Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (485)

A delightful and very rare Staffordshire ironstone puzzle jug by Elsmore & Forster. The sides are decorated with colorful scenes of a cockfight below the lip, while the sides feature large images of the famed circus clown “Cashmore”. The foot, rim and handle are highlighted with red stripes. The interior has a hidden siphon system that causes the contents to spill when the jug is tipped, unless the pourer covers the small air hole on the inside of the handle. The base is marked with Elsmore & Forster’s underglaze stamp.

Origin: England, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 8-7/8” tall.

A very rare sterling silver chamber stick in a repousse floral pattern by Shiebler. The overall floral decoration depicts buds and full-blown rose blossoms against a background of leaves. Areas between the leaves are finished with a stippled texture. The knop of the candle socket and the bobeche are plain and make a nice contrast to the elaborate decoration. The thumbpiece is accented with a fan-shaped element that is suggestive of Shiebler’s more Aesthetic-style pieces. The bottom of the bobeche is stamped with Shiebler’s hallmark, the pattern number 1174, and the retailer’s mark “J. E. Caldwell & Co.”

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, a small rim ding and a couple of pinpoints on the bobeche. Size: 6” diameter; 3-1/2” tall. Weight: 211.0 grams.

A stunning footed cut glass compote in Hawkes’ “Delft Diamond” pattern. While the pattern is not especially ornate, the deep emerald green color of the blank is amazing. The knopped stem has an elongated airtrap bubble that’s difficult to see because the color of the glass is so rich. The plain round foot is acid-stamped with Hawkes’ trefoil signature, which would suggest a relatively early date.

Origin: America, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, normal frosting to bottom of base. Size: 8-1/8” diameter; 6-3/4” high.

An elegant sterling silver trumpet vase with an opaque glass liner by either Jenkins or Armiger for F. Bucher & Sons. This silver is ornately decorated wthroses, forget-me-nots, wild roses, chamomiles and daises against a stippled background. Bucher was a retailer who stamped wares with his own mark, even though they were actually made by Jenkins, Armiger, Schofield or other leading Baltimore silversmiths of the day. The treatment of the chamomile blossoms and the use of cyma scrolls in the narrow borders are distinctly similar to Jenkins’ work, but the use of ferns amongst the foliage is more often seen in Armiger’s. The liner is opaque white glass with a translucent pink border at the undulating, flaring rim, and appears to be original. The base is marked “F. Bucher & Sons. Sterling”.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 10-3/8” tall. Silver Weight: 161.4 grams.

Elegant pair of Chinese export porcelain soup plates decorated with a floral scene in the famille rose palette. Pheasants, beetles and butterflies are scattered among the pink peonies, orange pomegranates and blue-green bamboo stalks. The rim is decorated with a striking band of blue and gold strapwork in the Persian taste. The contrast of the restrained formal border pattern against the exuberant naturalistic design of the bowl is striking.

Origin: China, ca. 1800. Condition: no chips or cracks, normal moderate wear to gilding. Size: 9-3/4” diameter.

A very fine 12-piece set of gilt silver and mother of pearl dessert, fruit or cheese knives presented in their original fitted box. The tapered mother of pearl handles are tipped with silver finials and ferules decorated in a Louis XVI-style ribbon and reed motif. Most similar sets have plated blades, but these are silver. The silver is gilt, a process that is decorative, but also serves to prevent corrosion from the salts in cheeses which were often served in France as a dessert course. The gilding has faded to a very nice, light lemony color. The interior lid of the velvet- and silk-lined box is marked by the maker, “J. Fayard/Fabricant Orfèvre Joaillier/St Etienne”.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: knives are excellent, no dings, no cracks, normal fading of the gilding; the box shows considerable wear and has a slightly warped lid. Size: 7-1/2” long.

An exquisite set of four sterling silver blotter corners by M.C. Cone. Each corner is made up of a pair of leaves flanking a stylized dogwood blossom, all worked from sheet silver. The upper two corners have the initials “AB” worked into the design, indicating that these were commissioned for the original owner. The backs are signed “Cone Sterling”. M.C. Cone, listed as a metalworker in the 1906/07 edition of the “National Directory of Workers in the Artistic Crafts” worked in West Hartford, Connecticut, not far from where these blotter corners were found. The quality of both design and workmanship is of the very highest level.

Origin: America, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, all original, no dings. Size: 2-3/4” x 2-3/4”. Weight: 158.5 grams.

Gorgeous oval bronze jewel box from Russia's Imperial era, the top decorated with opaque champleve enamels. The box is decorated around the bottom edge with a row of cast beads. This decorative element is repeated on the lid. The lid is decorated with typically Russian arabesques worked in five shades of enamel. Exposed areas of bronze around the enameling is further decorated with floral and bright-cut engraving. The interior of the box retains its original royal blue silk velvet lining. The style of enameling, as well as the overal appearance of the box suggests it was more likely made in the Moscow area, rather in the more Westernized area around St. Petersburg.

Origin: Russia, circa 1870. Condition: excellent, old patina, no enamel damage; the lining shows appropriate wear. Size: 5" x 4-1/4" x 3-1/4" high.

Extremely rare oil lamp featuring a base of mercury glass decorated with floral painting and satin finishing. The floral decoration is an autumnal design depicting leaves and wheat in shades of brown, gold, green and cream, accented with cornflowers in blue and small orange flowers. The mercury glass has extensive satin finish which further emphasizes the shiny surfaces. The oil reservoir is flint glass of the highest quality cut in a 12-panel design. The metal mounting between the oil reservoir and the mercury glass base is gilt in a way that the mercury glass blends seamlessly into the rest of the lamp. The shade, no doubt a plain clear glass shade, is gone. The wick knob is marked "Ideal Brenner 20".

Origin: American, almost certainly New England Glass Company, circa 1840-80. Condition: excellent, no cracks or chips, painted decoration intact. Size: 17-1/2" tall (to top of burner).

Very heavy sterling silver soup ladle in Gorham's elegant 1901 "Florentine" pattern. The handle is decorated with a satyr mask surrounded by vines, dolphins, clusters of fruit, acanthus leaves and various other classical decorative elements. The design spills from the handle onto the back rim of the bowl. The back of the handle has complementary decoration. Hallmarked by Gorham and with the patent date, indicating an earlier date of manufacture.

Origin: America, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, no monogram. Size: 12-1/2" long. Weight: 262.0 grams.

A very fine antique Baccarat glass paperweight featuring a Type III pansy and bud. A pair of dark purple petals and three amber petals with purple stripes and spots surround a central bull's-eye cane. The design is completed with bright, finely formed leaves and a bud. The paperweight is further enhanced with a star-cut base, and most unusually, fluted facets along the perimeter. This faceting pattern is very rare in antique Baccarat weight. This is one of the best Baccarat pansies we have seen.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, one small moon along the perimeter and extremely light surface abrasion on the dome. Dimensions: 3" diameter; 2-3/8" high.

Very rare pair of sterling silver salad servers in the 1888 "Rococo" pattern by Dominick & Haff. This is one of the company's most desirable patterns. The pieces are quite simply, enormous! The handles are beautifully decorated with an ornate floral pattern that is repeated at the top of the bowl and tines. The backs of the handles are simply decorated with a vine motif along the edges. The bowl and tines retain their original gilding. The backs are marked with Dominick & Haff's hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram, gilding intact. Size: 11-1/2" long. Weight: 276.0 grams.

Outstanding and gorgeous Victorian liquor decanter in cranberry overshot glass. The body is blown in a ribbed shape and is accented with vertical gilt stripes. The neck is fitted with a silverplate collar and the most extraordinary silverplated jockey head stopper.

Origin: probably England, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, except for two very short, stable hairlines at the neck that are original to the piece; stopper retains the original cork and fits well. Size: 12-3/4" tall.

Superb gilt bronze figural inkstand depicting a still pond afloat with water lilies. Separately cast lily pads float just above the surface of the bronze "water", three buds in various stages of development rise above the leaves, and the whole is topped off by a fabulous full-blown waterlily inkwell with a honeybee finial. One of the buds serves as a pen holder. The "pond" is raised on three feet cast in the form of salamanders so fully detailed that their coiled bodies are visible only when the inkstand is turned upside down.

Origin: probably English or French, c. 1870. Condition: excellent; some minor pitting from the corrosive inks; the glass insert is missing; some of the details show very nice green patination. Size: 12-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 3-1/2".

Extremely rare sterling silver oyster ladle in the 1900 "Buttercup" pattern by Gorham. Oyster ladles are very difficult to find because they were only included with the most complete services. They were used to serve oyster stews. Today, they could also be used for soups or even for punch. The back of the handle is marked with Gorham's old hallmark and also with the patent date, indicating that this is an early example.

Origin: America, ca 1900. Condition: nearly mint, no monogram, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 10-3/4" long. Weight: 165.25 grams.

A wonderful solid brass humidor, the top embossed with the double eagle insignia of Russia's Imperial Romanov family, and the front embossed with the double lions rampant of the British Empire. The top, front and sides are enhanced with scalloped punchwork borders. The box is raised on claw feet. The interior has a removable tin liner and a perforated platform that was used to keep a moist sponge separated from the surface of the cigars.

England and Russia signed the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907, and along with the Entente Cordiale (England & France) and the Franco-Russian Alliance (France & Imperial Russia), the three nations formed the Triple Entente that eventually entered into World War I against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Anglo-Russian Entente greatly leveled the balance of power in Continental Europe and was widely celebrated. This box was created in honor of that event and may have been a mid-level diplomatic gift from a British representative to his Russian peer. Although we have not seen it, we understand that the same box exists with the French arms on the lid in place of Romanov double eagle.

Origin: England, ca. 1907. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, all original; it appears that the perforated sponge screen was originally soldered to the inside of the lid, but it is now separated. Size: 10-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 6".

An unusually fine Baccarat pansy glass paperweight from the Dupont era. The blossom is nicely worked with deep purple upper petals and mustardy-yellow lowers. The flower is centered with a complex cane star rods encircling a red and white bull's-eye rod. The flower is accented with ten finely-veined leaves in an unusually bright green color and a well-formed bud. The concave base is finished with a 16-rayed star that visually extends all the way to the periphery when viewed through the dome. The glass has excellent color and clarity from the top; a slightly sugary appearance from the side. Altogether, this is the finest example of a Dupont Baccarat pansy we've seen--on par with a pansy from the Classic period. The dome is quite high and has a couple of moons that are only visible from the side. There is very little scratching on the dome surface (very much less visible than that crossing the purple petals in the photos).

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: see description. Size: 3" diameter.

A wonderful sterling silver soup ladle in Reed & Barton’s famous 1907 “Francis I” pattern. This is one of the most desirable late Victorian American flatware designs. This ladle is from the original series and is hallmarked with Reed & Barton’s old hallmark and the design patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, very sharp details, light surface scratches in bowl from normal use, no monogram, no dings. Size: 12-1/4” long. Weight: 243.0 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 rare set of four earthenware plates by Choisy-le-Roi depicting architectural landmarks in Paris during the Empire period. Three of the plates depict theatres--a very popular pasttime for the upper classes during the Directorate, Consulate and Empire periods. One scene is entitled "Théâtre de l'Impératrive" and shows the theatre now know as l'Odéon. Another is entitled "Théâtre Italien" and a third is entitled "Théâtre Feydeau"--both of which were noted for operatic performances and both of which played important political roles during the Napoleonic era. The fourth plate depicts "La Bourse de Paris", another one of the architectural landmarks left behind by Napoleon. The twelve-sided plates are bordered with an impressed laurel wreath pattern highlighted with brownish-black lines. These are among the most interesting of the Choisy plates from this era. The backs have impressed Choisy marks.

Origin: France, ca. 1815. Condition: excellent, no cracks or chips, very light knife wear to glaze. Size: 8-5/16" diameter.

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 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

A wonderful and very rare Baccarat cut crystal perfume bottle in a simple panel cut enhanced with blue opaline “gems”. The lip of the bottle is cut in a deep petal shape. The stopper matches the décor of the bottle. Though known as “opaline” now, this type of glass was called “agate glass” when it was created at Baccarat in 1842. This pale blue color was called “bleu celeste” (“heavenly blue”). A very similar bottle has a full-page illustration in Jean-Louis Curtis’ landmark book “Baccarat.”

• Origin: France, ca 1845
• Condition: excellent, some extremely tiny abrasions to the facet edges of the gems on the stopper
• Dimensions: 4-1/8” x 4-1/8” x 6-1/4”

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 fine Art Deco vase decorated along the top and bottom with green-cut-to-clear floral friezes in Baccarat's "Frise Verte" pattern. The decorative bands have strong, angular lines that complement the straight sides of panel cutting of the vase itself. The bottom has a polished pontil. This pattern appears in Baccarat's catalogue of 1916.

Origin: France, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 7-5/8” tall; 3” diameter.

Very nice Imperial Russian clear pressed glass tea box. 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: excellent, two ¼” flakes on the edge of the bottom rim; normal wear to the plating. Size: 4-7/8” x 3-7/8” x 4-1/8”.

A phenomenal Victorian sterling silver cheese scoop in Whiting’s “No. 26” pattern. The tip of the handle features a gorgeous full-blown peony blossom and bud. The twist stem leads to the deeply curled bowl. “No. 26” is an extremely rare pattern. It is always very finely made and exceptionally heavy, even by Whiting’s standards. The pattern is a multi-motif design, so each piece has a slightly different, but related, decoration on the handle. The back is marked with Whiting’s old hallmark and the pattern number.

Cheese scoops were used to serve blue or soft cheeses. The implement insured that the diner could have a quality serving from deep inside the cheese, rather than just a slice off the less desirable outer surface of the cheese.

Origin: Ameica, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, the original gilding on the bowl has faded to a very pale lemony yellow, sharp detail, original 3-letter monogram. Size: 8-9/16” long. Weight: 73.0 grams.

A beautiful hyacinth bulb vase by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, decorated in opaque overlay cut to clear in in a panel and trailing vine design. The top is enhanced with a cobalt blue lip and the bottom is slightly footed and star-cut. The overall form is very elegant. The shape was blown in the company's #123 mold and the cutting is identical to known labeled pieces. Vases of this shape were used to hold a single flowering bulb, usually a hyacinth, but sometimes a daffodil or tulip.

Origin: America, ca. 1860. Condition: very good; a 1/4" flake to the white overlay at the edge of one panel. Dimensions: 5-1/4" tall.

Very rare sterling silver fish slice in the 1869 “Tiffany” pattern by Tiffany & Co. The pattern is characterized by a classical simplicity heightened with engraved strapwork in the Persian taste. The entire surface has an unusual matte finish. The pattern was modified slightly in later years and was called “Beekman”. The back is stamped “Tiffany & Co. Sterling Pat. 1869.”

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 12” long. Weight: 134.5 grams.

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”.

Very nice Staffordshire transferware plate in the “Lion” pattern from the “Quadruped” series by Hall. The plate is very finely decorated in underglaze blue with four reserves depicting zebras, goats, deer and horses, surrounding a central reserve depicting a lion. Unmarked.

Origin: England, 1820-30. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, light discoloration on back (easily removed). Size: 10” diameter.

A very good Classic Period glass paperweight with a pinchbeck design. The scene depicts the "Descent from the Cross" and shows two centurions, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus taking the body from the cross while Mary weeps at Jesus' feet. The pinchbeck insert is finished in a silver tone rather than the more common gold. The crystal dome is of very good quality, with excellent clarity and good optical magnification to highlight the detail of the scene. The bottom of the weight retains its original red and gilt-painted decoration.

Origin: England or Continental Europe, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, light surface scratching at the top of the crown. Size: 2-5/16" diameter; 1-1/4" high.

A lovely antique crystal plaque by Baccarat encasing a sulphide or "cameo incrustation" of the "Madonna and Child". This particular sulphide is one of the two known depictions of Mary and Jesus used by Baccarat during the classic period of paperweight production. It is a large version and shows Mary supported by a swirling cloud of angels. The back of the plaque is cut in a waffle pattern and the edges are finished in with curved gadroons. A footed cross with the same sulphide subject and gadrooned cutting can be seen in the collection of the Corning Museum of Glass. The crystal is completely free of inclusions. The plaque retains its original bronze mounting and jump ring.

Origin: France, ca. 1825. Condition: excellent; no chips or cracks; original mountings except the bail has been replaced with a wire (not visible from the front or when hanging). Dimensions: 2-15/16" x 3-11/16" (excluding mountings).

A very good fruit bouquet paperweight by the New England Glass Company. Four pears alternate with cherries and foliage around a central pear. The lampwork fruit is particularly nice in this weight. The bouquet is presented against a spiraling double latticinio basket. The dome is high and offers nice magnification. The crystal is a bit sugary, as is typical of many NEGC weights. The concave base has a wide basal ring.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, absolutely minimal surface wear to the dome. Size: 2-1/2" diameter; 2-1/8" tall.

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”.

An set of twelve English sterling silver coffee spoons and a matching sugar tong in an elegant rococo pattern by silversmith Joseph Rodgers. The handles are lightly monogramed with an “H.” The bowls are a bit larger than typical demitasse spoons, so they could easily be used for tea service, as well. The set is presented in its original fitted case lined with royal blue velvet and silk. The interior of the lid is embossed with the retailer’s stamp for William Batty & Sons, one of England’s finest watchmakers and jewelers outside of London at the time.

• Origin: Sheffield, England, 1910
• Condition: excellent; interior of case is excellent; case exterior is mostly good, but with bookbinding tape at the hinge side
• Dimensions: spoons, 4-5/16” long; tong 4-1/2” long
• Weight: 206.4 grams.