Catalog: Antiques (496)

Lovely sterling silver demitasse spoon, the handle decorated with four shades of translucent enamel. The plique-a-jour technique allows light to shine through, creating a stained glass effect. The exposed areas of silver are gilt. The back of the bowl is marked "JT830".

Origin: Europe, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 4-5/8" long.

A nice stoneware ewer in an unusual form by Doulton Lambeth. The bulbous body is decorated with raised flowers and foliage against a cobalt blue ground, while the foot and long tapering neck are finished in a simple pattern of incised rings highlighted with chocolate brown borders. The inside of the foot is stamped with the mark used 1891-1902 and also with the artist's mark which appears to be a conjoined "JH", "HL" or possibly just an ornate "H". There is also an assistant's mark, "b".

Origin: England, ca. 1895. Condition: no chips or cracks. Size: 11-5/8" tall.

Pretty late Victorian porcelain child's cup. One side has a polychrome transfer image of a playful dog, while the other shows another dog with a blue ribbon around his neck. The rim and handle are decorated with gilt bands. Porcelain cups such as these were prized by Victorian children. The bottom is marked "Germany".

Origin: Germany, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, light wear to gilding at rim. Size: 2-3/16" tall.

A fine boxed set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons in Gorham's 1896 "Maryland" pattern. The fronts of the handles are decorated scrolls, shells and pendant bouquets, while the backs are accented with simple scrolling and a shell motif near the bowls. The bowls are parcel gilt. This is a particularly lovely pattern--ornate, but not over the top. The spoons are presented in their original fitted box, the inside lid of which is marked with the logo of Gorham's New York City retail store. Each spoon is stamped with an older Gorham hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16" long. Weight: 104.5 grams.

A very nice sterling silver pincushion and sewing box by Tiffany & Co. The pierced sterling silver walls enclose a sewing box (or jewelry box) with two hinged tops that serve as pincushions. The current dark purple velvet is a replacement, but is placed over the original box structure. The pierced handle has an area that can be monogrammed (never been monogrammed). The whole is raised on bun feet. The bottom is marked with the Tiffany hallmark in use 1902-07.

Origin: America, 1902-07. Condition: excellent, velvet replaced, never monogrammed. Size: 6-7/8” x 3-1/2” x 4-1/2” tall.

Exceptionally fine Edwardian tortoishell letter box decorated with gold pique. The serpentine front is inlaid in a pattern of floral swags flanking a center wreath. The curved top has a matching wreath and swags as well as songbirds. The gold has a beautiful rose tint that contrasts nicely with the rich golden-brown of the tortoise, and the surfaces are intricately engraved to enhance the appearance. The use of gold for pique work was reserved for only the most expensive and impressive items. The back and sides of the box are covered in burgundy Morocco leather and the interior is covered in red silk moire. The workmanship and overall style of this piece suggests the workshop of William Comyns, though he more frequently worked in silver. Signed boxes by Comyns feature exactly the same lining and side upholstery and similar swag and wreath designs.

Origin: England, ca. 1905. Condition: very good, the front has a few hairlines (no hairlines on top), six of the tiny pins along the edge of the top are lacking, no loss to pique. Size: 10-1/8" x 5-3/4" x 7-1/4" tall.

NOTE: This item cannot be shipped outside the United States.

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".

A wonderful sterling silver footed basket by Gorham. The edges are decorated in an ornate Victorian floral motif that is echoed on the handle. The scrolled feet are accented with a shell motif. The rounded sides of the basket have a superb pierced floral design that sets this basket apart from most others. The basket is of the very finest quality made by Gorham in the Edwardian era. The basket would be ideal for a small floral arrangements or potpourri. The bottom is hallmarked with one of Gorham’s earlier marks and the date code for 1908.

Origin: America, 1908. Condition: excellent, a very slight bend to the handle. Size: 7-13/16” x 5-5/8” x 5-1/2” tall. Weight: 217.5 grams.

Very nice Imperial Russian peacock blue pressed glass tea box. Glass tea caddies are difficult to find in this color. The design features fans, strawberry diamonds and Russian cane motifs. The box is bound with silverplated mountings and a lock. The box was almost certainly made by the “OtyM.F. Atelier”. Locked tea boxes were a holdover from earlier days when tea was a precious commodity that had to be kept safe from marauding servants.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1900. Condition: very good, some roughnesses along the bottom edge; normal wear to the plating. Size: 4-7/8” x 3-7/8” x 4-1/8”.

A very nice peacock or electric blue glass inkwell, the body cut in large facets. The hinged lid is topped with a figural cherub cast in glass of a matching color. The figure is completed with a matte acid finish that contrasts beautifully with the main part of the inkwell’s body. We’ve only seen this particular lid once and the figure was molded in colorless glass.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, a very small flake to the cherub's toes. Dimensions: 4-1/4” tall; 3” wide.

Gilt sterling silver replica of the anointing spoon used for the coronation of English monarchs. The original spoon, dating from the 12th Century, is the oldest continuously used piece in the entire English royal regalia. The spoon is used to apply holy anointing oil onto the sovereign during his or her coronation. This replica commemorates the coronation of George V. The handle is stamped with the appropriate hallmarks for London, 1910 and the maker’s mark “CS/FS”.

Origin: London, England, 1910. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding. Size: 4-1/4” long. Weight: 12.0 grams.

An elegant Art Nouveau glass vase decorated with enameled poppies. The blossoms are worked in shades of cream, yellow, rose and violet, while the foliage is stained a reddish-purple and highlighted with a complex, lacy pattern of gilding. The upper rim of the vase is decorated with a band of stained and gilt flowers, as well. The vase is blown in pillar form with an optic paneled design. The workmanship is very fine. Unsigned, but almost certainly the product of Mont Joye (also known as Verreries Saint-Denis or Legras).

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no cracks, no enamel or gilding wear, a 1/32" flake at the upper rim. Size: 8".

A delightful bronze dresser mirror, the entire frame ornately decorated in the form of two Pierrot figures and a smiling man-in-the-moon. Pierrot was a originally a Comedia dell’Arte character, but in the 18th century, he and the moon became inextricably linked in the French children’s song, “Au Claire de la Lune.” There are a few variations of this mirror; this is the most ornate, with the intricately beveled glass. The detailing of the figures is excellent.

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original; the glass has very light tarnishing typical of old silvered mirrors. Dimensions: 4-3/4” x 8-1/2”.

A lovely sterling silver fancy serving fork in an unnamed Art Nouveau pattern by the Baird-North Co. The handle is beautifully decorated with a thorny vine of wild roses. The back is decorated in a simpler design of roses. The splayed tines are ornately pierced. A fork of this shape would probably have been used to serve bacon, but it might also be useful for cold meats. The reverse is marked “Sterling/Pat. 1903”. There is no maker’s mark (maker’s marks were not legally required until 1906), but we’ve had pieces in this pattern that have bear Baird-North’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1903-1906. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 8” long. Weight: 35.5 grams.

A superb Victorian Art Nouveau baby rattle, the handle carved from a large piece of mother-of-pearl and adorned on either side with a gorgeous Art Nouveau lady's head worked in sterling silver and finished with three silver bells. Although unsigned, the particulars of the design are very similar to a known Unger design. Marked "Sterling".

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent except for the bells which show considerable wear from a toothing child. Size: 4-1/2" long.

Very nice Gorham sterling silver pin cushion/sewing box. The arched rim of the pierced silver holder has a slightly Gothic appearance. The silk velvet top lifts off to reveal an opening for storing thread, buttons, etc. The interior is lined with the original lime green silk. The bottom is stamped with Gorham's older hallmark.

Origin: America, circa 1900. Condition: silver is excellent, the velvet covering shows the normal considerable wear. Size: 4-3/8" x 3-1/4" x 2-1/4" tall.

A wonderful Art Nouveau sterling silver cracker scoop in Blackinton’s 1904 “Daisy” pattern. The handle, decorated with flowers and foliage, nicely accents the ruffled edge of the bowl. Cracker scoops were originally used to serve small crackers similar to today’s oyster crackers. Now, the piece could be used to serve a variety of foods. Blackinton made a small line of very good sterling silver flatware in the Art Nouveau style. All U.S. embassies worldwide use Blackinton flatware for formal occasions. The back is marked with Blackinton’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 9-13/16” long. Weight: 133.0 grams.

An outstanding Arts & Crafts style 900 silver letter opener, the top embellished with an enameled horses head against a stippled background. The letter opener is quite heavy and both the silver and the enamel are of the finest quality. Marked “900”.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, no enamel damage. Size: 8” long. Weight: 69.5 grams.