Catalog: Antiques (495)

A superb late 19th century first standard (950/1000 pure) silver berry spoon with a shell-form gilt bowl. These spoons were originally intended for serving strawberries. The front of the handle is decorated with a twisting wreath of holly leaves and berries, and the back with a similar wreath of thistles. The bowl is beautifully worked in the shape of a scallop shell. Improvements in agriculture and railways made strawberries widely available to the wealthy classes in the 1870s. Special implements such as this were needed to compete the experience. Today, it could be used for any sort of desert or even hors d’oeuvres. The spoon is stamped with French silver marks and with an illegible maker’s mark. The quality of workmanship is easily on par with the great makers such as Odiot and Puiforcat.

• Origin: France, ca. 1880.
• Dimensions: 8-3/4” long.
• Condition: mint; gilding completely intact.
• Weight: 99.5 grams.

A pretty Victorian sterling silver berry or preserves spoon in Towle’s 1887 “Clover” pattern. Both the handle and bowl are decorated with bright-cut engraving of clover flowers and foliage. The bowl has a scalloped upper border, repoussed lobes, and matte gilding. The back is marked with Towle’s hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding, no monogram, no dings. Size: 7-1/8” long. Weight: 48.5 grams.

Beautiful set of six sterling silver seafood forks in terrific Art Nouveau pattern by Joseph Seymour. Each piece is covered from the tip of the handle to the very beginnings of the tines with curves and stylized chrysanthemum-like blossoms in the Japonaise style. The tines are nicely curved and barbed. The backs are hallmarked by Seymour.

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 6-1/8” long. Weight: 87.5 grams.

Nice porcelain footed mug with a transfer print entitled "Sands & Railway Station Ramsgate--A Present From Ramsgate". The scene shows the railway station in the background with bathers in the foreground. Queen Victoria lived in Ramsgate for a time before ascending the throne. After the railway came to the shore, Ramsgate became a very popular tourist destination. The rim is decorated with a gilt band.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: very good, slight wear to gilding along the rim, a tight hairline visible only the inside. Size: 3-5/16" diameter; 3-3/16" high.

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.

A very nice lacquered papier-mache tabletop box, the cover with colorful Chinoiserie scene. The decoration depicts a noble lady and gentlemen being entertained by a troop of magicians in their garden. While two of the magicians look on, the third is juggling four balls. This is a very whimsical design that makes this box really special. The hinged lid has a lock (alas, the key is long gone). Lacquered boxes of this sort were popular in both England and France, and the quality of decoration would suggest a French origin.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, a tight hairline at one back corner by the hinge. Size: 11” x 7” x 2-3/4”.

A very nice small-size silver plate wine taster in the classical style. The bottom features the typical convex bottom surrounded by concave "godrons" adn "cupules." 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. 1890.
• Dimensions: 2 1/4" diameter excluding handle.
• Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp detail.

A wonderful Victorian figural bank constructed of oak and decorated with punched and engraved brass appliqués. This is the only bank we've seen in the shape of a bank! The roof is pierced with two slots to insert coins. The bank retains the original lock, but the key is missing.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 5-3/8" x 3-1/2" x 5-3/8" tall.

A terrific folding paper knife, the body covered in the colorful “Caledonia” tartan. The blade is carved from bone and has a locking mechanism just as any other pocket knife would have. These are sometimes called fruit knives, but I’m reasonably certain they were intended for use as paper knives or letter openers. Tartanware became popular after Queen Victoria caused a rage for all things Scottish through her love of Scotland.

Origin: Scotland, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, light wear to the varnish on one side, no missing paper. Size: closed, 3-21/32” long; open, 7-3/8” long.

Very handsome and heavy sterling silver master salt dish in the Georgian style. The flattened spherical body has a modified egg and dart border and is raised on acanthus leaf legs terminating in animal paw feet. Goodnow & Jenks was Boston's finest silversmith, albeit only for a short period, 1893-1905. The bottom is marked with the maker's mark, as well as a partially obscured retailer's mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: no dings or deep scratches, light pitting to the interior that can be removed by a light buffing. Size: 2-3/4" diameter; 1-5/8" tall. Weight: 73.5 grams.

A nice Bohemian mercury tapered columnar-form mercury glass vase, the sides engraved through a bright red flashing to the silver. The pattern depicts a bird nesting among exotic flower and foliage. The design is accented with applied white lines. The silvering is not in as good condition as one would hope, but the very bright red flashing and the generous size more than makes up for it!

Origin: Bohemia, ca. 1870. Condition: silvering loss as noted above, no chips or cracks, bottom seal lost. Size: 11-1/4" tall.

A lovely Bohemian zwischengoldglass liqueur beaker, the bottom featuring an inset gilt and enameled design of bouquet of violets. The panel cutting along the beaker’s sides causes the design to be visually repeated when looking into the interior. These glasses have become increasingly difficult to find.

Origin: Bohemia, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, gilding intact, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 2-7/16” tall.

Gorgeous Qing Dynasty Chinese export porcelain vase with Rose Medallion enameled decoration. The body has a beautiful white color and intricate painted decoration of peonies, quince fruit, waterlilies, butterflies and birds. The foot, rim and shoulder are decorated with enameled flowers against a gilt background. The shoulder border is punctuated with reserves framing peony blossoms.

Origin: China, circa 1850.

Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, normal wear to gilding, a tiny bit of wear to some of the enamels.

Size: 10" tall; 4" wide at shoulder; 3-1/8" wide at mouth.

Pretty French faience plate exuberantly decorated with vases of carnations, sprays of bluebells and colorful insects. The plate has a deep rim and the edges are finished in a nice curved pattern. The back of the plate is marked "Jardin" in underglaze blue.

Origin: France, early 19th century. Condition: no body cracks or chips; glaze wear along rim; normal glaze crackling. Size: 10-1/4" diameter.

Outstanding Victorian figural picture frame in the form of a map of Australia! The metal is very heavy gauge and the coloring is white (I believe it is constructed of white brass with a yellow-tinted lacquer). The detail is superb, including outlines of rivers, the political boundaries (Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria), and the locations of cities (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane).

The reverse side is stamped "R. Golding/Rd. No. 30/Tasmania". The back has an easel which is removable for hanging on the wall with the attached hook.

Origin: Tasmania, Australia, late 19th century. Condition: excellent, with some wear to lacquer around edges. Size: 8" x 6-1/4".

A matching frame (missing the glass) is also available.

An elegant sterling silver soup ladle in Whiting’s 1890 “Old King” pattern. The shell and acanthus leaf design elements of the handle appeared in many flatware variations since the Georgian era, and has become an established classic for its restrained elegance. The bowl is parcel gilt for nice contrast. The back of the ladle is stamped with the retailer’s mark for Theodore B. Starr. Starr had agreements with several major silversmiths who provided the store with fine silver to which they applied the retailer’s mark rather than the manufacturer’s.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, light fading to the original gilding, no monogram. Size: 13-/4” long. Weight: 218.0 grams.

Extremely elegant Louis XV-style French silver master salt dip with cobalt glass liners. The shapes of the containers remind me of Louis XV bombe commodes. The repousse design is very architectural in nature, and makes use of numerous decorative elements such as fluted columns, ribbons, cartouches, and pendant bellflowers. Surprisingly, none of the four cartouches has ever been monogrammed. Although intended for salt only, this piece could be used today to serve both salt and pepper. The server is marked with the Paris 1st standard hallmark for 950 silver (purer than sterling silver) and an unidentified maker’s mark “R&D”. The cobalt liners are of very high quality crystal and might possibly be the work of Baccarat.

Origin: Paris, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, no monogram. Size: 5-1/4” long; 1-3/4” wide; 4-1/2” tall.

19th century aneroid desk barometer in a stunning ivory case raised on a turned pedestal and surmounted with a carved ivory bust depicting a young farm maiden. The carving is superbly done, with great attention to the girl's hair and 18th century-style lace-trimmed bonnet. Her face is charming. The ivory has a beautiful yellowed patina that has not been cleaned. The enameled dial is in French, but there is no maker's mark visible. This is the finest desk barometer we've ever seen.

Origin: France, ca. 1830. Condition: excellent, expected splitting to ivory on the back, original patina. Size: 7-1/4" tall; 3-1/2" dial diameter.