Superb gilt bronze figural inkstand depicting a still pond afloat with water lilies. Separately cast lily pads float just above the surface of the bronze "water", three buds in various stages of development rise above the leaves, and the whole is topped off by a fabulous full-blown waterlily inkwell with a honeybee finial. One of the buds serves as a pen holder...
Stunning single-vase epergne in blue opaline glass. The deeply ruffled edges of the trumpet vase contrasts with the gentler ruffle of the lower bowl. The coloring is particularly nice.
Origin: probably France, possibly England, c. 1840. Condition: the very bottom of the trumpet is broken off, but when the trumpet is in place, the break is below the juncture with the lower bowl and no problems are visible (there is a remote possibility that this damage was in the making); otherwise excellent...
Outstanding early South Jersey glass paperweight enclosing a frit design of an eagle with an American flag and the words "The American Fire Philadelphia A.D. 1810." I'm not sure if this refers to a fire department or a fire insurance company. The detailing, especially the feathery delicacy of the eagle's wings, is very nice. The glass is very good quality and the design achieves very nice magnification because of its placement low in the crown...
Staffordshire Red Riding Hood & The Wolf figure decorated in red, green, blue, black, pink, yellow and brown enamels.
Origin: Staffordshire, England, ca. 1850. Condition: some scratching to the overglaze red enamel (mostly at her elbow and along the edges of her bonnet), otherwise excellent. Size: 4" tall.
These porcelain inkwells were made as an advertising novelties for Carter's Ink in 1914. This example has nicely painted details and crisp modelling. The bottom is marked "Made In Germany." Excellent condition. 3.75" tall.
Unusual Victorian copper ladies' button-up boot. The Victorians often placed these along their mantles for purely decorative purposes. Most examples are made of brass, but this piece is entirely copper. Another nice touch is the applied scalloped pattern along the front edge of the boot and the white brass buttons.
Origin: England or America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 5" tall.
Nice Victorian brass ladies' lace-up boot. This example has holes drilled to represent the holes for laces. The Victorians often placed these along their mantles for purely decorative purposes.
Origin: England or America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, light scratching near the toe. Size: 4.5" tall.
Terrific pair of sterling silver sugar tongs dating to the reign of George III. The design (made by cutting reflective facets in the silver) is very nicely executed on this quality piece, and unlike many Georgian tongs, these are quite heavy.
The tongs are marked with the lion passant and the script hallmark "GS" for George Smith, entered in London in 1782...
Hand carved giltwood letter "G", unusual for being an italic letter and for the sides having contrasting black sand paint decoration. Gilt letters and numbers from 19th century trade signs have great graphic appeal and offer a fun opportunity to try to put together your name or initials.
Origin: American, 19th century. Condition: very good, all original surface, 40% wear to the black paint along the sides. Size: 7-3/4" high.
Hand carved giltwood letter "C". Gilt letters and numbers from 19th century trade signs have great graphic appeal and offer a fun opportunity to try to put together your name or initials.
Origin: American, 19th century. Condition: excellent, all original surface. Size: 6-1/4" high.
Hand carved giltwood letter "O". Gilt letters and numbers from 19th century trade signs have great graphic appeal and offer a fun opportunity to try to put together your name or initials.
Origin: American, 19th century. Condition: excellent, all original surface. Size: 7-3/4" high.
Lovely blown flint glass sugar bowl or covered comport in a panel design, the molded bell-shaped lid rising to a pointed finial. The bottom has a polished pontil. The glass is of heavy weight and good clarity.
Origin: American, possibly Sandwich or Cambridge, ca. 1840...
This rare Canton covered oval dish (unfortunately, minus its cover) is the finest quality Canton wear, with excellent, crisp underglaze blue decoration. The sides are decorated with floral sprays.
Origin: Canton, China, ca. 1825. Condition: excellent; glaze rubs on the edges; one small glaze bite on the underside of the rim. Size: 9.75" x 8" x 2.25".
Fabulous brass and copper picture frame in the Aesthetic Japonaise style. The basketweave pattern of the brass frame is detailed with raised copper decorative elements that include a crane standing in a stream, bamboo and cherry blossoms. The back has an easel. The frame is 3.5" x 2.75". The oval opening with glass is 2.25" x 1.5". Circa 1870.
Lovely sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of Queen Victoria. The gilt bowl is finely and elegantly decorated with a repousse pattern featuring grapes, pomegranates and apples. Both sides of the handle are decorated with bright-cut floral engraving. Clearly hallmarked for Birmingham, 1870 with the sovereign's head and the maker's mark "FE" in conjoined circles.
Origin: Birmingham, England. Condition: excellent; no monograms or removals. Size: 8-5/8" long.
A pair of sterling silver berry spoons of the finest quality dating to the reign of George III. The quality of the repousse and bright cut decoration is beyond compare. The design of the bowl includes cherries, applies, pomegranates and foliage. The backs are clearly hallmarked for London, 1800 and for the maker Thomas Wallis. Excellent condition; no monograms or removals. 9" long.
English sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of George III. The lobed bowl is decorated with repousse apples, berries and foliage; the handle with bright cut engraving, both added later in the 19th century. (We are also offering another berry spoon by a different silversmith and with a slightly different shape, but with identical decoration. Certainly the two spoons were decorated by the same engraver and repousser.) No monograms or removals...
English sterling silver berry spoon dating from the reign of George III. The lobed bowl is decorated with repousse apples, berries and foliage; the handle with bright cut engraving, both added later in the 19th century. (We are also offering another berry spoon by a different silversmith and with a slightly different shape, but with identical decoration. Certainly the two spoons were decorated by the same engraver and repousser.) No monograms or removals...
Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".
Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is mostly worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".
Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".
Very rare heart shaped gilt bronze-mounted dresser tray with handmade lace insert. This is the only heart-shaped dresser tray I've ever seen. Marked on the bottom "France."
Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, but could use some cleaning. Size: 10-3/4" x 8-1/2" x 1".
Very good Staffordshire figural group portraying a young man and woman in a garden. He holds a floral wreath while she holds a potted rosebush. The decorative painting is very nice, especially the facial details.
Origin, Staffordshire, England, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent; no chips or cracks, gilding intact. Size: 7" tall.
Porcelain sardine box with a handle in the form of a realistically-painted sardine. The sides and lid of the box are decorated with pink roses. The bottom is marked "Victoria Austria."
Origin: Altrohlau, Bohemia, Austria (now Stara Role, Czech Republic), ca. 1891-1918. Condition: excellent, slight wear to gilding along edges of the lid. Size: 5-1/4" x 4-1/2" x 3".
Pair lovely Minton porcelain cabinet plates featuring handpainted pastoral scenes. One shows a footbridge over a rushing stream and the other shows a pair of cows wading in a pond. Both are surrounded by Minton's famous turquoise blue. The edges are gilt and embossed with a foliate pattern. The backs are impressed "Minton" and have the year mark for 1879.
Origin: England, 1879...
Lovely Victorian pickle fork with a mother of pearl handle, a sterling ferule and silverplated tines.
Origin: England, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent. Size: 7-1/4" long.
Lovely cut glass powder jar with a silver lid. The finial is a beautifully-detailed strawberry. The edges of the lid are decorated with classical bound reeding. The lid is also monogramed "FC". Hallmarks are European and the silver content is 916/1000.
Origin: Europe, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-3/4" diam.; 4" tall.
Lovely Louis XVI style sterling silver fish slice. The elegant spade-shaped matte vermeil blade is engraved with the crossed quiver and torch design originally popular in the late 18th century. The blade and handle are marked by the maker, Pot & Cie., and the handle is marked with a French silver hallmark.
Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: very good; a bit of discoloration on the blade and very light wear on the handle. Size: 12-1/2" long.
Victorian brass figural picture frame in the form of a medieval knight's shield with a halbeard and lance. Cut from heavy-gauge brass, this frame shows great originality and design sense. The back has a hinged easel.
Origin: England, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 8" x 5".
Outstanding Victorian figural picture frame in the form of a map of Australia! The metal is very heavy gauge and the coloring is white (I believe it is constructed of white brass with a yellow-tinted lacquer)...
Very rare Imperial Russian silver child's fork with vermeil and engraved floral decoration. In fact, I've never before seen a piece of Russian children's flatware. The maker's hallmark on the back is slightly obscured by the design, but the assayer's mark (AA/1895), the standard mark (84), and the city mark (Moscow) are very clear.
Origin: Moscow, 1895. Condition: mint. Size: 4-3/4" long.
Stunning 2nd Empire pink opaline glass chalice with gilt and enamel decoration. The outside surface has a matte finish except along the lip, the foot rim and the knop rim, each of which is decorated with gilt lines. The primary decoration, however, fills nearly the entire surface with built-up layers of gilding accented with black enamel. The base has a slightly concave polished pontil.
Origin: France, possibly Baccarat, ca. 1840...
Lovely 3-tier chintz cake stand in a unknown pattern. The bottom of each piece is marked in blue/green "B/Royal Tudor Ware/Barker Bros. L'td/England" along with a crown. The stem is brass. The whole stand is approximately 12-1/2" tall. The plates are approximately 10", 8" and 6" in diameter. Mint condition--even the gilding around the edges of the plates. Ca. 1920's.
Rare four-lobed copper bowl decorated in painted enamel. The decoration pictures three ancient Chinese warriors in a landscape. Like nearly all enamelware, this piece has suffered from the ravages of time, but the fine detail of the decoration and the rarity of the form more than compensate for the condition.
Origin: China, late 18th century. Condition: numerous chips and cracks, particularly along edges. Size: 4-1/2" diam., 2-1/8" high.
Terrific Battersea-style enameled gin bottle/decanter label. The enamel is applied over metal and has polychrome floral decoration. The chain is brass.
Origin: probably English, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent. Size: 2.5" x 1/5".
Terrific enameled sherry bottle/decanter label. The enamel is applied over metal and has polychrome floral decoration. The chain is brass.
Origin: probably English, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent. Size: 2.5" x 1/5".