Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (485)

A nice Griffin, Smith & Hill majolica pitcher in the "Wild Rose" pattern. The bulbous sides are decorated with yellow wild rose blossoms and green foliage against a stippled ivory background. The base has a medium-blue basketweave pattern and the lip is finished in a reeded pattern in the same shade. The pitcher has an applied twig handle and a butterfly forms the pouring spout. The interior is pink.

Origin: America, ca. 1875. Condition: very good, no cracks, a few very small nicks on the upper rim (1/32" to 3/16"). Size: 4-1/2" tall.

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.

Elegant sterling silver footed basket with flaring, reticulated sides and a hoop handle. The swirling pattern of the piercing echoes the basket's scalloped rim. The top of the handle has a reserve for a monogram, but was never monogramed. The bottom has Durgin's early hallmark and the retailer's mark "Hodson, Kennard & Co." Many of Durgin's earlier products were sold through such upscale Boston retailers.

Origin: America, circa 1890. Condition: excellent, no dings. Size: 5-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 7-3/4" high. Weight: 153.0 grams.

Stunning Imperial Russian lacquered tea caddy. The top is handpainted with a scene of a Boyar cradling a princess in his arms as they ride a large wolf through the forest--no doubt a scene from a Russian fairy tale. The quality of decoration is superb. The inside of the caddy is lacquered red.

Origin: Russia, circa 1850. Condition: very good; the surface is alligatored but completely intact and colorful; there are a scattered white spots that look like snow along one side of the lid (less visible than in the photos). Size: 4-3/4" x 3-1/2" x 2-1/2".

Gorgeous sterling silver soup ladle in the 1892 "Mazarin" pattern by Dominick & Haff. This ladle is in the large size. The handle is elegantly decorated with a gadrooned border that coordinates nicely with scrolled shoulders of the bowl. The back is hallmarked by Dominick & Haff and has the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1892. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 11-3/4". Weight: 176.5 grams.

Phenomenal Art Nouveau crystal shallow bowl, the bottom with intaglio engraving of a large pansy blossom. The flowers petals are beautifully handpainted in shades of burgundy and then gilt. The flower is surrounded by translucent foliage. The scalloped rim of the bowl is gilt to coordinate with the floral decoration. This piece, with its single large flower, is much more assertive than the more common small reverse-carved pieces such nappies and short compotes. We're not certain if the bowl is Bohemian or French. The pansy was a very popular floral motif in France during the Art Nouveau period. The French word for pansy ("pensée") is also the word for thought and the floral image was often employed to signify and sentimental gift of remembrance or affection.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, 98% of painting and gilding intact. Size: 10-1/2" diameter; 1-1/2" high.

A handsome Chinese export porcelain shallow bowl decorated in blue and orange enamels with gilt highlights. This pattern, distinguished by gilt stars against a dark blue background, was made for the American market was not very common. The blue border is pierced by reserves, some of which are decorated with gilt floral sprigs that echo the floral decoration in the bowl’s center. The wide border is flanked with orange and gilt lines and the rim is finished with a Greek key border. The outer rim is decorated with a narrow blue band covered with gilt stars. The overall shape is typically 18th century.

Origin: China, ca. 1780. Condition: good, a very tight hairline visible from the back, a couple of rubs to the enamel from being in a plate stand. Size: 9-1/2” diameter; 1-9/16” high.

An outstanding Restoration period French silver wine taster in the 18th century style typical of Lyon. With the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, many old styles from the ancien regime once again came into fashion, and this tastevin, building on decorative elements typical of the 1770's, is a perfect example. Tastevins with snake-form handles were particularly popular. Those with a pair of snake heads that somewhat resemble bird's heads flanking a sphere are typical of silver from Lyon. The punchwork decoration of grape clusters surrounded the bowl is also a typical 18th century design. The tastevin is completely handmade and was raised on a lathe in the traditional method, as is evidenced by the pinprick in the middle of the bowl and the remnants of hammer marks. The outer rim is engraved "F. Porcheret-Billard". Stamped with 2nd standard "tete de Minverve" hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3-1/2" diameter, excluding handle. Weight: 113.4 grams.

A fine mid-19th century French silver tastevin (wine taster), the base inset with an 1810 Italian silver coin from the reign of Emperor Napoleon I as King of Italy. The bottom edge of the bowl is decorated with curved, scalloped "godrons" which were intended to reflect light through white wine to judge clarity. This tastevin does not have the "cupules" ("ovoides") specifically intended to deepen the color of red wines. The sides are decorated with grapevines and clusters of fruit. The handle is formed as a coiled serpent--as style particularly popular in Burgundy. The whole is raised on a circular ropetwist foot. Napoleonic coins are rarely seen in tastevins, and this piece probably dates to the Second Empire when Napoleonic items were viewed with some nostalgia. Fully hallmarked.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3" diameter excluding handle. Weight: 72.3 grams.

A lovely and unusual Victorian sterling silver jelly knife in Towle’s 1880 “No. 128” pattern. Also known as “No. 28”, this pattern is characterized by a twisted handle, accented with beautiful bright-cut engraving. The serving end is shaped in the form of a leaf and is matte-gilt to highlight the floral engraving. Originally intended to serve savory jellies, the piece could now be used for pastries. The back is hallmarked by Towle and has the pattern number.

Origin: America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, original gilding intact, there may be a slight bend toward the tip of the serving end but it’s difficult to be certain because of the naturalistic form of the bowl. Size: 8-3/8” long. Weight: 45.0 grams.

A gorgeous Napoleon III white opaline glass baluster-form vase with an everted apple green opaline rim and an applied molded green opaline foot with knopped and ribbed decoration. The overall design is very pleasing and the color contrast is stunning. The quality is comparable to Baccarat, although the vase was probably made at a competing cristallerie.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, all original, no cracks or chips. Size: 10-1/2” tall.

A handsome Imperial Russian medium-size hammered brass oval tray with cast brass handles. A tray of this size would probably have been used to serve vodka, and could still be used as a cordial tray or even on a buffet table. One end is stamped with the maker’s name and the Imperial Romanov double eagle warrant. The handles are attached with copper rivets and are cast in a ropetwist design.

Origin: Russia, last quarter 19th century. Condition: excellent, no dings, untouched patina, wear to the Imperial warrant. Size: 14-1/4” x 7-3/8” x 1/2”.

An elegant first standard (950/1000 pure silver) French silver tastevin in typical 18th century Burgundian style. Rather than with the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons", the bowl of this tastevin is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, but the particular decoration is different than any other we've seen. Similarly, the handle, in the form of two duck heads grasping an apple is a very exaggerated variation of the usual form seen on tastevins from Lyon. The base is fully hallmarked and has an unidentified silversmith's mark "M tête grec D".

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3-3/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 72.3 grams.

A lovely pair of imperial Russian spoons, the backs of the bowls decorated with finely engraved scenes depicting portions of the Arsenal and the State Historical Museum on Moscow’s Red Square. The handles are finished in the traditional twist motif. The surfaces are gilt, and the engraving is worked through the gilding in some areas and more lightly in others, allowing a nice contrast of colors within the design. Each is fully hallmarked for Moscow, dated 1889 and with the maker’s mark for Ivan Alexeyev (1876-1912).

Origin: Moscow, 1889. Condition: excellent, gilding intact. Size: 5” long. Weight: 27.2 grams (the pair).

A classic Sandwich glass hyacinth vase in a rich amethyst shade. The vase is entirely hand blown, shows the traces of hand marvering. The deeply concave base has a rough pontil and a basal ring showing the expected wear. Hyacinth vases, sometimes called tulip vases or bulb vases, were used to force flowering bulbs for wintertime blooms indoors. They were quite the rage and some Victorian homes had numbers of vases arrayed on windowsills. Pieces by Sandwich are uncommon. An identical example to this, except in cobalt blue and with a large rim chip, sold at auction in July 2006 for $2127.50.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 9" tall.

An uncommon set of six nut picks, the mother of pearl handles attached to the silverplate picks with sterling silver ferules. The ferules are decorated with ropetwist borders flanking an ornate acanthus leaf pattern. In the Victorian era, fresh nuts would have been served alongside and cheese and fruit as a dessert course. The ferules are marked "Sterling".

Most sterling silver flatware services before 1900 had mother of pearl cutlery instead of knives that matched the rest of the service. Mother of pearl pieces such as a nut picks are considerable less common than knives.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no plating loss. Size: 5-1/4".

A fine mid-19th century pressed glass paperweight in the form of a recumbent lion resting on an opaque glass base. The lion is beautifully detailed and finished in a frosted surface. This lion is similar to one produced by Gillinder for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, but it is much more finely made. The underside of the black base is impressed “490”.

Origin: probably America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent; there are a few very minor fleabites along the bottom edge of the base and a couple of small ones (probably from rings) on the lion’s head, where a user would likely pick up the paperweight (these are very difficult to see due to the complexity of the design). Size: 5-3/4” x 3-3/8” x 3-3/4”.

Very nice Staffordshire spaniel well-painted with black spots, gray accents and a gold padlock collar.

Origin: England, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, except for a 1/8" glaze flake on the back of one ear. Size: 3-7/8" tall.