Catalog: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art (265)

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 fun mid-century chrome and bakelite stoplight handled jigger. The side is marked off in three increments--"Safe", "Caution" and "Danger"--each with a jeweled light. The bottom is marked "Reg'd Design/Glo-Hill Canada". Montreal-based Glo-Hill made a creative range of barware and serving pieces for modern entertaining.

Origin: Canada, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-13/16" tall.

A sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a watering can by Cartier. When tipped, the dispenser lightly sprinkles a drip or two of vermouth into the glass for the perfect martini. The bottom is marked “Sterling” and is signed “Cartier”. These watering cans were made for Cartier’s New York store.

• Origin: America, ca. 1950
• Condition: very good, a few tiny dings visible only in raking light
• Dimensions: 3” tall
• Weight: 52.0 grams

A classic late Art Deco or early modernist porcelain water jug advertising Ricard Anisette. In the south of France, tradition dictates that anise-flavored aperitifs should be served with water to dilute the drink. Makers such as Ricard and Pernod provided advertising pitchers to local bars and cafes to increase their sales. This squared-off rectangular form is less common than the traditional globe-shaped pitcher and became popular after World War II. The bottom is marked "Ateliers de Céramique Ricard/Made in France".

Origin: France, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 9" x 3-3/4" x 5-1/2" tall.

A witty sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a watering can by Cartier. 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 "Cartier".

Origin: France, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent. Size: 3" tall. Weight: 49.1 gr.

A vintage sterling silver figural jigger by Gorham, the sides marked off with enameled stoplights in green, yellow and red meant to signify "go," "caution," and "stop." Each light corresponds to the 1, 2-1/2, and 3-1/2 ounce markings on the jigger's bottom. This example is noticeably heavier than other Gorham stoplights we've had, suggesting that it's of an earlier date. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham.

• Origin: America, ca. 1950.
• Condition: very good; a very shallow 1/8" ding on the rim (to the left of the lights) and shallow 1/8" ding on the back side near the bottom.
• Weight: 56.9 grams

A vintage sterling silver figural jigger by Gorham, the sides marked off with enameled stoplights in green, yellow and red. Each light corresponds to the 1, 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 ounce markings on the jigger’s bottom. The bottom is also hallmarked by Gorham.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent; no dings, monograms or enamel loss. Dimensions: 2-7/16” tall. Weight: 51.7 gr.

A rare Art Deco double jigger in brown and speckled yellow bakelite.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-19/32” tall.

A sterling silver double jigger in International's classic1939 Art Deco "Royal Danish" pattern. The jigger is marked with one of International's older hallmarks. The double jiggers in this pattern are difficult to find.

Origin: America, ca. 1945. Condition: very good, one pinpoint to the side and a few pinpoints on the rim visible upon close inspection, no monogram. Weight: 65.5 grams. Size: 4-9/32" tall.

Handsome pair of large cobalt glass oval open salt dishes in pierced sterling silver holders. The bottoms are hallmarked by Watrous.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-3/16" x 2-1/4" x 1-1/16" tall.

A very nice cut crystal cocktail shaker in cobalt blue overlay. The design is a classic pattern of angular mitres emanating from oval printies. The shaker is acid-signed on the bottom "Japan". Cut glass in the Art Deco style was one of the industries established in Japan during the Occupation following World War II, and the products are always of fine quality that easily compete with European products of the same era. The shaker is completed with its original chrome plated top.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1947. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks to the glass or metal. Size: 11" 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.

Superb and very rare copper bowl in the form of three bound leaves by acclaimed silversmith Alfredo Sciarrotta. Most of Sciarrotta’s work was in sterling silver, but he did make a limited line of copper and brass wares early in his career. The designer’s work is instantly recognizable from the quality of workmanship, the heaviness of the material, and of course the naturalistic shapes accented with delicately curling edges and engraved veining. The copper dishes have more realistic appearance than the works in silver, with more detail along the edges of the leaves and in the veining. The dish is raised on three brass ball feet.

Sciarrotta was smuggled out of Italy into the US during World War II to work on submarine technology. Afterwards he settled in Newport, RI and created a small line of hand-made sterling silver hollowware. These were retailed in his own shop and eventually by a few select stores including Shreve Crump & Low, Gorham, Bailey Banks & Biddle, and Cartier. This copper example has the earlier and less common hallmark that Sciarrotta used only at his own studio. Sciarrotta’s designs are in several museum collections including the Smithsonian.

Origin: America, ca. 1948. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, excellent patina. Size: 9-7/8” diameter; 3-1/8” tall. Weight: 565.0 grams.

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 handsome sterling silver rollover jigger by Cartier. The jigger's two arms rest across the top of a glass or cocktail shaker. After filling, it's simply flipped over the empty the contents without making a mess. The bottom is marked "Cartier Sterling", indicating it would have been sold at Cartier's flagship New York store.

• Origin: America, ca. 1940
• Condition: excellent, no dings
• Dimensions: 5-13/16" wide
• Weight: 47.8 grams

A rare Art Deco mechanical "Trap Jigger" in chrome with red bakelite accents made by Fay. When the arms of the filled jigger are rested on the rim of a glass or jigger a plunger inside is forced up to allow the liquid to pour out the bottom.

• Origin: America, ca. 1940
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 2-1/2" tall when closed; 3-3/16" wide at handle

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 lovely boxed set of sterling silver coffee or demitasse spoons in the “Harlequin” pattern. Each spoon features and stem and finial in a different floral form (L-R “Wild Rose”, “Goldenrod”, “Calla Lily”, “Hollyhock”, “Apple Blossom”, “Tea Rose”, “Water Lily” and “Forget-me-not”). The designs are beautifully worked. The bowls are parcel gilt. Each spoon is hallmarked. They are presented in their original box with an illustrated guide (dated 1948) to the patterns inside the lid.

• Origin: America, 1948
• Condition: excellent; box has normal age-appropriate wear
• Dimensions: 4” long
• Weight: 81.7 grams

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 French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a chrome lyre with red bakelite-topped cocktail picks forming the instrument’s strings. The whole is set on a mahogany base. 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.
• Dimensions: 4-3/8” x 1-9/16” x 5”.

A very uncommon graduated sterling silver handled jigger by one of Mexico’s most important Art Deco and modernist silversmiths, Juvento Lopez Reyes. He opened his studio, Plateria del Recreo in 1935, making most streamlined hollowware items in the Art Deco and modernist taste. The base is fully stamped with mark used by Reyes in the 1930s and 40s. The stepped sides of the jigger mark off .5, 1, 1.5 and 2-oz levels.

Origin: Mexico, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, except for one very minor ding. Dimensions: 2-1/2” tall. Weight: 54.4 grams.

A interesting Art Deco chrome wine bottle caddy in the form of a sled. The runners ensure that the caddy can be pushed easily across a table surface. The sides of the sleigh are decorated in a hammered and pierced pattern. This caddy can be used any time of year, but would be particularly nice on the Holiday table!

Origin: America, ca. 1945. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 10" long, 3-5/8" wide, 5-5/8" tall.

A very handsomely decorated set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons. The handles are finely decorated with a cast and pierced stylized bellflower. The swirling character of the finial design nicely contrasts with the more angular line of the lower handles and the oval bowls. The backs are fully marked with Swedish hallmarks for 830 silver, including the town mark for Norberg.

Origin: Sweden, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16" long. Weight: 92.0 grams.

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.

An elegant set of six sterling silver demitasse spoons by English silversmith William Suckling, Ltd. The handles are simply decorated with an acanthus bud. The bowls are slightly broader and more balloon-shaped than the typical demitasse spoon, so they could easily be used for delicate desserts. The set is presented in its original velvet- and silk-lined fitted case. Each spoon is fully hallmarked for the maker and for the year 1945. A set such as this must have quite the rare luxury in the final year of World War II.

• Origin: London, 1945.
• Dimensions: spoons, 3 13/16" long.
• Weight: 58.2 grams.
• Condition: both the spoons and case appear to be unused.

A sterling silver corkscrew by International Silver in one of the company’s 1930s Art Deco designs. Clearly patterned after the popular Scandinavian designs of the period, this design is very similar to “Royal Danish”, “Sonja” and “Norse”. The handle is marked with International’s older hallmark and the pattern number “NX14”.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp details. Size: handle width, 4-5/16”; length, 4-5/8”.

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 witty pair of Art Deco silverplate jiggers, the smaller (1.5 oz) decorated with a hand with one finger upraised and the larger (2.0 oz) with two fingers. The jiggers are heavy and well-made. The jiggers nest together perfectly.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, original plating completely intact. Size: 2-5/8” and 3” tall.

Rare vintage sterling silver figural jigger in the form of wing-handled fire bucket. The side is engraved “Fire Water.” Figural jiggers gained popularity in the Art Deco era. The bottom is marked “Lunt Sterling 15”.

• Origin: America, ca. 1940
• Dimensions: 2” tall to rim, 2-3/4” to top of handle
• Weight: 34.6 grams

A beautiful set of six silverplated scallop shell dishes by Tiffany & Co. The dishes are worked with wonderful detail—even the feet have a decorative treatment similar to snail shells. These dishes are perfect for butter, mints, nuts, or even individual servings of cocktail sauce. The bottoms are marked “Tiffany & Co/Makers/Silver-Soldered”.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no plating wear. Size: 3-13/32” x 4-5/8” x 1-3/16” high.

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 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.

Lovely sterling silver low bowl in the "Repousse" pattern by Kirk. Beautifully accented with a scrolling border of shells, the heavily decorated border features roses, daisies, wild roses and other flowers with foliage. The bottom is stamped "Hand Decorated/S. Kirk & Son Inc./Sterling/714".

Origin: Baltimore, Maryland, 1925-32. Condition: excellent; no monograms or removals. Size: 8.25" diam.; 1.25" high. Weight: 8.8 troy ounces.

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".

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 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