Catalog (2409)

A finely crafted late Art Nouveau 18K gold ring in the form of a lion’s head clasping an old European cut diamond in its jaws. The engraving is very well done and displays great detail that extends halfway around the shank. The diamond is graded as H/VS1. The interior of the shank is engraved “P.R. 10 Avril 1924.” The ring is stamped with French 18K gold marks and with an unidentified master goldsmith’s mark.

• France, 1924
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 11/16” wide at front, tapering to 3/16” at back
• Finger Size: 10-12
• Weight: 13.0 grams
• Approximate Diamond Weight: .10 carat

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond, and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow”), a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem. The word “plus” is represented by a plus sign set with a diamond and the word “moins” with a minus sign set with rectangular synthetic rubies. This example is in the original style with a “crêpe de chine” textured background and laurel wreath border. The back is monogrammed “MG.” The front is signed A.A. and the bail is stamped with French 18K marks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 11/16” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring)
• Weight: 3.5 grams

A delicate early Art Deco gold chain worked in 14K white gold filigree. Each of the baton-shaped links is centered with a short length of ropetwist to create the filigree appearance. Marked “14K.”

• Origin: America, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 25-5/8” long
• Weight: 3.6 grams

An exceptional pair of Art Deco platinum, emerald, diamond and onyx cufflinks by Cartier. Each face is made from a melon-carved emerald bead dating to India's Mughal Empire (17th/18th centuries), topped with a round onyx disk centered with an old European cut diamond. The emeralds, variously weighing approximately 5.94, 5.49, 4.53 and 4.20 carats, totalling just over 20 carats. The emeralds have a strong green color with natural inclusions characteristic of the Chivor mines in Colombia. The diamonds are graded as F color, VVS clarity. The faces are joined with removable dog clip connectors. The fixed mountings are marked with the workshop master's mark used in the 1920s and French platinum marks and are signed “Cartier.” The cufflinks are presented in their original fitted, silk- and velvet-lined, fitted leather case.

Jacques Cartier was one of the first European jewelers to travel to India and to acquire antique emerald, ruby and sapphire beads from the maharajahs. These stones were re-set in Cartier's Paris workrooms. One of the most important commissions using carved Mughal beads was a brooch for Marjorie Merriweather Post. That brooch features emeralds carved in the same shape as those in these cufflinks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1920
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimensions: faces, approximately 7/16" diameter
• Condition: excellent; emeralds have surface wear consistent with 300-400 years of use as jewelry
• Weight: 8.4 grams
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .24 carat; emerald, 20.16 carats

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pour silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons," the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves, berries and shells in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker's mark, possibly Parrod's.

• Origin: France, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 15/15"
• Weight: 55.9 grams

A Burgundian first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin by acclaimed silversmith Marc Parrod. The style of this particular example is a bit of a departure from Parrod’s typical style. The handle is worked in the form of a snake, thought to represent the the snake from the Garden of Evil as a reminder that wine may lead to earthly temptation. But the bowl Parrod experimented with the decoration to the bowl. The elongated “godrons”, intended to help assess the color and clarity of wine, are pushed all the way up the sides of the bowl in a style more typical of the 18th century. A series of “perles” are arranged in a circle at the base of the “godrons.” Between the “godrons” Parrod has added repoussé decoration of grape clusters. And most interestingly, rather than a smooth surface, Parrod created a hammered texture that further enhances the wine’s color. The rim is engraved “Vernier Morey 1740.” The meaning of the engraving is unclear, but both names are familial names long associated with very good Burdundy wines. Obviously, the date was intended to represent the founding of a vineyard, a dynastic marriage, or some other major local history event. The rim is slightly out-of-round, but this is in the making where the engraving and maker’s marks were applied—a quirk that is not uncommon in French silver. The handle and body are stamped with the French first standard mark and Parrod’s master’s mark.

• Origin: France, ca. 1910
• Condition: very good, a small flattened area on the bottom edge under the handle visible when turned upside down
  • Dimensions: 3” x 4” x 1-1/4”
  • Weight: 88.6 grams

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.

Porcelain plate by Carl Schumann, ca. 1918, in a variation of the "Dresden Flowers" pattern. The scalloped border is reticulated and has a gilt rim. Origin: Bavaria. Size: 11" diameter. Condition: Mint.

Porcelain plate by Carl Schumann, ca. 1918, in a variation of the "Dresden Flowers" pattern. The scalloped border is reticulated and has a gilt rim. Origin: Bavaria. Size: 11" diameter. Condition: Mint.

Topaz Steuben crystal compote in a classic form by Frederick Carder. Unsigned. Excellent condition with only the very slightest surface wear in the bowl. 6" diam.; 4-1/8" tall.

Outstanding sterling silver pastry serving fork in Alvin's rare Art Nouveau "Majestic" pattern. Created in 1900, this pattern was a multi-motif design--each piece was decorated with a slightly different floral pattern. This piece features beautifully detailed daffodils and sinuous foliage. Excellent condition with sharp details and no monogram. 7-1/4" long.

Stunning set of four enameled cocktail glasses, almost certainly by Moser. The quality of the glass is superlative. The enameled rooster motif is magnified through the thick glass of the base, so that it looks quite large from inside the bowl (it might be a bit frightening after drinking an entire martini!) The bowls are lightly paneled and are edged in a thin line of gilding.

One glass has a flake at the bottom edge (see photo) and two pinpoint roughnesses along the top rim. Another has a couple of pinpoint roughnesses underneath the bottom edge (not noticeable from the top).

3-1/2" tall.

These are certainly among the finest cocktail glasses we've seen and would look great with a classic cocktail shaker featuring a rooster motif.

Porcelain decanter in the shape of a bellhop, complete with his ring of keys, decorated with overglaze red, black and pink enamels. The bottom is marked "Germany" and also has a decorator's mark.

Origin: Germany, ca. 1920. Condition: Light glaze crazing; a small chip on the cap and three small flakes at the bottom edge are visible in the photos (all could be easily repaired). Size: 9-1/2" tall.

Figural majolica tobacco humidor in the form of a ball player. The piece is decorated in beautiful, rich colors under the shiny tin glaze. The base is impressed "10830II" and is also painted with the decorator's mark.

Origin: Continental, probably the Low Countries, France or Germany, ca. 1900. Condition: Mint. Size: 6" tall.

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".

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".

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.

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.