Author Topic: Unusual page Turner  (Read 2102 times)

wilhenri

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Unusual page Turner
« on: October 21, 2014, 09:13:19 am »
I have just dug this out of the loft to share with you lot. Its obviously a page turner made of some sort of fruit wood except I think the head is stained ivory. The head is cold to the touch and a hot pin had no effect. The detail in the carving is very good even to the buttons on the back of the coat.the end is simply rounded but I missed it off the photo. I wonder about its origin whether its from the UK or maybe the USA and ofcourse its potential value. It came from a charity shop many years ago so I don't reckon I paid very much for it. Any ideas welcome. :)
« Last Edit: October 21, 2014, 09:24:47 am by wilhenri »
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mart

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2014, 12:45:31 pm »
Very nicely done isn`t it ??  Just curious but isn`t it a bit bulky for a page turner ??  They usually have very thin fine blades !!

KC

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2014, 10:23:11 pm »
Beautiful piece!  What in the world are the dimensions of this piece?
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

wilhenri

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2014, 02:56:28 am »
Hope this helps it could be a letter opener though the " Blade " is a bit too broad it also may have been cut down but it does not look like it. 14 inches overall in length.
Live as if you are to die tomorrow and learn as if you are to live forever
Mahatma Gandhi

wilhenri

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2014, 02:56:44 am »
Hope this helps the overall length is 14 inches....It is possible that its been cut down but it does not look like it also the blade is too broad for a letter opener. The head is most definitely a harder material and is separately done as it moves a very small amount suggesting it is glued into the body..
« Last Edit: October 22, 2014, 02:58:58 am by wilhenri »
Live as if you are to die tomorrow and learn as if you are to live forever
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KC

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2014, 01:43:21 pm »
I have actually seen some with the thicker blades such as yours over the years.  They were for use during the 1800's when it was a status symbol to have a dictionary/dictionary stand in your home.  (Such as one shown below)  We actually have the one passed down through my husband's family over the years like it!

http://www.rubylane.com/item/641715-487/Antique-Victorian-Book-Stand-Dated-1895


I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

wilhenri

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2014, 06:24:15 am »
Now that is a fine quality piece..... :)
Live as if you are to die tomorrow and learn as if you are to live forever
Mahatma Gandhi

mart

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2014, 05:54:55 pm »
That view looks much more correct !!  It looked very thick from the side view !!  I have looked at many page turners but haven`t seen one similar to this one yet !!

KC

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2014, 08:16:09 pm »
Would you say that he resembles a Monk?  So this could be for a religious volume or large family bible?

We have the large family bible passed down through the years on our stand.  But the page turner/marker got lost/broken? through the years before it came into our hands.
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

wilhenri

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Re: Unusual page Turner
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2014, 01:34:02 am »
No don't reckon on it being a monk try a close up of the face....
Live as if you are to die tomorrow and learn as if you are to live forever
Mahatma Gandhi