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  LARGE AIRPLANE PROPELLER SECTION EMBEDDED WITH WEATHER STATION

  SKU: 14-406

  $995.00

  Today we introduce you to a large trench art piece. By definition, trench art was an art form wherein soldiers at the front (or recovering in a hospital from wounds) took discarded battlefield items such as shell casings, belt buckles, driving belts, and so on, then fashioned them into interesting and useful items prized by the folks on the home front. [Please note, not only soldiers near or at the front constructed these items. Some of the more complicated pieces were fashioned at home].
  This item certainly falls into the trench art category. It is especially noteworthy because it comes from the Imperial German Air Service. Trench art from this military discipline are VERY difficult-to-find. I have seen some propeller-based pieces over the years, but never anything so large. The smaller pieces have always been items that one could set on a desk, such as photograph frames, ink blotters, and etc. One would have to procure a giant’s desk to display this beauty!
  [Before I describe Mister “large-and-in-charge,” please allow me to digress with a description of a propeller’s construction]. Whenever one views an Imperial German Air Service propeller’s segment, one immediately is aware that it displays two different colors. The Germans took “slices” of wood and glued them together to make their propellers. These glued pieces often featured contrasting colors. I am not aware of any “technical” reason to use different-colored wood (or perhaps wood from a different kind of tree), it may just have been a matter of aesthetics. (I certainly am greatly-simplifying the manufacturing process, as a great deal of woodworking was involved in making all of a propeller’s pieces fit correctly into the end result). What makes this particular item so attractive and interesting is that it is large enough to comprehend the propeller’s scope. Sections of the propeller’s ends were removed (probably damaged), but one can still see the center’s hub. One can visualize how the complete propeller must have looked when mounted on an airplane. Propellers and landing gear were two of the most-damaged airplane parts, especially in the training schools. Student pilots frequently set their planes on their noses during landing. Since the propeller was still turning at a high rate of speed, its tips dug into the ground and broke].
  Our piece today measures a whopping 34″ in length and 9″ in width. As you look at its obverse, you can actually see the different shades of wood that were glued together. It is quite striking. The center hub section (where the propeller was mounted to the engine with several large bolts) has been mounted with a combination thermometer/weather station. It is circular. The station is no longer operative, and is only useful for decorative purposes. It once sported a glass cover over it, which also is no longer present. Its reverse displays a single, old, mounting device. It is NOT sufficient to safely mount the piece for display. The item’s new owner will need to create a more secure mounting device for displaying the propeller securely on a wall. Naturally, other methods of display are available without mounting it to a wall. It is a very handsome piece, the likes of which will NOT be displayed on every collector’s wall!
  [Due to its size and weight, additional charges will be incurred shipping it to your doorstep].

  Height: in
  Width: in
  Length: in

  Today we introduce you to a large trench art piece. By definition, trench art was an art form wherein soldiers at the front (or recovering in a hospital from wounds) took discarded battlefield items such as shell casings, belt buckles, driving belts, and so on, then fashioned them into interesting and useful items prized by the folks on the home front. [Please note, not only soldiers near or at the front constructed these items. Some of the more complicated pieces were fashioned at home].
  This item certainly falls into the trench art category. It is especially noteworthy because it comes from the Imperial German Air Service. Trench art from this military discipline are VERY difficult-to-find. I have seen some propeller-based pieces over the years, but never anything so large. The smaller pieces have always been items that one could set on a desk, such as photograph frames, ink blotters, and etc. One would have to procure a giant’s desk to display this beauty!
  [Before I describe Mister “large-and-in-charge,” please allow me to digress with a description of a propeller’s construction]. Whenever one views an Imperial German Air Service propeller’s segment, one immediately is aware that it displays two different colors. The Germans took “slices” of wood and glued them together to make their propellers. These glued pieces often featured contrasting colors. I am not aware of any “technical” reason to use different-colored wood (or perhaps wood from a different kind of tree), it may just have been a matter of aesthetics. (I certainly am greatly-simplifying the manufacturing process, as a great deal of woodworking was involved in making all of a propeller’s pieces fit correctly into the end result). What makes this particular item so attractive and interesting is that it is large enough to comprehend the propeller’s scope. Sections of the propeller’s ends were removed (probably damaged), but one can still see the center’s hub. One can visualize how the complete propeller must have looked when mounted on an airplane. Propellers and landing gear were two of the most-damaged airplane parts, especially in the training schools. Student pilots frequently set their planes on their noses during landing. Since the propeller was still turning at a high rate of speed, its tips dug into the ground and broke].
  Our piece today measures a whopping 34″ in length and 9″ in width. As you look at its obverse, you can actually see the different shades of wood that were glued together. It is quite striking. The center hub section (where the propeller was mounted to the engine with several large bolts) has been mounted with a combination thermometer/weather station. It is circular. The station is no longer operative, and is only useful for decorative purposes. It once sported a glass cover over it, which also is no longer present. Its reverse displays a single, old, mounting device. It is NOT sufficient to safely mount the piece for display. The item’s new owner will need to create a more secure mounting device for displaying the propeller securely on a wall. Naturally, other methods of display are available without mounting it to a wall. It is a very handsome piece, the likes of which will NOT be displayed on every collector’s wall!
  [Due to its size and weight, additional charges will be incurred shipping it to your doorstep].

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  JACK D. HUNTER – ORIGINAL PAINTING – FEATURING ONE ALBATROS D. Va AND ONE SE-5

  SKU: 16-392

  $1,495.00 $1,196.00

  JACK D. HUNTER – ORIGINAL PAINTING – FEATURING ONE ALBATROS D. Va AND ONE SE-5

  The late Jack D. Hunter was an amazing talent and a good friend. One of my favorite “Jack” stories occurred when his first book (The Blue Max) was being prepared for publication. As was standard for first-time authors, Jack was informed that his dust jacket would be rendered in black and white (artwork AND color were too expensive for a writer without a proven sales record). Jack, however, told the publisher that HE would provide the artwork if the dust jacket was published in color. The publisher printed 5,000 (a first-time author’s standard run) hardback copies, in color, as The Blue Max’s first edition. It became a top-seller as soon as it was published, then quickly was snapped up and turned into a major motion picture starring George Peppard, James Mason, and Ursula Andress. Jack went on to write seventeen books before his 2009 death. In addition, he became a talented aviation artist whose work resides in museums’ and enthusiasts’ art collections all over the world. Throughout his years as an artist, Jack produced paintings in two basic sizes. His more commonly-seen artwork was larger, measuring 13 ½” x 18 ½.” Occasionally, Jack also produced a smaller size that measured 9 3/8″ x 14 3/8.”

  Today we are offering one of his paintings in the smaller and more compact size. Its simple, elegant, black, molded frame measures 14 3/8″ x 19 3/8.” The painting’s subject is an encounter between an Albatros D. Va and a British SE-5. The Albatros is in the foreground and the SE-5 is in the background. The British plane is nosing down on his way to the ground. If you look carefully, you will note that some of the guy wires have become detached and the English bird is mortally wounded. In the lower left corner we see where Jack has signed the painting. The reverse features a hand printed note by Jack D. Hunter describing the painting’s action. The description ends with his signature. This beautiful painting would be outstanding in any collection.

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  JACK D. HUNTER – ORIGINAL PAINTING – FEATURING ONE ALBATROS D. Va AND ONE SE-5

  The late Jack D. Hunter was an amazing talent and a good friend. One of my favorite “Jack” stories occurred when his first book (The Blue Max) was being prepared for publication. As was standard for first-time authors, Jack was informed that his dust jacket would be rendered in black and white (artwork AND color were too expensive for a writer without a proven sales record). Jack, however, told the publisher that HE would provide the artwork if the dust jacket was published in color. The publisher printed 5,000 (a first-time author’s standard run) hardback copies, in color, as The Blue Max’s first edition. It became a top-seller as soon as it was published, then quickly was snapped up and turned into a major motion picture starring George Peppard, James Mason, and Ursula Andress. Jack went on to write seventeen books before his 2009 death. In addition, he became a talented aviation artist whose work resides in museums’ and enthusiasts’ art collections all over the world. Throughout his years as an artist, Jack produced paintings in two basic sizes. His more commonly-seen artwork was larger, measuring 13 ½” x 18 ½.” Occasionally, Jack also produced a smaller size that measured 9 3/8″ x 14 3/8.”

  Today we are offering one of his paintings in the smaller and more compact size. Its simple, elegant, black, molded frame measures 14 3/8″ x 19 3/8.” The painting’s subject is an encounter between an Albatros D. Va and a British SE-5. The Albatros is in the foreground and the SE-5 is in the background. The British plane is nosing down on his way to the ground. If you look carefully, you will note that some of the guy wires have become detached and the English bird is mortally wounded. In the lower left corner we see where Jack has signed the painting. The reverse features a hand printed note by Jack D. Hunter describing the painting’s action. The description ends with his signature. This beautiful painting would be outstanding in any collection.

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• 

  CHRISTMAS 1919 PLATE FROM KPM

  SKU: 14-428

  $395.00

  During WW I, the House of Hohenzollern’s royal porcelain firm KPM issued a number of patriotic plates, cups, etc. With the war’s end, KPM continued to issue Christmas plates and offer some of Germany’s finest china. [KPM, Meissen, and Rosenthal still do so today, as all three survived both WW I and WW II]. The plate measures 8″ in diameter. Its central theme is a pilot sitting on the edge of his airplane (a biplane). He is holding up a baby angel who is raising a hand in salute. A garland of laurel leaves is draped over the plane behind the baby. The plane’s side mentions Christmas (Weihnachten) 1919. [KPM and Berlin are also mentioned on the aircraft’s side]. A thin green trim band surrounds the scene, which is further encircled by another wider green band with red berries that hails the Christmas season. On the reverse we see all the correct marks for KPM. Two other sets of marks are a reference to the series of which this plate is a part. One of them indicates that the plate is number 50 of 86 plates in the series. This makes it a relatively rare plate!

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  During WW I, the House of Hohenzollern’s royal porcelain firm KPM issued a number of patriotic plates, cups, etc. With the war’s end, KPM continued to issue Christmas plates and offer some of Germany’s finest china. [KPM, Meissen, and Rosenthal still do so today, as all three survived both WW I and WW II]. The plate measures 8″ in diameter. Its central theme is a pilot sitting on the edge of his airplane (a biplane). He is holding up a baby angel who is raising a hand in salute. A garland of laurel leaves is draped over the plane behind the baby. The plane’s side mentions Christmas (Weihnachten) 1919. [KPM and Berlin are also mentioned on the aircraft’s side]. A thin green trim band surrounds the scene, which is further encircled by another wider green band with red berries that hails the Christmas season. On the reverse we see all the correct marks for KPM. Two other sets of marks are a reference to the series of which this plate is a part. One of them indicates that the plate is number 50 of 86 plates in the series. This makes it a relatively rare plate!

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