Catalog (2407)

Very fine Victorian gold brooch composed of a coral bar surmounted by a gold grapevine motif, all against a scalloped-edge gold plaque, hung with three cone-shaped gold pendants. The back retains the original tube hinge and c-clasp. There is also a ring for attaching a safety chain. The brooch was made by Ball, Black and Company of New York City.

An matching brooch is in Martha Fales collection of important American jewelry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum's collection, comprising approximately 140 pieces, is considered the world's finest collection of American jewelry. The brooch, with matching earrings and studs is pictured on page 136 of the April 2002 edition of "The Magazine Antiques."

Origin: New York, circa 1860-70. Condition: excellent. Size: 1-1/8" x 1-1/2".

Edwardian enameled 14K gold “bean-back” cufflinks. The faces are decorated with elegant engine-turned engraving and a wide border of opaque white enamel. The shanks are marked for gold content, and also for the maker, Wordley, Allsopp & Bliss Co. (1909-15) of Newark, NJ.

Origin: America, 1909-15. Condition: faces are excellent with no damage to enamel; the “bean” backs have the usual light dings from normal wear and one shank is slightly bent (does not affect wearability, stability or appearance). Size: 13/16” x 9/16”. Weight: 6.0 grams.

Lovely 14K yellow gold Retro Modern brooch set with blue sapphires and diamond. The wreath-like form of this pin is very unusual, and is especially effective when placed against dark fabric. One side of the wreath is anchored by a spray of sapphire "flowers" tied with a diamond-set ribbon. The setting is quite heavy. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold.

Origin: America, circa 1935. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-1/8" x 1-1/4". Weight: 9.5 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, .55 carat; diamond, .10 carat.

A very nice Victorian silver brooch set with agates. The brooch is shaped as a modified Jerusalem cross. The stones, including banded agate and bloodstone, have good color contrast and are surrounded with delicate engraved decoration. Silver and gold jewelry set with Scottish agate became very popular when Queen Victoria started the fashion for all things Scottish. The back retains the original c-clasp and extended pinstem.

The Jerusalem cross, first appearing during the crusades, is made up of five interlocking crosses that represent the five European nations active in the crusades—Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The crosses also reference the five principalities of the kingdom of Jerusalem and the five wounds inflicted during the crucifixion.

Origin: Scotland or England, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-17/32” x 1-5/16”. Weight: 5.25 grams.

An attractive 1950s 18K yellow gold brooch prong-set with round brilliant-cut chrysoprase. The stones are brighter green than usual—nearly an emerald color—and could easily be mistaken for emeralds except for their translucent quality. The gold setting is reminiscent of a cactus. The gold surfaces are nicely textured. The back retains the original pinstem and trombone clasp with French 18K gold hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-3/4” x 13/16”. Weight: 7.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .2 carat.

An elegant modernist-style brooch in 14K yellow gold accented with pearls, diamonds and sapphires. The brooch is composed of a pair of gold arcs, one highly-polished and the other textured. The intersection of the arcs is set with a cluster of variously sized cultured pearls interspersed with prong-set round brilliant-cut diamonds and blue sapphires. The pearls range in size from 3.6mm to 6.75 mm, and are of very fine Mikimoto-like quality. The body color is cream with a silvery overtone. The nacre is thick and the surfaces are good. The sapphires and diamonds are also of good quality and nice color. The back is marked “14K”.

Origin: America, ca. 1965. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-9/16” x 1-5/8”. Weight: 12.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .06 carat; sapphire, .2 carat.

A handsome late Victorian stick pin featuring a reverse-carved crystal depicting a bulldog. Essex crystals, especially those showing dogs and sporting subjects, were very popular during the last quarter of the 19th century. This example is nicely carved and subtly colored in taupes and blacks. The dog wears a red collar. The crystal is simply set in a yellow gold mounting. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: very good. Size: head, 9/16” x 1/2"; overall length, 2-5/8”. Weight: 2.5 grams.

A very fine 13-piece gilt silver coffee or tea service by Bruckmann & Soehne, one of Imperial Germany's leading silversmiths. Peter Bruckmann established the Deutscher Werkbund in 1907 to bring designs by the major German artists into the public realm. This service, strikingly decorated with classical figures, is a quintessential example. The slightly angular spade-shaped handles look forward to the Art Deco, while the subject matter itself depicts traditional Greek gods and goddesses. The spoons and tongs are presented in their original fitted case lined with silk and kid leather. The interior of the lid is embossed with the retailer's mark. Each piece is hallmarked with Bruckmann's hallmark, including the Imperial warrant.

Origin: Germany, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: spoons, 3-3/4" long; tongs, 3-7/8" long. Weight: 114.50 grams.

A very good bronze figure of a hound by Piere-Jules Mene (1810-1877). The hound stands alert look over his shoulder at the viewer. The rectangular base is well-textured with rocks and branches, typical of Mene's style. The shape of the base suggests that the casting is from Mene's own foundry and dates to the 1840s. The dogs is nicely detailed. The figure is finished in a dark black/brown patina. The front left corner of the base is signed P. J. Mene. There is no foundry mark.

The tail is cast separately, then attached to the rest of the figure with a threaded bronze pin. It is possibly an early repair, but the perfect match of patina and the precision of the fit suggests that the tail was intentionally cast separately.

Origin: France, ca. 1848. Condition: excellent; a small rub to patina on the back side of the hound's hind flank; see note about the tail above. Size: 5-1/4" x 2-1/8" x 3-1/2" high.

A pretty 18Kyellow gold pin in the shape of a salamander from the reign of Emperor Napoleon III. Animal brooches were very popular in the mid-19th century, and reptiles were especially favored. The salamander has a long history in France, and was the personal symbol of King François whose rule began in the late 15th century. This example is beautifully engraved with delicate scales, claws, and eyes. The back is set with a line of alternating seed pearls and Persian turquoise cabochons. The head is set with a larger turquoise. The original clasp is marked with the “tête de cheval” hallmark used only outside Paris between 1838 and 1919.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent. Size: 1-7/16” long. Weight: 3.5 grams.

A lovely cut glass perfume bottle cut from cranberry to clear. The design incorporates wide miters separated by combinations of fans, strawberry diamond and star motifs. The shoulders of the bottle are panel cut, and the base is finished with a 24-point star. The lapidary-cut stopper is original to the bottle and is engraved with the same number as the inside of the bottle's neck.

Origin: Europe, possibly Val St. Lambert, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 5-3/4" tall.

A nice pair of 14K yellow gold cufflinks in the form of horse stirrups. The toggle backs are marked “585” and “Germany 14Kt” and have the maker’s mark “MV”.

Origin: Germany, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4” x 5/8”. Weight: 9.0 grams.

A classic pair of mid-century 14K yellow gold cufflinks, the faces comprising gold space-age swoops cradling oval cabochons of nephrite. The toggles are marked "14K" and have an unidentified maker's mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4" x 9.16". Weight: 12.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 6.38 cts.

A beautiful Art Deco green overlay cut crystal perfume bottle in Design "7623" by Cristalleries de Nancy. The bottle is cut in alternating pillars accented with stars and printies. The hollow-blown stopper is cut to match, with a large start at the apex. The base is stamped with the acid signature "Cristal Nancy France." This particular pattern is more often seen in cranberry overlay and in a round shape rather than square. The pattern was likely designed by Auguste Houillon, the company's artistic director.

Cristalleries de Nancy was established in 1921 and after winning the gold medal at the 1925 Art Deco Exhibition in Paris, it became the primary challenger to Daum during the Art Deco period. Luxury perfume bottles and dresser accessories were the company's specialty. The company closed in 1934.

Origin: France, 1921-34. Condition: excellent, no damage to bottle, the stopper has a small moon below the surface at the very bottom of the stopper. Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" x 5".

An uncommon boxed set of twelve Art Deco sterling silver cocktail picks with red bakelite finials in the shape of maraschino cherries. The picks are presented in their original velvet and silk-lined fitted box. Each pick is marked “Sterling Silver”. It's quite rare to find a set of a dozen picks rather than the standard six.

• Origin: America, ca. 1920.
• Condition: picks are excellent; box shows expected wear for the age.
• Dimensions: picks, 3” long.
• Weight: 24.8 gr.

An uncommon silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a Mexican silver coin featuring the likeness of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, the last Spanish emperor to rule over Mexico. The coin is dated 1821, the year Mexico became independent of Spain. The tastevin is constructed in classic French style, with a coiled snake handle, but it lacks the embellishments usually seen on French examples. The bowl is simply decorated with a hammered surface. The tastevin probably dates to the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, who ruled Mexico’s Second Empire (1864-67). Maximilian was established as emperor by the French Emperor Napoleon III, and French decorative arts became very popular among the wealthy of Mexican society.

• Origin: Mexico, ca. 1864.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 cm (3-9/16 x 4-9/16 in).
• Weight: 112.0 grams.

An elegant Art Nouveau 14K gold enameled honeymoon pin featuring a diamond-set blossom enameled in delicate shades of iridescent translucent rose, yellow and white enamel set against a gold crescent moon. Delicate floral pins of this sort were popular gifts for new brides. In Victorian symbology, flowers could represent honey and crescents, the moon. Thus, honey + moon = honeymoon. The back is marked "14K" and has an unidentified maker's mark.

• Origin: America, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent; no enamel damage; all original
• Dimensions: 1-1/16" x 5/8"
• Weight: 3.0 grams

Handsome pair of vintage 14K yellow gold cufflinks, the elongated diamond-shaped faces set with cabocochon-cut blue sapphires. The stones have excellent, bright color. The faces are lightly textured in a starburst pattern emanating from the sapphires toward the faceted edges. The fronts are attached with solid connectors to the toggle backs. The connectors are marked "585" for 14K.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1950.

Condition: excellent, all original.

Size: 5/8" x 7/8".

Weight: 5.0 grams.

Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .62 carat.