Catalog: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art (258)

A very fine and extremely rare Art Deco sterling silver cocktail shaker by exclusive Tuttle Silvermsiths. At the end of the Art Deco era, just before modernism began to take a firm hold, a few leading American silver companies started reinterpreting Stuart adn Georgian silver designs for modern purposes. This shaker is just such an example. The urn finial cresting above the everted rosette cap is a new take on late Stuart and early Georgian design, as is the overall severe cylindrical shape and the double-reeded banding. The final look is an extraordinary blending of 17th century design and the "skyscraper" design of the 1920s and 30s. The bottom of the shaker is marked with Tuttle's maker's mark, as well as the retailer's mark for Shreve, Crump & Low. It is also marked "London Reproduction 1660-1684". And finally, it is marked with the monogram for Harry S. Truman with the Roman number I, indicating the that shaker was made during the first Truman administration (1945-49). Tuttle is not a widely-known American silver company precisely because all its products were made entirely by hand and were extremely expensive. It was available only to the elite.

Origin: America, 1945-49. Condition: excellent, a few insignificant waves from "ice cube dings" only visible in strong, raking light. Size: 14-1/2" tall. Weight: 1,106 grams.

A nice set of sterling silver cocktail picks, the tops decorated with colorful enameled roosters. The use of the rooster (“cock”) motif in Art Deco barware was a play on the word “cocktail”. Each pick has a hook on the back of the rooster so that it can hang from the edge of the glass. Each is fully hallmarked for Birmingham, 1927. The picks are presented in their original fitted case embossed Abercrombie & Fitch.

Origin: England, 1927. Condition: all original, no enamel damage, box has significant wear. Size: 3-3/16” long. Weight: 13.5 grams.

A handsome sterling silver Art Deco double jigger by Thomae & Co. Each cup is simply enhanced with a single raised band for Art Deco austerity. The rim is fully hallmarked.

Origin: America, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Size: 3-3/4" tall. Weight: 60.7 grams.

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.

Very nice set of eight sterling silver cocktail picks with rooster finials brightly decorated in translucent basse-taille enamels. The engraved decoration underneath the enamel lends realistic feathery details to the roosters. The exposed areas of silver are gilt. The backs are marked "925S Norway Sterling."

Origin: Norway, ca 1950. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage. Size: 3-13/16" long. Weight: 29.5 grams.

A fine sterling silver double jigger in an Art Deco pattern by Tiffany & Co. The only decoration are incised bands around the lip of each cone-shaped vessel. This severe geometric style is typical of the Art Deco wares produced by Tiffany. The jigger is fully hallmarked by Tiffany and is stamped with the date mark used 1907-1947.

Origin: America, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent, three tiny pinpoint dings. Weight: 86.5 grams. Size: 4-3/4” tall.

A fun Art Deco cocktail pick set designed as a large green and white bakelite dice holding a set of six chrome picks, each with a dice finial. The bottom of the holder is marked “GB Modèle Déposé.”

Origin: France, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent. Size: holder, 2” x 2” x 2”; picks, 3-1/2” long.

A rare, complete set of Art Deco sterling silver demitasse spoons in the "Zodiac" pattern by Tiffany & Co. presented in their original fitted case. The finial of each spoon features a streamlined illustration of a zodiac sign. The bowls are parcel gilt. The back of the spoons are stamped with the Tiffany hallmark used 1907-1947, and are also marked with the patent date 1926. These spoons were made for only a short duration and complete sets are quite difficult to find. The inside of the original case is stamped "Tiffany & Co. New-York Paris London".

Origin: America, ca. 1926. Condition: spoons are mint condition, the outside of the box shows considerable wear to the silk covering. Size: 4-1/8" long. Weight: 162.0 grams.

A boxed set of six pewter decanter labels or bottle tags for Scotch, rye, bourbon, gin, vodka and brandy by Stieff for Historic Newport. Newport, RI was one of the most important pewter-making cities of Colonial America, and these tags are made according the 18th century models.

Origin: America, ca. 1976. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 2-5/8 x 1-1/4" (excluding chains).

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.

An unusual 1940s French cocktail pick holder depicting a "racoleuse"--a streetwalker--leaning against a lamp post and raising her skirt very high. The chrome is engraved in a way to show that her thin dress does nothing to hide her more perky attributes. A selection of bakelite and chrome cocktail picks a stored in the trash can on the other side of the lamp post. Cocktail picks, often with very elaborate holders, were vastly popular in France and come in infinite variety. This is the only example we've seen of this particular design.

Origin: France, ca. 1948. Condition: excellent, all original; one bakelite sphere is cracked. Size: base, 5-7/8" x 2-1/2"; 9" high.

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.

An unusual mid-Century Taxco version of the classis sterling silver thimble jigger. Like most Mexican silver of the era, this piece has tremendous weight and a simple charm. The rim is engraved “Just A Thimbleful 1-1/4”. The bottom bears the hallmark of A. Dominguez and the Eagle stamp used in the late 1950s.

Origin: Mexico, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, no dings. Dimensions: 1-11/16” tall. Weight: 41.4 gr.

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 vintage sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a syringe by Gorham. These were called “Martini Spikes” when sold by Gorham in the 1960’s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe and then dispensed in precisely-calibrated medical dosages into your favorite cocktail. The syringe originally cost $10 as is indicated on the original order form that accompanies this example. It also includes the original fitted box (though in poor condition).

Origin: America, 1967-70. Condition: excellent (except box), no monograms or dings. Size: 6-1/4” long.

A vintage sterling silver vermouth dispenser by Gorham in the form of a syringe. These were called “Martini Spikes” when sold by Gorham in the 1960s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe, then dispensed in precise doses into your favorite cocktail. Marked “Gorham Sterling 429 Pat. Pend.”.

Origin: America, 1967-70. Condition: excellent, no monograms, no dings. Size: 6-3/8” long.

A rare, complete set of sterling silver demitasse spoons in the "Flowers of the Months" pattern by Tiffany & Co. presented in their original fitted case. The finial of each spoon features an illustration of a different seasonal flower such as a holly, clover, iris, pansy, poppy, etc. The bowls are parcel gilt. The back of the spoons are stamped with the Tiffany hallmark used 1907-1947. These spoons were made for only a short duration and complete sets are quite difficult to find. The inside of the original case is stamped "Tiffany & Co. New-York Paris London".

Origin: America, ca. 1926. Condition: spoons are mint condition, the outside of the box shows some wear and discoloration to the silk covering. Size: 4-11/16" long. Weight: 204.0 grams.

Pretty porcelain vase handpainted in soft shades of blue and green over a gently shaded blue background. The porcelain is of the finest quality and the glaze is impeccable. The bottom is marked with the green stamp with the date mark for 1961. The bottom also has the artist’s lowercase initials “SY” and the pattern number “2679/295”.

Origin: Denmark, 1961. Condition: mint. Size: 7-1/2” tall.