Hello everyone,
I recently purchased this French historical document from an antiques dealer in France for €400.
The document appears to be a royal military commission from the reign of Louis XVI. It mentions the Corps-royal d’infanterie de la Marine and the Duke of Penthièvre, Admiral of France. It also appears to be dated at Versailles.
At the bottom, there is a handwritten “Louis” signature underneath the words “Par le Roy”.
The antiques dealer told me that the document is authentic and that the signature is genuine. However, when I compare the “L” with known signatures of Louis XVI, it doesn’t seem quite the same to me.
Could anyone here help me determine:
Whether this appears to be an authentic 18th-century royal document?
Whether the “Louis” signature could actually have been written by Louis XVI himself, or whether it is more likely a secretary’s signature?
If possible, can anyone identify the exact date and the officer to whom this commission was issued?
Does anyone know what a document like this would typically be worth?
I am particularly interested in opinions from people familiar with French royal documents, Louis XVI autographs, or 18th-century military commissions.
Thank you very much!

Hi! I found this at my boyfriend’s neighbor’s estate sale today and I am trying to find information on it. I’m a dental assistant so I thought this was super cool.

The guy that passed was a dentist. this box was wrapped in masking tape with “my baby” written on it. In looking for more information like an age range or really just any info, all I’ve been able to find is an ebay listing for dental burs from George Popper made in Palestine pre 1948. So I’m led to believe these are one of his kids’ teeth and he put them in an old supply box he had? any info would be cool (: thanks

I recently bought this Norwegian skuvseng, a traditional farmhouse bed that extends in width, and would appreciate some input from those familiar with (Norwegian) antique furniture.

The bed has a blue-painted exterior, carved end panels and a wooden plank base. It measures 182 cm in length and extends from 79 to 134 cm in width. The front bears the inscription “Ole og Engri Olsdatter Hamre 1818”. It was purchased from Norwegian antiques dealer Kaare Berntsen approximately 37 years ago.

I’ve been researching Norwegian parish records to identify the people mentioned. Hamre appears as a farm name in both Gudbrandsdalen and Western Norway around 1800. My suspicion is Gudbrandsdalen, based partly on the bed’s appearance, but I haven’t been able to confirm this. Earlier parish records have also proven difficult to navigate.

Any info welcomed :) be nice

I have found this Christofle spork in a flea market and couldn’t find it anywhere on the internet. I have taken some hallmark pics but I can barely see what it is written (perhaps 80) - I am not sure if these are silver plated or not and if they are should I clean them?
Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

Found this at an estate sale near Nashville, Tennessee. It was marked at $3k on day 1, now $2200 on day 2 (today). the previous owner had a general store and this was his hardware cabinet. There are still screws, staples and other odds and ends in the drawers.
It has roughly 140 drawers and comes apart into six sections, plus the top. The seller didn’t know the maker or age and thought it might be pine? The drawers all open cleanly except for one. I haven’t measured it.
Has anyone come across one like this or know what it might be worth? I’d love to figure out roughly when it was made and what wood it is. Online asking prices seem all over the place.

I recently picked up this unusual cast-metal Christ figure at an estate sale in North Carolina.
It measures approximately 9 inches tall, weighs 0.5 lbs (8 oz), and is completely nonmagnetic.
The figure depicts Jesus wearing a large crown with his arms extended outward. The back is hollow, with mounting holes in both hands and the feet. There’s also a marking on the back that appears to read “NM 55.”
It was displayed alongside several other religious metal pieces and an ornate key, suspended on a frame above the front door.
From my research, the design resembles medieval Romanesque depictions of Christ Triumphant, but I have no idea whether this is genuinely old or a later reproduction.
Does anyone recognize the style, maker’s mark, or manufacturing technique? I’m particularly interested in its approximate age, origin, and possible value.
Any insight would be appreciated!

A selection of Belleek pieces I have collected. I can't decide which one I like the most 🤔

1800's California gold rush Corkscrew.

Hey, is the lack of definition on these motifs a good indicator that this is genuinely an antique bronze mirror? Do you ever get really convincing reproductions? I’m so nervous about buying fakes.
My next step will be to research the symbols to try and determine time period! If you have any great resources at hand I would really appreciate to see them.

Can anyone read the monograms on these antique spoons? Two different kinds of spoons and I took pictures from both directions because I'm not sure which way it is supposed to be read. Both sets are dated to around 1908.

This was found while cleaning out an old family house. I believe it belonged to a relative who possibly bought it from a museum or exhibition prior to 1920.

The bowl is about a foot long and has four legs. There is an animal head at either end. The animals could be cats, dogs, lizards, or something else, but the spots make me think of a jaguar or leopard.

I guess they might be pumas, but so far this object has not summoned an Aztec guy to give me a belt that lets me fly.

There are no markings on the bottom.

One side was apparently broken at some point and glued back together, but I do not know when that occurred.

Any ideas on where this came from? It could be some pre-Columbian pottery. The original owner lived in Cuba and Panama, so it's possible it was made in Central America.

Hi! I’m moving into a home and there are some really good Lenox China pieces. They were made at the Lenox China factory in Pomona, NJ. Are there any LEGITIMATE collectors out there? If so, point me in the right direction!!

TIA

Can anyone identify the maker? I have photographed all aspects of the pot. The maker and patent dates are there but I cannot make out the maker.

Hi hello! I recently acquired two beautiful antique garments and am truthfully having a hell of a time dating them. I understand that styles changed pretty much every year during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Any thoughts/help dating these and approximating fabric type or sewing techniques would be greatly appreciated! This is just too far out of my typical wheelhouse. Also if anyone has good resource recommendations for dating antique clothing please feel free to share them. I’m here to learn!

I recently acquired this decorative ceramic plate and would appreciate help identifying its origin, age and manufacturing technique.
It measures approximately 23 cm in diameter.
The front has a highly reflective silver surface — clear enough to see my face in — with intricate white floral decoration. The surface feels completely smooth, including the decoration.
The reverse is plain white glazed ceramic with no visible manufacturer’s mark.
I’ve been investigating whether it might be English silver resist-lustre pottery, possibly nineteenth-century, but haven’t found an exact match.
Does anyone recognise the decoration or know whether this is genuine silver resist-lustre pottery or a later technique?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone happen to know more about this?

*I found a very similar item on a site. Same general pattern and surrounding print. Said it was from South Dakota. Just curious about it. Thanks.