Lets take a journey through time and with that special point in mind look at the pictures and remember that what you see didnt come from a movie set, all this are reality the nature of such being the causative of such as the Klondike gold rush , the endless filth and destruction that it wrought upon men yet they withstood sixty below temperatures scurvy disentary and other hardships to become some of the richest men and women upon the earth. The scene above might as well have been played out upon a movie set yet in reality the people and places were as set as drama and life can draw upon. Thus while danger and action and adventure were all real so were the rewards, greed avarice and cowardliness it was all there good or bad so let us remind ourselves that with good sometimes falls evil in all of us. It is only with wisdom that we separate the difference.
This picture is pretty much what the story is all about and despite the lackluster fame and miscompelled idealism of the old west despite the James Stewart movie and Sid Grauman and Pantages there is little noteworthy of this place except it's exceptional wealth and greed the type of greed that would turn ordinary women into prostitutes and preachers into hardened sourdoughs who would work, the perma frozen soil and toil through the long arctic months to seek the riches of gold. Nugget work that's what it said and if you did'nt have the money you would have to be satisfied like alot of people with watching the rich afford a platinum nugget to get worked into a fancy piece of art, never mind the stench or the flies that made up the atmosphere let the day absorb the freedom of knowing the issue of the death of the proverbial appetite that these people had for adventure despite the miserable setbacks and squalid conditions it's just a fact the little that made it rich employed the rest and within the latter's misery they consoled themselves in cheap liquor and prostitution and gambling.
This small piece weighs about one gram yes it has something to say it speaks for itself telling, of how the owner wanted to be alone and climb up to the top of the treasure hills, and be alone with himself and look down upon his riches. There is no freakish exam here only the isolated art piece that conveys a man to his grave, telling him that in his new order he can look down upon others instead of looking up to them. Platinum late 1890s
This is what greed would buy you as you shuffled past the fly ridden malarial infested log cabins and watered down saloons filled with the dregs of the world housing prostitutes and gamblers and all else that men deemed necessary during this day that consisted of Dawson you could be assured of a memento to remind you of the filth and stench that brought you to this level that made you rich. Platinum late 1890s.
Yes it's platinum and it has been worked let's take a good look at what we have here and at first past the nature of what we can consider cheap and a side show trick, we can see two honeys who stand beside their man and being that the nature of the Klondike draws the few who cater to each other's tastes, one could wonder about that James Stewart movie "The Far Country" due to the movie being more or less based upon actual characters this above hero has little to do with men except apparently he had good taste in women and could afford fine clothes. Although here depicted one would have to weather the odorous constancy or not stand too close in order to avoid the pestilential fabric of dithyrambic air that he and his fellow adventurers carried after seldom turning to the benefits of a proper bath and a shave. Yet after striking it rich and becoming what is known as an "El Dorado King" women would flock to him and kiss his hand. Platinum late 1890s.
This little item is but a number of things in one it depicts a miner striking a wall of platinum as the case may be, supposedly there are a billion ounces of platinum to be found in the Yukon all the pieces shown are weighed in gram weight. Platinum late 1890s.
This version is also found well within the platinum range and might be considered plate platinum one can see quite clearly several depictions placed upon the surface the notoriety of some of the women that served men during this period goes well to demonstrate their unique ability to capture the hearts of men. Despite their cheap fabric they entertained an air of satisfaction that gained them a fortune and being that here like elsewhere in the world money was the enticement, many things could be bought that elsewhere was unavailable, the essence of this was to conjure cheap allusions to the fact that despite the squalid living, one could entertain people at a price as Sid Grauman and Pantages found out. Platinum late 1890s.
Complete with the ideal of boredom and the seldom need for anything this piece reminds one of the days of service note the fellow wearing the cap his reduction to a state reminds of the difference between wealth and poverty, and with it the texture of the nature of the distance of truth and reality this is of course carved onto platinum; and shows the wealth of the object let us not be in pretense one must have money to afford such a thing and without it one might as be pictorial captured upon the surface of such an object. Platinum late 1890s.
Here's "Klondike Kate" famous prostitute and actress she catered to the well to do sort let us not be blunt that despite her good looks she had little more to offer men than a cheap dance or a drink at a famous dance hall you wouldn't find flies buzzing around her and you couldn't get close without the right price this type of person is a reminder of the people out there today still who would as easily sell themselves to fortune and fame as turn a trick of cards and pull up their dress to give men a peek for a five dollar bill.
Smile for the camera and with that a picture is worth a thousand words to say the least a quick look upon the faces shows not a smile and this was the way with these people most of the people in this picture could afford to drink and the "Monte Carlo" was the place of choice for many, like all things liquor and services was paid for in gold dust weighed upon scales of at least bearable accuracy.
Here is the man and a conjecture will show that within his grasp is the well deserved "El Dorado" let us not quibble about a few lost grains of gold dust a man like this has the virtue of a serpent, and once done he has always had, his friends is anyone he can count upon to be his inferior; and with a bucket and a spade he dug his way to riches and fortune it is well within his grasp to prove you wrong when you say "there is no pay dirt here!". Everyone admires his fortune and he proves the fool is the one who gets the riches after all he walked away with enough gold to figure that for the rest of his life, he will be eating lobster and drinking champagne he could point it out "only the rich get ahead here my boy, only the rich!" and with sang froid buy out the entire stock of imported wines and take a bath in it to celebrate. Platinum late 1890s.
More of a hermetic Gothic sense than anything else one can see that the essence of this piece is the variation of the system of the mineral itself of course platinum with its brecciated surface, and a perfect example of the mineral itself. The depiction itself being of a chimera type head with feet perhaps hobbling along with a fish like tail. Of course it has been said that if one carefully examines the surface unusual images will appear upon the latter. Carved platinum 1890s.
Life is an adventure and with this take care to consider what might be a mistress to some if not all, well within the vulgar class of those who associate with the ladies of the night the taste and puerile nature of the doctrine of the mining camps; Dawson was different it boasted of having something for everyone from lobster tp Newburg oysters and champagne and imported wine. If one studies carefully one can see this one is sporting a kid. Carved platinum 1890s.
The first of many things this aspect ratio shows a touch of class a certain nature of the "El Dorado" touch that certain sense that i have money i can buy anything. Platinum 1890s.
This piece reminds one of George Washington and with his of course bony death grip upon the nature of things as they may be, let us not be astray when we say that despite his unerring constancy for knowing things his eloquence was well deserved, one can see the periwig and as such the rendition is the original. Self standing and carved from platinum 1890s.
Yes in France they waived this piece by as too sophisticated for the "Louvre" yet man would agree it, has a familiar view that when all comprised the dissertation would be an advent for the composition of the esoteric conjugal theme; this the latter of the phallic object in place D' art. Perhaps toadish to some it yet comprises an exotic yet esoteric theme of the familiar this we should remember as not to forget, thus were the bullish sagas of the far north in this hard earned day. Carved platinum late 1890s.
Although the winds blew cold in the Arctic none blew colder than for this man who one day(supposedly an "El Dorado King") laid it all upon the line, this at the notorious roulette wheel after the croupe' scooped up his piece he mumbled something; stumbled out to the street. A shot report was heard and outside of the casino this fellow lay stone cold dead with a couple of holes through the head. It was later reported that what he had mumbled was "i have lost everything". Carved platinum late 1890s.
Indulgence and the fact let us not waste our time upon petty thought when one remembers that this platinum piece is one solid piece of granduer, no it didn't fall from the sky it isn't a special source of power that the Aztecs worshiped yet what it represents is the ideal, that the conformity and the nature of preserve is an ideal of geological time; and better yet in solid platinum so as not to lose your money in the matter. The surface has been obviously jeweled as the character may be so as we are not to, lose our indulgence in the matter one can start from right to left, various inclusions can be seen and without reference you are on your own. Platinum late 1890s.
The purple flower of Cairo or the fish that got away take your choice this is probably flake platinum and was found somewhere in the great white north, like all these images don't confuse the pieces with silver both the latter and platinum can look similar and to the layman's eye might be difficult to differentiate platinum has the edge on strength and tensile properties including thermal; one might take note that there appears to be some sort of human in the mouth of this sea monster and it is said that sturgeon residing in the depths of the Yukon River can weigh up to a thousand pounds. Platinum late 1890s.
Once though to be a cheap rendition of "The thinking man" set in platinum it really is nice though, when you take in all of the considerations of an idle oaf in the great white north striking it rich and, then ordering such a piece for a memento; one could hardly guess what had come to thought. An attempt at restoring had only proven that a crystal matrix growth had occurred since the time of deposition in the most grievous place found, and as such this is a natural occurrence with minerals one could hardly concur since this only really proves the true age. Platinum late 1890s.
It is hard to say what the relevant issue is with this treasure trove diadem jewel apparently it appears to depict upon the surface a male with a waif(how sweet) yet according to the head sizes it could be a male suitor with a hooker so thus this gentleman apparently in topper has accosted this young women; and are on their way for a tryst during these days women were known to sell themselves to the highest bidder winner takes all for matrimony so let us not question either one scruples or two morals. Platinum late 1890s.
Caveat emptor:Let the buyer beware.
A non descriptive class this assigned piece has that certain air of distinction being that for the most part, shows only the true metal trait itself compared with the other raw minerals only platinum can stand out like this; platinum is of course the virtue of the fold so let us not confuse it with gold. The natural rendition is of a morphological being it used to have a fish like webbing extension in the small area behind the head where the fold is which represented a sort of morphological aquatic appendage. Grievously it the latter was damaged in the initial restoration process and crumbled into dust. Platinum late 1890s.
This small rendition set upon platinum was grotesque enough to cause wonder, ah to see the original owner walking through the back streets of Dawson, where he had gazed upon the wonder of such a face or had such an education as to understand the workings of the master Leonardo Da'Vinci with enlarged nose and thick lips, one could only wonder as to the nature of such beings who were once the study of Leonardo Da'Vinci and this would be the art the work and the masterpiece for all to gaze upon so much for grotesques. Platinum late 1890s.
An attempt has been made by the jeweler to capture the picturesque to the right a male figure can be seen the complexity of the piece in itself, is an obvious trait of the intuitive composition of the designer and all withstanding the nature of such, as to capture perhaps the rhetoric and the nature of the day shows through with a virtue; the platinum itself has been smoothed all over and finely detailed in such remonstrance that the ideal and discomfiture of the surface shows an alacrity for detail. Platinum late 1890s.
Milton once wrote that when Christ laid his head to rest in a glade while in the desert fasting for forty days and forty nights, the Devil appeared between him and a rock, and spoke thus "oh thou great son of man if thou art so great cast this stone into bread", Christ smiled and said thus " tempt not the lord thy god or his son; smitten the Devil produced a miracle and cast before the son of god a most luxurious table filled with the most tempting treats to be found upon the earth. And then the Devil said "come thou son of man take thy seat and prepare for thy feast for is it not written that god will truly rest upon his seventh day?", with this the son of man was tempted and got up and sat at the table, whereupon the table sat the most sumptuous feast filled with the finest breads the finest fruits and the most delectable of meats; liquid ambrosia the nectar of the gods filled each vessel of gold and the food was set upon plates of the latter also and to serve the feast the Devil produced the most beautiful women ever to have lived either upon the earth or in heaven. Venus Aphrodite,Helen of Troy and the wife of the Emperor of Rome and a host more. Mammon taste not thy tempting fruit. The piece represents neither, pleasant thoughts. Platinum late 1890
Reality is not the key or the clause to this item it being of a stoic virtue let it not be said that within the realm of contingent grasping and vernacular the lady depicted upon the surface is little more, than a remembrance of the entranced concept of the delights that paved the way; to the inroads to your heart beyond the sweat and stench lie this women virtual Delilah that clipped the gold from the tulip bellied lilac softened and shaven come to espouse their virtue of playing the fool in the gambling halls and casinos that lined modern day gold rush towns. The grand motif is little more than the spirit an adjunct socialism to the state of proverbial caretaker of death set upon the wings of hell for all to decide.(See same image inverted below). Platinum late 1890s.
Distance is only relative to time in this image in the supernatural world filled with goblins and demons and ghouls the variation of perspective is an undying breed, untold generations belated stories and tales of the generation of fear of the unknown or the supernatural as the case may be, let us not dilly dally among the dead here as they might listen in on the gold fever that struck the original owner of this piece. Like riding a fat man to hell this piece tells us a story of greed and the desire to return the riches reaped upon the backs of the ridden, note the marked circle using certain light reveals one of the many hidden facets to these carved items of platinum jeweled finely for the eye to see. Platinum late 1890s.
Meet John Barleycorn you might not remember him but he remembers you, he's the guy at the bottom of the glass or the bottom of the bottle the deep pitch upon a long cold night, the foam on top of your nice cold long one he's the warm embrace the Bon Vivant that first greeting from a world of sanctified touch; reaching out saying "here i am waiting for you always a friend always with good cheer". He was well known and up to the earliest part of the twentieth century a familiar face it used to be a man's world and when distances were further apart and wild America still existed one, couldn't be caught down without a remedy cocaine opium and morphine were all over the counter drugs back then, and if you broke a bone and had to drag your way to your horse and ride a hundred miles to the nearest settlement any one of the latter would help to kill the pain and make the way easy. Those days are gone now no more need for saddle bag remedies yet John Barleycorn still exists with his warmth and his embrace one can be sure of an ancient fix a need to touch the sky and get in touch with the ancient spirits, prohibition caught it all down and John Barleycorn almost caught his last day; yet in a world filled with quick fixes there he still is helping some to find the door and others simply to ease the pain. Platinum late 1890s.
Demigod. When Aeneid (Hectors right hand man at the siege of Troy which lasted sixteen years) went to the island of Klytos where the gate to the underworld is he happened upon a sorceress whereupon in anticipation of what lie ahead, she prepared a cake soaked in honey and drugged it this she fed to Cerberus the hound of hell that guarded the gateway to the underworld; the hound fell into a deep sleep after eating the honey soaked cake thus both Aeneid and the sorceress gained access and entered here Aeneid met many freinds who had been killed in combat and happened upon Dido the queen and founder of Carthage who he left smitten of love and abandoned her to seek Italy, she the latter killed herself by impaling herself with a sword such was her love for Aeneid. Platinum late 1890s.
Obscurus and as such the detail of this one piece goes far to show the virtue of the jeweler the surface has many hidden faces and portraits throughout, not withstanding to say the least the main figure appears to be a sleeping man, the configurations are notable and should be said that if the fat lady sang out; then she didn't wake this guy who is probably dead. Platinum late 1890s
Beauty and the beast.An attempt has been made here to show the virtue of the art and in context there is the allusion of reality, the nature of this fine piece doesn't need any explanation it is virtue within itself and up to the beginning of the twentieth century; artists would attempt to capture the idealism of love of life from the portrait to the nature of which the 1890s brought out into the light a complete understanding of the individual attempt to set apart the pages of life; and capture within this realm a new possibility. Platinum late 1890s.
This piece weighs about one gram and if one carefully observes two faces have been worked upon the surface toward the far left is a small child perhaps a baby, the silvery length in the foreground represents the legs of a female, it isn't difficult to tell what it is a naked female with her bamboozling husband lying in bed perhaaps enjoying their life. Platinum late 1890s.
The gay nineties. And with this a place long gone called "Paradise Alley" conventional clause "Let the buyer beware" and with that you are on your own the forlorn or wayward would stop here to procure the favor from the ladies, dressed in nickers and nightgowns; they were ready willing and waiting 24 hrs. Seven days a week.
This above fellow considered himself sheriff of Skagway until gunned down by local vigilantes of that is one in particular who also died of his wounds. To the north a hundred miles a fellow named Dalton ran the "Dalton Trail" and for $250.00 you could use it being mainly, used for driving cattle mules or sheep to Dawson he was said to threaten to kill any man or livestock that used his trail without paying the toll unless it was impossible not to use the aforementioned.
Depicted here is once famous like Lillie Langtry "Charlie Meadows" one time wild west show attraction he drove a herd of mules along the "Dalton Trail" with the money earned opened the "Grand Palace" here he used to show his "Helldorado" fashion and in one performance accidentally shot his wife's thumb and forefinger off while attempting to show his skills at shooting a shot glass which she was holding. Recently during a renovation a pound of gold dust was found that had seeped through the floorboards of the old place.
All bare no bones. This piece shows the robust nature of the work although not to the full extent, rather though the full bodied and robust nature of the platinum itself with its virtue as a strong metal, it is complete and worked and whats more to be sold at auction at some future date, this no name piece along with all the other no name pieces were acquired in the state of Hawaii where the winners went to get away from the Arctic cold; leaving these in a ceremonial depository area which was very popular for these travelers in the late 19th century at the time they still used sailing ships. For the rest well some had to shovel coal in the belly of steamers to afford passage back home, others continued on to Nome. Platinum late 1890s.
Get it you journeyed through time and space where substance has no control, only to have returned to the place where you began and yet you never really left, and within this time frame you have seen men blow their brains out over a lost fortune; some old fools become the kings of the earth prostitutes bow before you actresses show you their heart and gunfighters show you their true hand. Yet their is substance still left take a look above and realize the circle and what is within, the elfin magic the rudiment of evil of the card shark the shirker the dagger in the back the El Dorado gentleman who knew helldorado first the caretaker of death as he sweeps up the leavings of others; no he was never really there he was just a spirit that lived in all men the devil may care and with it your fortune turned while the rest lost in fantasy or patrimony or patriotism lost out even losing their lives in a world of the "El Dorado Dream".
Besides this collection only photographs serve for memories of this past once called the last great adventure. As can be seen the vintage figurines serve well to illustrate a more personal past; showing us perhaps the lives and the memories.These precious metal figurines are an affordable way to enjoy yourself over the future years although the last great adventure may have disappeared the memory lives on, as an investment it would be like ordering chateau Briand instead of cheeseburger; so please enjoy and if control and wisdom has lost its wit from within remember that to cheat the devil is to gain high stakes and favor.
The auction site will be listed here some time towards the end of the year or the beginning of next year. About 245 grams were recovered most have been seen here although some other small pieces will be added as they are restored to full luster. Commercial pricing goes at about 3* current weight of platinum troy per gram, this running about the same as most periodic collectibles adding also their historical value and place in art.
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