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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: marcylove on October 22, 2010, 11:25:54 pm

Title: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 22, 2010, 11:25:54 pm
I went back to FIL's house today got some really cool pictures of some real interesting stuff.

This has only been described to me as a 'poison pot'.  Where hunters (?) would keep their poison, and dip their arrowheads in it... ???

There are no identifying marks, it is very heavy.  at first glance it looks like stone, but the bottom was buffed to a shine.  not sure what kind of metal it would be.  There are etchings in the bottom that I can only guess my FIL made.

I'm not even sure where to start looking for this one... :P
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: hosman321 on October 22, 2010, 11:58:48 pm
Now that is pretty darn cool. :)
While I can't offer too much insight, it does appear to be solid brass or bronze from the pictures. What does the etching on the bottom say? Did your father in law put that when he bought it or was it already there? I can make out "1963."
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 23, 2010, 12:21:16 am
i don't know exactly when, but the kids did grow up with it around, so at least 30, 40 years... it's just a bunch of numbers...it almost looks like a ssn..
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: Oceans64 on October 23, 2010, 08:19:05 am
Was your FIL from NY?  
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 23, 2010, 09:32:44 am
Interesting! My first reaction was that it reminded me of a lead smelting pot, but it is far too ornate and there is no evidence of it ever having been put over heat from what I can see. It doesn't look like something that would be sold to tourists by a reservation either. I wonder if it could be from the 1880's to 1900's period when Buffallo Bill's show was all the rage? Very interesting piece, this will be a good thread to follow.
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: KC on October 23, 2010, 01:18:19 pm
How interesting....the pic of the bottom with all the markings disappeared!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: Oceans64 on October 23, 2010, 01:22:36 pm
I hope no one's worried about the SS Info I posted...  That's public domain, easily accesable, and absolutely NOTHING you can do with it (like get a credit card)... I'll delete if someone's worried...
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: wendy177 on October 23, 2010, 01:46:44 pm
That is odd KC !!! 
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 23, 2010, 01:55:16 pm
sorry guys, had to take it off it was my FIL ssn, and hubby wanted it down...SO I'm just posting part of it.
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: KC on October 23, 2010, 01:56:18 pm
You're right on on that Oceans64.  No problem on that.  We have many items that show up with SSN's.

60's through 80's  they encouraged you to engrave items with your SSN's in case of theft.  Now that isn't encouraged....
It helps you identify time lines tho!


Your FIL is named Hazel?  
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: Oceans64 on October 23, 2010, 02:05:20 pm
I took down my info too...  Let hubby know (so he doesn't worry) that soon it will be out there BUT there is no way anyone can use it.  As soon as you let SS know they flag it and update their database. Within months/weeks it is available to the public... 
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: wendy177 on October 23, 2010, 02:19:15 pm
very very interesting KC................. .....  8)
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 23, 2010, 02:26:49 pm
haha  no it wasn't Hazel  :D  That's interesting, he did ingrave 1968 so that is probably when he got it. 
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: CuriousCollector on October 23, 2010, 03:35:15 pm
Yes, I remember my Dad engraving anything that would stand still with his SSN.  We even put them on our checks!

Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 26, 2010, 06:56:02 pm
soooooooooo...went back to the house and re-examined the pot and I found an inscription.  I can't believe I missed it before  :P

Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 26, 2010, 06:57:35 pm
I spent two hours researching this thing last night...looking up anything from 'blowing face' to 'dreadlock societies'  hopefully with the inscription, i'll find something better!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 26, 2010, 07:04:28 pm
I FOUND it!!!

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/gurschner-bronze-sculpture-geronimo-art-noveau
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: waywardangler on October 26, 2010, 07:32:06 pm
OMG!  Way to go.  I hope what the say is correct but that is just what someone wrote in their eBay description so I would search for a second opinion.  I wonder what it sold for?
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 26, 2010, 07:56:42 pm
I know...if anyone subscribes to worthpoint...let me know!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: waywardangler on October 26, 2010, 08:13:02 pm
http://www.duesseldorfer-auktionshaus.planetactive.com/ge/recent_catalogues.php?catNum=1482&currentItem=100&recent_catalogue=2006/2
#961 is your pot...  961    E 600 (600 euro?)
  Gurschner, Gustav 1873 Mühldorf - 1971 Wien
Schale mit seitlichen Kopfansätzen. Bronze. Signiert u. bez.: Vienne. H 9 cm  
Google translation...
 Gurschner, Mühldorf Gustav 1873 - 1971 Vienna
Schale mit seitlichen Kopfansätzen. Shell with lateral head approaches. Bronze. Bronze. Signiert u. bez.: Vienne. Signed and bez. Vienne. H 9 cm H 9 cm

600 euro is about $831.48 US/524.89 British pounds sterling now but it was a 2006 auction price.     
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: ironlord1963 on October 26, 2010, 08:23:19 pm
Wow way to go Marcylove,
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: sapphire on October 26, 2010, 08:38:10 pm
WOW!! Just WOW !!!  :o
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 26, 2010, 09:44:54 pm
Another good score! Woohoo! Way to go Antiques Amigos!!

...I'm...I'm...having a 'Roadshow Moment! *dabs eyes* sniff!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 26, 2010, 10:20:54 pm
Yeah, I think it's actually going to stay in the family.  Very sentimental to all the kids... We'll see!  Thanks guys!

Marcy  ;D
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 12:05:31 am
Looks like 'Gurschner Vienna' ... Gurschner was a very accomplished worker in bronze, and fetches quite a bit at auction ... but don't get too excited yet!!!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: regularjoe2 on October 27, 2010, 12:21:49 am
Good one , wayward !
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: KC on October 27, 2010, 01:17:35 am
Great research!!!!!!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: waywardangler on October 27, 2010, 01:17:48 am
More on Gurschner...A sculptor, medal-maker and applied art designer, Gustav Gurschner studied at the FachS für Holzbildhauerei (Vocational School of Carving) in Bozen before moving to Vienna in 1888. He went to the KGS college in Vienna in 1894, later also studying in Munich and Paris. Gurschner was a founder member of the Secession and Hagenbund associations in Vienna, and for several years headed the Vienna State Bronze Foundry (Kunsterzgießerei). He started his career with portraiture but soon dedicated himself to small figurative sculptures cast in bronze, employing the same material with utility objects. Gurschner worked for a wide range of prestigious clients, including Emperor Francis Joseph I, for whom he produced large numbers of medals, sculptures, honorary awards, prizes and monuments. From http://www.moravska-galerie.cz/igalerie/output/en_author000312_1.html

Marcylove, I looked at alot of Gurschner objects but this "pot" only shows up in that Worthpoint reference and that auction in Germany in 2006.  Quite a scarce piece.  I doubt the description in the Worthpoint reference is accurate.  Probably a made-up story to elevate the object for increased $ from eBay bidders.  I do not believe the added SSN engraving on the bottom adds to the value but do not know if it detracts much either due to its' location.

I would not clean off the patination or buff any more of it.  Losing the patina would be like throwing money out the window.

Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: mariok54 on October 27, 2010, 02:05:36 am
Sorry if my post looked a little odd  .. but there seems to have been a bit of a time warp ...

ps

Brilliant!!
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on October 27, 2010, 10:12:27 am
Thanks for everyone's posts!  Yes I was reading that some replictions of his work had been made (don't know which ones), cast from the same mold...so I don't know if that decreases the value or not...but like I said, I think it's sticking around!

This forum is great!  Thanks for everyone's help!!!!!   ;D
Title: Re: poison pot?
Post by: marcylove on November 11, 2010, 10:34:31 pm
Hubby came home last night with this!  The kids are deciding what they want and this came into our house!   ;D ;D ;D