Auction details
5:00 AM PT - Oct 3rd, 2009
|
Rock Island System Railroad, Reverse Glass and Mother of Pearl inlaid sign. Train in foreground with Cows and Cowboy on Horse. Pikes Peak in the background. In the late 1800's one of the veteran train car makers for Rock Island Railroad, Mr. Andrea T. Gavell, developed a technique for working on the glass faces of a number of clocks which were later put in the executive offices. As an outgrowth of his artistry, he produced some small three-quarter view pictures of a train located near La Salle, Illinois. Shortly after the turn of the century, due to quite a demand for the mother-of-pearl inlays, the company obtained bids on a commercial basis and the Western Sand Blasting Company in Chicago was awarded a contract to produce 50 signs over a period of two years for $50.00 each. The signs were painted by hand using a black and white photo taken by the Detroit Photographic Co. and copyrighted in 1900. Only a few of these beautiful signs still exist today. This one is in Excellent Condition with original frame. 100 1/2 inches X 27 inches including the original frame.
ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images:
View Showtime Auction Services next auction.Similar lots up for auction |
6686348
