Catalog: Vintage Arts (283)

A nice vintage leather box embossed “Studs” on the top. Most of these boxes are round, but this example is a much more uncommon horseshoe, the lid also embossed with a horseshoe. These boxes were original intended to store shirt studs or cufflinks, but can be used for any variety of gentleman’s accessories.

Origin: probably England, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 2-1/2” x 2-3/4” x 1-3/16.

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.

An elegant sterling silver small letter opener in Kirk’s “Repousse” pattern. The wide end is beautifully decorated with a pattern of roses and foliage against a stippled background. The flat edge is marked off so it can be used as a ruler. The back is marked with the Kirk hallmarked used 1932-61.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, very light wear to the first few 1/16” makers on the ruler at the pointed tip. Weight: 26.5 grams.

Excellent squat Rookwood vase with raised decoration featuring large three-leaf clovers and flowers. The flowers, particularly, are molded in fairy high relief, so that the glaze is thinner over the tips of the petals, creating lovely shading. The glaze is shiny, but with an orange peel texture, and is colored a medium chocolate brown. The bottom is marked with Rookwood's impressed mark and the date letters "XLV", the pattern number "6352" and the decorator's number "23" scratched into the glaze.

Origin: American, 1945. Condition: mint; no glaze crazing. Size: 5" diam.; 3-1/2" tall.

Nice pair of vintage sterling silver candlelabra in a classic style. The double twisted-armed sockets unscrew so that they can be used as two single candlesticks, as well. The bases are marked "Empire Sterling Weighted".

Origin: America, circa 1950. Condition: excellent, all original, two sockets have a 1/16" ding on the lower sides, no monograms. Size: candlelabra, 9-3/8" tall, 8-1/2" wide; candlesticks, 6-1/2" tall.

A lovely set of mid-century enameled sterling silver coffee spoons by Henry Clifford Davis. Davis focused mostly on smaller objects, often enhanced with enamel. The spoons have unusual melon-ribbed bowls and elegant translucent guilloche enamel handles with an engraved Greek key-type design. Each is fully stamped with Davis' hallmarks and the date letter for 1950. The set is presented in its original fitted box, the lid marked by Finnigans of Bond Street, one of the first luxury goods stores in London.

• Origin: Birmingham, England, 1950.
• Condition: excellent; no enamel damage; box is also excellent.
• Dimensions: 3-7/8" long.
• Weight: 65.9 grams.

Vintage sterling silver figural jigger in the form of a jigger by Towle. The rim is engraved “Just a thimbleful.” Thimble jiggers became popular in the late Victorian era and remained so through the mid-20th century. The base is hallmarked by Towle.

• Origin: America, ca. 1960
• Condition: very good, a pinpoint ding on the side, just above the letter “s”
• Dimension: 2” tall
• Weight: 34.0 grams

A fine silver tastevin inset with a 1772 silver 8 reales coin from the reign of Carlos III. The deeply-curved sides of the tastevin are decorated in a characteristically Spanish baroque style with ornate chasing and engraving. The handle is in the form of a curled dragon-like creature.

Though they were fashionable in France in the 19th century, coin tastevins only became stylish in Spain around 1950. Generally, they were made by high-end silversmiths as custom orders by clients who provided their own antique coins. In this case, the coin is an 8 reales (known colloquially as a "piece of eight") minted in Mexico City for use in the Spanish colonies and in Spain itself. The tastevin was made by the silversmith Manuel Garrido and bears the retailer's mark of Bagués, Spain's most luxurious jeweler.

Origin: Spain, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3-1/8" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 76.9 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. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham. Origin: America, ca. 1950.

• Condition: very good, three dings (one on the side and two under the very edge of the bottom rim; enamel stoplights have excellent color; professionally polished
• Weight: 51.1 grams

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. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham.

Origin: America, ca. 1950

Condition: excellent, a pinpoint ding under the bottom edge visible only when upside down and a few tiny pinpoints on the upper rim

Dimensions: 2-7/16” tall

Weight: 53.5 grams

Lovely pair of sterling silver short candlesticks, the sockets with an engraved design and flaring outline suggestive of a tulip blossom. The design has a nice Art Deco feel and is really much more interesting than the typical short candlesticks of this type. The bottoms are marked “Sterling” but have no maker’s mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, the bottom edge of one stick has a few truly pinpoint-sized dings (not really visible except when upside down). Size: 4-3/8” tall; 3-1/2” diameter at base.

A heavy pewter jigger in the form of a shotgun shell by Conoy’s of London. The side is marked off in increments, and the head and rim and finished in brass. The side is engraved “Big Shot.” Conoy’s started as a luxury pipe maker and eventually expanded their range to include canes, flasks, and other gentlemen’s accessories.

• Origin: England, ca. 1950
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/8” tall
• Total Capacity: just less than 4 ounces

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. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham.

Origin: America, ca. 1950.

Condition: Excellent; a very shallow 1/8" ding on the back side near the bottom. Slight paint loss to the red stoplight.

Weight: 53.0 grams

A classic mid-century sterling silver jigger by Smith & Smith and retailed by Black, Starr & Gorham, one of America's leading luxury stores in the 1950s. The jigger is simply decorated with a series of three incised rings that do double duty as markers for variously sized pours. The bottom is fully hallmarked. The jigger is presented with its original felt pouch and gift box, both marked "Black, Starr & Gorham."

• Origin: America, 1950-62.
• Condition: excellent; no dings or monograms; light staining on gift box.
• Dimensions: 2-7/16" tall.
• Weight: 29.4 grams.

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. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham.

• Origin: America, ca. 1950
• Condition: excellent, one pinpoint underneath the bottom edge
• Dimensions: 2-7/16” tall
• Weight: 51.2 grams

A classic sterling silver jigger by Kirk & Son. The simple shape is accented with a gently flared lip and beautiful gilding. The bottom is stamped with the Kirk hallmark used from 1932.

• Origin: America, ca 1960
• Condition: excellent, no dings, gilding complete intact
• Dimensions: 1-15/16” tall
• Weight: 32.9 grams

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 1960s. 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. The syringe is accompanied by an illustrated instruction card and the original fitted box.

• Origin: America, 1967-70
• Condition: excellent, no monograms or dings, typical scuffing to outer surface of the box
• Dimensions: 6-1/4” long

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 1960s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe and then dispensed in precisely-calibrated doses for your medical cocktails. The syringe originally cost $10. The syringe is presented in its original fitted box and is accompalied by the illustrated instruction card.

• Origin: Amerca, ca 1967-70
• Condition: excellent, no monograms or dings; box in mint condition
• Dimensions: 6-1/4” long.