Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (485)

A very fine and rare antique glass paperweight by Pairpoint. There sphere encloses a translucent red and opaque white double twist within a cloud of controlled bubbles. The foot is engraved in a design known as "Pattern No. 220". Pairpoint called this design "Veneti" and used it to produce candlesticks, compotes, vases and stemware. Veneti paperweights are quite uncommon.

Origin: America, ca. 1915. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Dimensions: 3-3/4" tall.

Eight sterling silver dessert or salad forks in Manchester's lovely 1910 "Southern Rose" pattern. The repousse decoration is similar to Kirk's "Repousse" and Stieff's "Rose".

Origin: America, circa 1910. Condition: excellent, no monograms. Size: 5-7/8" long.

An set of twelve English sterling silver coffee spoons and a matching sugar tong in an elegant rococo pattern by silversmith Joseph Rodgers. The handles are lightly monogramed with an “H.” The bowls are a bit larger than typical demitasse spoons, so they could easily be used for tea service, as well. The set is presented in its original fitted case lined with royal blue velvet and silk. The interior of the lid is embossed with the retailer’s stamp for William Batty & Sons, one of England’s finest watchmakers and jewelers outside of London at the time.

• Origin: Sheffield, England, 1910
• Condition: excellent; interior of case is excellent; case exterior is mostly good, but with bookbinding tape at the hinge side
• Dimensions: spoons, 4-5/16” long; tong 4-1/2” long
• Weight: 206.4 grams.

Outstanding early South Jersey glass paperweight enclosing a frit design of an eagle with an American flag and the words "The American Fire Philadelphia A.D. 1810." I'm not sure if this refers to a fire department or a fire insurance company. The detailing, especially the feathery delicacy of the eagle's wings, is very nice. The glass is very good quality and the design achieves very nice magnification because of its placement low in the crown. The bottom is flat with a polished pontil mark.

Origin: Southern New Jersey (Millville area), possibly Whitall Tatum Co., ca. 1900. Condition: the crown has one relatively small moon and the typical surface wear found on weights of this age (interestingly, most of this wear is around the periphery of the weight and not directly over the design); the bottom has the usual wear and somebody's etched initials (J.M.B.). Size: 3-1/4" diam.

Fantastic pottery double-handled urn decorated in an underglaze blue floral transfer and clobbered with overglaze iron red, yellow and purple pigments. The effect is much like chintz china, but with stronger coloring. The bottom bears the mark used by Cauldon Potteries from 1905 to 1920. The form and size of this vase, combined with its rich coloring, makes for a truly stunning piece of Staffordshire pottery.

Origin: Staffordshire, England, circa 1913. Condition: mint. Size: 13-1/4” tall.

Sterling silver cream or sauce ladle in the elegant 1910 "Newport Shell" (aka "Puritan") pattern by the Frank Smith Silver Co. The pattern relies on a beautifully executed shell and beading for its design impact. The reverse is marked with Smith's older hallmark and the retailer's name "D. Low & Co." (Salem, MA). The Frank Smith Silver Co. was chosen by the State Department to provide sterling silver flatware for every U.S. Embassy.

Origin: America, circa 1910. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 4-3/4" long.

Very rare heart shaped gilt bronze-mounted dresser tray with handmade lace insert. This is the only heart-shaped dresser tray I've ever seen. Marked on the bottom "France."

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, but could use some cleaning. Size: 10-3/4" x 8-1/2" x 1".

A gorgeous sterling silver cream ladle rare on two counts. First, Fessenden’s 1910 “Tulip” pattern is very uncommon. Secondly, while spoons were often engraved as souvenir pieces, serving pieces were hardly ever given this treatment. This is the only souvenir cream ladle we’ve seen. The matte gilt bowl is engraved with a very detailed representation of the U.S. Capitol Building underscored by “Washington DC”. The back is hallmarked by Fessenden & Co.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram, original gilding. Size: 4-5/8” long. Weight: 16.0 grams.

Lovely sterling silver cream or sauce ladle in Towle's 1900 "Dubarry" pattern. The handle, decorated with a simple spray of roses at the tip, nicely complements the triangular gilt bowl. The reverse is marked with Towle's old mark and "925/1000".

Origin: America, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 4-15/16" long.

Terrific enameled sherry bottle/decanter label. The enamel is applied over metal and has polychrome floral decoration. The chain is brass.

Origin: probably English, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent. Size: 2.5" x 1/5".

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles” and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries. The single snake handle, thought to represent the snake from the Garden of Eden, thus reminding drinkers of temptation, has an unusually well-detailed head. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker’s mark, possibly Parrod’s.

• Origin: France, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 15/16”
• Weight: 58.8 grams

A stunning footed cut glass compote in Hawkes’ “Delft Diamond” pattern. While the pattern is not especially ornate, the deep emerald green color of the blank is amazing. The knopped stem has an elongated airtrap bubble that’s difficult to see because the color of the glass is so rich. The plain round foot is acid-stamped with Hawkes’ trefoil signature, which would suggest a relatively early date.

Origin: America, ca. 1920. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, normal frosting to bottom of base. Size: 8-1/8” diameter; 6-3/4” high.

Wonderful pottery candlestick decorated in an underglaze blue floral transfer and clobbered with overglaze iron red, yellow, and purple pigments. The effect is much like chintz china, but with stronger coloring. The bottom is marked with the registration number indicating the piece was designed in 1913 and bears the mark used by Cauldon Potteries from 1905 to 1920. It is also marked "Grip", probably referring to the very uncommon form. It is a very unusual and striking pattern.

Origin: Staffordshire, England, ca. 1913. Condition: mint. Size: 6-1/4” tall; base, 2-3/4” x 4”.

A wonderful sterling silver soup ladle in Reed & Barton’s famous 1907 “Francis I” pattern. This is one of the most desirable late Victorian American flatware designs. This ladle is from the original series and is hallmarked with Reed & Barton’s old hallmark and the design patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, very sharp details, light surface scratches in bowl from normal use, no monogram, no dings. Size: 12-1/4” long. Weight: 243.0 grams.

Wonderful pair of Hubley cast iron paperweights in the form of African-American children. The little girl wears a yellow jumper over a white blouse and the little boy wears yellow pants and a white shirt. This is the only pair of black memorabilia iron paperweights we’ve seen.

Origin: America, ca 1920. Condition: very good, expected paint wear on high spots. Size: 1-3/8” tall.

An elegant two-piece English sterling silver serving set. The set is presented in its original fitted box lined with gorgeous royal purple silk and velvet. The spade-like utensil is similar to a typical Victorian tomato server, while the fork is shaped like a tablespoon, but with tines. The set is very versatile and could be used for many contemporary foods. The handles are decorated with a simple fiddle-shaped pattern that must have been very modern following on the heels of Victorian excess. The backs are fully hallmarked for London, 1913-14, and also have an unidentified maker’s mark “GJ over DF” in a shield-shaped punch.

Origin: England, 1913-14. Condition: near mint, no dings or deep scratches, no monograms. Size: 7-1/2” long. Weight: 101.0 grams.

Terrific figural porcelain creamer in the form of a lobster. This example has very nice painted details--note how the paint fades from red to pink to white at the edges of the claws. The bottom is stamped with the blue mark.

Origin: Germany, circa 1919. Condition: excellent, only a few tiny paint scrapes; no chips or cracks. Size: 4" high, 5" across.

Elegant sterling silver berry serving spoon with very high quality bright cut floral engraving. The matte-finished bowl is engraved with a rose motif while the handle has a variety of flowers and foliage. The reverse is marked "Sterling" and "J.S. MacDonald". The firm was in business in Baltimore, circa 1900. Excellent condition, no monogram. 8.75" long.