Catalog (2407)

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.

Very nice Imperial Russian peacock blue pressed glass tea box. Glass tea caddies are difficult to find in this color. The design features fans, strawberry diamonds and Russian cane motifs. The box is bound with silverplated mountings and a lock. The box was almost certainly made by the “OtyM.F. Atelier”. Locked tea boxes were a holdover from earlier days when tea was a precious commodity that had to be kept safe from marauding servants.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1900. Condition: very good, some roughnesses along the bottom edge; normal wear to the plating. Size: 4-7/8” x 3-7/8” x 4-1/8”.

An elegant vintage 14K yellow gold and pearl brooch by Mikimoto. The stylized feather design is typical of Mikimoto’s vintage pieces and is particularly suitable for daytime wear. The pearls, ranging in size to 5.5 to 7.2 millimeters, have ivory body color with rose overtones and superb luster. The quality is estimated at A+1. The back of the pin is marked “K14” and bears the Mikimoto oyster shell hallmark.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1970. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-1/4” x 1-3/16”. Weight: 10.5 grams.

A classic vintage Mikimoto brooch featuring pearls set in 14K yellow gold. The swirled design includes ten pearls of superb quality, estimated at AA quality. The surfaces are smooth, the luster is bright and the body color is cream with rose overtones. The pearls range in size from 5.5 to 7.7 millimeters. The gold “leaves” are pierced to provide a sense of lightness despite the pin’s relatively generous size. The back retains the original typical Mikimoto clasp and is signed with Mikimoto’s hallmark and “K14”.

Origin: Japan, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-1/4” x 1-3/8”.

A wonderful solid brass humidor, the top embossed with the double eagle insignia of Russia's Imperial Romanov family, and the front embossed with the double lions rampant of the British Empire. The top, front and sides are enhanced with scalloped punchwork borders. The box is raised on claw feet. The interior has a removable tin liner and a perforated platform that was used to keep a moist sponge separated from the surface of the cigars.

England and Russia signed the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907, and along with the Entente Cordiale (England & France) and the Franco-Russian Alliance (France & Imperial Russia), the three nations formed the Triple Entente that eventually entered into World War I against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Anglo-Russian Entente greatly leveled the balance of power in Continental Europe and was widely celebrated. This box was created in honor of that event and may have been a mid-level diplomatic gift from a British representative to his Russian peer. Although we have not seen it, we understand that the same box exists with the French arms on the lid in place of Romanov double eagle.

Origin: England, ca. 1907. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, all original; it appears that the perforated sponge screen was originally soldered to the inside of the lid, but it is now separated. Size: 10-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 6".

A lovely Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold medallion pin depicting Hamlet’s beloved Ophelia (the brooch uses the French spelling “Ophelie”) surrounded by cattails, willow branches and waterlilies, all symbols of her watery grave after she was spurned by Hamlet. Her hair is studded with small old mine cut diamonds. The back has a hook that would have been used to suspend a watch. The back retains the original c-clasp (marked 14K) and extended pinstem. Unlike most Art Nouveau medallion pins, this example is not hollow and is heavy. This design was created by the French jeweler Emile-Séraphin Vernier (1852-1927) and was introduced at the 1908 Exposition de la Parure de la Femme in Paris.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 1” diameter. Weight: 7.4 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .1 carat.

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.

A classic pair of 18K yellow gold stirrups in the “stirrup” style popularized by Cartier. The surfaces are decorated with engraved parallel lines. This type of decoration, combined with the unusually angular shape, gives this pair of cufflinks a very modernist feel. The cufflinks are fully stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1970. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4" deep; 1/4" wide. Weight: 8.3 gr.

An unusually fine Baccarat pansy glass paperweight from the Dupont era. The blossom is nicely worked with deep purple upper petals and mustardy-yellow lowers. The flower is centered with a complex cane star rods encircling a red and white bull's-eye rod. The flower is accented with ten finely-veined leaves in an unusually bright green color and a well-formed bud. The concave base is finished with a 16-rayed star that visually extends all the way to the periphery when viewed through the dome. The glass has excellent color and clarity from the top; a slightly sugary appearance from the side. Altogether, this is the finest example of a Dupont Baccarat pansy we've seen--on par with a pansy from the Classic period. The dome is quite high and has a couple of moons that are only visible from the side. There is very little scratching on the dome surface (very much less visible than that crossing the purple petals in the photos).

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: see description. Size: 3" diameter.

A nice pair of 14K white gold modernist cufflinks, the Florentined surfaces star-set with round blue sapphires. The sapphires are accented with bright-cut engraving to add a little more sparkle to the matte finish of the gold. Marked 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 11/16” x 1-7/16”. Weight: 13.7 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .22 carat.

A beautiful Cristalleries de Nancy Pattern #8039 Art Deco cameo glass perfume bottle and dresser jar with cranberry-colored stylized poppies against a frosted clear background in. The cameo design is accented with cut details on the shoulder and hollow-blown stopper of the bottle and on the cover of the jar. Both pieces are marked with the acid-etched signature "Cristal Nancy France." The bottom of the perfume is engraved with an identifying number that matches the number of the stopper, indicating the stopper is original. This pattern was likely designed by Auguste Houillin, the company's artistic director.

Cristalleries de Nancy was established in 1921 and after winning the gold medal at the 1925 Art Deco Exhibition in Paris, it became the primary challenger to Daum during the Art Deco era. Perfume bottles and dresser accessories were its specialty. The company closed in 1934.

Origin: France, 1921-34. Condition: excellent; jar has no issues; the stopper of the bottle has a miniscule flake on one facet. Dimensions: bottle, 6-1/2 in. tall; jar, 3-1/4 in. tall x 3 in. diameter.

An interesting pair of 18K yellow gold baton style cufflinks, the faces set with oval blue sapphires. The sapphires are bezel-set for a clean, classic look. The sapphires have a strong, dark blue color and do not show signs of heat treatment. The toggle backs are stamped with French 18K gold marks.

Ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: faces, 15/16” x 1/4". Weight: 9.7 gr. Approximate Total Sapphire Weight: 4.56 cts.

A handsome pair of 14K yellow gold cufflinks, the heavy oval faces gypsy-set with variously cut fancy colored sapphires. One cufflink features a medium-tone blue sapphire in a radiant cut, flanked by two round brilliant cut sapphires—one a pale greyish-blue and the other an orangy-yellow. The other cufflink has a pale blue oval sapphire flanked by a pair of vivid blue round sapphires. The faces are connected to toggle backs. The cufflinks are stamped "14K" and also have an unidentified maker's mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1990. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 5/8" x 3/8". Weight: 12.8 gr. Approximate Total Sapphire Weight: 1.26 cts.

A lovely Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold floral brooch featuring an ornate lily blossom enameled in translucent shades of blue and yellow enamel. The engraving of the gold surface under the enamel shows through to add elegant texture. The flower is centered by a small old mine cut diamond and is surrounded by a swirling frame set with 59 seed pearls. The reverse retains the original watch hook. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, replaced clasp. Dimensions: 1-1/4" x 1-1/16". Weight: 5.2 gr. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .03 ct.

A handsome and colorful pair of reverse-carved Essex crystal cufflinks set in 14K yellow gold. The faces feature color fly fishing lures in shades of red white and black against mother-of-pearl backgrounds. The front faces are attached by bar connectors to simple gold backs that are original to the cufflinks. The backs have never been monogrammed. The connectors are marked "14K."

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent; no chipping or damage to the crystals. Dimensions: front faces, 19/32" diameter.

A fine Victorian locket in 10K yellow gold, the front face featuring an enameled bouquet of white lilies against a striking turquoise enameled background. In Victorian flower symbology, the white lily represented sweetness or purity. The surrounding areas of gold are ornately engraved in a swirly design that is repeated on the back cover around a shield-shaped reserve. The interior retains the original frame and glass cover. Tested and guaranteed 10K.

Origin: America, ca 1880

Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, no monogram or removal

Dimensions: 1" x 1-3/16"

Weight: 10.5 grams.

A superb Victorian shell cameo depicting Jesus wearing the crown of thorns set in a simple 18K gold frame. The cameo is beautifully carved with extraordinary detailing to the hair. The shell's shape is deeply cupped and adds wonderful depth to the design. Cameos depicting Jesus are extremely rare Tested and guaranteed 18K.

• America, circa 1860.
• Excellent condition; no cracks to shell
• 1-23/32" x 1-3/8"
• 11.2 grams

A superb pair of Victorian 12K gold articulated earrings set with Whitby jet. The long triangular elements are suspended from inverted double teardrop-shaped surmounts, and support cone-shaped jet drops. The cutting of the jet has a very angular, almost modernist appearance. The earrings hang from new 14K shepherd's hooks and have wonderful movement. The settings are tested and guaranteed 12K.

• Origin: England, ca 1860.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 2-3/16" long from top of the earwire.
• Weight: 3.5 grams.