Catalog: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art (258)

A sweet sterling silver baby ring and teething rattle. The central silver piece shows Peter Rabbit sitting in a high chair enjoying a bowl of porridge. The back side can be engraved with the baby's name. The rattle is suspended in a lucite faux mother-of-pearl teething ring. These rattles are very difficult to find with no monograms or other engraving. Peter Rabbit rattles are among the most uncommon designs by Webster. Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no engraving or removals. Dimensions: 2-7/16" diameter.

A witty cocktail pick holder in the form of a marching drum. The drum is made of aluminum and is finished with a sort of rubberized coating and real string to mimic the rope ties on an old-fashioned drum. The ten picks have colorful ball finials.

Origin: France, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3-7/8" tall.

A very elegant Art Deco cranberry-cut-to-clear crystal cocktail shaker. The glass is very clear and quite heavy. The style of cutting suggests Val Saint-Lambert as the most likely maker. The shaker is finished with a silverplate strainer and cap.

Origin: probably Belgium, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, very minor plating loss on cap. Dimensions: 9" tall.

A sweet sterling silver baby ring and teething rattle. The central silver piece shows a clock face where hands can be engraved to indicate the time of birth along with the date, year and the infant's weight. The back side can be engraved with the baby's name. The rattle is suspended in a lucite faux mother-of-pearl teething ring. These rattles are very difficult to find with no monograms or other engraving.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no engraving or removals. Dimensions: 2-7/16" diameter.

For centuries, tastevins have been important accessories for French wine lovers, but until now we’ve never seen one that actually depicted “French wine lovers” in such graphic detail! Absolutely nothing is left to the imagination with this grouping of three. The unidentified maker is known to have made a similar tastevin depicting “Pétanque Fanny” merely lifting her skirts from behind. This very rare version goes quite a bit further, with Fanny in the clutches of a pair of old men. The tastevin is in otherwise traditional style. The side is stamped with the maker’s mark “MH”.

Origin: France, ca. 1920. Condition: very good, some dulling of the finish and very slight indentation to the rim at the top. Dimensions: 3-3/14” diameter (excluding handle).

An elegant sterling silver wine bottle coaster by Tiffany & Co. The sides are beautifully worked in repousse decoration of roses and chrysanthemums with a leaf border at the bottom and a twig border at the top. The coaster is inset with a carved mahogany base centered by a sterling silver disc perfect for monogramming. The coaster is large enough to accommodate a magnum or champagne bottle. The rim is marked “Tiffany & Co./Sterling Silver 925”.

Origin: America, ca. 1965. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Dimensions: 5-1/4” diameter; 2” high.

A lovely early 20th century Imperial Russian wooden Easter egg with polychrome decoration of a young peasant couple engaged in a kiss. The image is very sweet and nicely detailed. The back side of the egg bears the gilt letters “XB” for “Christ is Risen.” Careful examination of the drill holes in the egg show even oxidation of unpainted surfaces and the paint has typical aligatoring, supporting a very late 19th or early 20th century age. The image is a bit more romantic than is typical of earlier 19th century eggs.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent; bright colors; no paint loss. Dimensions: 2-3/16” long.

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 good 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 of the roosters is enameled in a slightly different colorway. The picks are presented in their original fitted case. Each is marked "Sterling Silver".

Origin: America, ca. 1925. Condition: all original, no enamel damage, box has significant wear. Size: 3” long. Weight: 10.8 grams.

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 sterling silver wine funnel in a classic Georgian design by the luxury English silversmith Asprey & Co. The upper rim is simply decorated in a beaded pattern. The strainer bottom is pierced in a starburst design. The piercing will strain out the larger sediments, and the funnel opens so a piece of muslin or a screen can be inserted to filter even the smallest sediments during decanting. The funnel is fully hallmarked by Asprey and bears the date letter for 1984.

Origin: England, 1984. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monograms. Dimensions: 3-7/16" diameter; 4-3/4" tall. Weight: 104.8 gr.

A very large and heavy sterling silver double jigger with a turned ebony handle by Quaker Silver Co. The cups are decorated with an ornate acanthus leaf and bead design reminiscent of Jensen and other Nordic designers of the early 20th century. The jigger is stamped with Quaker's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent, a couple of very tiny pinpoints along the rim of the smaller cup. Dimensions: 4-15/16" tall; 10-3/4"long. Weight: the silver portion is approximately 150.00 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 silver jigger engraved with the pennant of the Norwegian-American Lines and the name of the passenger liner SS Stavangerfjord. The ship was commissioned in 1917 and sailed until 1963. In 1964, it was anchored in Tokyo Bay for use a hotel during the Tokyo Olympics. This jigger is engraved "Olympiske Leker", indicating that it comes from the short time the liner was used during the games. The bottom is marked "S830". Origin: Norway, 1964. Condition: excellent, two tiny dings on the bottom edge (only visible from the bottom). Dimensions: 1-13/16" tall. Weight: 13.0 gr.

A silver jigger decorated with a raised ocean liner pennant enameled in the colors of the Norwegian-American Lines and engraved with the name of the passenger liner SS Stavangerfjord. The ship was commissioned in 1917 and sailed until 1963. In 1964, it was anchored in Tokyo Bay for use a hotel during the Tokyo Olympics. This jigger is engraved "Olympiske Leker", indicating that it comes from the short time the liner was used during the games. The bottom is marked "S830".

Origin: Norway, 1964. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, no dings, no monograms. Dimensions: 2-1/16" tall. Weight: 15.6 gr.

A vintage sterling silver napkin ring, the front decorated with three bears, probably an allusion to the children's story, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." The back is engraved "Tony" and the interior is stamped "Sterling".

America, ca. 1940. Condition: very good, light wear from polishing, no dings. Weight: 23.4 gr.

A lovely Christmas bouquet paperweight by Perthshire. The weight features a colorful bouquet of holly leaves, a red poinsettia and mistletoe surrounded by ring of red, white and green complex canes, all against an opaque snow white ground. The base is embedded with a signature/date cane. The paperweight is finished with 5/1 faceting.

Origin: Scotland, 1996. Condition: excellent, no roughnesses. Dimensions: 3" diameter; 2" high.

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 interesting sterling silver double jigger in an inverted cone shape. Interestingly, every surface is hand engraved in an ornate paisley-like pattern. The interior is marked “Sterling”.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, two small dings only visible from the interior. Dimensions: 4-1/16” tall. Weight: 47.1 gr.

A mid-Century frosted glass cocktail shaker by the Federal Glass Co. The shaker is decorated with a colorful scene of dancing Native Americans with teepees and smoke signals in the background.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, all original, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 10" tall.

A very rare French first standard silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin, the bottom bearing the coat of arms of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. The arms depict St. Vincent, patron saint of winemakers. The body is further decorated with the traditional raised "perles" for highlighting the reflections in the wine and recessed "cupules" and elongated "godrons" intended to concentrate the color during tasting. The handle is worked in the snake motif traditional in Burgundian tastevins. The rim is stamped with an unidentified silversmith's mark.

The Confrerie was established in 1934 to promote the wines of Burgundy. Modeled on Medieval guilds, membership in the Confrerie is strictly controlled and is open only to sponsored candidates. A tastevin bearing the arms of the Confrerie could only have belonged to a member. Tastevins used by the Confrerie come in a few different variations, with this being the rarest and most prized.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, light wear to coat of arms consistent with age, a minor ding to one cupule. Dimension: 3-1/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 91.6 grams.

A sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a watering can. These were made by Boardman and retailed primarily at Cartier's flagship store in New York and by Tiffany. This particular example was retailed by Schroth's jewelers in Montville, NJ. When tipped, the dispenser lightly sprinkles just a drip of vermouth into the glass for the perfect martini. The bottom is marked “Sterling” and is signed “Schroth”.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-1/8” tall. Weight: 49.7 grams.

A classic mid-century porcelain water jug advertising Ricard anisette. In the south of France, tradition dictates that a pitcher of water should be served alongside anise-flavored aperitifs to dilute the drink. Makers such as Ricard and Pernod provided advertising pitchers to local bars and cafes to increase their sales. The squared-off shape is less common than the traditional globe-shaped pitcher, and only became popular after World War II. This is a miniature version, about half as tall as usual, and was obviously intended for someone who drinks alone! It’s the only miniature we’ve found after many years.

Origin: France, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 2-15/16” tall.

A very nice cut crystal cocktail shaker in amethyst overlay. The design is a classic pattern of angular mitres emanating from oval printies. These shakers were almost always acid-signed “Japan” on the base, but someone scratched out the signature on this one. Cut glass in the Art Deco style was one of the industries established in Japan during the occupation at the end of World War II. The products were of fine quality and easily competed with European glass from the era. This shaker is complete with its original chrome-plated top. These shakers were always acid-signed “Japan” on the base, but someone scratched out the signature on this shaker.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1947. Condition: excellent; no chips, cracks or dings. Dimensions: 10-3/4” tall.

A beautiful Art Deco green overlay cut crystal perfume bottle in Design "7623" by Cristalleries de Nancy. The bottle is cut in alternating pillars accented with stars and printies. The hollow-blown stopper is cut to match, with a large start at the apex. The base is stamped with the acid signature "Cristal Nancy France." This particular pattern is more often seen in cranberry overlay and in a round shape rather than square. The pattern was likely designed 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 period. Luxury perfume bottles and dresser accessories were the company's specialty. The company closed in 1934.

Origin: France, 1921-34. Condition: excellent, no damage to bottle, the stopper has a small moon below the surface at the very bottom of the stopper. Dimensions: 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" x 5".

A classic Art Deco porcelain water jug advertising Ricard Anisette. In the south of France, tradition dictates that Ricard and other anise-flavored spirits be drunk with a side of water. Makers such as Ricard and Pernod provided advertising pitchers to local bars to increase their sales. This globe form is the classic shape from the first half of the 20th century. The bottom is marked "Ateliers de Céramique Ricard/Made In France".

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 6" tall at handle.

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 lovely set of six sterling silver cocktail picks with rooster finials presented in their original fitted box. Each pick is fully stamped with hallmarks for Birmingham, England and with the maker's mark for Barker Bros Ltd.

Origin: England, 1948. Condition: excellent, some discoloration to interior lid of box and slight wear on outside. Weight: 16.5 grams.

A superb lampwork pansy and snake paperweight by Charles Kaziun, Jr. The design features two of Kaziun's most iconic design elements from the 1950s and 60s. The pansy is a beautiful indigo color with lampwork upper petals and millefiore cane lower petals. The snake is worked in orange and yellow stripes with a black head and bulging yellow eyes. The whole is set against an uncommon sulfur-yellow jasper ground and is finished with a 6/1 faceted design. A gold foil bee, serving as Kaziun's signature, appears on one of the pansy's leaves. A gold foil "K" appears underneath the ground.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, no chips or scratches. Dimensions: 2-5/8" diameter.

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).

Tole painted tin spill vase in the form of a birch tree surrounded by a farmyard scene of a rooster and hen.

Origin: probably Germany, possibly France, ca. 1930. Dimensions: 7-1/4" high. Condition: typical isolated paint loss near upper edge and near leaves.

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

Origin: America, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Size: 2" tall. Weight: 37.8 grams.

A nice sterling silver double jigger with a turned ebony handle. The jigger has a smaller and a larger cup, each in bell form. The jigger is marked by Edward San Giovanni, who worked in Ridgefield, CT during the 1940s and 50s.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Dimensions: 2-13/16 in high; 5-1/8 in long. Weight: 38.8 gr.

A beautiful Cristalleries de Nancy Pattern #8039 Art Deco cameo glass perfume bottle and dresser jar with cranberry-colored stylized poppies against a frosted clear background in. The cameo design is accented with cut details on the shoulder and hollow-blown stopper of the bottle and on the cover of the jar. Both pieces are marked with the acid-etched signature "Cristal Nancy France." The bottom of the perfume is engraved with an identifying number that matches the number of the stopper, indicating the stopper is original. This pattern was likely designed by Auguste Houillin, 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. Perfume bottles and dresser accessories were its specialty. The company closed in 1934.

Origin: France, 1921-34. Condition: excellent; jar has no issues; the stopper of the bottle has a miniscule flake on one facet. Dimensions: bottle, 6-1/2 in. tall; jar, 3-1/4 in. tall x 3 in. diameter.

A classic sterling silver double jigger, the stem enhanced with incised lines. The jigger is marked "Sterling".

Origin: America, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms. Size: 3-5/16" tall. Weight: 55.9 grams.

A rare silverplate cocktail recipe disk by Napier. The silverplate case holds a celluloid dial that can be rotated to show printed recipes for twenty classic cocktails. A jump bail allows the disk to be hung by a chain around a cocktail shaker or decanter. The rim is marked "Napier Pat. Pend." We've never seen this particular Napier design before.

Origin: America, ca. 1935. Condition: very good, very minor plating wear as is typical of Napier pieces. Dimensions: 2" diameter.