Catalog: Antiques (494)

Lovely Edo period porcelain plate with underglaze blue decoration of a shoreline with an outcropping of pine trees on a cliff, a flock of birds, a small village of huts, and three mountain peaks; the edge decorated with blossoms against a dark blue background. The reverse is conservatively decorated with simple brush strokes. The body is very white and of fine quality, the glaze is equally fine, slightly tinted and with a smoth orange peel texture. The sides of the plate are slightly ridged to create a lobed effect.

Origin: Japan, late 18th/early 19th century. Condition: virtually mint, the very slightest of knife scratching to the glaze surface. Size: 9" diameter; 1.25" high.

Lovely Renaissance style gilt copper jewel casket by Jenning Brothers. The interior is fitted with the original blue velvet lining. The center of the lid features a coat of arms. Origin: America. The decorative bottom is marked "JB" with the pattern number "1377". Size: 4.5" long; 3" wide; 2" tall. Condition: Slight rubs through gilding to copper base at corners.

A nice coin silver rattail spoon by John Brown, active in Baltimore from 1799, after apprenticing in Philadelphia. The bowl is rather narrow, suggesting it was to be used as a pap spoon. The spoon must have been an early piece from Brown's shop, as the design is quite clearly drawn from late 18th century styles. The three-letter monogram in a bright-cut cartouche is also characteristic of the period. The back is marked with Brown's punch.

Origin: Baltimore, ca. 1800. Condition: a few small to moderate dings in the bowl. Size: 5-5/8". Weight: 11.25 grams.

Very nice dark blue Staffordshire transferware plate in the “Bear” pattern from the “Quadruped” series by Hall. The plate depicts a river otter catching a salmon in the central reserve, surrounded by shield-shaped reserves depicting (from top going clockwise) a hedgehog and a mole, a pair of rabbits, a seal, and a civet and genet. All of the animals are based on illustrations by Caesar Ibbetson that appeared in John Church’s 1805 “A Cabinet of Quadrupeds.” The back is stamped “I Hall Quadrupeds”.

Origin: England, 1814-32. Condition: very good, a shallow 3/8” glaze nick to the rim at the 2 o’clock position. Dimensions: 8-3/7” diameter.

Elegant sterling silver bonbon server in Kirk's popular "Repousse" pattern--probably the most famous of all the Baltimore silver patterns. The bowl is embellished with intricately designed fruit including grapes, pineapples, strawberries, and peaches. The reverse is marked "S. Kirk & Co. Sterling".

Origin: Baltimore, Maryland, circa 1920. Condition: near mint, no monogram. Size: 5-1/8" long.

Superb ornate Victorian sterling silver soup ladle in the 1882 "Aeolian" pattern by Knowles. This is just a terrific pattern--easily on par with Gorham, Whiting or any of the other great Victorian silversmiths. The handle is ornately decorated with trailing fuchsias and foliage. The bowl is formed as a large leaf with very nice engraved details. The bowl is matte finished for added texture. The back is hallmarked by Knowles.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monogram. Size: 11" long. Weight: 141.0 grams.

A nice tin tray with tole floral decoration. The center is painted with a colorful bouquet including roses, tulips, peonies, lilies and ferns. The bouquet is surrounded by a foliate border, and the edges of the tray are highlighted with an orange-gold sand paint. The tray is handmade with soldered seams and rolled edges.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent original paint. Size: 18-5/8” x 12-5/8” x 1-3/16”.

Stunning cut Bohemian glass powder jar with top-notch polychrome enameling. The lid is decorated with a wonderful scene of an 18th century gentleman surrounded by bowers of flowers. The sides of the jar are decorated with a wreath of flowers and acanthus leaves. The sides are cut in a St-Louis diamond pattern. The rims of both the jar and the lid are gilt. The bottom of the jar is cut with oval printies alternating with mitres. Unsigned, but definitely the work of Lobmeyr.

Origin: Bohemia, circa 1890. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, no missing enamel, only the most minimal wear to gilding (less than 5%). Size: 3-1/2" diam., 2-5/8" tall.

A classic second standard (800/1000 pure) silver tastevin from the Loire Valley of France. The origins of tastevins can often be identified by the tastevin’s shape. In this case, the bowl is rather shallow and completely without decoration. The handle is formed in the shape of a thin, curvy snake, but is worked without extra decoration such as scales or details to the head. This example is rather early, as is evidenced by signs of hand hammering and the small lathe mark in the middle of the bowl. The bottom is stamped with the original owner’s name, P. Roux. These classic tastevins from the Loire Valley are charming for their simplicity. Stamped with French silver marks and an unidentified maker's mark.

• Origin: Loire Valley, France, ca. 1840
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 2-7/8” diameter (excluding handle)
• Weight: 29.9 grams

A rare French silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin from the reign of Louis XVI. This classic example features a classic design of angled “godrons” (grooves) accented with raised “perles” (pearls). The lack of deeply recessed “cupules” suggests that this wine taster was specifically intended for use with white wines. The center of the bottom has the expected tiny lathe mark where the vessel was raised from a solid block of silver. The handle is formed as a coiled snake in the traditional manner. The edge is engraved with the name of the original owner, Monsieur Robert. The tastevin bears the charge and discharge marks for Paris (1789) and an illegible master’s mark.

• Origin: France, 1789
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/16” x 3-7/8”
• Weight: 72.9 grams

A very fine pair of cast and engraved Louis XVI style bronze dore candlesticks. The round bases are decorated with beading and an ornate wreath of acanthus leaves. The pillars are fluted and broaden slightly before reaching the upper knop, also with acanthus leaf decoration. The sockets are likewise decorated. The original gilding is largely in place.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no cracks. Size: 9-1/2" tall.

Figural majolica tobacco humidor in the form of a ball player. The piece is decorated in beautiful, rich colors under the shiny tin glaze. The base is impressed "10830II" and is also painted with the decorator's mark.

Origin: Continental, probably the Low Countries, France or Germany, ca. 1900. Condition: Mint. Size: 6" tall.

A lovely footed sterling silver salver in the George III style. The salver is perfect for use as a wine coaster, as the size will accomodate a magnum or a champagne bottle. The scalloped stepped border is elegantly decorated with acanthus leaves and gadrooning. The shell-shaped feet are flanked by acanthus leaf returns. Marcus & Co. was one of the most exclusive jewelers in America and was one of the few companies to give Tiffany any serious competition. They did not make their own silver, but retailed high-end makers such as Gorham, Frank Smith, Whiting, etc. The bottom is marked with Marcus’ retail mark, “Sterling” and the pattern number 1928.

Origin: America, 1918-27. Condition: excellent, normal wear and some staining on surface (could be buffed), sharp details, no dings or monograms. Size: 7-7/8” diameter; 1-1/16” high. Weight: 296.0 grams.

A handsome three-piece gilt bronze desk set by Marshall Field comprising a letter rack, pen wipe and pen tray. Each piece is decorated with intertwined stylized dragons against a ribbed background with a beaded border. The workmanship is very fine. Marshall Field was an active producer of very high-quality metalwares during the Arts & Crafts period. The bottom of the letter rack is marked “Made by Marshall Field & Co. 2 29”. The bottom of the pen tray is marked “MF & Co VIKING”. The bottom of the pen wipe is not marked and has two holes that suggest there may have originally been an undertray of some sort.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent patina, no cracks, some of the bristles in the pen wipe have been trimmed. Size: letter rack, 8-1/2” wide, 4-7/8” tall, 2-5/8” deep; pen wipe, 2-1/2” wide, 1-7/8” tall; pen tray, 8-7/8” x 3”.

Rare large ironstone platter in the Imari taste with a cobalt blue border by G.L. Ashworth, the successor to Mason’s. The platter’s rim is unusually decorated with reserves showing Japanese ladies with parasols and floral elements surrounded by gilding. The central design shows an Asian-themed still life including peonies, lotus blossoms, pagodas, etc. The back is printed with Ashworth’s mark, is impressed “Real Ironstone China”, and has a decorator’s mark.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent; no chips, cracks or discoloration; light wear to gilding along edges. Size: 15-7/8” x 12-5/8”.

A finely executive elephant ivory seal paste box from the late Meiji period. The cover features a pair of elephants marching around the edges, while the center medallion is engraved with the face of a screeching monkey. The carvings are lightly heightened with ink or another pigment to bring out the details. The elephant often symbolized intellectual strength, while the monkey was thought to ward off evil spirits and thieves. The lid still fits tightly.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, both portions have crazing, but no open cracks. Size: 2-9/16” diameter; 1-9/16” high.

An uncommon silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a Mexican silver coin featuring the likeness of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, the last Spanish emperor to rule over Mexico. The coin is dated 1821, the year Mexico became independent of Spain. The tastevin is constructed in classic French style, with a coiled snake handle, but it lacks the embellishments usually seen on French examples. The bowl is simply decorated with a hammered surface. The tastevin probably dates to the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, who ruled Mexico’s Second Empire (1864-67). Maximilian was established as emperor by the French Emperor Napoleon III, and French decorative arts became very popular among the wealthy of Mexican society.

• Origin: Mexico, ca. 1864.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 cm (3-9/16 x 4-9/16 in).
• Weight: 112.0 grams.

Fabulous brass and copper picture frame in the Aesthetic Japonaise style. The basketweave pattern of the brass frame is detailed with raised copper decorative elements that include a crane standing in a stream, bamboo and cherry blossoms. The back has an easel. The frame is 3.5" x 2.75". The oval opening with glass is 2.25" x 1.5". Circa 1870.