A limited edition authorized exact reproduction of Russell W. Porter's 1923 telescope, made by The Telescopes of Vermont. In 1923, Vermont artist, Arctic explorer, and amateur astronomer Russell W. Porter created an Art Nouveau style telescope intended to serve as both garden ornament and functional scientific instrument. Cast in bronze, the reflecting telescope was adorned with sculpted lotus petals and curving leaves. The optics were disguised in overlapping bronze leaves, while the motion controls were hidden in a pair of cylindrical flowers. Porter created fewer than 100 of his garden telescopes, according to the Smithsonian, which holds one of these devices in its collection at the National Museum of American History. The rarity of these telescopes was partly due to their cost of around $500, beyond the means of most Jazz Age stargazers. Russell W. Porter's telescope would be a model for the design of the 200 inch Hale telescope in San Diego. Russell Porter was the father of amateur astronomy in the United States, the founder of the Springfield Telescope Makers, an Arctic explorer and navigator, a painter of exquisite Inuit portraits, and an instructor of architecture at MIT. When British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore saw the telescope, he dubbed her “Capella”, after one of the brightest stars, always visible in the Northern hemisphere. To read more about the company The Telescopes of Vermont and its journey to recreate this telescope, please go to: http://gardentelescopes.com/our-story.html. Serial numbered and limited to two hundred, the Garden Telescope is an heirloom imbued with craftsmanship and the cachet of rarity. Four hundred hours of work are lavished on each instrument. A milestone acquisition for the art collector, garden lover, astronomy buff and/or aficionado of fine design and craftsmanship, it will spark conversations and delight those who encounter it. A six inch mirror and eyepieces of 50 and 75 power deliver the moon, Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn with great detail. Currently there are only twenty in the world. The telescope, pedestal and optics case (made by a maker of cases for fine English and Belgian shotguns) comprise the kit. Tech specs: 6" f4 mirror, with 75 and 50 power eyepieces. The Telescope, with its pedestal, is 66" tall, and weighs 110 lbs. This telescope was purchased several years ago for $75,000 and is now selling for upwards of $125,000. Excellent condition. Just in from a CT estate.

RARE antique American Victorian walnut marble top dresser c1865-85, attributed to Thomas Brooks, NY. Solid black walnut with burl walnut accent veneers. Excellent original condition including the inset marble. Very unusual design, in the Eastlake taste. Measures 90 inches high, 54 inches wide, and 24 inches deep. Large plate glass mirror mounted in elaborate frame with turret crest and candle brackets; three drawers, the top one divided; secret bottom drawer for valuables. Museum quality.

Mary Tarleton Knollenberg bronze sculptures of rampant French Percheron horses. Signed on base, Knollenberg and Tarleton. This is a true matched pair, left and right. Each horse measures 25.5 inches high, 9 inches deep and 6.5 inches wide at the base. Beautiful rich original patina. A New York Times story on January 7, 1993 noted that Mary Tarleton Knollenberg, a sculptor, died on December 21 at her home in Chester, Connecticut. She was 88 years old. Mrs. Knollenberg worked in bronze and stone and specialized in female forms, usually nudes. Her work was exhibited in New York, at Yale University and several galleries in Connecticut. Mrs. Knollenberg was born in Great Neck, Long Island, NY. She won a Guggenheim fellowship to study in Paris. She also studied under Mahonri Young in New York and Heinz Warneke in Washington. She was married for 35 years to Bernhard Knollenberg, a lawyer, Revolutionary War historian and librarian of Yale's Sterling Memorial Library. He died in 1973. This item is on display in our gallery at OLD SAYBROOK ANTIQUES CENTER and can be seen by visiting 756 MIDDLESEX AVE, OLD SAYBROOK, CT 06475. Open daily 10am-4pm. www.OldSaybrookAntiquesCenter.com

Large antique pine drop leaf harvest table with slim tapered swing legs. The swing legs allow easy chair placement. Measures 7 feet long, 29 inches high, and 19.5 inches wide with two 17 inch leaves that open to 54 inches wide. Large arm chairs easily slide beneath. We show 6 very large English Windsor chairs around the table, but there is plenty of room for 8 chairs. It would also be fabulous behind a sofa or in a large foyer.

American cherry cabinet with sliding doors circa 1830. Perfectly matched cherry boards with no heartwood. Two part construction. The upper section has a tapered crest, fixed shelves, divided light doors with molded grilles, and original blown glass panes. The lower section has 2 flat paneled doors, cubbyhole interior, and a tapered foot base. Measures 58.5 W at crest, 53.5 W at case, 12.25 D at crest, 9.75 D at case, base is 23 H, top is 62.5 H, shelves are 7 D and shelf clearance is 11.5. This cabinet may have been a mercantile display piece. We like it as a bookcase. It is on display in our gallery at OLD SAYBROOK ANTIQUES CENTER and can be seen by visiting 756 MIDDLESEX AVE, OLD SAYBROOK, CT 06475. For hours of operation visit: http://www.OldSaybrookAntiquesCenter.com