In the always-interesting search for old treasures and rare antiques, we all sooner or later stumble upon something and find ourselves asking:  "What in the heck IS this thing?"

Our antique "Mystery of the Week" fits that description.

This 9" brass plaque was removed from a trunk stored for Gawd knows how many years in a Neville Plantation barn near Port Hudson, Louisiana. It is a VERY detailed raised portrait-silhouette plaque, carefully crafted by someone immensely skilled in the sculptor's art,  The raised brass silhouette is of a military man in a Union army uniform -- and who perhaps appears to be American Civil War General George B. McClellan, as he appeared in the years long after the Civil War had ended. However, that is only a guess as to the subject's identity.

On the back of this brass carving are some type of "hooks" or posts, which may be for attachment of the plaque to something else --  a statue? A monument? All guesses. There are the following inscriptions on the reverse of the plaque:  "C.T Robinson Co. Copyright 1886" and then the currently unidentified artist has apparently added his initials:  "JYB," is my best interpretation of the initials. (See photos below.)

Apparently this company was some type of monument or statuary production outfit located on Boston back in the 19th Century...but info on them is scarce. What WAS this plaque for? How did it end up unattached to whatever it was meant for and how did it journey to plantation country in Louisiana??

Who among our antique detectives can shed some light on this interesting and striking piece of history? Post your comments and insights and we'll figure it out together!

I want to thank everyone who dropped by over the Mother's Day weekend -- we had a lot of visitors, offered some sensational pieces for good prices and made some great new friends. 

We are also now hooked up to accept credit cards with The Square -- so that was a nice evolution over the weekend. We will also accept your check in the store with proper ID.

Please share this website with others and let them know of the inventory we have available  --  and also know that we will have new pieces regularly.

Thanks!

Jim

I am putting the finishing touches on this website and will have it "live" shortly. It will allow folks to shop at their own pace and make some decisions about what might work for them without even having to leave home. Please take your time and knock around the site. There are many unusual and splendid pieces -- and ALL of 'em need new homes! 

Although I do not have regular business hours for Citadel Antiques, we are always pleased to meet you at Bennett House at a mutually convenient time. Or, if you came by and left wanting more time to think about an item, you can buy online and pick up the piece later. On occasion, I am around the place (on weekends usually) and have signs out by Plank Road at those times advertising the fact that the store is open for everyone to drop in. We usually have coffee on and cokes and FREE NOTARY WORK for anyone needing it. Try to find that little service anywhere else!

On smaller items, we are pleased to ship for a reasonable charge for packaging, handling, postage and insurance -- starting at around $10 for the smaller items and moving up from there depending upon weight, fragility, value, etc.

We charge 10% tax for local and state assessments on all purchases. We will take your local check with proper ID but cash is always king! We are also working on establishing systems to take credit cards and PayPal but bear with me on that -- we'll have that up ASAP. There will be a 4% up-charge on all credit card sales.

We have just received a variety of new furniture pieces and those will be posted on this site as soon as I can get around to it. (I do have a real job as an attorney in Baton Rouge so I gotta take care of my clients first!) Given this, if you haven't dropped by in awhile -- come back and see me.

​You will like the new selections, I am sure.

​--- Jim