Catalog (2449)

Very nice glass calabash in aqua blue. One side features hands clasped across a patriotic shield surrounded by stars and olive branches and the word "Union". The other side is decorated with an American eagle grasping a banner, shield, arrows and olive branches. The calabash has a polished pontil on the bottom and an applied lip at the neck.

Origin: America, mid-19th century. Condition: excellent, no cracks or chips, nice molded detail, the pontil has some brownish surface discoloration. Size: 9-1/8" tall.

A wonderful set of six Victorian silverplate napkin rings. The outsides are decorated with two cherubs grasping baroque reserves framed with swirls of acanthus leaves, pendant bellflowers and other ornate decorative devices. The insides are brightly gilt. It is very unusual to find a complete matching set of Victorian napkin rings.

Origin: probably American, circa 1890. Condition: all original, no monograms, normal wear the the plating on the insides and outsides. Size: 1-5/8" wide; 1-7/8" diameter.

Very nice dovetailed wooden writing box or work box, the hinged lid decorated with a handpainted grapevine motif against a mustard painted background. The interior of the box has four fitted compartments along the back side. The bottom and top are attached to the dovetailed sides with old square nails. The inside of the lid is inscribed illegibly in pencil "Hannah ??".

Origin: New England, ca. 1870. Condition: very good paint, the original lock is now missing, an age split to the bottom and to the front side of the lid. Size: 10-1/4" x 8-3/4" x 4-1/4".

A terrific pair of Art Deco style 18K gold double-sided cufflinks. The eight-sided front faces are decorated with white gold chevrons in a slightly matte finish that contrast beautifully with the surrounding yellow gold. The back faces are yellow gold ovals with tapered ends. The connectors are marked with Italian hallmarks for 18K gold.

Origin: Italy, ca. 1970. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 5/8” x 15/32”. Weight: 6.5 grams.

A very nice hammered brass jardiniere from Russia's Imperial era. The vessel is raised on cast lion's paw feet and is flanked by ring handles grasped in cast lion's heads. The jardiniere is constructed in the traditional manner with seamed joints and a rolled lip. The bottom is stamped with the Imperial Romanov double-headed eagle.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, a few very small dings (difficult to see on the hammered surface). Size: 6-1/4" tall; 6-3/8" diameter.

An elegant pair of sterling silver cufflinks, the faces depicting a long-haired maiden gazing at a star. The faces are hallmarked for London, 1902 and also have an unidentified maker’s mark “RF”. The faces were originally buttons and are now connected with silver chains to torpedo backs.

Origin: England, 1902. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 11/16” diameter. Weight: 9.5 gr.

Rare sterling silver ice tongs in Kirk’s popular “Old Maryland Plain” pattern. This pattern, designed in 1850, is one of the oldest patterns in Baltimore silver. Because it is so simple, it can appear both Colonial or contemporary, and works well with nearly any silver pattern. The tongs are marked with later 20th century Kirk hallmarks.

Origin: America, ca 1980. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 6-1/4” long. Weight: 84.5 grams.

A pretty 18K yellow gold pendant in a shape that suggests a pair of wings, each set with rose cut diamonds. The design is completed with an additional diamond at the top in a buttercup setting. The pendant was likely fashioned from a larger piece of jewelry that was no longer fashionable. The reverse is stamped with a goldsmith’s mark and also with the Birmingham date mark for 1849. The jump ring is 14K.

• Origin: Birmingham, England, 1849
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 13/16” x 11/16” (excluding bail)
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .15 carat
• Weight: 1.9 gram

Cold-painted Viennese bronze sculpture of a devil by Franz Bergman. This half-goat half-man figure is very well detailed, even showing the individual vertebrae along his back and the curls of his hair.

• Origin: Austria, ca 1900
• Condition: near mint; tiny surface rubs at sharp points such as the fingertips
• Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall

Beautiful set of six sterling silver seafood forks in terrific Art Nouveau pattern by Joseph Seymour. Each piece is covered from the tip of the handle to the very beginnings of the tines with curves and stylized chrysanthemum-like blossoms in the Japonaise style. The tines are nicely curved and barbed. The backs are hallmarked by Seymour.

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 6-1/8” long. Weight: 87.5 grams.

An elegant and rare set of nine sterling silver demitasse spoons in Whiting’s highly desirable 1898 “Pompadour” pattern. The bowls have lemony traces of the original matte gilding. The handles are ornately decorated and have never been monogrammed. The backs are marked with Whiting’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent very sharp detail, fading of original gilding on bowls. Size: 3-7/8” long. Weight: 73.5 grams.

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. The bottom is flat with a polished pontil mark.

Origin: Southern New Jersey (Millville area), possibly Whitall Tatum Co., ca. 1900. Condition: the crown has one relatively small moon and the typical surface wear found on weights of this age (interestingly, most of this wear is around the periphery of the weight and not directly over the design); the bottom has the usual wear and somebody's etched initials (J.M.B.). Size: 3-1/4" diam.

Excellent lacquer cocktail shaker and six matching cocktail glasses featuring gilt and painted decoration of an elegant, exotic rooster perched on a cherry tree branch. The shape of the shaker's cap is reminiscent of a pagoda.

Origin: Japan, circa 1920. Condition: near mint. Size: shaker, 9" tall; glasses 4-1/4" tall.

Lovely Edwardian brooch featuring beautifully-crafted floral swirls and filigree of yellow gold surrounding a carved oval plaque of chrysoprase centered with a collet-set white sapphire. The pinstem is marked with partially illegible marks. The maker's mark "WW" (or "MM") is clearly stamped. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

Origin: Continental, circa 1910. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-11/16" x 13/16". Weight: 4.0 grams.

Outstanding majolica pitcher in the form of an owl. Modeled by the George Morley Co., this pattern is an icon of American majolica production. The colors are very nice, including the medium-pink interior. Unsigned.

Origin: American, 1884-91. Condition: sharp details, no chips, a hairline running along the back of the pitcher from near the top of the handle to the base, note that the dark areas that look like chips on the base are actually the remnants of adhesive used to hold on old felt pads. Size: 9" tall.

Fine Victorian 18K rose gold stick pin. The thre-dimensional pin is in the form of a horse's saddle. A bit of the blanket peeks out from underneath and is bordered in rose-cut diamonds. The pin is very nicely detailed. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.

Origin: England or America, ca 1880. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-1/4" overall length; head 5/8" x 5/8". Weight: 2.0 grams.

Outstanding brass match holder the pocket formed in the shape of a shield and punch-decorated in a stars and stripes pattern. The pocket is surmounted by a punch-decorated American eagle underneath the motto “In God We Trust”. This motto was adopted in 1863 as a subtle government reminder during the Civil War that God was on the side of the Union troops fighting to end the evil of slavery. The backplate has a punchwork border and also a hole for hanging.

Origin: America, ca. 1860s. Condition: excellent, all original, nice patina. Size: 3-15/16” x 2-1/2” x 5/8” deep.

An amusing late Victorian brooch fashioned as two crossed golf clubs. The shafts are worked in 18K yellow gold, while the heads are made in platinum. A small pearl, representing a golf ball rests against each club. Sporting jewelry is quite desirable, and golf-related pieces are particularly rare. The back retains the original pinstem and c-clasp. Stamped with French hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-3/4” x 3/8”. Weight: 2.0 grams.