Catalog: Antiques (495)

Elegant Victorian sterling silver serving dish with intricate repousse and pierced sides. The sides are finished off with a cyma-curve border punctuated at compass points with baroque shell motifs. The bottom is fully hallmarked for London, 1891-92, and has the maker’s mark “WC”. The piece is quite heavy and is of the very good quality.

Origin: England, 1891-92. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monogram. Size: 9” x 6-1/2” x 1-3/8” high. Weight: 177.5 grams.

A very nice pair of 19th century wooden Russian Easter eggs handpainted with traditional motifs. One egg is brightly painted with a maiden wearing peasant clothing and the traditional kokoshnik headdress. The reverse side is painted with the letters “XB” for Khristos Voskrese (“Christ Is Risen”). The other egg is painted with a scene of a peasant woman walking through a birch forest toward her log hut. This egg, too, is painted with “XB”. The eggs are strung on very old, possibly original, satin ribbon. The wood appears to be mahogany.

The tradition of giving eggs to loved ones at Easter was popular throughout Russian society. The common classes gave decorated wooden eggs, while the Tsars favored their loved ones with the creations of Faberge.

Origin: Russia, mid- to late-19th century. Condition: excellent, all original paint. Size: 2” long & 1-3/4” long.

Very nice dovetailed wooden writing box or work box, the hinged lid decorated with a handpainted grapevine motif against a mustard painted background. The interior of the box has four fitted compartments along the back side. The bottom and top are attached to the dovetailed sides with old square nails. The inside of the lid is inscribed illegibly in pencil "Hannah ??".

Origin: New England, ca. 1870. Condition: very good paint, the original lock is now missing, an age split to the bottom and to the front side of the lid. Size: 10-1/4" x 8-3/4" x 4-1/4".

Flint EAPG ale goblet in the "Colonial" pattern, probably by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company. The goblet has a very attractive, narrow form. Nice clarity.

Origin: America, ca. 1850. Condition: no chips or cracks, a scratch on the bottom interior of the bowl, normal frosted wear on the bottom. Size: 6-3/8" tall.

Lovely 84 standard silver pickle fork with traditional engraved decoration on both the front and back of the handle, and on the back of the tines. Fully hallmarked for Moscow, 1895. The assayer's mark is that of A. Sevyer. The maker's mark is "NA" (transliterated).

Origin: Moscow, Russia, 1895. Condition: excellent, a tiny bend at the tip of one tine. Size: 4-1/4" long.

A pretty Victorian maple swing-handle sewing basket, the interior lined with colorful pleated silk plaid. The bottom, upper frame and handles are constructed of maple, and the spindles forming the sides of the basket are ebonized.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, except for a narrow age split in the wood at one end of the upper frame. Size: 8-1/8" x 5-3/4" x 9" high.

Victorian brass figural picture frame in the form of a medieval knight's shield with a halbeard and lance. Cut from heavy-gauge brass, this frame shows great originality and design sense. The back has a hinged easel.

Origin: England, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 8" x 5".

Charming Stafforshire child's cup decorated with a transfer design of two children dressed up as a soldier and his lady taking an amorous walk through the countryside. Plain strap handle. Ca. 1860. Origin: England. Size: 2.5" tall. Condition: There is a thinning of the glaze at the rim, which may be a manufacturing defect; otherwise mint.

A very rare sterling silver chamber stick in a repousse floral pattern by Shiebler. The overall floral decoration depicts buds and full-blown rose blossoms against a background of leaves. Areas between the leaves are finished with a stippled texture. The knop of the candle socket and the bobeche are plain and make a nice contrast to the elaborate decoration. The thumbpiece is accented with a fan-shaped element that is suggestive of Shiebler’s more Aesthetic-style pieces. The bottom of the bobeche is stamped with Shiebler’s hallmark, the pattern number 1174, and the retailer’s mark “J. E. Caldwell & Co.”

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, a small rim ding and a couple of pinpoints on the bobeche. Size: 6” diameter; 3-1/2” tall. Weight: 211.0 grams.

Outstanding Victorian figural picture frame in the form of a map of Australia! The metal is very heavy gauge and the coloring is white (I believe it is constructed of white brass with a yellow-tinted lacquer). The detail is superb, including outlines of rivers, the political boundaries (Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria), and the locations of cities (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane).

The reverse side is stamped "R. Golding/Rd. No. 30/Tasmania". The back has an easel which is removable for hanging on the wall with the attached hook.

Origin: Tasmania, Australia, late 19th century. Condition: excellent, with some wear to lacquer around edges. Size: 8" x 6-1/4".

A matching frame (missing the glass) is also available.

A wonderful Victorian figural bank constructed of oak and decorated with punched and engraved brass appliqués. This is the only bank we've seen in the shape of a bank! The roof is pierced with two slots to insert coins. The bank retains the original lock, but the key is missing.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 5-3/8" x 3-1/2" x 5-3/8" tall.

A lovely Staffordshire pottery inkwell and quill holder in the form of a swan. The wings are painted vivid shades of pink with black and gilt accents. The bird rests on a colorful "confetti" nest. The hole in the swan's back served as the inkwell, while the two holes in the front were to hold quills. This swan is a particularly colorful example.

Origin: England, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent, no damage. Size: 3" x 2" x 3-1/4".

Pair lovely Minton porcelain cabinet plates featuring handpainted pastoral scenes. One shows a footbridge over a rushing stream and the other shows a pair of cows wading in a pond. Both are surrounded by Minton's famous turquoise blue. The edges are gilt and embossed with a foliate pattern. The backs are impressed "Minton" and have the year mark for 1879. Origin: England, 1879. Condition: the bridge plate is excellent, with about 10% loss to the gilding along the rim; the cow plate is good, with about 70% loss to the gilding along the edge and along the inner rim. Size: 9-1/8" diam.

An amazing whimsical game board reverse painted on glass. The checkerboard design is worked in bright shades of lime green and burgundy, the individual squares outlined with borders painted in orange, red, lavender ocher and gray. The board is decorated with ornate flourishes at each corner bearing the names “Agnes”, “Edd”, “Beulah” and “Mother”. The outer edge is painted in burgundy. The overall appearance is very graphic and reminds us of a good patchwork quilt. The glass retains its original heavy wood frame highlighted with gilding. The backboard is original and the glass appears never to have been out of its frame. The piece could be hung on a wall or custom-fitted with a stand for use as a table.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, superficial scratches to the glass surface and wear to the finish of the frame from use as a game board, no paint loss. Size: 20-3/4” x 20-3/4”.

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.

Extremely rare relief-molded jug by the Sandford Pottery in Wareham, Dorset. This jug was designed to honor the contributions of volunteers during the Crimean War (1853-56). The sides of the jug are decorated with a procession of a soldier, a sailor, a marine and a Scots Highlander. Under the lip is a representation of a young Queen Victoria. Above the foot is impressed "Our Army & Navy & Brave Volunteers". The coloring is very rich and the majolica glaze very deep and glossy. The design was registered on September 28, 1860. Sandford Pottery was a small firm and only produced three relief-molded jugs. The jug is listed in "Relief-Moulded Jugs: 1820-1900" by R.K. Henrywood.

Origin: England, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, no chips, or cracks. Size: 10-5/8" tall.

A fine Victorian sterling silver sugar sifter with a medallion handle, possibly by George Sharp. Rather than the usual relief medallion, the handle features an applied medallion of considerable depth and detail looking straight forward. The medallion is surrounded ornate engraving that extends the full length of the handle. The engraving, as well as the overall outline of the handle, are very similar to known George Sharp patterns. Sugar sifters were used in the 19th century to break apart large pieces of sugar. Today, it could be used to serve vegetables or anything else that might need to be drained. The back is marked “Sterling” but does not have a maker’s mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, all original, no monogram. Size: 8-1/8” long. Weight: 76.0 grams.

Ornate Victorian sterling silver pie server by Gorham. The pattern is very similar to "Dresden", but is not an exact match. The handle is covered with various motifs, including shells, flowers, scrolls, and foliage. The bowl is very nicely scalloped and elegantly decorated with engraving to match the handle. The original gilding has faded to a soft lemon shade. Pie servers are not very common and are quite useful for all sorts of pie, pastries or cakes, or even tea sandwiches. The back is marked with one of the earlier Gorham hallmarks.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: very good, light wear to details on the handle, no monogram, original gilding intact. Size: 9” long. Weight: 74.0 grams.

Superb early Gorham lady’s purse, the exterior decorated in the Aesthetic taste. The surface is matte-finished and accented with areas of matte-finished and glossy parcel gilding. Each side features a triangular area of engraving representing what appears to be a bough of olive branches with olives. The purse’s beveled edges are glossy and are decorated simply with rows of bright-cut engraving. The purse opens with a push on the thumbpiece to reveal an interior divided into three compartments and lined with the original teal blue silk shantung. The purse retains its original chain. The inside rim of the purse is marked with the earliest form of Gorham’s lion-anchor-G hallmark, along with the pattern number “210”, “Sterling” and the date letter for 1871.

Origin: America, 1871. Condition: excellent, a small ding in the engraved area on one side (visible in raking light), all original, the silk lining with almost no wear. Size: 3-1/2” wide, 2-1/2” high, 1-1/2” thick, 11” chain. Weight: 68.0 grams.

A very rare and elegant Victorian sterling silver pie knife in Gorham’s 1894 “Imperial Chrysanthemum” pattern. The handle is decorated with an ornate design of chrysanthemum blossoms and foliage that extends down onto the blade and shoulders of the blade. The back of the handle is decorated with a complementary design. Pie knives or pie servers are difficult to find in the better patterns. The back is marked with Gorham’s older hallmark and also has the patent date, indicating that the piece was made during the period.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monogram. Size: 9-1/8” long.

Wonderful lacquered box from Russia's Imperial era. The lid has a handpainted summer troika scene. Scenes depicting troikas in the snow are a bit more common. The design is very colorful and the facial detail on the three people is very nice. The lid is signed "E. Gustov" (translated). The box is lacquered red inside.

Origin: Russia, circa 1890. Condition: decoration and overall condition is excellent, three corners of the lid have flakes. Size: 5-3/4" x 3-15/16" x 1-3/4" high.

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 beautiful hyacinth bulb vase by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, decorated in opaque overlay cut to clear in in a panel and trailing vine design. The top is enhanced with a cobalt blue lip and the bottom is slightly footed and star-cut. The overall form is very elegant. The shape was blown in the company's #123 mold and the cutting is identical to known labeled pieces. Vases of this shape were used to hold a single flowering bulb, usually a hyacinth, but sometimes a daffodil or tulip.

Origin: America, ca. 1860. Condition: very good; a 1/4" flake to the white overlay at the edge of one panel. Dimensions: 5-1/4" tall.

A classic Sandwich glass hyacinth vase in a rich teal shade. The vase is entirely hand blown and 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 tuplip 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: 9-1/4" tall.

Stunning 2nd Empire pink opaline glass chalice with gilt and enamel decoration. The outside surface has a matte finish except along the lip, the foot rim and the knop rim, each of which is decorated with gilt lines. The primary decoration, however, fills nearly the entire surface with built-up layers of gilding accented with black enamel. The base has a slightly concave polished pontil.

Origin: France, possibly Baccarat, ca. 1840. Condition: glass has three tiny flakes (1 is 1/8"; 2 are 1/16") flakes on the inside edge of the top rim; the primary decoration is completely intact, gilt lines along rims show 20% wear. Size: 6" tall.

An elegant late Victorian jewelry box in the Louis XVI style. The sides and lid are decorated with delicate raised birds and floral sprays against a stippled background. Engraved volutes at the corners accent the main decoration. The edges are decorated in a typical French bound reed design. The whole is raised on turned feet. The brass plating is beautifully patinated to a lustrous sheen.

Ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, virtually no wear, the interior fabric has been replcaed with felt and could easily be replaced with something nicer. Size: 5-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".

Unusual Victorian copper ladies' button-up boot. The Victorians often placed these along their mantles for purely decorative purposes. Most examples are made of brass, but this piece is entirely copper. Another nice touch is the applied scalloped pattern along the front edge of the boot and the white brass buttons.

Origin: England or America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent. Size: 5" tall.

A very pretty sterling silver berry or casserole spoon by Durgin. The handle is nicely engraved in an ivy pattern, while the gilt bowl is engraved with a flock of butterflies. The back is stamped with Durgin's earliest hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, no monogram, sharp detail, gilding faded to pale lemon. Size: 9" long. Weight: 59.0 grams.

Six elegant Victorian fruit or desert knives with mother of pearl handles and sterling silver ferules with triple-banded decoration in a vine motif. The scimitar-shaped blades are silverplate and are marked "A. Stinnells Co., Inc." American, circa 1890. Excellent condition; one blade has a very small spot of wear to the plating. 6" long.

A very nice sterling silver sardine fork by the Campbell-Metcalf Silver Company. Originally intended to serve sardines—a Victorian luxury food—the fork could now be used for various hors d’oeuvres, cheeses, etc. The design is clearly based on Scandinavian motifs that later showed up in the work of Georg Jensen and other European makers. In some ways it is similar to Jensen’s 1913 “Rose” pattern. Campbell-Metcalf was in business for only six years during the last decade of the 19th century. The back is hallmarked.

Origin: America, 1892-98. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no monograms. Size: 5-7/8” long. Weight: 22.5 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.

Fabulous 19th century sterling silver christening cup by Whiting Manufacturing Company--one of the America's most sophisticated silver companies. The entire surface is covered with repousse decoration of roses, lilies, and philodendron leaves. A reserve, just opposite the handle, is engraved "Lily". Cups such as these were used as presentation gifts for babies when they were christened. Most often, they were given by the godparents. Obviously, this particular cup was chosen because of the link between the child's name and the design that incorporates lily blossoms! The bottom is stamped with Whiting's hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, period engraved "Lily". Size: 2-7/8" tall. Weight: 90.0 grams.

Outstanding majolica pitcher in the form of an owl. Modeled by the George Morley Co., this pattern is an icon of American majolica production. The colors are very nice, including the medium-pink interior. Unsigned.

Origin: American, 1884-91. Condition: sharp details, no chips, a hairline running along the back of the pitcher from near the top of the handle to the base, note that the dark areas that look like chips on the base are actually the remnants of adhesive used to hold on old felt pads. Size: 9" tall.

A gorgeous boxed set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons in the “Wild Rose” variation of the “Vine” pattern. The spoons have gilt bowls in the elongated shape often seen in Tiffany demitasse spoons. The bowls enhanced with soft matte gilding. Each is stamped with the Tiffany mark used 1873-1891. The spoons are presented in their original fitted box lined in “Tiffany blue” silk and embossed with the company’s logo. The box includes Tiffany’s original Paris location, dating it to the period 1878-1910

The “Vine” pattern was most likely created by Edward C. Moore, Tiffany’s chief designer, and was introduced in 1872. The design included a variety of floral and vegetable elements including wild roses tomatoes, gourds, irises, wheat sheaves, etc. They with different appearances, the designs were intended to be used together—a reference to the Japanese decorative concept of mismatching that became popular in Europe and America after Japan was opened to trade in the 1850s. Few pieces in the pattern were made after the mid-1880s.

Origin: America, ca 1880. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, gilding intact; box's hinge side has been reinforced with archival bookbinding tape. Dimensions: spoons, 4” long. Weight: 132.8 grams.

A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver jeton the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised “perles,” recessed “cupules,” and elongated “godrons” for assessing the depth of color and concentration of a wine. The jeton, dating to 1773, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the Latin inscription “Louis XV, Christian King” and is signed by the engraver, Pierre-Simon-Benjamin Duvivier. The reverse bears the coat of arms of the Duchy of Bourgogne and the inscription “Comitia Burgundiae 1773.” Silver jetons were struck by various civic governments (in this case, the Three Estates of Burgundy) and by the Crown itself to honor important people or significant historic occasions. The taster is completed with traditional handle in the form of a pair of stylized snakes grasping an apple in their mouths. The handle is stamped with French silver hallmarks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1880.
• Condition: excellent; jeton in nearly mint condition.
• Dimensions: 2-1/4” x 3-1/16” x 11/16".
• Weight: 34.6 grams.

A lovely set of six sterling silver strawberry forks in Lunt’s 1893 “Navarre” pattern. This pattern was actually developed by A. F. Towle & Sons, which eventually was purchased by Lunt Silversmiths. The handles are beautifully decorated in an asymmetric pattern of volutes, acanthus leaves and flowers. The slightly splayed double tines retain their original matte gilding. The backs are marked with the A.F. Towle hallmark and the retailer’s mark “G. Frank”.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding, no monograms. Size: 4-25/32” long. Weight: 52.0 grams.