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Basil Manly Wilkerson an 1868 graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, was a prominent dental inventor of the 19th century. Among his inventions was the first hydraulic dental chair.
In the 1882 edition of Codman & Shurtleff’s catalogue, the chair is referred to as showing great originality… all cranks are dispensed with and levers substituted for them. The chair was raised by a foot lever and requires very little effort, takes only eight seconds…. lowered by another lever it sinks rapidly and noiselessly.
If your a collector of early dental furniture than you already know how inportant and rare this chair is. It’s one of the earliest examples of the Wilkerson Dental Chair. It was a milestone of early technology and the first hydraulic driven mechinical chair. This is one of their most decorative examples. There are 4 legs with lions paw feet and a filigree back plate. The seat, back and arms have been faithfully restored using the correct burgundy plush fabric. All the painted cast iron parts have not been touched. What you see is the original paint and gold decorative pin striping. This chair sat on display in an important collection for almost 60 years. Note the original mahogany arm rests are there as well. All the tilts and adjustments work smoothly. The up and down mechanisem works but can stick if pumped to it highest point. You just don’t find examples this nice. It’s also as comfortable as it gets… $3200
(A) This is an early full draw cabinet from the mid to late 1800s. We pulled this right out of the old machine shop where it sat for over 100 years. It’s complete with all 132 draws and each draw is numbered with a raised metal plaque. The original draw pulls are cast iron and it’s only missing a couple. The weathered paint and aged patina is something that can never be reproduced. We did find it in a machine shop but it could have originally been produced as an apothecary or seed cabinet. The size is a dramatic 54 inches by 80 inches wide. It’s only 12 inches deep so it dosn’t eat up tons of space but still makes a big statment… $3200
(B) We left this early Icebox just as we found it. The painted finish has an aged patina with the galvanized metal showing through. All the original removeable racks are still in place. It sits on legs with wheels. The size is very managable at only 50 x 27 x 21 inches deep… $750
(C) This table features a one-of-a-kind industrial base. We discovered this amazing hand-wrought and riveted drum in an early brick foundry building. It’s at least 100-125 years old. It was salvaged off a huge parts polishing machine. When in use this drum was filled with a fine sand and would slowly tumble the cast parts until they were smooth. This drum must weigh at least 300 lbs… so it’s more than sturdy. We took a close up picture of the rivets and paint patina… the finish and age can’t be duplicated. Only a century of wear can do that. The rivets are hand hammered and are each about the size of a dime. The bottom has a 32 inch diameter and tapers to 22 inches. You are buying the base only. We show the table with a 60 inch glass top for illustration purposes only. Any type of surface will work well on this base including marble, steel, wood or glass… $1600
(D) This is a very early all original cupboard. I’m guessing 150 to 200 years old. You can still see a hint of the original paint. It’s even signed on the front in a couple of places. G. Hall Jr. Co. was an 1800s thread manufacturer… $850
(E) This has to be one of my favorite street lamps. The details are amazing. The body is solid copper and it has all the trap doors, clips and porcelain connectors. It stands an impressive 30 inches tall with a 20 inch diameter. The original plaque is there and reads… Westinghouse Enclosed Arc Lamp. We have rewired it for home use… $2400
These are some of our newest finds. You can see them now on 1stdibs.com
These floating dental tables are almost impossible to find and its one of my favorite items. It was the table a Dentist would pull out just over the patient. He could then have all his tools at hand during a procedure. Mixing old and new technology… I use a similar example as a computer laptop table in my office. The folding and adjustable arm is a complex arrangement and is an interesting example of early technology. It is also jointed in a couple of places to fold out of the way. This decorative arm very unique. The bracket swings side to side, moves up and down with a clever locking mechanism. The round table is milk glass with a metal nickel plated edge and S curved brackets. If you are a seasoned collector than you already know this is one of those Holy Grail items. I have been collecting these for 30 years and have never really seen one other than on the pages of an 1800s catalog. This was just listed on 1stdibs.com
This large spectacular tin birdhouse is a one-of-a-kind folk Art gem. It’s a 12 room Purple Martin Hotel. The conical shape and 3 decorative fins give it a futuristic Jetsons look… It could even be called Art Deco. This impressive sculpture stands over 7 foot tall on the it’s portable iron stand. The house itself has a 26 inch diameter and is 26 inches tall. The weathered patina has just the right look. I would date this to the early part of the 20th Century…SOLD
This rotating Dental table is as rare as they get. We just acquired a large collection of what some consider the most desirable medical furniture to be found. Tables, lights, chairs and cabinets… you name it. There are no common examples here. We’re still cataloging and taking pictures. This complex mechanical table is just a sneak peek at the collection.
We’re out there discovering and offering the best objects that can be found. In the next couple of months we’ve scheduled buying trips to Paris, Rome and Argentina. Who knows what we’ll uncover?
Guess what!… we have a new section called “Furnishings“. You can now find everything from operating room tables to art. Here’s just a sample:
The modern design of these chairs were extreme for the 1930s. They sit very low and are quite comfortable… But you need to be under 40 to get out of them. They are striking as a pair and are unique in their posture and finish. The upholstery is new and the wood is as found with its original finish and patina. The 2 chairs match but on close inspection one sits slightly lower than the other. The back and seat have the original springs. The back has 4 exposed springs that are an important part of the chairs design.The chairs are signed by the maker. I did some quick research and found out that the chairs were made in England by a very well respected company. In fact Josef Hoffmann used this manufacturer to build some of his designs. That’s what I remember… but now the embarrassing part. When I sent the chairs out to be finished the name tag was covered so I can’t tell you the makers name. It measures 26 inches to the top of the back rest, 32 inches from front to back and 24 inches wide. $2900 for the pair.
Josef Hoffmann was a founder of the Wiener Werkstätte and an important part of the Vienna Secession movement.
This original “J.& J. Kohn” wing back arm chair #666 is an important early example of his work. It shows all the details and style that was to become his signature… the black lacquered bentwood frame, ball joints and bottom skid frame. An important detail also found in Hoffmann leather upholstered furniture is his striking choice of color. It’s not uncommon to find his chairs covered in bright yellow, lime green, lipstick red, blue, lavender or bright white leather. This chair was purchased in Vienna a number of years ago and authentically reupholstered using the finest leather. The color was suggested by a curator at New York’s Neue Museum. The many furniture designs Josef Hoffmann created in this period are considered classics. With their pure clarity of form and timeless simplicity, these designs remain just as compelling today as they have always been… $7600 (Additional photos)
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