Chinoiserie gramophone for auction in UK.

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epigramophone
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Re: Chinoiserie gramophone for auction in UK.

Post by epigramophone »

Price reduced to £750. eBay says "For a limited time. Only one left at this reduced price".
How many do they think are out there? :?:

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epigramophone
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Re: Chinoiserie gramophone for auction in UK.

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Sold. "Best offer accepted". How much for and to whom I do not know.

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Steve
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Re: Chinoiserie gramophone for auction in UK.

Post by Steve »

Curt A wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2024 5:53 pm What's actually wrong with it? Chinese production in the nineteen teens was not necessarily high quality...
Maybe if the base paint was black and the designs were embellished with gold, you would view it differently?
Just sayin'...

The only other custom red cabinet that I've seen was a Douglas cabinet... upright with scenes painted on it and a Victor horn on top. Also, it's not necessary to have herds of elephants in your country to use them as a design element...

Screenshot 2024-09-06 at 6.00.47 PM.png

Screenshot 2024-09-06 at 5.59.45 PM.png
The colour has nothing to do with it. I've seen as many red grounds as black. There are blue and green examples out there too. I've owned two blue Chinoiserie HMV cabinet gramophones for what it's worth. Most Chinoiserie finishes I've seen or owned have been incredibly high quality with the cabinets being as well finished on the inside and the outside.

The problem was the generic parts inside an "off-brand" machine, together with an obviously non-original grille / cloth (even before it was replaced for a second or third time?), which might also disguise the fact that the horn and original fretwork might be missing. Put simply, aside from the clever cabinet / stand design and pretty external decorations, the gramophone is a bit of a dog, to put it bluntly.

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Curt A
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Re: Chinoiserie gramophone for auction in UK.

Post by Curt A »

I wasn't actually arguing for its authenticity, but wondering why it was suspect, since I am not well versed in Chinoiserie cabinets... Thanks for clarifying.
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
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