Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1837 VR item #1487923
Kensington House Antiques
$1,850.00
A fine example of a French-Flemish croix papillon (butterfly cross) from the northern region of France around Calais. Jewelry scholars believe these were actually made in Belgium (a French region at the time) where they were known as “croix à la Jeannette” (Jeanette crosses). They were popular across the French regions of Picardie and Pas-de-Calais and into Normandie. This example retains all three of its original parts, each worked in gold and silver and set with table cut diamonds. Croix papillon in original condition are somewhat uncommon as they were often separated into multiple components to satisfy inheritance among multiple daughters. The filigree work is very finely done. The upper portion retains its original pair of slides, as these crosses were traditionally worn high from a wide ribbon tied around the neck. At some point, likely in the later 19th century, a pin stem and c-clasp were added for wear as a brooch. Today, the cross can be worn as a brooch or as a pendant suspended from a chain using the slides. There is a partial hallmark with the guarantee stamp “D” suggesting the cross was assayed at Liège.
  • Origin: France/Belgium, ca. 1790-1820
  • Condition: excellent, all parts intact
  • Dimensions: 1-15/16” x 3”
  • Weight: 13.2 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Art Nouveau : Pre 1900 item #1487922
Kensington House Antiques
$2,695.00
A wonderful Victorian/Art Nouveau pendant and brooch in the form of a mythological griffin grasping a diamond in its jaws. The creature’s open-winged pose is somewhat unusual for this type of jewel, as they tend to be more curled up in a more circular position. The pose, however, makes for wear as a dramatic pendant hanging from the pendant loops on each wing. The back also has a removable fitting so it can also be worn as a brooch. And finally, there is a watch hook at the bottom that could suspend a watch or a dangling gemstone. The griffin is worked with in great detail and even the back is enhanced with engraved feathers and scales. The old mine cut diamond has good color and VS1 clarity. The pin stem is stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1890
  • Dimensions: 2-3/4” x 1-3/8”
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Weight: 18.1 grams
  • Approximate Diamond Weight: .33 carat
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1960 item #1487921
Kensington House Antiques
$325.00
An elegant sterling silver rollover jigger in Tiffany & Co.’s classic modernist “Cordis” pattern. Designed by Oscar Riedener in 1958, Cordis’ stark contemporary lines were something of an aesthetic departure for Tiffany. Riedener was a leading designer for Tiffany, most famous for his 1966 design of the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy. The jigger is designed to rest across the rim of cocktail shaker or glass. Once filled, the jigger can simply be tipped sideways, allowing the liquid to drop into the vessel without spills. The handle is marked “Tiffany & Co. Sterling.”
  • Origin: America, ca. 1960
  • Condition: excellent, no dings
  • Dimensions: 6” x 2-3/8” x 1-3/4”
  • Weight: 61.7 grams.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1970 item #1487919
Kensington House Antiques
$325.00
A modernist sterling silver graduated jigger by Tiffany marked off in half-ounce increments. This design, created in 1939 at the height of Tiffany’s Art Deco period, remained popular through the ensuing mid-century years. The bottom is marked “Tiffany & Co. Sterling” and has the date mark for 1955-65. The jigger is accompanied by its original Tiffany felt bag (with typical wear)
  • Origin: America, 1955-65
  • Condition: excellent, no dings
  • Dimensions: 1-13/16” tall x 2-1/4” diameter
  • Weight: 42.1 grams
  • All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1970 item #1487918
    Kensington House Antiques
    $360.00
    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, 2.5, and 3.5 ounce markings on the jigger’s bottom. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham
    • Origin: America, ca. 1950
    • Condition: excellent, a couple of extra-small pinpoint dings on the bottom edge
    • Dimensions: 2-7/16”
    • Weight: 50.4 grams
    All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1485765
    Kensington House Antiques
    $2,450.00
    A tour-de-force first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin by silversmith Stanislas Pollet celebrating Napoleon’s great victory at the Battle of Wagram. The tastevin is inset with a Napoleonic silver medal surrounded by fleur-de-lis engraving. The outer edges are enhanced with ornate strapwork (a technique particularly mastered by Pollet) depicting fleur-de-lis and acanthus leaves. The entire design is set off with a pair of magnificently cast and engraved dolphins forming the handle.

    Napoleon, never particularly known as a shrinking violet, enjoyed commissioning medals from the Paris Mint to celebrate his victories and various life landmarks. The front of the medal (showing from the top of the tastevin) depicts the river god of the Danube being forced by the Emperor to carry a wooden pontoon bridge laden with French cannons over the river towards the Imperial Austrian capital, Vienna. The Latin inscription translates as, “Danubius, indignant at the breach/Battle of Essling/May 22, 1809.” The reverse (showing from the bottom of the tastevin) depicts the French army marching across the bridge at Wagram, urged on by the goddess of Victory carrying a laurel wreath and pointing the way. The inscription translates as, “Again crossing at the same place/July 5, 1809.” The Battle of Essling was the first defeat of the French army under Napoleon’s direct control, but that fact is obscured by combining it with the Battle of Wagram, just forty-four days later. This latter battle was one of the emperor’s greatest victories and was the largest battle in European history up to that time. The medal was created at the Paris Mint by the medalist Nicolas-Guy-Antoine-Brenet under the supervision of Baron Dominique Vivant Denon, who was Napoleon’s artistic director and to whom the emperor entrusted the Louvre after turning it into a museum. A single copy of the medal was struck in gold for Napoleon’s personal collection. Silver medals were given as gifts to the emperor’s friends and diplomats and bronze versions were available to those of lower rank.
    • Origin: France, 1899-1903
    • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
    • Dimensions: 3-1/2” x 4-5/8” x 1-1/4”
    • Weight: 201.4 grams
    All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1930 item #1485764
    Kensington House Antiques
    $750.00
    A Burgundian first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin by acclaimed silversmith Marc Parrod. The style of this particular example is a bit of a departure from Parrod’s typical style. The handle is worked in the form of a snake, thought to represent the the snake from the Garden of Evil as a reminder that wine may lead to earthly temptation. But the bowl Parrod experimented with the decoration to the bowl. The elongated “godrons”, intended to help assess the color and clarity of wine, are pushed all the way up the sides of the bowl in a style more typical of the 18th century. A series of “perles” are arranged in a circle at the base of the “godrons.” Between the “godrons” Parrod has added repoussé decoration of grape clusters. And most interestingly, rather than a smooth surface, Parrod created a hammered texture that further enhances the wine’s color. The rim is engraved “Vernier Morey 1740.” The meaning of the engraving is unclear, but both names are familial names long associated with very good Burdundy wines. Obviously, the date was intended to represent the founding of a vineyard, a dynastic marriage, or some other major local history event. The rim is slightly out-of-round, but this is in the making where the engraving and maker’s marks were applied—a quirk that is not uncommon in French silver. The handle and body are stamped with the French first standard mark and Parrod’s master’s mark.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1910
    • Condition: very good, a small flattened area on the bottom edge under the handle visible when turned upside down
      • Dimensions: 3” x 4” x 1-1/4”
      • Weight: 88.6 grams
    All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1970 item #1485720
    Kensington House Antiques
    $335.00
    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,two wear spots to the top outer surface of the box
    • Dimensions: 6-1/4” long
    All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1800 item #1485719
    Kensington House Antiques
    $750.00
    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
    All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1930 item #1485718
    Kensington House Antiques
    Sale Pending
    An elegant second standard (800/1000 pour silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons," the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves, berries and shells 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 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: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 15/15"
    • Weight: 55.9 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Designer Signed : Pre 1970 item #1485485
    Kensington House Antiques
    $3,950.00
    A wonderfully heavy vintage silver bracelet by Hermès. The bracelet has a triangular profile that stands well out from the surface of the wrist and a masterfully constructed so that it is flexible, but appears rigid when being worn. The inside edges of each link are parcel gilt, so the bracelet sometimes shows the slightest gold hue. This is probably the heaviest Hermès bracelet we have seen. The bracelet is presented in its original vintage fitted Hermès gray box. The bracelet is fully hallmarked with French first standard (950/1000 pure) silver marks and Hermès maker’s mark indicating it was made in the company’s own ateliers instead of being farmed out to other makers as was sometimes the case. The clasp is also signed “Hermès.”
    • Origin: France, ca. 1960
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 11/16” wide; 3/8” high; 8-1/4” long
    • Weight: 148.0 grams.
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1485484
    Kensington House Antiques
    $4,500.00
    A beautiful pair of 14K yellow gold double curb link bracelets. The links are enhanced with ornate repousse decoration but could be worn inside out when a smoother look is called for. The clasp of each bracelet is stamped with Viennese 14K gold marks used 1872-1902. The bracelets are priced as a pair, but are available separately.
    • Origin: Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1872-1902
    • Condition: excellent, no dings
    • Dimensions: 7-3/4” long; 1/2” wide
    • Weight: 47.3 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1920 item #1485482
    Kensington House Antiques
    $2,495.00
    A sophisticated 18K gold necklace, the baton links enhanced with black and white en plein enamel. The batons are separated by seed pearls that reappear as a band across the middle of the teardrop-shaped onyx pendant. The pendant hangs from the clasp, so the necklace can be worn alone or with the pendant. Both the clasp and the mounting of the pendant are stamped with French 18K hallmarks and an unidentified maker’s mark.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1910
    • Condition: very good, some enamel nicks on the baton links visible with a loupe, but none show the underlying gold
    • Dimensions: chain length, 20”; pendant length, 1-1/16”
    • Weight: 14.9 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1900 item #1485480
    Kensington House Antiques
    $795.00
    A heavy pair of 14K gold cufflinks, the faces decorated with a sort of shield-shaped device against a stippled background. The influence of the Art Nouveau aesthetic can be seen in the assymetrical design of the shields. The semi-matte finish of the stippling contrasts nicely with the more polished shield. The backs marked "14K" and have Kirby's hallmark.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1890
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 11/16" x 1/2"
    • Weight: 9.8 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1837 VR item #1485478
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,195.00
    An elegant Georgian 18K gold fob seal worked in a floral pattern and set at the base with an amethyst tablet engraved with an armorial crest. The floral design continues up the shoulders to the loop by which the fob would have been hung from a watch chain. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
    • Origin: England, ca. 1815
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 3/4" x 11/16" x 1-3/16"
    • Weight: 13.2 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1485474
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,095.00
    An early Victorian 14K yellow gold locket enhanced with a pretty design of painted enamel roses and taille d'epargne tracery. The exposed gold surfaces are further decorated with engraving. The back cover has a style of engine-turned engraving usually found only in the late Georgian or very early Victorian periods. The interior retains both of the original glass covers and gold frames.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1840
    • Condition: excellent; no enamel damage; a pinpoint ding to the back cover
    • Dimensions: 1-1/16" x 1-1/2" (excluding jump ring)
    • Weight: 8.2 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1485471
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,795.00
    A fine Victorian 14K gold and platinum locket ornately decorated in the Etruscan style with a lily pond scene. The scene includes rose gold cattails, green gold lily pads, and platinum lily blossoms. The remainder of the locket is enanced with ropetwists, wire work, and appliques. The locket opens at the back to reveal a photo compartment. The locket is completed iwth its original matching bail.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1860
    • Condition: excellent; a few minor pinpoints on the back cover
    • Dimensions: 1-3/8" x 2-3/16" (including bail)
    • Weight: 14.6 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1920 item #1485470
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,395.00
    An elegant 14K yellow gold gold bracelet constructed with modified gatelinks, each enhanced with engraved details. The five center links are set with round sapphires. The sapphires have intense coloring and excellent clarity. The interior is stamped "14K" and also has Crane & Theurer's maker's mark.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1910
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 3/8" wide; 7-1/4" long
    • Weight: 11.6 grams
    • Approximate Total Sapphire Weight: .60 carat