Weird 19th Century Trends, WTH Is It: Ruff Curlers, & More Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ 
Gray's Auctioneers

Your Weekly Roundup

Curated Curiosities

  • πŸ€ Death and Taxidermy

  • πŸ‘€ What the Heck is it? Goffering Iron

  • 🧐 A Youth Remedy?

  • πŸ’― We’re Just Getting Started
 

Death and Taxidermy πŸ€

The Victorians were a strange lot. From wearing smothering corsets to believing every problem could be solved with the liberal application of arsenic, their tastes ran a little (or a lot) different from today. They had a macabre fascination with death, superstition, and gore, and this even went as far as children's toys.

Wealthy Victorian-era parents wanted only the best for their children. Marbles & jump ropes? Nope, think again. Posh children would be given the best of the best in stuffed animals, the pick of the litter. Not just any stuffed animals, but the finest, most authentic. Literally.

We’re talking toy giraffes, dogs, cats, sheep, bears, and rabbits stitched together with pelts from the real deal. This phenomenon brings a whole new dimension to the idea of a petting zoo! Thankfully this grisly trend proved temporary, making the surviving examples valuable for their rarity. You can see some samples featured in the catalogue for our auction happening on April 13th.
creepy toys more creepy toys
 CLICK HERE IF YOU’RE MACABRE 
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WTH is it!?

What The
Heck Is It?!

The Goffering Iron

What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw this week's "What the Heck is it?" Medieval torture device? Abstract ornamental piece? Oddly-specifically-sized hole poker? You're wrong on all counts! This week's β€˜What The Heck Is It?’ is a goffering iron. What was it used for, you ask? Well, to curl your ruff! (Duh.) Ruffs were the stiff ornamental neckpieces that symbolized status, wealth, and power. They worked by heating the removable part directly over a stove or fire and then re-inserting it into the outer protective layer. The heat radiated through the metal and gave the cloth the curled shape everyone raved about. The curlier your ruff, the more likely you were to turn heads. That is, of course, if their ruffs allowed them. (Hehe)

Watch this week’s What The Heck Is It ▢️
 πŸ‘€ WHAT THE HECK IS IT ON INSTA 

A Youth Remedy?

Ever wondered how even ancient paintings seem to be in such good condition? Or how they've survived years of exposure to the elements, wear and tear, threats of bacteria, fungi, rats, and other creepy crawlies, all to come out unscathed? The pieces that you have seen displayed in museums have all likely undergone the process of restoration. This intricate process begins with an ultraviolet light scan to unearth hidden surprises like previous restoration attempts. After assessing the results, the restorer will begin a delicate dance between removing the unwanted detritus and maintaining the integrity of the painting. After this is complete, a special lacquer or varnish is applied to protect the restored piece. We tried this on ourselves, but it appears that it doesn’t work on humans.
 MORE FROM OUR BLOG 

There’s More…

If anything we’ve covered in this week’s email has piqued your interest then there’s plenty more where that came from. Check out our blog posts:

  • πŸ’° The 10 Most Expensive (& Controversial) Paintings

  • ❌ Top 10 Art Buying Mistakes

  • 🏑 3 Signs It’s Time to Downsize, and How to Do It

Our April auction is online! Start perusing 300+ lots of fine art, furniture & decorations now >
 START HERE 
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Gray's Auctioneers
10717 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, OH, 44102
United States

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