Ornamental Turning

The online resource for "OT" enthusiasts

Related topics

M. Dale Chase solo exhibition

In December 2005, del Mano Gallery presented a solo exhibition of M. Dale Chase's ornamental boxes. The multi-colored three layer boxes presented are some of the most beautiful rose engine turned boxes ever made.

Original vs. modern-style Fabergé

Objects from the House of Fabergé were made up until the Russian Revolution in 1918, when the Bolsheviks closed down the shop in St. Petersburg. Soon after, objects were sold by the Soviet government throughout the world and began appearing at auctions in the 1930s. In the 1950s, Fabergé's grandson Theo began creating elegant objets d’art from rare wood and ivory using a Holtzapffel lathe. In 1984, he was persuaded to produce the more originally styled "St. Petersburg Collection" which his daughter Sarah continues today. Additionally, in the early 1990s, major American museums that owned authentic Fabergé allowed licensed reproductions to be made for sale in their museum stores.

Search

Find what you're looking for!

Google
 


Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional

 

Catalogs on Ornamental Turning

Christies ornamental turning auction catalogs

Other auction catalogs

Exhibition catalogs

Company catalogs

Christies ornamental turning auction catalogs

In the decades preceding the Internet, Christies auction house at South Kensington was the best place to purchase ornamental turning lathes, tools, and turning stock. The catalogs they published for these auctions, along with prices realized, still provide valuable insight for collectors and enthusiasts.

Beginning in 1987, catalog covers were occassionally printed in color, which later became commonplace beginning in 1990. Internal page photos were predominantly black & white in the 1990s, with color photos increasingly included through 2001, at which point all photos were printed in full color. The catalogs are readily found on eBay, which is now also the most popular place to list OT equipment for sale.

The following catalogs contain item descriptions and photos of ornamental turning lathes and tools:

  • May 31, 2007 – "Mechanical Music & Technical Apparatus" South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 5221 contains pages with 125 lots, many illustrated, all in color, and all described in detail. (An epicycloidal cutting frame and goniostat outfit were the only two lots related to ornamental turning.)
  • May 8, 2003 – "Fine Toys, Trains, Toy Soldiers, Mechanical Music, Automata, Dolls and Dolls' Houses," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 9629 contains 216 pages with 1297 lots, many illustrated, all in color, and all described in detail.
  • December 4, 2002 – "Scientific, Medical and Engineering Works of Art, Instruments and Models," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 9526 contains 206 lots all described in detail.
  • December 14, 2000 –  "Mechanical Music, Ornamental Turning and Technical Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 8720 contains 21 pages with 144 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • April 12, 2001 – "Mechanical Music, Technical Apparatus, Advertising and Amusement Machines," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 9070 contains 50 pages with 202 lots mostly illustrated in both color and black and white and all described in detail.
  • April 6, 2000 – "Mechanical Music, Ornamental Turning and Technical Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 8720 contains 21 pages with 144 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • July 28, 1999 – "Mechanical Music, Ornamental Turning and Technical Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 8473 contains 29 pages with 178 lots, all illustrated, some color, with all lots described in detail.
  • December 17, 1998 – "Mechanical Music and Technical Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 8247 contains 39 pages with 214 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • April 16, 1998 – "Mechanical Music, Tools and Technical Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7958 contains 27 pages with 225 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • July 11, 1997 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7668 contains 30 pages with 219 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • March 13, 1997 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7522 contains 40 pages with 319 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • December 11, 1996 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7447 contains 40 pages with 342 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • February 1, 1996 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7108 contains 38 pages with 335 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • November 16, 1995 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 7041 contains 31 pages with 274 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • June 30, 1994 – "Scientific Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 6530 contains 23 pages with 267 lots, all illustrated, with all lots described in detail.
  • March 3, 1994 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 6409 contains 63 pages with 392 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • November 18, 1993 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensingtonn. Auction catalog sale No. 6306 contains 61 pages with 334 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • July 1, 1993 – "Scientific Instruments, Ornamental Turning Tools and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 6175 contains 31 pages with 244 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • March 4, 1993 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensingtonn. Auction catalog sale No. 6034 contains 31 pages with 295 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • November 12, 1992 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," London. Auction catalog sale No. 4884 contains 35 pages with 320 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • July 2, 1992 – "Scientific Instruments, Ornamental Turning Tools and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 4706 contains 45 pages with 452 lots, all illustrated, many color, with all lots described in detail.
  • March 3, 1992 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensingtonn. Auction catalog sale No. 4577 contains 39 pages with 421 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • October 17, 1991 – "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Tools, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 4439 contains 36 pages with 389 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • July 4, 1991 –  "Scientific and Medical Instruments, Models, Tools and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog with 484 lots some illustrated in black and white and all described in detail. Beginning of standard full-size, full-color photo on catalog cover.
  • November 8, 1990 – "Ornamental Turning Equipment, Tools, Models, Sceintific and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 3981 contains 39 pages with 271 lots mostly illustrated in black and white and all described in detail. Color photo on cover (uncommon).
  • August 10, 1989 – "Tools, Models, Scientific and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI 3418 contains 31 pages with 271 lots some illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • May 25, 1989 – "Tools, Models, Scientific and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 3221 contains 35 pages with 292 lots some illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • May 5, 1988 – "Tools, Scientific Instruments and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 2788 contains 29 pages with 285 lots some illustrated in black and white and all described in detail.
  • May 21, 1987 – "Tools, Ornamental Turning, Scientific Instruments, and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. 2228 contains 35 pages with 363 lots some illustrated in black and white and all described in detail. Color photo on cover (uncommon).
  • October 10, 1985 – "Tools, Scientific Instruments, and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI 1335 contains 30 pages with 284 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • October 18, 1984 – "Tools, Scientific Instruments, and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI/MTL 1810/84 contains 35 pages with 423 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • June 14, 1984 – "Scientific Instruments, Tools, and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI/MTL 1406/84 contains 42 pages with 411 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • June 2, 1983 – "Sale of Scientific, Ornamental Turning and Other Apparatus," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI 0206 contains 34 pages with 311 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • June 10, 1982 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 1606 contains 23 pages with 214 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • May 14, 1981 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 1405 contains 27 pages with 274 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • February 26, 1981 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 2602 contains 33 pages with 319 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • August 14, 1980 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 1408 contains 33 pages with 367 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • February 14, 1980 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MTL 1402 contains 18 pages with 208 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • November 22, 1979 – "Sale of Tools of the Carpenter and Other Craftsmen," South Kensington. Auction catalog sale No. MSI 2211 contains 30 pages with 374 lots some illustrated in black and white and all briefly described.
  • March 13, 1978 – "Historic Ornamental Lathes, wood, Hand, and Machine Tools, Books and catalogs," Brighton and Hoove Engineerium.