Antique rye-straw honey bee skep
Updated August 26, 2026
This auction ended on September 12, 2026.
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| Lot number | 713 |
| Category | Antiques & Furniture |
| Auction | September Cataloged Antique Auction |
| Date | September 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Horst Auctioneers |
| Location | Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
ca. 18th-19th century; Early mushroom cap straw bee skep with mounted hickory band base in traditional "flattened-dome" shape, constructed with thick coiled rye-straw and hickory splint binding. The base ring is splint lash-mounted, three whittled "cross-racks". The hickory ring base has a single cut-out "bee-door" and retains some of the original beeswax water coating; 16 1/2" dia. X 13 1/2"H.; Condition: originally woven with wooden "cap-plug" which is missing. Uncommon to retain the original "cross-racks" and unusually shaped. Some splint binding loss and some evidence of rodent chewing to straw.
