Catalog (2438)

A finely executive elephant ivory seal paste box from the late Meiji period. The cover features a pair of elephants marching around the edges, while the center medallion is engraved with the face of a screeching monkey. The carvings are lightly heightened with ink or another pigment to bring out the details. The elephant often symbolized intellectual strength, while the monkey was thought to ward off evil spirits and thieves. The lid still fits tightly.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, both portions have crazing, but no open cracks. Size: 2-9/16” diameter; 1-9/16” high.

A very pretty pair of Shakudo earrings in the form of partially folded fans. The dark metal surfaces are delicately enhanced with silver cranes amid gold plum blossoms, rocks and tree stumps. The crane was used in Japanese art to symbolize longevity. The fans are suspended from 18K rose gold wires. After the collapse of the feudal system in Japan, the artists who created elaborately decorated swords turned to jewelry as a way to express their creativity. Sometimes shakudo pieces were turned into jewelry with the addition of later mountings, but in this case the earring fittings appear to be original. It is also rather unusual for shakudo jewelry to have gold findings rather than silver.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: maximum width 11/16”; 1-11/16” long to top of earwire.

A magnificent bracelet comprising seven gold coins spanning the reigns of six Medieval and Renaissance French kings from 1429 to 1610. L to R: (1) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Henri III, dated 1587; (2) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Charles IX, dated 1566; (3) écu d’or au soleil du dauphiné from the reign of François I, issued 1515-1528; (4) royal d’or from the reign of Charles VII le Victorieux, issued 1429-1431; (5) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of François I, issued 1515-1519; (6) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Henri IV, issued 1590-1610; and (7) henri d’or from the reign of Henri II, dated 1559. The larger center coin is 24K gold and the other six are 23K. The coins are mounted, probably around 1900, in simple 18K gold collet settings that do not detract from the beauty of the coins. All of the coins are very near the top rarity ratings for coin collectors, and had they not been set into the bracelet, their current numismatic value would be around $22,000. The pendant came from the family that owned the Medieval French coin pendant in our collection.

Henri III (r 1575-1589) was the last king from the House of Valois. He was bullied by his mother, Catherine de Médicis, tried to marry Queen Elizabeth I despite being openly gay, and was eventually assassinated by a Catholic zealot.

Charles IX (r 1562-1589) was Henri III’s older brother and was also bullied by their mother Catherine with whom he orchestrated the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre that killed 70,000 French Protestants.

François I (r 1515-1547) was France’s Renaissance king, known for building projects such as the Châteaux at Fontainebleau, Amboise, and Chambord, and for bringing Leonardo da Vinci (and the Mona Lisa) to France in the artist’s later years.

Charles VII “le Victorieux” or "le Bien Servi (“the Victorious” or “the Well-Served”) (r 1422-1461) was put on the throne through the efforts of Jeanne d’Arc who helped him win the Hundred Years’ War. The coin was minted right around the same year Jeanne was burned at the stake for witchcraft.

Henri IV “le Grand,” “le Bon Roi,” or “le Vert Galant” (“the Great,” “the Good King,” or “the Green Gallant”) (r 1590-1610) was the first king from the House of Bourbon. Though he was originally a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism to claim the throne, famously remarking “Paris is worth a Mass.” He pardoned all Protestants with the Edict of Nantes and was promptly assassinated by yet another Catholic zealot. He was called “le Vert Galant” because of his prowess with numerous simultaneous mistresses even at what was considered the very advanced age of 56.

Henri II (r 1547-1559) was responsible for bringing the previously mentioned notorious Catherine de Médicis to France as his bride. He created the world’s first patent system for new inventions but spent much of the rest of his time cutting out the tongues of Protestant ministers or burning them at the stake. All three of his sons became Kings of France, including one that Henri married off to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was struck in the eye with a lance during a jousting tournament and died of sepsis and brain damage.

• Origin: France, 1429-1610
• Condition: excellent; sharp detail on coins
• Dimensions: 8” long, 1-3/16” maximum width
• Weight: 37.8 grams.

A classic coin pendant in a simple 18K gold frame, but featuring a spectacularly rare and beautiful “Franc a cheval” coin from the reign of Jean II “le Bon” (“the Good.”) The coin was minted in Paris for just a little more than three years, December 1360-April 64. The front of the coin depicts the king charging on horseback, wearing full armor and a fleur-de-lis crown and with his broadsword raised. The horse, too, is decked out in armor decorated with fleurs-de-lis. The image is surrounded by a Latin inscription translated as “Jean, by grace of God, King of the Franks.” The obverse features a cross surrounded by fleurs-de-lis, in turn surrounded by the Latin motto, “Christ vanquishes, Christ reigns, Christ commands.” The coin is 24K gold and is mounted in a non-invasive 18K frame. The frame probably dates to the mid-20th century and bears French 18K gold hallmarks. The pendant came from the family that owned the Medieval and Renaissance French coin bracelet in our collection.

Jean ascended to the throne in 1350 at a time when France was suffering from the Black Death and was thirteen years into the Hundred Years’ War with England. He was captured by the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and taken to the Tower of London. A treaty with King Edward III promised Jean his freedom if he could pay a ransom equal to three times France’s entire annual revenue. He was granted freedom in exchange for offering his son as a captive while he returned to France to raise the ransom. On December 5, 1360, he issued an order to create an entirely new gold coin to be used for the ransom. The word “franc” meant “freedom,” and thereafter French currency has always been known as the franc. Jean’s son escaped captivity in England in 1363, but in chivalric gesture, the King volunteered to take his place, saying “If good faith were banned from the Earth, it ought to find asylum in the hearts of kings.” He returned to England, where he died the following year.

• Origin: France, 1350-54
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 1-1/4” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring)
• Weight: 8.2 grams

A fine Art Deco sterling silver pendant necklace by famed illustrator and jewelry designer McClelland Barclay. The square pendant shows a water lily and lily pad along with several buds in a stylized form. The pendant is suspended from its original silver chain. The reverse is marked "Sterling Silver" and is signed "McClelland Barclay".

Barclay was a noted illustrator, famous for his pin-up style advertisements for General Motors and for Hollywood movies. At the onset of World War II, he volunteered to join the Navy and painted many of the most important recruiting and propaganda images. In 1942, he started designing silver jewelry. He was stationed on ships in the South Pacific and sent his designs via mail to the manufacturing company, Rice-Weiner. He was killed when his ship was torpedoed in 1943.

Origin: America, 1942-43. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: pendant, 2" x 2-1/4"; chain length, 24-1/2". Weight: 35.5 gr.

Rare large ironstone platter in the Imari taste with a cobalt blue border by G.L. Ashworth, the successor to Mason’s. The platter’s rim is unusually decorated with reserves showing Japanese ladies with parasols and floral elements surrounded by gilding. The central design shows an Asian-themed still life including peonies, lotus blossoms, pagodas, etc. The back is printed with Ashworth’s mark, is impressed “Real Ironstone China”, and has a decorator’s mark.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent; no chips, cracks or discoloration; light wear to gilding along edges. Size: 15-7/8” x 12-5/8”.

A handsome three-piece gilt bronze desk set by Marshall Field comprising a letter rack, pen wipe and pen tray. Each piece is decorated with intertwined stylized dragons against a ribbed background with a beaded border. The workmanship is very fine. Marshall Field was an active producer of very high-quality metalwares during the Arts & Crafts period. The bottom of the letter rack is marked “Made by Marshall Field & Co. 2 29”. The bottom of the pen tray is marked “MF & Co VIKING”. The bottom of the pen wipe is not marked and has two holes that suggest there may have originally been an undertray of some sort.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent patina, no cracks, some of the bristles in the pen wipe have been trimmed. Size: letter rack, 8-1/2” wide, 4-7/8” tall, 2-5/8” deep; pen wipe, 2-1/2” wide, 1-7/8” tall; pen tray, 8-7/8” x 3”.

A fine and very early pair of silver cufflinks in the “Maya” pattern by Margot de Taxco. Margot established her own studio in 1948. The “Maya” pattern, displaying a strongly-featured native Mexican man in profile, became one of her iconic designs. The cufflinks are generously sized and retain a nice patina. The backs of the faces are stamped with marks used before the introduction of the eagle system in 1948, so the cufflinks can be dated to a very early date for Margot.

Origin: Mexico, ca. 1948. Condition: excellent; sharp detail. Size: 1” x 3/4”. Weight: 13.6 grams.

A lovely footed sterling silver salver in the George III style. The salver is perfect for use as a wine coaster, as the size will accomodate a magnum or a champagne bottle. The scalloped stepped border is elegantly decorated with acanthus leaves and gadrooning. The shell-shaped feet are flanked by acanthus leaf returns. Marcus & Co. was one of the most exclusive jewelers in America and was one of the few companies to give Tiffany any serious competition. They did not make their own silver, but retailed high-end makers such as Gorham, Frank Smith, Whiting, etc. The bottom is marked with Marcus’ retail mark, “Sterling” and the pattern number 1928.

Origin: America, 1918-27. Condition: excellent, normal wear and some staining on surface (could be buffed), sharp details, no dings or monograms. Size: 7-7/8” diameter; 1-1/16” high. Weight: 296.0 grams.

Pretty sterling silver sardine fork in Manchester's 1951 "Amaryllis" pattern. The design is somewhat similar to Chantilly, and has a very Victorian feel. The fork could be used for sardines, as well as for a variety of hors d'oeuvres. The back of the handle is stamped with Manchester's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1951. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 5-1/2" long. Weight: 23.5 grams.

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.

A complete set of six stacking chrome cocktail or canape plates designed by Lurelle Guild for the Chase Company. Each of the plates has an indented ring in which the foot of a cocktail glass fits perfectly, and an aerodynamic wing that serves as a handle. In advertising the plates, Chase said "With this smart looking canape plate, you can hold a cocktail, a canape and a cigarette in one hand and shake hands with other." Curiously, set of these plates are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Origin: America, 1934-41. Condition: excellent, normal surface wear consistent with age and use, no plating damage. Size: 6-1/4" diameter, excluding handle.

A classic pair of mmid-Century modernist cufflinks by Lucien Piccard, featuring a circlet of round brilliant-cut garnets around a central plaque of gold enhanced with a Florentine finish. Piccard more often used synthetic sapphires or synthetic rubies in his cufflink designs. The garnets have a subtle, deep red coloring that contrasts beautifully with the richly-textured gold without being too flashy. Signed "Lucien Piccard" and marked "14K."

• Origin: America, ca. 1950.
• Condition: excellent; all original.
• Dimensions: faces, 3/4" diameter.
• Weight: 11.4 grams.
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.25 carats.

A beautiful pair of Art Nouveau 18K yellow gold cufflinks designed by Louis Armand Rault. The design features a maiden with large flowers in her hair. The edges of the faces are irregularly cut to conform to the outlines of the design. The faces are connected with chains to backs decorated in a strapwork motif. Louis Rault worked primarily for Boucheron and was widely considered the finest gold and silver chaser of his time. He largely set the foundation for Boucheron's gold medal victory at the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Each face is signed with Rault's monogram and each cufflink is stamped with French 18K gold marks.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Dimensions: front face, 5/8" diameter. Weight: 6.5 grams.

A very fine pair of cast and engraved Louis XVI style bronze dore candlesticks. The round bases are decorated with beading and an ornate wreath of acanthus leaves. The pillars are fluted and broaden slightly before reaching the upper knop, also with acanthus leaf decoration. The sockets are likewise decorated. The original gilding is largely in place.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no cracks. Size: 9-1/2" tall.

A rare French silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin from the reign of Louis XVI. This classic example features a classic design of angled “godrons” (grooves) accented with raised “perles” (pearls). The lack of deeply recessed “cupules” suggests that this wine taster was specifically intended for use with white wines. The center of the bottom has the expected tiny lathe mark where the vessel was raised from a solid block of silver. The handle is formed as a coiled snake in the traditional manner. The edge is engraved with the name of the original owner, Monsieur Robert. The tastevin bears the charge and discharge marks for Paris (1789) and an illegible master’s mark.

• Origin: France, 1789
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/16” x 3-7/8”
• Weight: 72.9 grams

A very unusual pair of 14K yellow gold barbell cufflinks, one end the traditional ball shape and the other in a geometric “rooftop” shape. Louis Tamis & Sons opened in 1909 and quickly became the leading American maker of gold boxes and other luxury objects. In the 1930s, the company manufactured for Paul Flato. By mid-century, it had become on of New York’s most exclusive manufacturing jewelers, creating commissioned pieces for Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Each cufflink is stamped “14K” and bears Tamis’ hallmark.

• Origin: America, ca. 1940.
• Dimensions: “rooftop” faces, 1/2” x 1/2”; ball faces, 3/8” diam.
• Weight: 10.3 grams.
• Condition: excellent.

A very fine dress set, comprising a pair of barbell cufflinks and four shirt studs fashioned from large South Sea black pearls set in 18K yellow gold. The pearls in the cufflinks are approximate 12.9mm and those in the studs are approximately 10.6mm. The pearls, with good luster and surface condition, are graded as AA quality. The body color of the cufflink pearls are grayish-silver with rose overtones and the stud pearls are blackish-silver with rose and green overtones. Lighter pearls are not often used for men’s jewelry, but the rich coloring and subtle overtones of these pearls creates a very masculine appeal. Louis Tamis & Sons opened his studio in 1909 and quickly became the leading American maker of gold boxes and other objects. In the 1930s, he manufactured for Paul Flato. Since the middle of the century, the company has become one of New York’s most exclusive manufacturing jewelers—creating commissioned pieces for Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as a small collection of jewelry under its own name. Each of the cufflinks and studs is marked “18K” and has Tamis’ hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1990. Condition: excellent. Weight: 21.g grams.