Catalog (2449)

A classic pair of French 18K yellow gold cufflinks in a variation of the "mors de filet" or "snaffle" design originally created for Hermès by Gaetan de Percin. Each of the flip-up ends is pierced in a diamond-cut design. De Percin's design was very popular and served as the basis for a number of closely related designs. These cufflinks are stamped with French 18K marks, an unidentified goldsmith’s mark and the notation for "breveté", indicating that the design was patented.

Origin: France, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: faces, 5/8 x 11/32". Weight: 12.7 gr.

A nice Art Deco cocktail pick set formed as a dark red bakelite cherry atop a rosewood base holding six bright red bakelite cherry-finial picks. The cocktail pick holder (“porte-piques”) was once a fixture of every French bar or café, as well as private bars in the home. Today, they can be used for their original purpose or to serve small hors d’oeuvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, minor wear to the finish along the lower edge of one side of the base
• Dimensions: 2-5/8” x 2-5/8” x 4”

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 colorful orange and white bakelite dice holds a set of six chrome cocktail picks, each with a dice finial 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 olive or cherries, or to serve small hors d’oeuvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” x 3-3/4”

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"

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a large chrome snail on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco children’s books illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side job designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials that resemble cherries. Cocktail pick holders (“porte-piques”) were once a fixture of every Parisian bar and café. Today, they are used in home bars to spear olives, cherries or onions in a cocktail, or so serve small hors d’eouvres.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, no chrome loss, a tiny bit of scuffing on the wood finish
• Dimensions: 4-7/8” x 2-1/2” x 4-1/2”

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.

A very uncommon French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a fisherman navigating his boat. A dozen picks, each topped with a red bakelite ball form oars along the sides of the boat. The whole is attached to the original wooden base.

Origin: France, ca 1925. Condition: excellent; very minor spotting to the plating on the interior of the boat. Dimensions: 8" long.

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.

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 French Art Deco arched chrome cocktail pick holder with a dozen picks with colorful bakelite finials. The holder is French, but the picks (probably early replacements) are marked “Made in England.” This simple design is somewhat easier to use than some of the other figural pick holders. Cocktail pick holders (“porte-piques”) was once a fixture of every French bar or café. Today, they can be used to spear cocktail olives or cherries, or to serve small hors d’oeuvres.

• Origin: France and England, ca 1930
• Dimensions: 5-1/4” long x 1-1/2” deep x 3” high.

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form of a large snail worked in chrome on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side job designing entertaining barware. 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 3/8” x 2 7/8” x 4 1/2”.
• Condition: excellent, all original; no chrome loss.

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 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”.

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the form a wishing well. A water bucket hangs from the winch and six red bakelite-topped cocktail picks are stored in the well itself. The The whole is set on a Macassar ebony 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: good; typical wear to bakelite spheres; no rust; one metal stem seems to have been cut off just above the bakelite "cherr".
• Dimensions: 5-3/4” tall.

Fabulous Art Deco 18K yellow gold box, the lid decorated with opaque red and black champlevé enamels depicting a roulette wheel. A black enamel linear pattern and fan motifs at the corners complete the very Deco design. The can be used to hold either cash or mother of pearl gambling counters. For those who are curious, the case perfectly fits $2,500 in $100 bills folded in half. The superb workmanship shows, not only in the enameling, but in the solid construction techniques such as attaching the lid with a full piano hinge for extra security. The inner lip and thumbpiece are hallmarked with the “tete d’aigle” mark in a hexagonal reserve used on French enameled 18K gold. There is also an unidentified goldsmith’s mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent, no monogram, no enamel damage, a pinpoint ding on the bottom side of the case. Size: 3-7/16” x 2-13/16” x 3/8”. Weight: 142.5 grams (4.582 troy ounces).

High quality 18 karat yellow gold bar bin featuring an elongated center of pierced and milligrained platinum set with an assymetrical arrangement of 15 rose-cut diamonds around a natural pearl. The back retains its original trombone catch and the pinstem is stamped with the French 18 karat gold hallmark.

Origin: France, circa 1930s. Condition: excellent. Size: 2-3/4" x 7/16". Approximate Weight: .35 carats.

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.