Catalog: Antiques (495)

Handsome Victorian covered brass box with a beaver finial. The beaver is cast in bronze and is shown chomping on a tree stump. The detail and workmanship on the finial is excellent. The box will polish very nicely, but we have left the original patina.

Circa 1890. Condition: excellent, a small ding at the bottom edge. Size: 5-3/4” tall; 2-7/8” diameter.

Superb Georgian sterling silver swing-handle basket. The bottom of the basket is formed of a silver sheet stamped and pierced in an intricate grapevine motif. The sides, constructed of interwoven silver wire, rise from the base and are decorated with grape cluster appliqués. The rim suggests grape vines, as well. The swing handle is decorated at the top with another cluster of grapes and foliage. The whole is raised on acanthus leaf feet. The inside of the handle is hallmarked for Edinburgh, Scotland, 1795. The sovereign’s head duty mark is stamped, but there is no maker’s hallmark, suggesting perhaps that the basket was a commissioned piece. In its time, the basket would have been used for serving sweets or small fruits. The design was very fashionable the piece is well-executed, making it a choice piece of Scottish Georgian silver.

Origin: Scotland, 1795. Condition: excellent, very sharp detail, no dings, no monograms, all original. Size: 8-3/4” x 7-1/4” x 6-3/4” tall to top of handle. Weight: 398.0 grams.

Outstanding pair of early American coin silver sugar tongs. The arms are cut in a modified fiddle shape and are decorated with superb applied fruit baskets. The claws are shaped as scallop shells. The end has a period monogram “BC”. These are undoubtedly the finest coin silver sugar tongs we’ve seen. The inside is marked with an unidentified pseudo-hallmark.

Origin: America, probably New England, circa 1815. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 6-5/16” long. Weight: 51.5 grams.

Nice Bohemian glass paperweight featuring a concentric millefiori design. The outermost ring is composed of alternating pink and blue complex star canes. The canes are placed over a scrambled ground. The base is flat and is clearly defined. The glass is heavy and of quite good quality.

Origin: Bohemia, circa 1850. Condition: very good, a couple of moons at the top of the crown and a fleabites at the edge of the bottom. Size: 1-13/16” diameter; 1-5/16” high.

Victorian Scottish Mauchlineware Pencil Box Rare mauchline ware pencil box featuring transfers of two different scenes. The lid is decorated with a scene entitled “London Bridge & Cannon St. Station” and the body scene is entitled “Lambeth Palace”. Both transfers are very crisp and detailed. English scenes are much less common than images of Scotland. This piece is also larger than most pieces of mauchlineware.

Origin: Scotland, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, no cracks. Size: 7-5/8” long.

Outstanding Victorian silverplate napkin ring decorated in the Aesthetic or Japonesque taste. The surface is encrusted with decoration representing flying cranes, crysanthemums, fans, and bamboo. The plain surface of the fan was intended for a monogram, but the napkin ring was never engraved.

Origin: America, circa 1870. Condition: excellent, all original, sharp detail. Size: 1-9/16" diameter; 1-1/8" wide.

Extremely rare sterling silver oyster ladle in the 1900 "Buttercup" pattern by Gorham. Oyster ladles are very difficult to find because they were only included with the most complete services. They were used to serve oyster stews. Today, they could also be used for soups or even for punch. The back of the handle is marked with Gorham's old hallmark and also with the patent date, indicating that this is an early example.

Origin: America, ca 1900. Condition: nearly mint, no monogram, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 10-3/4" long. Weight: 165.25 grams.

Very nice sterling silver sugar spoon with a plique-a-jour enamel handle decorated in three shades of translucent enamel. The matte gilt bowl has a rounded spade shape. The twist handle opens into a stained-glass like terminal. Plique-a-jour enameling was usually reserved for more delicate pieces like demitasse spoons, so a sugar spoon is rather uncommon. Unmarked, but probably European.

Ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 5-9/16” long.

Very unusual Victorian sterling silver grapefruit spoon with a wonderful plique-a-jour enamel assymetrical handle decorated in six shades of translucent enamel. It is quite unusual for plique-a-jour enamel to have been used on a grapefruit spoon, as it was so fragile that it was usually reserved for more delicate pieces like demitasse spoons. The back is marked with Imperial Austrian marks in use 1866-1922.

Origin: Austria, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 5” long.

Superb early hinged porcelain box with gilt brass trim. The top of the box is painted with a colorful scene of a pheasant in a pastoral setting with foliage, pink flowers and a lake. The bottom half of the box is painted in a coordinating pattern. Boxes such as this were used to hold small candies called “bonbons”. The best of the boxes were made in France, both in Limoges and in the area around Paris, from the middle of the 18th century.

Origin: France, ca 1840. Condition: excellent, no cracks or chips. Size: 3-1/2” x 2-3/4” x 2-1/4” high.

Pretty late Victorian porcelain child's cup. One side has a polychrome transfer image of a playful dog, while the other shows another dog with a blue ribbon around his neck. The rim and handle are decorated with gilt bands. Porcelain cups such as these were prized by Victorian children. The bottom is marked "Germany".

Origin: Germany, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, light wear to gilding at rim. Size: 2-3/16" tall.

Lovely sterling silver demitasse spoon, the handle decorated with four shades of translucent enamel. The plique-a-jour technique allows light to shine through, creating a stained glass effect. The exposed areas of silver are gilt. The back of the bowl is marked "JT830".

Origin: Europe, ca 1900. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 4-5/8" long.

Nice early South Jersey glass paperweight with a frit setup depicting a cabin surrounded by the motto "Home Sweet Home". The cabin has trees in the yard, smoke curling from the chimney, and a well in the foreground. The design is worked entirely in white frit. The base has a broken pontil and an incised ring around the base, as is typical of S. Jersey paperweights.

Origin: America, ca 1890. Condition: light surface scratching to the crown, no chips. Size: 3-1/2" diameter; 2-1/2" high.

Outstanding and rare Victorian sterling silver berry or casserole spoon by Gorham in the 1885 "Nightingale" pattern. The design uses bright-cut engraving to show a nightingale amid foliage singing to a crescent moon (just visible i the upper left side of the design). The bowl is equally well-designed with bright-cut engraving, ribbing, and swirled edges. The surface has its original matte finish that contrasts nicely with the engraving. The handle is engraved with the name "Robina", leading to the assumption that the original owner may have chosen this piece because the bird looks much like a robin. The back is stamped with an early Gorham hallmark.

Origin: America, ca 1885. Condition: near mint, a miniscule pinpoint ding in the bowl. Size: 8-1/2" long. Weight: 64.5 grams.

Extraordinary late 18th century German silver sugar scissors in the form of a circus monkey. The monkey is wearing a harlequin suit and a bonnet and is grasping two rings that, upon closer inspection, are serpents. Monkeys were very popular exotic animals and inspired wondeful tableware including Meissen figurines and assorted silver. Often they were shown wearing human clothing and performing human tasks. The tongs are fully marked with late 18th century German hallmarks.

Origin: German States, ca. 1775. Condition: excellent, all original, very little wear. Size: 4-1/2" long. Weight: 55.0 grams.

Wonderful pair of Hubley cast iron paperweights in the form of African-American children. The little girl wears a yellow jumper over a white blouse and the little boy wears yellow pants and a white shirt. This is the only pair of black memorabilia iron paperweights we’ve seen.

Origin: America, ca 1920. Condition: very good, expected paint wear on high spots. Size: 1-3/8” tall.

Elegant Edwardian cranberry glass vase with pierced sterling silver mounts by Galt & Bro. The piercings are fan-shaped and the rim has a bound reed motif. The cranberry glass insert flares slightly toward the upper rim and is accented with simple cutting. The base is marked "Galt & Bro." (Washington, DC, 1892-1934).

Origin: America, ca 1910. Condition: excellent, no dings, chips or cracks. Size: 8" tall.

Pretty French faience plate exuberantly decorated with vases of carnations, sprays of bluebells and colorful insects. The plate has a deep rim and the edges are finished in a nice curved pattern. The back of the plate is marked "Jardin" in underglaze blue.

Origin: France, early 19th century. Condition: no body cracks or chips; glaze wear along rim; normal glaze crackling. Size: 10-1/4" diameter.

Very handsome and heavy sterling silver master salt dish in the Georgian style. The flattened spherical body has a modified egg and dart border and is raised on acanthus leaf legs terminating in animal paw feet. Goodnow & Jenks was Boston's finest silversmith, albeit only for a short period, 1893-1905. The bottom is marked with the maker's mark, as well as a partially obscured retailer's mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: no dings or deep scratches, light pitting to the interior that can be removed by a light buffing. Size: 2-3/4" diameter; 1-5/8" tall. Weight: 73.5 grams.

Elegant Victoria sterling silver pin cushion by Gorham. The silver surface is encrusted with repousse decoration of chrysanthemums and forget-me-nots. A rococo reserve is engraved with a period 3-letter monogram. This style of decoration is rather unusual for Gorham. The bottom is fully hallmarked, including the date mark for 1901. The pincushion also retains its original red velvet covering, a rare survivor.

Origin: America, 1901. Condition: excellent, no dings or dents; original velvet covering. Size: 3" diameter; 2" tall.

Elegant sterling silver large berry spoon in Whiting's wonderful 1896 "Dresden" pattern. The handle is completely covered on both sides with a complex floral pattern against a lightly stippled background. The bowl has scalloped edges and an elegant repousse pattern. The original gilding on the bowl has faded to a faint lemony hue. The back is marked with Whiting's hallmark and "Pat. Apr. 28th 1896", indicating that this is an older piece.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram. Size: 7-3/4" long. Weight: 50.5 grams.

Pair of kettle-form sterling silver salt dishes raised on ball feet. The top edges are decorated with a simple beaded border, ensuring that the salts will coordinate well with any silver pattern. The bottoms are hallmarked by Watrous.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms.

Nice ruby- or cranberry-flashed pressed glass souvenir mug. The sides are engraved "Atlantic City 1904" on one side and "Willie S." on the other.

Origin: America, ca. 1904. Condition: excellent, no wear to flashing, no chips or cracks. Size: 3-1/4" tall.

Very rare Staffordshire pottery child's plate with an ABC rim surrounding a hand-colored transfer print of a railroad steam engine emerging from a tunnel. The plate is very colorful and is highly desirable because of the train decoration.

Origin: Staffordshire, England, ca 1895. Condition: very good, two very tight hairlines about 1" long, a couple of potting and painting flaws. Size: 7-1/2" diameter.

Cute Victorian porcelain baby's dish decorated with a very pretty transfer illustration of the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill". The decoration is sweetly sentimental. The rim is gilt "Baby". The bottom is marked "Germany".

Origin: Germany, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, light wear to gilding and transfer. Size: 5-1/8" diameter; 1-1/4" high.

Outstanding sterling silver ice cream slice with the fabulous Art Nouveau "Poppy" pattern by Baker Manchester. Both the front and back are beautifully detailed. The blade is lightly matte gilt. During the Victorian era, ice cream was served in a loaf shape, and implements like this were used to slice off pieces for serving. The form often did "double duty" as a fish server. The back is stamped with the hallmark for the Baker Manchester Silver Co. (Providence, RI), a company famous for its ornate serving pieces.

Origin: America, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 9" long. Weight: 54.75 grams.

Outstanding and gorgeous Victorian liquor decanter in cranberry overshot glass. The body is blown in a ribbed shape and is accented with vertical gilt stripes. The neck is fitted with a silverplate collar and the most extraordinary silverplated jockey head stopper.

Origin: probably England, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, except for two very short, stable hairlines at the neck that are original to the piece; stopper retains the original cork and fits well. Size: 12-3/4" tall.

Elegant reticulated sterling silver swing-handle basket with a cobalt blue glass liner. The basket is pierced in an intricate pattern that allows the deep blue glass to shine through. The handle is pierced to match. The basket could be used for sugar, bonbons, nuts, sauces, small floral arrangements, etc. The base is hallmarked by the Watson Co.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, all original, no dings or monograms. Size: 5-3/4" high. Silver Weight: 113.0 grams.

Very fine ornate sterling silver server for either fish or ice cream. The handle is covered with a pattern of hibiscus flowers and swirling foliage. The floral element is echoed in the beautifully engraved floral pattern on the blade. The blade is finished off with a very ornate outline. Many American silversmiths did not mark their names until the early 20th century, and the back is marked only "Sterling."

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, very sharp details, no monogram. Size: 11-3/8" long. Weight: 96.0 grams.

Very attractive Victorian lacquered papier-mache soap box decorated with a japonaise design. The sides show laborers pulling a boat filled with partiers along a canal. The lid shows a kneeling maiden tending her flower garden in a classic Japanese garden. The lid is also decorated with the soap maker's logo. Japanese styled items were very popular in France from around 1870 until the end of the century.

Origin: France, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-11/16" x 2-5/16" x 1-3/4" high.

A matching box is available.

Very rare pair of sterling silver salad servers in the 1888 "Rococo" pattern by Dominick & Haff. This is one of the company's most desirable patterns. The pieces are quite simply, enormous! The handles are beautifully decorated with an ornate floral pattern that is repeated at the top of the bowl and tines. The backs of the handles are simply decorated with a vine motif along the edges. The bowl and tines retain their original gilding. The backs are marked with Dominick & Haff's hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram, gilding intact. Size: 11-1/2" long. Weight: 276.0 grams.

Extraordinary French bronze jewel box in the Louis XVI style. The lid has a bas-relief design illustrating a boating party preparing to pass below an aqueduct. A city rises in the distance, while the foreground is populated with very detailed trees and shrubs. The scene is draped in fabric, tied at the corners with ribbon and surmounted with a laurel wreath intertwined with a torch and staff, typical Louis XVI devices. The sides are decorated with beautifully detailed swags of roses. Boxes of this type were often souvenirs of the Grand Tour of Europe. They often depicted ancient carvings or sometimes popular artworks. The specific subject of this box is unknown.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, the interior lining is a replacement. Size: 4-1/2” x 3” x 2-3/4” high.

Lovely sterling silver demitasse spoon with a floral finial decorated in plique-a-jour enamels in five shades. The stained glass effect is very nice. The bowl is engraved "Irene". The spoon retains its original gilding. The back is fully hallmarked for Birmingham, 1916.

Condition: virtually mint. Size: 4-5/16" long. Weight: 7.0 grams.

Gorgeous sterling silver berry spoon in Durgin's 1891 "Watteau" pattern. The rococo design of the handle is wonderful on its own, but when combined with the decoration of the bowl, it's stunning! The back is hallmarked by Durgin.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, all original, period monograms on both the front and back. Size: 7-1/2" long.

Extremely rare early Staffordshire pearlware pot decorated with three hand-colored transfer prints of King William III at the Battle of the Boyne. This was one of the earliest of the Staffordshire transfer patterns celebrating the Kings and Queens of England. This design is sometimes captioned "No Surrender" and depicts King William defeating the ousted James II and the French troops who were trying to restore England to Catholic control. This form, either a waste bowl or a flower pot is also quite uncommon. The top and bottom rims are decorated with molded beading highlighted wtih gilding.

Origin: England, ca. 1830. Condition: excellent, staining to the interior, bright colors. Size: 5-3/8" diameter at top; 3-5/16" high.

Nice porcelain footed mug with a transfer print entitled "Sands & Railway Station Ramsgate--A Present From Ramsgate". The scene shows the railway station in the background with bathers in the foreground. Queen Victoria lived in Ramsgate for a time before ascending the throne. After the railway came to the shore, Ramsgate became a very popular tourist destination. The rim is decorated with a gilt band.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: very good, slight wear to gilding along the rim, a tight hairline visible only the inside. Size: 3-5/16" diameter; 3-3/16" high.