Catalog: Antiques (495)

Very rare sterling silver individual berry spoon in Whiting's 1891 "Louis XV" pattern. This is a rare form and the unusual broad shape of the bowl matches that shape of the large berry serving spoons. The bowl is lightly gilt. The back is stamped with Whiting's hallmark, the patent date (indicating an older piece) and the retailer's mark "Jacquemin & Co."

Origin: America, circa 1890s. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 5" long.

Sterling silver sugar spoon with very fine decoration of a peacock amidst trailing foliage. The bowl is parcel gilt and is decorated with bright-cut engraving. The reverse is marked "Sterling". Before 1916, many American silversmiths did not mark their name on flatware.

Origin: America, circa 1885. Condition: excellent, period monogram "B" on reverse side. Size: 5-5/8" long.

Lovely sterling silver cream or sauce ladle with a gilt, lobed bowl featuring a floral display. Designed by the Sterling Silver Manufacturing Company of Providence, RI, in 1908.

Origin: America, c. 1908. Condition: excellent, no monogram, gilding intact. Size: 5-3/4" long.

A classic Baccarat cut crystal perfume bottle in a blue-cut-to-clear cane pattern. While several American and European companies cut this pattern, the stopper of this bottle is a known Baccarat design. It appeared in a Baccarat pattern book under the name “Stella.” The stopper has a blown teardrop in the interior and is accented with a star pattern at the top. Baccarat products were marked only with a paper label until logo until around 1930.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: very good; a few very minor nicks along the bottom edge (obscured by the design). Size: 4-15/16” tall.

A unusual brass tea caddy from the Imperial Romanov era. These boxes are much more frequently seen as rectangular shapes rather than ovals. The hinged lid is decorated with an ornately detailed appliqué of the imperial Romanov double-headed eagle. The interior is tin-lined in the traditional Russian style. The lid can be locked with a small padlock—a reminder that tea was once an expensive, luxurious commodity that had to be protected from household thieves. The interior is tin-lined as expected in a Russian brass box.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no dings, all original. Size: 5-3/16" x 3-7/8" x 2-13/16" high.

A finely detailed cast bronze jewel box, the cover decorated with a scene of Don Quixote astride his horse followed by his loyal Sancho Panza on his donkey. The end panels feature bas relief images of Cervantes flanked by cherubs, and the back panel a bas relief of Don Quixote wearing an armored helmet. Cherubs and dolphins decorate the front. The interior is lined in a bright red velvet. The box retains its original key and the lock is in working order. Bronze boxes of this sort were often purchased as souvenirs of the European "Grand Tour". Often, they represent important architectural or artistic monuments or are related to great cultural figures such as Cervantes. The bottom is marked "Made In Spain" to accommodate British import regulations beginning in 1887.

Origin: Spain, ca. 1890. Size: 6-9/16" x 3-11/16" x 2-5/8". Condition: excellent.

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.

A delightful early 19th century French silver tastevin featuring a 1770 Louis XV coin and a wonderfully decorated handle. The handle decoration depicts a man seated atop a wine barrel grasping a wine bottle in one hand and a Cupid's arrow in the other. The design is completed with the legend "Vive l'amour et le vin" ("Long live love and wine."). This type of handle was developed in the early 1700s and was used mostly in the Burgundy region. The use of real silver coins as a decorative element is seen in tastevins dating from the mid-1700s onwards. The handle is stamped with 19th century hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent; 2 pinpoints to the bowl and a slight ding along the edge opposite the handle. Dimensions: 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 7/8 inches. Weight: 95.0 grams.

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.

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.

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.

Extremely rare pair of Victorian cast iron flamingo garden ornaments. Dating from the late 19th century, these flamingos are exceptional. I've seen many later versions in concrete or plastic, but never another pair this old or made of cast iron. These birds appear to be enjoying their third or fourth layer of paint, but the newest layer appears to be a good 50 years old. The outermost and innermost layers are nearly the same color, with an intervening layer of softer pink. The most recent painter splattered some of the pink paint onto the green bases. Each bird was cast in two parts. The legs are screwed into openings at the bottom of the birds and then into the cast bases. The detail is outstanding, with even the bases having a rocking texture. I cannot find a signature, but there could possibly be one underneath the paint.

Origin: American, possibly by Fisk or another iron foundry of equal stature, late 19th century. Condition: see description of paint history above; no missing parts or cracks; rust appropriate to age. Size: 15" and 19.75" tall.

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.

A very nice Imperial Russian enameled silver spoon by Gustav Klingert. The bowl is beautifully decorated in five shades of opaque cloisonné enamels and in translucent red and amethyst. The design I modified floral pattern with a Persian-style reserve. The handle is finished in a fish-scale enameled pattern. Exposed areas of silver are stippled and gilt. The interior of the bowl is engraved “Moscow”, indicating that the spoon was sold as a souvenir to an American or English visitor. The handle is fully hallmarked with the city mark for Moscow and Klingert’s maker’s mark. The date mark is obscured, but the assay master Lev Oleks was active only between 1890 and 1896.

Origin: Moscow, 1890-96. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, gilding intact. Size: 4-7/32” long. Weight: 15.9 grams.

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.

A lovely cut glass perfume bottle cut from cranberry to clear. The design is a simple, classic combination of crosshatched diamonds and fans. The shoulders of the bottle are panel cut, and the base is finished with a 24-point star. The lapidary-cut stopper is original to the bottle and is engraved with the same number as the inside of the bottle's neck. Origin: Europe, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 5-3/4" tall.

A very unusual Bohemian zwischengoldglass liquor glass, the bottom featuring an inset gilt and enameled design of a ladybug. The panel cutting along the beaker’s sides causes the design to be visually repeated. Small beakers such as these are normally decorated with a flower. This is the only example we’ve seen with an insect. The ladybug traditionally symbolizes good luck, so perhaps that's why it appears here.

Origin: Bohemia, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, gilding intact, no chips or cracks. Size: 2-1/4” tall.

A very rare set of six sterling silver demitasse spoons in the "Holly & Mistletoe" pattern by Tiffany & Co. This is a more ornate variant of the company's more common "Holly" pattern. The handles are decorated on both sides with holly and mistletoe foliage and mistletoe berries. The elongated bowls have notched shoulders and are parcel-gilt. The spoons are fully hallmarked and have the date letter used 1873-91. The spoons are presented in an old Tiffany flatware bag.

Origin: America, 1873-91. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding intact. Size: 4-1/8" long. Weight: 86.6 grams.