Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Ceramics : French : Pre 1900 item #12230
Kensington House Antiques
$295.00
Fabulous hard paste porcelain inkwell in the form of a lady's head. Nicely decorated in overglaze enamels with gilt accents. 19th century. Origin: Probably France. Size: 2-5/16" tall. Condition: Mint.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1365566
Kensington House Antiques
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A whimsical Retro 18K yellow gold, amazonite and ruby brooch in the form of a stork. The turquoise coloring of the amazonite against the red of the ruby eye is very attractive. The use of amazonite is unusual, but the color and texture are evocative of a bird's plumage. This piece could easily be updated to become a pendant instead of a pin. The reverse is stamped with French 18K gold marks.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 1-5/8" x 1-1/16". Weight: 5.1 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: amazonite, 4.93 cts; ruby, .05 ct.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1330845
Kensington House Antiques
$12,500.00
A stunning 18K yellow gold Retro necklace designed as a series a barbell-shaped links, interspersed at the center with a row of bezel-set old European cut diamonds. The links conceal a hidden stretch mechanism that allows the lower edge of the necklace to spread a bit so that it sits comfortably on the body without buckling or twisting. The diamonds are graded in the setting as J color, with clarity ranging from VS1 to I1 (mostly in the VS1 and VS 2 range). The necklace has extraordinary heft, but is very comfortable to wear. The clasp is stamped with French 18K hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: 16†long; 5/8†wide. Weight: 128.6 gr. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 1.50 cts.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1352627
Kensington House Antiques
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An impressive Retro period ring worked in 18K yellow gold with platinum accents, and featuring a .48-ct old mine cut diamond flanked by a pair of bright .47-ct round brilliant synthetic rubies (customary for the period). The ring was designed by Albert Rolland, a custom jeweler who set up shop in Paris in 1904, and is finely detailed with ropetwists and beading, as well as an ornate gallery along the sides. The gallery is fairly deep, so the ring sits nicely above the finger. The diamond is graded as J/SI1. The rubies have bright, clear coloring. The shank is fully stamped with French 18K gold and platinum marks and with Rolland's master goldsmith's mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent. Finger Size: 6-3/4. Weight: 9.3 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .48 ct; ruby, .94 ct.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1306290
Kensington House Antiques
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A very attractive Retro bracelet worked in 18K yellow, rose and white gold. The design has the industrial look typical of French Retro pieces. The gold is strongly colored, so there is very good contrast in the design. The clasp is stamped with French 18K marks and an unidentified master goldsmith's mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 5/8" wide; 7-5/8" long. Weight: 46.0 gr.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1940 item #1191480
Kensington House Antiques
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A handsome pair of Retro 18K yellow gold cufflinks, the faces bordered with an interesting detail that resembles coil springs. The plain gold bar in the middle of each face could be monogrammed, but fortunately, they never were. Each cufflink is fully stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks and an unidentified master goldsmith’s mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: faces, 7/16” 3/8”. Weight: 6.9 grams.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1396359
Kensington House Antiques
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An imposing 18K yellow gold hinged bangle bracelet set with sapphires and diamonds. A row of alternating old mine cut diamonds and cushion cut sapphires stretches across the top of the bracelet, flanked on either side by a row of rose cut diamonds set in silver. The sapphires, each of about .75 carat, are of outstanding quality, with vibrant pure blue coloring, eye-clean clarity, and a velvety appearance. The diamonds, each of about .6 carat, are graded as G/SI1. The bangle is double-hinged so it's very easy to get on. The clasp is stamped with French 18K gold marks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1850.
  • Condition: excellent; a few very small dings on the back side but no major dents or scrapes.
  • Dimensions: 5/8" wide; 6-1/2" interior circumference.
  • Weight: 34.8 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, 3.08 carats; diamond, 2.78 carats.
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 : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #163500
Kensington House Antiques
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Extremely elegant Louis XV-style French silver master salt dip with cobalt glass liners. The shapes of the containers remind me of Louis XV bombe commodes. The repousse design is very architectural in nature, and makes use of numerous decorative elements such as fluted columns, ribbons, cartouches, and pendant bellflowers. Surprisingly, none of the four cartouches has ever been monogrammed. Although intended for salt only, this piece could be used today to serve both salt and pepper. The server is marked with the Paris 1st standard hallmark for 950 silver (purer than sterling silver) and an unidentified maker’s mark “R&D”. The cobalt liners are of very high quality crystal and might possibly be the work of Baccarat.

Origin: Paris, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, no monogram. Size: 5-1/4” long; 1-3/4” wide; 4-1/2” tall.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1234924
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form by master silversmith Alexandre Vauger. This example is of small size, intended for use in evaluating cognac, Armagnac or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the “perles” and “godrons” found on the walls of a wine taster, a cognac taster more accurately reflects the liquid’s color using a smooth surface. Similarly, cognac tasters are smaller than wine tasters because the alcohol is considerably stronger and a smaller taste is more appropriate. The bottom of the interior features a partial image of Hercules flanked by female figures representing “Liberty” and “Equality” that once appeared on the 5-franc coin of the Third Republic. The back of the coin, dated 1873, is visible on the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is finished with a classic engraved double serpent handle, the heads grasping the apple of temptation.

Accomplished French silversmiths prided themselves on the ability to raise an entire tastevin from a single 5-franc coin, using only hammers and a few other hand tools to thin, spread and shape the flat coin into a finished tastevin. Only a handful of masters were capable of raising the tastevin with the words “DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE” (“God protect France”), originally found around the outer edge of the coin, still visible along the top edge of the tastevin. The last silversmith proven to have mastered this skill stopped working in 1968.

This tastevin is stamped with French silver hallmarks and has the master silversmith’s mark for Alexandre Vauger, who worked in Paris 1884-1887.

Origin: France, 1884-87. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 48 x 66 mm (1-7/8 x 2-5/8 in). Weight: 30.5 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1234925
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form by master silversmith Alexandre Vauger. This example is of small size, intended for use in evaluating cognac, Armagnac or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the “perles” and “godrons” found on the walls of a wine taster, a cognac taster more accurately reflects the liquid’s color using a smooth surface. Similarly, cognac tasters are smaller than wine tasters because the alcohol is considerably stronger and a smaller taste is more appropriate. The bottom of the interior features a partial image of Hercules flanked by female figures representing “Liberty” and “Equality” that once appeared on the 5-franc coin of the Third Republic. The back of the coin, dated 1873, is visible on the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is finished with a classic engraved double serpent handle, the heads grasping the apple of temptation.

Accomplished French silversmiths prided themselves on the ability to raise an entire tastevin from a single 5-franc coin, using only hammers and a few other hand tools to thin, spread and shape the flat coin into a finished tastevin. Only a handful of masters were capable of raising the tastevin with the words “DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE” (“God protect France”), originally found around the outer edge of the coin, still visible along the top edge of the tastevin. The last silversmith proven to have mastered this skill stopped working in 1968.

This tastevin is stamped with French silver hallmarks and has the master silversmith’s mark for Alexandre Vauger, who worked in Paris 1884-1887.

Origin: France, 1884-87. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 48 x 66 mm (1-7/8 x 2-5/8 in). Weight: 30.9 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1234156
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form by master silversmith Alexandre Vauger. This example is of small size, intended for use in evaluating cognac, Armagnac or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the “perles” and “godrons” found on the walls of a wine taster, a cognac taster more accurately reflects the liquid’s color using a smooth surface. Similarly, cognac tasters are smaller than wine tasters because the alcohol is considerably stronger and a smaller taste is more appropriate. The bottom of the interior features a partial image of Hercules flanked by female figures representing “Liberty” and “Equality” that once appeared on the 5-franc coin of the Third Republic. The back of the coin, dated 1876, is visible on the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is finished with a classic engraved double serpent handle, the heads grasping the apple of temptation.

Accomplished French silversmiths prided themselves on the ability to raise an entire tastevin from a single 5-franc coin, using only hammers and a few other hand tools to thin, spread and shape the flat coin into a finished tastevin. Only a handful of masters were capable of raising the tastevin with the words “DIEU PROTÉGÉ LA FRANCE” (“God protect France”), originally found around the outer edge of the coin, still visible along the top edge of the tastevin. The last silversmith proven to have mastered this skill stopped working in 1968.

This tastevin is stamped with French silver hallmarks and has the master silversmith’s mark for Alexandre Vauger, who worked in Paris 1884-1887.

Origin: France, 1884-87. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 48 x 66 mm (1-7/8 x 2-5/8 in). Weight: 30.9 grams.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Silver : Pre 1960 item #1231305
Kensington House Antiques
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A terrific pair of French silver cufflinks, one face of each cufflink designed in a classic knot style, and the other end set with a green chalcedony carved to resemble a golf ball. The cufflinks are very versatile and can be worn with either the silver or the green faces showing. They’re very similar in style to the golf ball cufflinks designed by Hermès. The connectors are marked with French silver hallmarks and with the mark of an unidentified maker.

Origin: France, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: faces, 10mm diameter. Weight: 13.7 gr.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1170676
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A fine first-standard (950/1000 pure) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a silver 5-franc coin from the reign of Louis Philippe. The coin has good detail, the front showing a bust of the king in profile, while the bottom shows a laurel wreath enclosing the words “5 Francs/1846”. The coin is surrounded by repousse decoration of angled godrons, small convex perles and larger concave cupules. The varying shapes were meant to reflect light through the wine to more accurately judge its color and clarity. The circular cupules and perles were used for red wines and the elongated godrons for white. The handle is in the form of two entwined snakes grasping an apple between their open jaws. The style of handle and the relatively steep sides of the bowl is typical of Burgundian tastevins. The tastevin is marked with the 1st standard “Minerve” hallmark and an illegible maker’s mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3-1/4” diameter (excluding handle); 1” high. Weight: 83.7 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1332897
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A lovely first standard (950/1000) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a 1658 silver coin depicting the youthful image of Louis XIV surrounded by text translated as "Louis XIV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre." The sides of the tastevin a decorated with clusters of grapes and elegantly curved godrons in the style typical of Orfevre Parrod. Coin inserts, however, are unusual in Parrod tastevins. The handle is worked in a simplified snake motif typical of Dijon. The handle is stamped with Parrod's hallmark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Dimensions: 2-9/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 59.3 gr.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1325776
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A classic 19th century French 2nd standard (900/1000 pure silver) tastevin, inset at the base with a 1702 coin bearing the likeness of King Louis XIV surrounded by the legend translated as "Louis XIV by grace of god King of France and Navarre." The bowl of the tastevin is finished with the typical arrangement of "perles" and elongated "godrons" designed to create reflections in the wine to better judge its color and clarity. The handle is formed from a pair of intertwined snakes grasping an apple in their mouths, an allusion to the Garden of Eden. The handle is stamped with appropriate French hallmarks and with an unidentified master's mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, a few extremely minor nicks at the rim. Dimensions: 2-13/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 58.1 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1301125
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised "perles", recessed "cupules" and elgongated "godrons" for viewing the depth of color in a wine. The coin, dating to 1734, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the legend "Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre." The obverse of the coin, with sharp detail, can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is completed with a handle in the form of a pair of snakes grasping an apple. In this example, the snakes' heads are shaped somewhat like ducks' heads, a characteristic of a certain group of tastevins from the Burgundy region. Stamped with an unknown maker's mark with the initials "EE".

Origin: France, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, sharp detail to the tastevin, typical wear to the front of the coin. Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/8" x 7/8". Weight: 82.0 grams.

All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Continental : Pre 1900 item #1339916
Kensington House Antiques
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A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised "perles" and recessed "cupules" for viewing the depth of color in a wine. The coin, dating to 1726, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the legend "Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre." The reverse of the coin can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is completed with a handle in the form of a single coiled snake. Stamped with an illegible maker's mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail to the tastevin, typical wear to the coin. Dimensions: 3-5/16" x 4-5/16" x 1". Weight: 95.4 grams.