Catalog (2433)

Extremely elegant Louis XV-style French silver master salt dip with cobalt glass liners. The shapes of the containers remind me of Louis XV bombe commodes. The repousse design is very architectural in nature, and makes use of numerous decorative elements such as fluted columns, ribbons, cartouches, and pendant bellflowers. Surprisingly, none of the four cartouches has ever been monogrammed. Although intended for salt only, this piece could be used today to serve both salt and pepper. The server is marked with the Paris 1st standard hallmark for 950 silver (purer than sterling silver) and an unidentified maker’s mark “R&D”. The cobalt liners are of very high quality crystal and might possibly be the work of Baccarat.

Origin: Paris, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, no monogram. Size: 5-1/4” long; 1-3/4” wide; 4-1/2” tall.

Stunning Imperial Russian lacquered tea caddy. The top is handpainted with a scene of a Boyar cradling a princess in his arms as they ride a large wolf through the forest--no doubt a scene from a Russian fairy tale. The quality of decoration is superb. The inside of the caddy is lacquered red.

Origin: Russia, circa 1850. Condition: very good; the surface is alligatored but completely intact and colorful; there are a scattered white spots that look like snow along one side of the lid (less visible than in the photos). Size: 4-3/4" x 3-1/2" x 2-1/2".

Pretty 14K yellow gold locket, the front cover engraved with a floral motif centered by a 10-point round brillian cut diamond. The diamond has very nice clarity and color. The inside rim is stamped with the maker's mark "WEH 14K".

Origin: America, circa 1930. Condition: excellent, no monograms or removals. Size: 1-3/16" x 15/16". Weight: 7.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .1 carat.

Rare, heavy and handsome 5-piece dress set by famed 20th century jewelry designer Cipullo. The double-sided cufflinks and studs are designed as highly-detail scallop shells set with cabochon natural rubies. The workmanship is superb, utilizing combinations of highly polished and matte surfaces to achieve realism. The rubies have very rich, even color. The overall style is similar to the shell designs of Verdura. The cufflink faces are joined by chains stamped with French hallmarks for 18K gold. The findings of the studs are marked “18K”. Cipullo designed for many of the major jewelers of the last century—Tiffany, Cartier, etc.—but also designed independently. This set is part of his independent production and was originally purchased from his estate.

Origin: France, circa 1955. Condition: mint. Size: cufflink large faces, 11/16” x 9/16”; cufflink small faces, 9/16” x 15/32”; studs, 19/32” x 1/2". Weight: 30.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.54 carats.

Gorgeous set of 12 English sterling silver cocktail forks, the handles completely worked in basse-taille enamel. The enamel, in translucent shades of cornflower blue and turquoise, is elegantly accented with areas of exposed parcel-gilt silver. The sides of the silver handles bear full hallmarks for London, 1932 (the maker's mark is TS).

Origin: London, 1932. Condition: 7 are perfect, 2 have nearly unnoticeable enamel flakes (about 1/16"), 2 have 1/8" flakes, 1 has more substantial damage to the back of the handle, but can still be used. Size: 5-7/8" long.

Extremely rare relief-molded jug by the Sandford Pottery in Wareham, Dorset. This jug was designed to honor the contributions of volunteers during the Crimean War (1853-56). The sides of the jug are decorated with a procession of a soldier, a sailor, a marine and a Scots Highlander. Under the lip is a representation of a young Queen Victoria. Above the foot is impressed "Our Army & Navy & Brave Volunteers". The coloring is very rich and the majolica glaze very deep and glossy. The design was registered on September 28, 1860. Sandford Pottery was a small firm and only produced three relief-molded jugs. The jug is listed in "Relief-Moulded Jugs: 1820-1900" by R.K. Henrywood.

Origin: England, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, no chips, or cracks. Size: 10-5/8" tall.

Very nice Chinese export porcelain tea pot in Canton decoration. The slightly tapered drum-shaped body is decorated with typical Canton scenes of islands, bridges, boats, etc. and is accented with a raincloud border along the top edge. The lid, spout and handle are also decorated with typical motifs. The color is very nice with terrific clarity and depth. Likewise, the body is of nice color.

Origin: China, circa 1820. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 6-1/2” tall to top of finial; 8-1/8” wide from spout to handle.

Very rare sterling silver oyster ladle in Whiting's classic 1880 "Bead" pattern. The simplicity of the handle decoration is relieved by the ruffled edge of the bowl. It's simplicity enables the pattern to work with a wide range of other American Colonial-inspired patterns. The oyster ladle form is quite rare, as only the most complete silver services ever had such serving pieces. Hallmarked with Whiting's early hallmark and "Pat Appd For" (indicating an early date).

Origin: America, 1880. Condition: excellent, no monogram, sharp detail, a pinpoint ding in the bowl. Size: 10-1/2" long. Weight: 120.0 grams.

Very good Staffordshire pottery inkwell in the form of a country cottage beside a tree populated by a mother bird and her nest of young. A Dalmatian watches the birds from the ground. The cushion base is accented with a gilt line.

Origin: England, circa 1860. Condition: very good, normal glaze crazing; some ink discoloration to base, no chips or cracks. Size: 4-7/8" x 2-1/16" x 4-3/4" tall.

Pretty porcelain vase handpainted in soft shades of blue and green over a gently shaded blue background. The porcelain is of the finest quality and the glaze is impeccable. The bottom is marked with the green stamp with the date mark for 1961. The bottom also has the artist’s lowercase initials “SY” and the pattern number “2679/295”.

Origin: Denmark, 1961. Condition: mint. Size: 7-1/2” tall.

Very nice Art Nouveau 10K yellow gold stickpin in the form of a lady’s head. A 4-pt. old mine-cut diamond of very good quality is set at the end of her trailing hair. The surface of the gold has the “bloomed” texture characteristic of Art Nouveau jewelry.

Origin: probably American, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: head, 11/16” x 7/16”; overall length, 2-7/8”. Weight: 1.5 grams.

Terrifically stylish Art Deco cufflinks fashioned as domed silver discs with 14K gold appliqués reminiscent of Georg Jensen’s “Blossom” designs. The quality of workmanship is excellent. The connectors are marked “900”.

Origin: probably Denmark, circa 1920. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: larger faces, 5/8” diameter. Weight: 10.0 grams.

Silver gilt cufflinks encrusted with 2.2 carats of rose-cut pyrope garnets. The garnets have beautiful color, without being too flashy. The settings and overall workmanship is very nice. The toggle backs have Czech hallmarks for 900 silver.

Origin: Bohemia, Czech Republic, circa 1965. Condition: excellent. Size: 15/16” x 1/2”. Approximate Gemstone Weight: 2.2 carats. Weight: 11.25 grams.

Handsome cufflinks with hexagonal faces linked by chains to torpedo backs. The faces are engraved with an intricate engine-turned design. The backs are marked with Finnish hallmarks for Helsinki. The maker’s mark is illegible, but the gold content is “890” which translates to around 21K.

Origin: Finland, circa 1930. Condition: excellent, all original, one torpedo has a few dings on the underneath side. Size: faces, 5/8” wide. Weight: 5.0 grams.

Superb early Gorham lady’s purse, the exterior decorated in the Aesthetic taste. The surface is matte-finished and accented with areas of matte-finished and glossy parcel gilding. Each side features a triangular area of engraving representing what appears to be a bough of olive branches with olives. The purse’s beveled edges are glossy and are decorated simply with rows of bright-cut engraving. The purse opens with a push on the thumbpiece to reveal an interior divided into three compartments and lined with the original teal blue silk shantung. The purse retains its original chain. The inside rim of the purse is marked with the earliest form of Gorham’s lion-anchor-G hallmark, along with the pattern number “210”, “Sterling” and the date letter for 1871.

Origin: America, 1871. Condition: excellent, a small ding in the engraved area on one side (visible in raking light), all original, the silk lining with almost no wear. Size: 3-1/2” wide, 2-1/2” high, 1-1/2” thick, 11” chain. Weight: 68.0 grams.

Very nice cold-painted Vienna bronze figure of a dachsund. The painting is finely done in shades of black and brown. Unmarked.

Origin: Austria, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, minimal wear at high points such as the tip of the nose and the tip of the tail. Size: 1-3/4" x 1-1/16".

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.

Terrific figural porcelain creamer in the form of a lobster. This example has very nice painted details--note how the paint fades from red to pink to white at the edges of the claws. The bottom is stamped with the blue mark.

Origin: Germany, circa 1919. Condition: excellent, only a few tiny paint scrapes; no chips or cracks. Size: 4" high, 5" across.