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19th Century French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Decorative Art:
Metals:
Silver:
Continental:
Pre 1900 item# 806011
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$525
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A very handsome first standard (950/1000 pure) silver tastevin. Tastevins were used by cellarmasters, wine merchants and sommeliers to judge the color, clarity and bouquet of a fine wine and to taste a small amount directly from the barrel. This example is quite different from most. The bowl retains the convex bottom, but in this case, it’s surrounded by a beaded border. The sides are finely decorated with clusters of grapes, complete with vines and foliage. Occasionally, tastevins with grape cluster decoration are seen, but the detailing is not usually so realistic. The handle is in the shape of a coiled snake. The details of the snake are finely worked and the coiled shape has a very realistic appearance. The tastevin is stamped with the Minerve hallmark and an unidentified maker’s mark. The snake handle and the grape cluster decoration suggest that the tastevin is probably from the Bourgogne region.Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 3-1/8” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 52.5 grams.
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Parrod French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Decorative Art:
Metals:
Silver:
Continental:
Pre 1900 item# 806007
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$375
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A very good first standard (950/1000 pure) silver small-size tastevin by the highly regarded Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. This example retains the classic round shape with a convex bottom, but the usual gadrooning and bull’s-eyes are replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with bull’s-eyes. The convex center is detailed with a beaded border. Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in a rather unusual shape. Solid thumbpieces (“appui-puces”)are more often found on tastevins from Normandy or Paris. The shape of this particular thumbpiece has a very Medieval look. These smaller tastevins are less common than the larger ones. The bottom and handle are stamped with the Minerve and with the maker’s mark.Origin: Dijon, France, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, a pinpoint ding to the bowl (the large thing in the middle of the bowl is the hallmark), no monograms, sharp detail. Size: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 26.0 grams.
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19th Century French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Decorative Art:
Metals:
Silver:
Continental:
Pre 1900 item# 806004
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click for details
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$325
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A very nice small-size silver wine taster in the classical style. The bottom features the typical convex bottom surrounded by concave gadrooning and bull’s-eyes. The shape is intended to create high and low spots to better appreciate the color of the wine as light is reflected through it. The open shape also allows the bouquet to develop quickly so the wine can be tested easily. The snake handle is generally seen on tastevins from the region of Bourgogne. The tastevin bears an unidentified maker’s mark. Origin: France, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 28.75 grams.
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Wendt MEDALLION Sterling Silver Berry Spoon
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Antiques:
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Silver:
Sterling:
Pre 1900 item# 804923
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$595
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A very fine berry or casserole spoon in John R. Wendt's "Medallion" pattern. The handle features an oval reserve centered with a medallion profile of the Greek goddess Pallas Athena. The elongated bowl is beautifully scalloped. The back of the medallion has a period monogram "A" and the stem is marked with the retailer's mark for Ball, Black & Co. and with "925" for sterling. Wendt did not use his own hallmark in this period.Origin: America, ca. 1965. Condition: excellent sharp detail. Size: 8-3/4" long. Weight: 63.0 grams.
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Louis XV Coin French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster
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Antiques:
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Silver:
Continental:
Pre 1900 item# 804915
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$725
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A fine second standard (800/1000 pure) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a rare Louis XV silver ecu coin. Tastevins with coiled snake handles are typically associated with the wine-making region of Bordeaux, in the southwest of France. The coin itself, dating to 1770, is a rare rather example minted in the southwestern city of Pau near the Spanish border. The front of the coin shows the bust of Louis XV wearing the “bandeau de Béarn” and surrounded by the legend translated as “Louis XV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre.” The back side of the coin shows the royal coat of arms surrounded by the legend “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” The bottom of the coin shows scratched hatchmarks that were made to test the coin’s content when it was still used as currency. The sides of the tastevin surrounding the coin are worked in the traditional manner with concave gadrooning on one side and concave and convex bulls-eyes on the other. The snake handle is more detailed than most, with clearly worked scales and head. Tastevins were used by cellarmasters, sommeliers and wine merchants to judge the color, bouquet and taste of a bottle or cask without pouring a large quantity. The handle is marked with the 2nd standard Minerve and an indistinct maker’s mark.Origin: southwestern France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent, no dings. Size: 3-1/4” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 84.5 grams.
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Napoleon III French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster
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Antiques:
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Silver:
Continental:
Pre 1900 item# 804909
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$595
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A superb first standard (950/1000 pure) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a five-franc silver coin dating from the reign of Empereur Napoleon III. The tastevin is in the classical style associated with those originating in the Paris area. Indeed, the maker is Henin & Cie, a distinguished orfèvre once located on rue des Archives in Paris. The sides of the bowl are decorated with vertical gadrooning and both concave and convex bull’s-eyes. Most often, the bases are domed, but occasionally, one finds a tastevin with a coin insert like this. Tastevins were used by cellarmasters, sommeliers, and wine merchants to judge the color, bouquet and taste of a bottle without pouring a large quantity. The outside lip is engraved with the name of the original owner, a woman from a family of the lower nobility, Marie-Ange de Tonie. The tastevin is stamped with the first standard Minerve, the bigorne and the maker’s mark for Henin.Origin: Paris, 1868. Condition: excellent, no dings, normal superficial wear from use. Size: 3” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 89.75 grams.
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French Art Deco Cameo Glass Perfume Bottle
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Antiques:
Decorative Art:
Glass:
French:
Pre 1920 item# 788006
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$495
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An elegant Art Deco panel-cut crystal perfume bottle, the shoulder adorned with a band of cameo etched floral decoration in green. The style of the decoration is very geometric and provides a handsome contrast with the simple panel cutting. The lip of the bottle is overlaid in green glass to match the decorative band. The bottom is cut in a 24-ray star and the stopper is lapidary cut. The quality of the glass and workmanship suggest Baccarat as a possible maker.Origin: France, ca. 1920. Size: 6-1/4”.
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Dominick & Haff Sterling Silver Claret Spoon
Catalogue:
Antiques:
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Silver:
Sterling:
Pre 1900 item# 788001
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Kensington House Antiques
(301)942-0955
$995
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A magnificent sterling silver claret spoon by Dominick & Haff. This example is strikingly decorated in a pattern representing three different varieties of chrystanthemums. The decoration appears to be loosely based on Dominick & Haff's "#10" pattern, though this is much more ornate. The area around the flowers is intricately pierced in the rococo style. The back bears Dominick & Haff's hallmark and the pattern number "32".Claret spoons were produced for a short time at the end of the 19th century. Despite being named for the famous red wine, their function really had nothing to do with wine. Small fruits and berries, perhaps soaked in an alcohol or other liquid, were often served from tall, narrow pitchers of cut glass, porcelain or silver. The long claret spoon was used to remove from the fruit from the pitchers. Today, the spoon could be used to serve sangria as well as various desserts based on fresh fruit. Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: nerly mint, period "BBS" monogram. Size: 17" long. Weight: 113.0 grams.
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