Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1930 item #1485764
Kensington House Antiques
$750.00
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
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1930 item #1485718
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
An elegant second standard (800/1000 pour silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons," the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves, berries and shells in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker's mark, possibly Parrod's.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1925
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 15/15"
  • Weight: 55.9 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 : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Iron : Pre 1920 item #23751
Kensington House Antiques
$90.00
Painted cast iron paperweight, probably by Hubley.

Origin: America, ca. 1920. Condition: very minimal paint loss (less than 5%). Size: 1-5/8" tall.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1406216
Kensington House Antiques
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An elegant classic-style French silver tastevin of traditional form. The bowl is decorated with raised "perles", concave "cupules" and elongated "godrons" for assessing the depth of color in both red and white wines. The curved sides help concentrate the aroma, so only a very small amount of wine has to be poured to judge quality. The looped handle allows the tastevin to be worn suspended from a chain. Tastevins with round thumbpieces are generally from the Paris region. The handle is marked for first standard silver (950/1000 pure silver) and also has partially obscured master silversmith's mark.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1900.
  • Dimensions: 2 11/16" diameter (excluding handle).
  • Weight: 37.0 grams.
  • Excellent condition; two small dings on bottom, mostly hidden by the design and two very small (1/16") dings on the upper rim.
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1434519
Kensington House Antiques
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An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles,” "coupules," and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Marc Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the early 20th century. The handle is in the traditional form of two entwined duck-headed snakes grasping an apple in their mouths, thought to represent the snake and apple from the Garden of Evil, thus reminding drinkers of temptation and sin. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker’s mark, possibly Parrod's.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1910
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 15/16”
  • Weight: 55.3 grams
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Coin : Pre 1920 item #1455674
Kensington House Antiques
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An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles” and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden, thus reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker’s mark, possibly Parrod’s.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1925
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 15/16”
  • Weight: 58.8 grams
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Pre 1920 item #12226
Kensington House Antiques
$225.00
Lovely Renaissance style gilt copper jewel casket by Jenning Brothers. The interior is fitted with the original blue velvet lining. The center of the lid features a coat of arms. Origin: America. The decorative bottom is marked "JB" with the pattern number "1377". Size: 4.5" long; 3" wide; 2" tall. Condition: Slight rubs through gilding to copper base at corners.
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Bronze : Pre 1920 item #423005
Kensington House Antiques
$695.00
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”.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Bronze : Pre 1920 item #1221005
Kensington House Antiques
$225.00
A good bronze footed trumpet base by bronze artisan Carl Sorensen. The surface is patinated in a mottled bluish-green shade and is enhanced with bands of parallel engraved lines in a bright copper finish. Most of Sorensen’s vases did not have a foot, and the addition of the small foot—also enhanced with a bright copper edging—adds special appeal. Sorensen is known to have worked in Philadelphia in the first part of the 20th century, making bronze wares in the Arts & Crafts tradition. It is thought that his creations were retailed by both Roycroft and Tiffany. The base is signed “Carl Sorensen” and has his hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, original patina. Size: 6-3/4” tall; 6-1/2” diameter at rim.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Iron : Pre 1920 item #23757
Kensington House Antiques
$295.00
Painted cast iron horsehead nameplate by Hubley, intended for use on a stable door, probably at a racetrack or horse farm. Two screws are meant to hold an engraved nameplate to the horseshoe. This would make a great name plate on the front door of a home.

Origin: America, c. 1920. Condition: excellent, less than 5% paint loss. Size: 8" x 4" x 3" deep.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Iron : Pre 1920 item #23752
Kensington House Antiques
$60.00
Painted cast iron dog paperweight, probably by Hubley.

Origin: America, c. 1920. Condition: good, about 10% paint loss. Size: 1-5/8" tall.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Iron : Pre 1920 item #342250
Kensington House Antiques
$295.00
Wonderful pair of Hubley cast iron paperweights in the form of African-American children. The little girl wears a yellow jumper over a white blouse and the little boy wears yellow pants and a white shirt. This is the only pair of black memorabilia iron paperweights we’ve seen.

Origin: America, ca 1920. Condition: very good, expected paint wear on high spots. Size: 1-3/8” tall.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1191500
Kensington House Antiques
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A very pretty early 20th century French silver tastevin in the style typical of Dijon in the Burgundy region of France. This style retains the usual convex base surrounded by a wreath of “perles”, but the gadrooning (“godrons”) along the side have been replaced with a decoration of very finely worked grape leaves and clusters of fruit. The handle, also in typical Burgundian style, represents two snakes with the heads of ducks grasping the forbidden apple between their beaks. Although the maker’s mark on the bottom is illegible, the quality of workmanship suggests that this tastevin may be have been made by Orfevres Parrod, one of the most important silversmiths in the region and a house particularly noted for its tastevins.

Origin: France, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings. Size: 2-5/16” diameter (excluding handle) x 13/16”. Weight: 33.4 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1434146
Kensington House Antiques
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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 "godrons" and "cupules" gare replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with raised "perles". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in a rather unusual shape slightly suggestive of the double snake handles sometimes found on tastevins from the Bourgogne region. These smaller tastevins are less common than the larger ones. Smaller tastevins from the Bordeaux region were often used for tasting Cognac, so perhaps the smaller Burgundian versions were used for some other spirit, as well as wine. The bottom and handle are stamped with first-standard silver marks and with Parrod's mark.
  • Origin: Dijon, France, ca. 1903-1944
  • Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle)
  • Weight: 25.8 grams
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Bronze : Pre 1920 item #19744
Kensington House Antiques
$325.00
Very rare heart shaped gilt bronze-mounted dresser tray with handmade lace insert. This is the only heart-shaped dresser tray I've ever seen. Marked on the bottom "France."

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, but could use some cleaning. Size: 10-3/4" x 8-1/2" x 1".

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #1434147
Kensington House Antiques
SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
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 "godrons" and "cupules" are replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with "cupules". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in the traditional form of two snakes grasping an apple, alluding to the the Garden of Eden snake and reminding the drinker of temptation. These smaller tastevins are less common than the larger ones. Smaller tastevins from the Bordeaux region were often used for tasting Cognac, so perhaps the smaller Burgundian versions were used for some other spirit, as well as wine. The bottom and handle are stamped with first-standard silver marks and with Parrod's mark.
  • Origin: Dijon, France, ca. 1903-1944
  • Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 2-1/4” diameter (excluding handle)
  • Weight: 24.6 grams
    All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1920 item #19198
    Kensington House Antiques
    $165.00
    Lovely cut glass powder jar with a silver lid. The finial is a beautifully-detailed strawberry. The edges of the lid are decorated with classical bound reeding. The lid is also monogramed "FC". Hallmarks are European and the silver content is 916/1000.

    Origin: Europe, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-3/4" diam.; 4" tall.