Catalog (2428)

A pretty pair of Dresden porcelain candlesticks with traditional hand-painted floral decoration. Dresden candlesticks are rather uncommon. The squared bases are intricately pierced and decorated with flowers and gilt highlights. The columns are similarly decorated. Bobeches separate the columns from the candle sockets. The bobeches are original and have not been repaired, but at some point, a previous owner decided to paint her own flowers on the bottom sides of the bobeches and to add more gilding along the rim. Each candlestick is marked by an unidentified maker in underglaze blue, and is also marked "Dresden Germany".

Origin: Germany, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent with alternations as noted above. Size: 9-1/2" tall.

A very fine early cut crystal wine decanter with etched grapevine decoration. The neck is panel cut and accented with a diamond-cut ring at the base. The panel cutting extends past the ring on the shoulders and resumes at the base. The sides are beautifully decorated with an etched grapevine pattern. The etching is finely done. The base is star-cut. The hollow-blown stopper is panel cut to match the decanter's neck. The inside of the neck and the base of the stopper are etched with matching numbers, indicating this is the original stopper. The glass is quite heavy and very brilliant. If American, the decanter is probably the product of the New England Glass Company. If European, it is either English or Bohemian.

Origin: probably American, ca. 1850. Condition: the stopper has a 1/8" flake at the very top and a few small roughnesses at the high points around the periphery, some discoloration to the interior, otherwise excellent. Size: 14-1/2" tall.

An interesting pair of 14K gold earstuds, the rectangular faces worked in a textured basketweave design. One earring is in white gold and the other is in yellow. Both are centered with a prong-set round-cut diamond of good clarity and color. Marked "14K".

Origin: America. Condition: excellent. Size: 13/32" x 1/4". Weight: 3.0 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .2 carat.

A vintage pair of cufflinks, the faces constructed of banded agate carved in the shape of antique pistols. The stones are nicely matched and have attractive markings in shades of orange, caramel and cream. The silver mountings are marked “Sterling”.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no chips to agate. Size: 1-1/8” x 7/16”.

A wonderful Art Nouveau stickpin depicting a native American warrior chief in 14K yellow gold. The man’s beautifully detailed face is surrounded by long hair and a feather war bonnet, the band centered by a small bead-set old European cut diamond. A quiver of arrows is slung across the chest. The pin is marked “14K” and has the maker’s mark for Krementz.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp details. Size: head, 11/16” x 3/8”; overall length, 2-1/2”. Weight: 1.8 grams.

An incredibly detailed sterling silver pin depicting a boxer dog. The workmanship is simply outstanding, with every tiny detail of the dog’s fur, wrinkles, etc. fully worked in this deeply three-dimensional brooch. The back is hallmarked “Ballou Sterling”. B. A. Ballou was founded in Providence, RI in the 1870s.

Origin: America, ca. 1920. Size: 1-7/8” x 2-3/16”. Weight: 40.9 gr.

A delicate 14K gold crescent pin worked as a bough of enameled laurel leaves bound at the middle with a golden ribbon. The rich green leaves are punctuated with small seed pearls. The back of the pin is stamped for 14K gold and has the mark for H.A. Kirby of Providence, RI.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, very minor flakes to enamel when viewed under 10x magnification. Dimensions: 1-7/8" long. Weight: 3.1 grams.

A fun figural sterling silver rollover jigger in the form of a beehive. The jigger is made to rest on the top rim of a cocktail shaker or glass. Once full, it can simply be tipped over to avoid spills. The beehive shape is completed with a silver bee at the top. One handle is marked "Sterling."

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall; 5-1/4" wide. Weight: 26.5 gr.

A delightful Imperial Austrian silver brooch set with three reverse-carved Essex crystals by the Imperial jeweler Georg Adam Scheid. The domed pin is finely engraved in a basket-weave motif and is pierced by three Essex crystals, each depicting a lap dog, perhaps a Pekingese. The dogs are well carved and colored, with tiny blue bows under their chins. The crystals never had a mother-of-pearl backing like those produced in England and France. Except in France, Essex crystals were not widely used in Continental European jewelry. The back retains the original extended pinstem and c-clasp. The hinge is stamped with Imperial Austrian hallmarks for 800 silver and with Scheid’s hallmark. The brooch retains its patina, but could be polished if desired.

Origin: Austria, ca. 1880. Condition: all original, silver is excellent, some wear to the paint on the crystals. Dimensions: 1-1/16" diameter. Weight: 8.3 gr.

A colorful vintage Germany Santa Claus squeeker toy. He has a composition face and cotton batting beard. His suite is red and blue wool felt with white trim. The boots are pressed paperboard. The body conceals the bellows for the squeeker. The bellows still moves, but no longer makes noise. The original “Made In Germany” sticker is still inside one foot.

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent painted details, a 1/4" hole to one side of the felt hood, no noise
• Height: 7”

A pretty Victorian mercury glass vase in rare peacock blue. The surface is frosted and enhanced with painted decoration of fuchsias an autumnal colors. Some areas of the background are left unfrosted for a nice contrast. Blue is a very unusual color for mercury glass pieces.

Origin: America, ca. 1850. Condition: very good, no chips or cracks, lead plug is missing and some oxidation in the foot and light oxidized pinpoints the main part of the body. Size: 8” tall.

A very nice mauchline ware wooden hinged box decorated with seven Washington, DC scenes. American scenes are more difficult to find than English or Scottish scenes, and to find seven different images of the Washington DC area is most uncommon. The box retains its original blue silk lining. With the exception of Mount Vernon, all the buildings had been completed only 5-15 years before this piece was produced.

Origin: Scotland, ca. 1890. Dimensions: 7 x 4-7/8 x 3-7/8 inches.

This lovely enameled pansy, originally a screwback earring, has been converted to a colorful ring with the addition of sterling silver shank. The pansy is enameled in bright shades of purple and yellow. The enamel has a slight iridescent effect and is translucent so the engraved silver shines through for added texture. In the Victorian language of flowers, the pansy generally conveyed the meaning, “Think of me.” Purple and yellow pansies more specifically meant, “Forget me not.” The back is marked “Sterling.”

• Origin: America, ca. 1930.
• Condition: excellent; no enamel damage.
• Dimensions: 3/4 x 3/4".
• Finger Size: 6 1/4.
• Weight: 3.8 grams.

Outstanding antique German snowman Christmas candy container. We've had many vintage Christmas candy containers, but never this design. The entire papier-mache container is covered with red and white chenille. The snowman straddles the container, making a sort of basket handle. His black eyes are glass and his nose is composition. The inside of the basket is marked "Germany."

• Origin: Germany ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: diameter, 4-1/2"; height, 5-1/2"

A set of six sterling silver coffee spoons by Asprey & Co. Each spoon has a brownish-black bakelite “coffee bean”—a decorative device popular in England during the Art Deco period. Each spoon is fully hallmarked for Asprey, 1931. The spoons are presented in their original silk- and velvet-lined fitted box, the lid of which is imprinted “Asprey/166 Bond St/London”.

Origin: England, 1931. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 3-7/8” long. Weight: 43.0 grams.

Art glass vase featuring swirls of dark bluish-green glass against a amber-yellow background. The overall look is very handsome. The base has a polished pontil.

Origin: probably American, circa 1970. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, appropriate wear on base. Size: 4-1/2" high; 5-1/4 diam.

A lovely set of mid-century enameled sterling silver coffee spoons by Henry Clifford Davis. Davis focused mostly on smaller objects, often enhanced with enamel. The spoons have unusual melon-ribbed bowls and elegant translucent guilloche enamel handles with an engraved Greek key-type design. Each is fully stamped with Davis' hallmarks and the date letter for 1950. The set is presented in its original fitted box, the lid marked by Finnigans of Bond Street, one of the first luxury goods stores in London.

• Origin: Birmingham, England, 1950.
• Condition: excellent; no enamel damage; box is also excellent.
• Dimensions: 3-7/8" long.
• Weight: 65.9 grams.

A classic figural sterling silver thimble jigger, the rim ornately engraved “Only A Thimble Full.” The workmanship is very good and the engraving among the nicest we’ve seen. Marked only “Sterling,” it was likely made by either Thomae or Webster.

• Origin: America, 1935
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 1-7/8” tall
• Weight: 37.1 grams

A classic figural sterling silver thimble jigger by Thomae & Co. The rim is engraved “Only A Thimble Full.” The interior retains a softly gilt surface. Several companies made variations of thimble jiggers, but those by Thomae are among the best because of their superior weight and workmanship.

• Origin: America, ca. 1935
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 2” tall
• Weight: 35.6 grams

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a large chrome snail on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco children’s books illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side job designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials that resemble cherries. Cocktail pick holders (“porte-piques”) were once a fixture of every Parisian bar and café. Today, they are used in home bars to spear olives, cherries or onions in a cocktail, or so serve small hors d’eouvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, no chrome loss, a tiny bit of scuffing on the wood finish
• Dimensions: 4-7/8” x 2-1/2” x 4-1/2”

Lovely Renaissance style gilt copper jewel casket by Jenning Brothers. The interior is fitted with the original blue velvet lining. The center of the lid features a coat of arms. Origin: America. The decorative bottom is marked "JB" with the pattern number "1377". Size: 4.5" long; 3" wide; 2" tall. Condition: Slight rubs through gilding to copper base at corners.

Attractive and unusual Victorian inlaid wood stereographgraphoscope. When the lid is raised and a stereograph is inserted in the holder, the viewer looks through the magnifying portal for a realistic three dimensional view.

Origin: probably English, ca. 1850. Condition: very good, although there is some chipping of the veneer along the edges. Size: 5.25" x 3.25" x 1".

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".

Very nice 14 karat yellow and rose gold brooch in the Retro Modern style, set with a single deeply lustrous 4.5mm pearl. The circle is rose gold, and the leaves are a slightly green-tinted yellow gold. The interplay of gold colors is a signature of period Retro Modern jewelry. The back is marked by the jeweller, A. J. Hedges & Co.

Origin: Newark, NJ, circa 1935. Condition: virutally mint, all original. Size: 1-11/16" x 1-1/8".

A very rare and elegant sterling silver fish server in Whiting's fine 1891 "Louis XV" pattern. The blade retains traces of a very light lemony gilding to protect from the saltiness of fish. The back is marked with Whiting's hallmark alond with the patent date. The server remains in its original box crafted of leather and silk. The inside lid is stamped "G. Seifert/Quebec".

Origin: America, circa 1890s. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, period monogram "AOL"; the leather box has considerable scuffs. Size: 9-1/2" long.

Superb sterling silver tongs in the "Kings" pattern. These are of the finest workmanship, exhibiting crisp detail on a very heavy blank. Fully hallmarked for London, 1842, with the Victoria head duty mark. The maker's mark is "WE" in conjoined circles.

Origin: London, England, 1842. Condition: virtually mint, period monogram "JJ". Size: 6".

A set of eight sterling silver cocktail forks in Alvin's popular 1953 "French Scroll" pattern. The design is very elegant and would blend nicely with a wide variety of other patterns. The forks could also be used for seafood. The backs are hallmarked by Alvin and have the pattern name.

Origin: America, circa 1960s. Condition: excellent, no monograms. Size: 5-3/4" long.

Fabulous bracelet composed completely of violet-colored glass flowers and green leaves strung on an amber glass chain. This is one of the best pieces of early glass jewelry we've encountered. The delicacy and detail of the modeling is outstanding, as are the colors. The bracelet retains its original brass c-clasp.

Origin: probably Czechoslovakia, circa 1920. Condition: all original, all pieces intact, two flowers have minute flakes. Size: 7-1/2" long.

Extremely rare dessert plate featuring transfer decoration commemorating Napoleon’s great victory in the Battle of Friedland. The center decoration is printed in color and the rim is hand colored over a black transfer of crowned “N”s encircled by laurel wreaths and military decorations, alternating with escutcheons with the Emperor’s signature hat and sword. The back of the plate is stamped with the maker’s mark for Boch Freres of La Louviere, Belgium. The monarchy was in and out of favor frequently during the 19th century. Few Napoleon plates survived the period.

Origin: Belgium, late 19th century. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 8-1/8” diameter.

Handsome Napoleon III-era 18K gold brooch in the form of an eagle with spread wings. Eagle motifs were very popular in French jewelry of the 1860's and 70's. This example features a hook from which a lady could hang her gold watch. The eagle's beak holds a small ring that originally would have been attached to a tiny safety chain for the watch. This piece is decorated in the repousse manner, meaning that the design was created by working the gold from the back side rather than engraving the front. The detail is outstanding. The back retains the original pinstem and c-clasp. The back is stamped with the French "tete d'aigle" 18K gold hallmark and with the jeweler's mark (BF).

Origin: France, circa 1870. Condition: excellent, crisp detail. Size: 2-1/4" x 9/16" (excluding watch hook). Weight: 2.5 grams.

Very unusual glass paperweight from the New England Glass Company. The weight is worked in a patriotic theme with shards of red, white and blue opaque glass rods making up the scrambled design--possibly in celebration of America's centennial in 1876. The center of the setup is punctuated with a large icepick bubble--a technique I have never seen used in an American scrambled weight. There is also a rare silhouette cane of a pine tree. The crown is high and has a lightly swirled finish. The basal concavity is quite deep and irregularly finished.

Origin: America, circa 1876. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, no deep scratches. Size: 2-1/2" diameter; 2" high.

A unusually fine example of a scrambled weight by the New England Glass Company. The weight includes latticinio twists and millefiore canes. The set-up includes a complex red, white and blue cane (visible through the concave bottom of the weight) formed of a heart silhouette surrounded by stars. The canes are tightly packed for a very nice appearance. The glass is quite clear.

Origin: America, circa 1870. Condition: very good, a few small surface nicks on the crown, no cracks. Size: 2-5/8” diameter; 1-7/8” high.

Very rare Staffordshire pottery child's plate with an ABC rim surrounding a hand-colored transfer print of a railroad steam engine emerging from a tunnel. The plate is very colorful and is highly desirable because of the train decoration.

Origin: Staffordshire, England, ca 1895. Condition: very good, two very tight hairlines about 1" long, a couple of potting and painting flaws. Size: 7-1/2" diameter.

Lovely late Victorian enameled 14K yellow gold stickpin in the form of a four-leaf clover. Half of each petal is decorated in shaded enamel and the other halves are set with minute seed pearls. The stickpin has the twisted stem that generally indicates an early date. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold.

Origin: America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, all original. Size: head, 7/16” x 7/16”; 2-15/32” overall length. Weight: 1.5 grams.

Elegant Napoleon III ivory letter opener and book mark with a French silver handle with repousse decoration. The piece serve as a paper cutter or letter opener, but the double blade can slip over the edge of a page to serve as a book mark. The handle is decorated in a foral pattern and has a reserve which was never monogramed. The end has a loop so that the opener/mark could have a ribbon attached or so that it could be worn from a chatelaine. The handle is marked with French silver hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, a tiny nick at the very point of the ivory. Size: 5-29/32" long.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITEM CANNOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

Elegant sterling silver basket of sterling silver, pierced to reveal a cobalt blue glass liner. The neo-Gothic style piercing is accented with a tiny band of beading just below. The basket is raised on a foot. The swing handle is unadorned. The bottom is hallmarked by Redlich.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no dings or cracks, no monogram. Size: 5-1/2” tall to top of handle; 4-1/4” diameter. Silver Weight: 122.5 grams.