corp was the air arm of the British Army at the start of the war and it was not until 1918 that it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force.

McCracken’s record shows that he was skilled in artillery observation; so, he was likely an aerial observer or photographer. At the beginning of the war their photographic efforts were very primitive almost hopeless until 1915. By 1918 they could make decent images from 15,000 feet and had a team of 3,000 people analysing the results. The Royal Flying Corp didn’t get into aerial combat until the later part of the war.

The item is in great condition. The full leather casing is 25cm by 10cm, stitching perfect – nicely embossed with McCracken’s details. The copper thermos has a ding but is a solid actually useable item. The screw on top is undamaged and goes on and off easily.

Special WWI Item in great condition with interesting provenance

$290.00

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Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure – Rare “Hare Bowl” – 1822

Qing Dynasty decorated bowl recovered by Mike Hatcher from the Tek Sing shipwreck. A special example.

In our view one of the more interesting Tek sing bowls with the rather cute Hare image to centre. Large and deep by comparison with others – 16.2cm by 5.8cm deep. The decorative rim with three panels of scrolls or net-like design. Chrysanthemum design and bamboo leaves underneath. and bamboo. Very good condition given its 200 plus years and most of that time underwater. Retains the Nagel auction and catalogue stickers underneath for provenance.

Price $290.00
A Tek Sing special – Nice strong and uncommon Hare decoration.
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The Tek Sing Shipwreck – Background

The Tek Sing (Chinese for “Bright Star”’) was a large Chinese Junk which sank in 1822 in the South China Sea at the Belvidere Shoals. She was 50 meters long, 10 metres wide and weighed a thousand tons. Manned by a crew of 200. The great loss of life has led to the Tek Sing being referred to as the “Titanic of the East”.

Sailing from the port of Amoy (now Xiamen), the Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, with a cargo of porcelain goods and 1,600 Chinese immigrants. After a month of sailing, Captain Lo Tauko took a shortcut through the Gaspar Straits and ran aground on a reef and sank in 100 feet of water.

The next morning and English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl sailing from Indonesia to Borneo passed through the Gaspar Straits. He found debris from the sunken Chinese vessel and survivors. They managed to rescue 190 people.

In 1999, marine salvor Mike Hatcher discovered the wreck. His crew raised what has been described as the largest cache of Chinese porcelain ever recovered. It was auctioned by Nagle in Stuttgart, Germany the following year

$290.00

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The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Rev James Robertson was the Presbyterian Minister in the little village of Thropton Northumberland, England. This lengthy and strangely interesting sermon was published as a pamphlet by Elder of Edinburgh and others in 1800. Octavo, 35 pages, here nicely presented in a modern protective binding. Very clean for its age and well printed. Impossible to find another one we believe.

England was at war with France … the Minister has little respect for the enemy and for others that displeased higher ruling.

His concluding comment from Isiah and Psalm 69 are pertinent to now … “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us. He will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah, the posterity of his saints shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein”

Maybe some in power around the World just need to think this through.

A Sermon with a strong message – Unique 1800

$80.00

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Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

A nice set of bookends from Aronson (formerly Art Metal Works) of the USA.

In the black enamelled form. A little age and authentic pair. Carries the maker’s original label.

As with our multi coloured pair [see separate listing] these bookends are not large things and we coin them “bedroom bookends” …. weighing 980gm the set.

Deco Bookends by Ronson

SO SORRY SOLD

$180.00

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Strawbale Homebuilding – Alan Gray.

An “Earth Garden Magazine Publication” i.e. self published by Alan Gray of PO Box 2, Trentham, Victoria – love it!.

The title more or less explains all. Octavo, perfect bound, 156 pages with numerous illustrations from original photographs of the magnificent constructions. This method may have gone out of fashion with the move towards stainless steel, glass and posh bathrooms.

Time for a resurgence we would say – the economy monetary and environmental should be promoted by Governments and all of their cascading authorities.

Every public servant should be made to build one – sorry if you live off the purse.

More money and delight can be made from this book over any other

$25.00

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Art Deco Howdah Elephant Bookends – Aronson 1923

A nice collectable pair of art deco howdah elephant bookends in the rare multi-coloured finish by Aronson (formerly Art Metal Works) and then later the Ronson Company – USA 1923

These are small bookends for small books or decorative effect on the bookshelf in the library or the bedroom – one of our regular customer’s coined the phrase bedroom bookends and we got it.

Good condition with some bright colouring albeit with some age here and there, likely from over cleaning – always wipe elephants gently.

Art Deco era bookends for the bedroom – something showy and different

$280.00

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WWI Copper Flask in Original Bespoke Leather Carrying Case [Super Condition] – Captain McCracken

Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure – Rare “Hare Bowl” – 1822

The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

Strawbale Homebuilding – Alan Gray.

Art Deco Howdah Elephant Bookends – Aronson 1923

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