Catalog: Vintage Arts (284)

Outstanding three-piece sterling silver dresser set with guilloche enamel. Both brushes have natural bristles and the jar is panel-cut. All pieces are fully hallmarked for "G. Bros." London and Birmingham, 1928. The markings also indicate the pieces were made for export to America.

Origin: London & Birmingham, England, 1928. Condition: excellent, including the bristles; absolutely no problems with the enamel. Size: hairbrush 9" long; clothesbrush 6-1/4" long; jar 2" diam.

A complete set of six stacking chrome cocktail or canape plates designed by Lurelle Guild for the Chase Company. Each of the plates has an indented ring in which the foot of a cocktail glass fits perfectly, and an aerodynamic wing that serves as a handle. In advertising the plates, Chase said "With this smart looking canape plate, you can hold a cocktail, a canape and a cigarette in one hand and shake hands with other." Curiously, set of these plates are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Origin: America, 1934-41. Condition: excellent, normal surface wear consistent with age and use, no plating damage. Size: 6-1/4" diameter, excluding handle.

An elegant Art Deco ruby glass cocktail shaker with sterling silver overlay in a grapevine pattern. The glass has a very intense ruby coloring, and the bottom has a polished pontil-a reliable sign of quality glass. Each side of the shaker is enhanced with a stylized grapevine motif worked in sterling silver overlay. The shaker is finished with a chrome-plated top.

Origin: America, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, all original, no chips or cracks, no splits to metal. Size: 11-1/4".

Sterling silver bottle opener in Georg Jensen's beautiful 1930 Art Deco "Cactus" pattern. The handle is marked "Georg Jensen" in a dotted oval and "Sterling Denmark"; the opener is marked "Georg Jensen Denmark".

Origin: Denmark. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 4-13/16" long.

A rare French Art Deco cocktail pick set (“porte-piques”) depicting Aesop’s fable about the raven and the fox. The fox praised the raven so much that the bird opened its mouth to sing and dropped its lunch right into the fox’s waiting mouth. The moral: beware of flattery. This set was likely designed by the French children’s illustrator Banjamin Rabier who enjoyed a sideline designing barware. Pick sets such as this were once a fixture on every Parisian bar counter and today, they can be used at home for cocktails or to serve small hors d’oeuvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 5-7/8” x 2-7/16” x 5-3/16”

Fascinating watercolor set in the form of a 1930's automobile with working wheels. The top lifts to reveal containers for paints and water; an area for mixing; and a storage compartment for brushes. The back of the car is embossed "Betel Motor Car/Patent No. 75086/Open & Close Type/BF".

Origin: England, circa 1930. Condition: some budding young artist decided to decorate the car with some black paint, which could be removed by polishing the brass; the surface is untouched; no dents or missing parts. Approximately 10" x 5" x 3.75" high.

Beautiful cranberry-cut-to-clear glass decanter. The generously-sized bottle has terrific color and very nice quality cutting of hobstars, strawberry diamond, and notched prism motifs. The stopper has a blown teardrop and is cut in a matching pattern. The bottom is cut with a full hobstar. The neck and stopper are engraved with matching numbers (signifying that this is the original stopper). The bottom is signed in script.

Origin: Belgium, ca. 1930. Condition: mint. Size: 16" tall.

A colorful green and white bakelite die holds a set of six chrome and bakelite dice picks in this Art Deco set. The cocktail pick holder (“porte-piques”) was once a fixture of every French bar or café. Today they can be used to spear cocktail olives, cherries or onions, or to serve small hors d’oeuvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: very good, the white pick is likely an early replacement
• Dimensions: 1-3/8” x 1-3/8” x 4"

An elegant French Art Deco silverplate jigger in the form of a champagne bucket. The form is completed by a pair of spherical handles typical of champagne coolers of the era. The bottom is stamped with an illegible maker’s mark.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930.
• Dimensions: 1-7/8” diameter; 2” high.
• Condition: excellent; no dings; a 2mm area of plating wear to the interior near the bottom.

An Art Deco sterling silver handled double jigger by silversmith John Hasselbring (Brooklyn, NY). The angularity of the handle contrasts nicely with the traditional shape of the cups. Stamped with Hasselbring's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: very good, a few pinpoints on handle and cups visible in strong, raking light; no monograms. Dimensions: 5-3/8" x 4-1/8". Weight: 78.7 gr.

A classic mid-20th century French silver tastevin of traditional form. The bowl is decorated with angled godrons for evaluating white wines and small convex perles and larger concave cupules for use with red wines. The handle, also, is in the traditional snake form. Up until the mid-20th century, a few silversmiths in France were able to raise an entire tastevin from a single Napoleon III 5-franc coin. The work was accomplished solely with the aid of variously-sized hammers which were used to thin and spread out the original coin and a series of other tools used to form the decorations. They can often be identified by the the exact weight (always 32.5 grams before the addition of the handle). Only a handful of master silversmiths were able to create a tastevin in which the phrase “DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE” (“God protect France”), which originally appeared on the rim of the 5-franc coin, was still legible at the rim of the tastevin. The last silversmith with this documented ability stopped working in 1968. The tastevin is stamped with the “Minerve” mark for 800 silver and with an illegible maker’s mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent. Size: 25/32” high; 2-3/4” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 32.9 grams.

An unusual French Art Deco cocktail pick set featuring a stylized snail carved from beautifully-grained macassar ebony. The snail has a very unusual streamline aerodynamic appearance and colorful phenolic ornaments on the antennae. The set is completed with an ebony and bakelite "basket" holding chrome cocktail picks with multicolored phenolic heads.

• Origin: France, ca. 1935.
• Condition: excellent, all original.
• Dimensions: 6" x 2-1/4" x 3-3/4" high.

An elegant pair of 1st standard (950/1000 pure) silver jiggers by Hermes in the form of tankards. Each is fully hallmarked by Ravinet D'Enfert, the company responsible for most of Hermès silver creations in the Deco era. The bottom of each is marked "Hermès Paris". The jiggers are accompanied by an Hermès drawstring pouch.

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monograms. Dimensions: larger jigger, 3" tall; smaller jigger, 2-5/16" tall. Weight: 132.0 gr.

A superb set of four Art Deco chrome shot glasses, each with a different color of opaque enamel at the rim, enclosed in a fitted leather case by Newey. Newey was a major English maker of leather goods and a supplier to top-level retailers such as Harrod's. The case is embossed with Newey's logo and each of the shot glasses is marked "Made In Germany."

Origin: Germany/England, ca. 1930. Condition: virtually mint; no dings, no scrapes to the leather. Size: shot glasses, 1-3/4" tall; case, 2-11/16" tall.

Lovely pair of porcelain compotes in the "Dresden Garland" pattern by Schumann. The pierced rims are heavily decorated with colorful flowers and gilding. Each compote is centered with a floral bouquet surrounded by entwined gilt and floral garlands. The decorative motifs are echoed on the pedestals. The bottoms are marked by Schumann.

Origin: Germany, ca. 1920. Condition: mint. Size: 7-1/2" diameter; 4-5/8" tall.

A lovely Art Deco cameo glass perfume bottle with rare amethyst glass casing in "Design No 8039" by Cristalleries de Nancy. The design features sprays of stylized poppies against a frosted background. The cameo design is accented with cut details at the shoulder and at the top of the hollow-blown stopper. The base is acid-stamped “Cristal Nancy France.” This design was made in several different overlay colors including green, cobalt blue and ruby, but amethyst appears to be the rarest. The design was probably created by Auguste Houillon, the company's artistic director.

Cristalleries de Nancy was established in 1921 and after winning the gold medal at the 1925 Art Deco Exhibition in Paris, it became the primary challenger to Daum during the Art Deco era. Luxury perfume bottles and dresser accessories were the company’s specialty. The firm closed in 1934.

Origin: France, 1921-34. Condition: excellent; no chips or cracks to the bottle; a small moon on the bottom edge of the stopper. Dimensions: 6” tall.

A very rare "Cheerio" cocktail shaker in ruby glass with its original chrome top and recipe holder. The recipe holder contains a series of twelve cards that illustrate recipes for different cocktails. The recipes are far more varied than most recipe shakers, and include directions for a Hula-Hula, Princesse,Bamboo, Blackthorn and Aldo-Tropical. The cards have a patent date of 1934.

Origin: America, ca. 1934. Condition: recipe cards have water staining; the pour cap has a 1/4" split and the lid has a 1/4" ding; the bottom edge of the glass has a 5/8" flake that can be quite successfully hidden under the chrome recipe holder. Size: 11" tall.

A very nice antique Chinese glass paperweight featuring a lampwork poinsettia. The bright red petals are arranged in a double row around a sulfur yellow millefiori center and are accented with a green stem and a pair of leaves. The Chinese copied this design from New England Glass Company paperweights of the 19th century. The glass in this example is relatively good quality, with only few small bubbles, and is considerably larger than many examples. The base is ground and polished concave.

Origin: China, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no chips, cracks or significant surface wear. Size: 3-1/4" diameter.

A beautiful Art Deco green-cut-to-clear decanter designed by Charles Graffart for Val St. Lambert. The pyramidal shape capped by an inverted stopper is very linear and perfectly accents the austere overlay cutting pattern. The base is signed "Val St. Lambert" and the stopper is engraved with a number that matches the number inside the decanter's neck.

Origin: Belgium, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 9-1/8" tall.

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the unusual form of a large snail accompanied by a pair of baby snails. The snail is usually alone or perhaps with just one smaller one. They are worked in chrome and are set on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side gig designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials. Sets such as this were used on bar and café counters to serve cocktail garnishes, canapés, or even escargot.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930.
• Condition: excellent; all original.
• Dimensions: 6-7/8” x 3-1/8” x 4-1/4”.

A terrific Art Deco spun aluminum ice bucket for chilling wine and champagne. The front is decorated with a copper plaque depicting the label of a very well-known French winery in Alsace. The winery is famous for its Riesling, but also for Crémant, a sparkling wine native to Alsace. Alsatian wines are traditionally bottled in tall, narrow bottles, hence the shape of this bucket. The bottom is marked "URBA Made In France". Ice buckets were offered by wineries to cafés and distributors as a way of advertising their products.

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: surface scratching from normal use. Size: 10-3/4" tall.

A nice bronze trumpet vase by Carl Sorensen. The surface is patinated in a mottled green, and the lower part of the vase is enhanced with parallel bands of various widths. A matching band appears around the outer top rim. Sorensen made a variety of decorative metalwares, but little is known about him. He worked in Pennsylvania, and his pieces were possibly sold by Roycroft and Tiffany. The base is signed “Carl Sorensen” and also has his hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: very good, patination is excellent, there is a slightly flattened area along the upper rim visible when viewed from just the right angle. Size: 5-7/16” tall.

A classic figural sterling silver thimble jigger by Thomae & Co. The rim is engraved “Only A Thimble Full.” The interior retains its pale gilding. Several companies made variations of this jigger, but those by Thomae are among the best because of their superior weight and workmanship.

• Origin: America, ca 1935
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 2” tall
• Weight: 42.4 grams

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the unusual form of a large snail accompanied by a pair of baby snails. The snail is usually alone or perhaps with just one smaller one. They are worked in chrome and are set on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side jpb designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have unusual green bakelite finials. Sets such as this were used on bar and café counters to serve cocktail garnishes, canapés, or even escargot.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent; very light wear to wooden edges; all original
• Dimensions: 7” x 3-1/8” x 4-1/4”.

This wonderfully inventive Art Deco silverplate jigger measures 3/4, 1, 1-1/2 and 2 ounces. The cube joining the various cups shows measurements on one side and is stamped with the hallmark for Benedict Manufacturing Company (1894-1953) on the other. The cube is perfectly weighted so the jigger does not tip over when the upper cup is filled. This implement was created by the noted modernist designer Albert F. Saunders as a part of Benedict's "Modernistic" line. It was made in extremely small quantities and originals are very difficult to find.

• Origin: America, ca. 1930
• Condition: very good; one pinpoint ding; minimal plating wear
• Dimensions: 4-13/16” x 3-5/8”

A vintage English leather traveling case intended to hold a set of shirt studs. The top is embossed "Studs" in gilt letters. The interior has a sueded surface. Though intended for use when traveling, these boxes are an excellent way to store either cufflinks or studs on a daily basis. The bottom is marked "Real Hide Made In England."

Origin: England, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 2-5/8" diameter.

A terrific pair of Art Deco sterling silver tension-hinged sugar tongs or “nips” by W. & S. Sorensen. The twisted upper handles are decorated with gilt crown-shaped finials and the tong ends repeat the twisted pattern of the upper handles. The tongs could be used for sugar cubes, candies, or even olives. Hallmarked by Sorensen. The tongs are very well made and are quite heavy.

Origin: Denmark, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, all original, traces of original gilding intact. Size: 4-3/8” long. Weight: 30.5 grams.

An elegant English sterling silver, cut glass and bakelite cocktail pick set. Each of the pics terminates in a red bakelite cherry. The silver is hallmarked for John Grinsell & Sons, Birmingham, 1933.

Origin: England, 1933. Condition: very good, a few very tiny roughnesses can be felt with the fingertips (but not seen) along the edge of the glass. Dimensions: 4" diameter; 4" tall.

A good bronze footed trumpet vase by Carl Sorensen. The surface is patinated in a dark mottled green and is enhanced with parallel engraved lines forming bands decorated in a darker green patination. The small foot makes this one of Sorensen's more unusual vase designs. Sorensen made a variety of decorative metalwares, but little is known about him. He worked in Pennsylvania, and his pieces were possibly sold by Roycroft and Tiffany. The base is signed "Carl Sorensen" and also has his hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, a slightly flattened area along the upper rim is just barely visible when seen from the right angle. Size: 6-1/2" tall.

A pretty Art Deco cut glass perfume bottle with an intaglio stopper. The periwinkle blue body is cut in a diamond pattern, while the flat round stopper has lapidary cut edges and an intaglio four-leaf clover. The overall effect is very sweet. The flat base is acid-etched “Made in Czechoslovakia” inside an elongated oval.

Origin: Czechoslovakia, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 3-3/4” tall.

Nice Art Deco brass cocktail shaker in the form of a wine bottle. The bottle separates at the shoulders to reveal the strainer and the lip of the bottle removes for pouring. The bottom of the shaker is indented just as a glass wine bottle is. We’ve had many figural cocktail shakers, but this is the first bottle we’ve had.

Origin: probably America, ca. 1935. Condition: untouched patina, a couple of ding nears the bottom edge and another at the shoulder. Size: 3” diameter; 12” tall.

A delightful French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a carved rosewood cat arching his back to hiss at a little chrome snail. A wooden rack holds six chrome cocktail picks, each topped with a snail. All are presented on a macassar ebony base. Sets such as these were used in French homes as well as on the bar counters at cafes.

• Origin: France, ca. 1935.
• Condition: excellent, all original, one pick has very minor plating wear visible on close inspection.
• Dimensions: 5-7/8" x 3-1/4" x 4" high.

An elegant boxed set of gilt sterling silver demitasse spoons with fox head finials. Each spoon is stamped with the hallmark for William Suckling. Each is also stamped “Swaine & Adeney,” one of London’s most exclusive luxury goods shops for more than 270 years. The spoons are presented in their original velvet- and silk-lined fitted case. An extra spoon, apparently from a second box, is included.

• Origin: Birmingham, England, 1938
• Condition: excellent, gilding intact; box shows typical wear
• Dimensions: spoons, 3-13/16” long
• Weight: 84.3 grams.

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of Gideon the duck and his snail friend worked in chrome on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who created a comic strip called "The Adventures of Gideon" in 1923. It was immensely popular and Rabier was commissioned to make a range of entertaining barware. Few of Rabier's designs were signed, but this example is signed with his full name. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials. Cocktail pick holders ("porte-piques") were once a fixture of every French bar and café. Today, they can be use to spear olives of cherries in a cocktail, or to serve small hors d'oeuvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930.
• Dimensions: 5 7/16" x 3" x 4 1/2".
• Condition: very good; a small area of wear to chrome in the folds of the tail feathers and another smaller spot on the underside of the tail; normal age-appropriate wear to the wooden base.

This very rare novelty jigger in the form of a snowman measures with the body, opens bottles with the mouth, and when the top hat is removed, turns into a corkscrew!

• Origin: America, ca. 1930
• Condition: good, small area of paint loss on the hat rim, moderate plating wear particularly on the handles, paint touch-up on the face, a 1/8” pinpoint ding on the back side of the jigger.
• Dimensions: 4-3/4” tall

Unusual sterling silver lettuce fork in Stieff's enduring "Rose" pattern. Originally intended to serve lettuce, this piece could be used or any variety of modern foods. Origin: Baltimore, MD, early 1900's. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 9-1/4" long.