Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1910 item #1402464
Kensington House Antiques
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A wonderful boxed set of six 800 silver Jugendstil (“Art Nouveau”) demitasse or chocolate spoons, each featuring a scene from different Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The tales include “Bremen Town Musicians”, “The Frog Prince”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and “Puss in Boots”. Bruckmann, one of the most important Imperial German silversmiths of the Jugendstil period, worked with many leading designers. In this case, the designer was Hugo Cauer who created the “Märchen” (“Fairy Tales”) line in 1903/04. Bruckmann and Cauer were responsible for the most important silver pieces entered into Germany’s display at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris. The “Fairy Tale” design occasionally appears on children’s table ware such as napkin rings or drinking cups, so it’s possible the spoons were intended to do double duty as chocolate spoons, as well. The spoons are presented in their original fitted box marked with the logo of the luxury jeweler Oscar Stodt. The back of each is stamped with Stodt’s retailer’s mark, as well as Bruckmann’s maker’s mark and appropriate hallmarks for 800 silver.
  • Origin: Germany, ca. 1904.
  • Condition: excellent, original gilding intact.
  • Dimensions: spoons, 3-3/4” long.
  • Weight: 55.6 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1402161
Kensington House Antiques
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A lovely pair of French Victorian 18K gold earrings set with sapphires and rose cut diamonds. Each earring features a prong-set blue sapphire surrounded by a cluster of ten rose cut diamonds, bead-set in an engraved background. The backs are finished with a hand-pierced gallery. The sapphires and diamonds have particularly good color and clarity for the period. This style of earrings was popular in the 1850's when popular hairstyles that covered the ears rendered large earrings irrelevant. Smaller earrings, "dormeuses" ("sleepers") were worn to keep the piercings open while awaiting the inevitable return of grander styles. Stamped with French 18K marks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1855.
  • Condition: very good, all original, a minor repair to one earwire.
  • Dimensions: 3/8" x 9/16" (from top of earwire).
  • Weight: 2.4 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, .38 carat; diamond, .10 carat.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1402080
Kensington House Antiques
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A fine Victorian 18K yellow gold fancy link long chain necklace. The 47” chain has ornate scrolling plaques separated by smaller simple links. The fancy links are further highlighted with rope-twist and beaded decoration. The generous length allows the chain to be worn doubled or tripled. Necklaces of this style are distinctly French and were popular from the Second Empire through the beginning of the 20th century. This example is stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880.
  • Condition: excellent; original clasp replaced with a more secure lobster claw clasp.
  • Length: 47”.
  • Weight: 34.3 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1402079
Kensington House Antiques
$4,150.00
A fine Victorian 18K yellow gold fancy link long chain necklace. The 45” chain has ornate scrolling plaques separated by smaller simple links. The fancy links are further highlighted with beaded decoration. The generous length allows the chain to be worn doubled or tripled. In fact, the chain has an ingenious clasp that holds the necklace at just the right staggered length (21” and 25”)when doubled. The chain can be worn doubled, or at full length by releasing one of the clasps. Necklaces of this style are distinctly French and were popular from the Second Empire through the beginning of the 20th century. This example is stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks and an illegible master goldsmith’s mark.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880.
  • Condition: excellent; all original.
  • Length: 45”.
  • Weight: 34.6 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1930 item #1402077
Kensington House Antiques
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A delightful vintage 14K yellow gold bracelet by Tiffany & Co. featuring three reverse-carved Essex crystals. The center crystal depicts a horse and rider jumping a fence and is flanked by a matching pair of crystals depicting hounds. The crystals are separated by links in the shape of horseshoes overlaid with bits. Sporting bracelets set with Essex crystals are uncommon and examples by major makers such as Tiffany are nearly impossible to find. The back is marked "Tiffany & Co./14K/Pat. Sept. 1924".
  • Origin: America, 1924.
  • Condition: very good overall, the crystals have minor water discoloration.
  • Dimensions 7-5/8" long, 11/16" wide.
  • Weight: 18.3 grams.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1930 item #1402076
Kensington House Antiques
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A delightful set of six sterling silver Art Deco cocktail picks with finials in the form of the Devil. The little naked figure grasps a flaming torch in one upraised hand and his tail is replaced by the business end of the cocktail pick. No doubt, the picks were intended to remind one, rather tongue in cheek, of the sin of drinking! Each pick is fully hallmarked for Barker Brothers Silver Ltd. The picks are presented in their original velvet- and silk-lined fitted case.
  • Origin: Birmingham, England, 1929.
  • Condition: picks are excellent; box is very good with minor discoloration to the velvet lining.
  • Dimensions: picks, 3-17/32” long.
  • Weight: 26.8 grams.
All Items : Antiques : Furnishings : Accessories : Pre 1900 item #1402069
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver jeton the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised “perles,” recessed “cupules,” and elongated “godrons” for assessing the depth of color and concentration of a wine. The jeton, dating to 1773, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the Latin inscription “Louis XV, Christian King” and is signed by the engraver, Pierre-Simon-Benjamin Duvivier. The reverse bears the coat of arms of the Duchy of Bourgogne and the inscription “Comitia Burgundiae 1773.” Silver jetons were struck by various civic governments (in this case, the Three Estates of Burgundy) and by the Crown itself to honor important people or significant historic occasions. The taster is completed with traditional handle in the form of a pair of stylized snakes grasping an apple in their mouths. The handle is stamped with French silver hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880.
  • Condition: excellent; jeton in nearly mint condition.
  • Dimensions: 2-1/4” x 3-1/16” x 11/16".
  • Weight: 34.6 grams.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Furnishings : Accessories : Pre 1940 item #1402068
Kensington House Antiques
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A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the unusual form of a large snail accompanied by a pair of baby snails. The snail is usually alone or perhaps with just one smaller one. They are worked in chrome and are set on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side gig designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials. Sets such as this were used on bar and café counters to serve cocktail garnishes, canapés, or even escargot.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1930.
  • Condition: excellent; all original.
  • Dimensions: 6-7/8” x 3-1/8” x 4-1/4”.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1837 VR item #1401871
Kensington House Antiques
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A nice Georgian locket in the form of a Maltese cross with a central rock crystal locket compartment. The arms of the cross are made from faceted carnelian plaques mounted in gold around the central compartment. The compartment was intended to hold the woven hair or perhaps a miniature portrait of a loved one. The Cross of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John was created in 1126 based on designs from the Crusades. The eight points of the arms represented truth, faith, repentance, humility, justice, mercy, sincerity and endurance. During the latter Georgian era, romantic notions of history caused the Maltese cross to become a very popular fashion accessory. Tested and guaranteed 12K.
  • Origin: England, ca. 1800.
  • Condition: excellent; no damage to gold mountings or carnelian; the cross retains its original fluted gold bail; a small (1/32”) flake to one corner of a rock crystal cover.
  • Dimensions: 1-7/16” x 1-7/16” (excluding bail).
  • Weight: 9.0 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1960 item #1401727
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic pair of Mid-Century “around the cuff” mesh cufflinks set with square cut sapphires and round diamonds. This classic style securely holds the cuff and is heavy enough to know you’re wearing them. At the same time, the flexible mesh makes them very comfortable. The gemstones have excellent color and clarity. The overall look is clean and streamlined. Each cufflink is fully hallmarked by Gubelin and bears a serial number.
  • Origin: Switzerland, ca. 1950.
  • Condition: excellent.
  • Dimensions: 3/8” (10mm) wide.
  • Weight: 22.7 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .05 carat; sapphire, 1.45 carats.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1950 item #1401725
Kensington House Antiques
$1,295.00
A handsome pair of Art Deco 14K yellow gold double-sided cufflinks, each face enhanced with “quilted” engraving studded with round brilliant cut diamonds and sapphires. Cufflinks in this design are often marked “Tiffany & Co.” They were made by one of the Newark jewelers such as Larter for retail at Tiffany’s New York store. They always have generous weight and use high-quality gemstones. Sometimes, as in this case, they are marked only “14K”.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940.
  • Condition: excellent; all original.
  • Dimensions: faces, 1/2" x 1/2”.
  • Weight: 11.6 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .18 carat; sapphire, .80 carat.
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1401724
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French second standard (800/1000 pure silver) silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised “perles,” recessed “cupules,” and elongated “godrons” for assessing the depth of color and concentration of a wine. The coin, dating to 1732, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the Latin inscription “Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre.” The taster is completed with an especially fine double-snake handle. While double snakes are the traditional handle form for Burundian tastevins, the pretzel-like shape and the realistic appearance of the entwined snakes is a most unusual treatment. The handle and bowl are stamped with French 2nd standard silver hallmarks and the bowl also has an unidentified master silversmith's mark.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880.
  • Condition: very good; a small ding to one side of the bowl; typical wear to the front of the coin; reverse side of the coin has sharp detail.
  • Dimensions: 2-13/16” x 3-5/8” x 3/4".
  • Weight: 56.4 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1401398
Kensington House Antiques
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A beautiful Second Empire 18K yellow gold locket, the front decorated with an enamel portrait of a society lady in a brightly-colored formal dress. Her ornate hairdo is studded with an ostrich plume, blue forget-me-nots, lace and small rose-cut diamonds. Interestingly, she wears a locket in the portrait, as well as a gold bracelet and a shoulder brooch. The portrait is enclosed in a frame of opaque black enamel that accents the punch-work decoration around the image. The original bail is similarly decorated. The interior retains the original frames, glass covers and French blue silk linings. The back is simply engraved with a shield reserve (never monogrammed). Stamped with French hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1860.
  • Condition: no enamel damage; three dings on the reverse.
  • Dimensions: 1-1/4' x 2-1/8" (including bail).
  • Weight: 20.3 grams.
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1401383
Kensington House Antiques
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A superb Rococo-style first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin by the master silversmith Marc Parrod. This large example retains the round shape of a traditional tastevin but replaces the usual bowl decoration with ornate bunches of grapes tied with ribbon bows and a remarkable handle treatment illustrating a young couple stomping grapes while holding hands. Parrod created excellent classic Burgundian tastevins, but his fantasy pieces stand apart from all the other Dijon masters. The tastevin is stamped with Parrod's master's mark as well as 1st standard silver marks from the Beaune assay office. That office closed in 1914, so we know that this example is from the earlier part of Parrod's career.
  • Origin: Dijon, France, ca 1903-14.
  • Condition: excellent; all original; one tiny ding on the top edge of the bowl.
  • Dimensions: 3-3/4" x 4-15/16" x 1-5/8".
  • Weight: 122.8 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1401318
Kensington House Antiques
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This exquisite French Victorian pendant/brooch features a fine onyx cameo depicting a fairy-winged woodland nymph, her translucent gown pulled aside to expose her breasts, dancing and tossing boughs of flowers. The cameo is surrounded by an ornate shield-shaped border of rose-cut diamonds and a single natural pearl set in silver over 18K gold. The diamonds are of very good quality with excellent brilliance and clarity. The bale can be detached for wear as a brooch, or the pinstem and clasp can be removed for wear as a pendant. There was once also a removable drop element—probably a pear-shaped pearl at the bottom. The jewel is stamped with French gold and silver marks and an illegible master goldsmith's mark.

Nymphs protected the natural environment in the specific areas where they lived such as rivers, woodlands, lakes, mountains and meadows. They often hung around with fun-loving full-fledged immortals such as Dionysos and Artemis. The beauty and allure of Greek nymphs was such that they could seduce Gods and mortals at will, often becoming mothers to great heroes such as Achilles. They were said to cause "nympholepsy" that incapacitated men with passionate frenzies, especially around noontime.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1860.
  • Condition: excellent; all original; pearl drop element lacking.
  • Dimensions: 1-9/16" x 1-15/16" (2-9/16" with bail).
  • Weight: 23.4 grams.
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.03 carats.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1400651
Kensington House Antiques
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A pretty late Victorian 10K gold locket, the front decorated with a colorful champleve and painted enamel image of a thistle blossom. In Victorian flower language, the thistle represented the sentiment "meddling is unwelcome." One can imagine a rebellious young woman using it to hide the image of a suitor of whom her parents don't quite approve! And of course, the thistle is the emblem of Scotland. The cover opens by pressing on the bail, a mechanism we've never seen before. The interior is stamped 10Ct.
  • Origin: probably England, ca. 1890.
  • Dimensions: 13/16" (20 mm) diameter.
  • Condition: a small area of missing enamel at the tip of one leaf and a tiny flake at the corner of the thistle blossom (neither are immediately noticeable); a few dimples on the back.
  • Weight: 4.1 grams.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Furnishings : Accessories : Pre 1950 item #1400649
Kensington House Antiques
$350.00
A wonderful French Art Deco cocktail pick set featuring a Scottie dog (Scottish terrier) carved from Indonesian Macassar ebony. The severely linear carving of the dog is nicely accented by the natural markings of the wood. The dog has inlaid white eyes. The set is completed with eleven cocktail picks topped with colorful orbs. This set could certainly be used for olives or cherries in a cocktail, but could also be used as food picks for hors d'oeuvres.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1930.
  • Condition: excellent; no cracking to wood; one blue pick missing.
  • Dimensions: 5-1/2" x 3-1/8" x 3-1/2" tall.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1950 item #1400644
Kensington House Antiques
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A handsome pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks featuring collet-set rectangular garnet plaques in a deep wine red shade. The faces are connected by chains to classic baton backs. The cufflinks are stamped with French 18K gold marks and an illegible master goldsmith's mark.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1940.
  • Dimensions: faces, 9/16" x 11/16" (14x18mm).
  • Condition: excellent.
  • Weight: 13.2 grams.