Catalog: Antiques (495)

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.

A nice coin silver rattail spoon by John Brown, active in Baltimore from 1799, after apprenticing in Philadelphia. The bowl is rather narrow, suggesting it was to be used as a pap spoon. The spoon must have been an early piece from Brown's shop, as the design is quite clearly drawn from late 18th century styles. The three-letter monogram in a bright-cut cartouche is also characteristic of the period. The back is marked with Brown's punch.

Origin: Baltimore, ca. 1800. Condition: a few small to moderate dings in the bowl. Size: 5-5/8". Weight: 11.25 grams.

A very nice blue and white Chinese export porcelain plate in the Fitzhugh pattern. The central reserve is surrounded by a complimentary design in the four quadrants, all enclosed in a diapered border. The blue color is very intense and the porcelain body has a good, clear white color. The execution of the painted design suggests that the plate dates from the first quarter of the 19th century.

Origin: China, ca. 1810. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 8-5/16” diameter.

Lovely sterling silver lettuce fork in Whiting's 1896 "Dresden" pattern. The ornate design of flowers and shells compliments the elegant shape of the piece.

Iceberg lettuce, developed at the end of the 19th century, was the first leafy vegetable that would keep long enough to be transported from farms to larger cities. Consequently, lettuce was a very elegant and costly food at formal dinners.

Origin: America, c. 1900. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Size: 9-1/4".

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. The bowl is engraved with repousse grape clusters and leaves in the 18th century style, but also with the more traditional raised “perles” and “coupules” seen in 19th century examples. The combination of the two is quite unusual. The handle is in the form of two snakes grasping an apple between their jaws—an element thought to stem from the Garden of Eden and intended to remind drinkers of temptation. The tastevin bears regional hallmarks for second standard silver and an unknown maker’s mark (J ancre de marine P). The pinpoint in the bottom of the bowl is a lathe-mark and suggests a date of the mid-19th century at the latest. The rim is engraved with the name of the original owner, “Ane [Antoine] Mouly-Chambon de Chas.”

• Origin: France, Burgundy region, ca 1840
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-1/8” x 4-1/4” x 1-5/32”
• Weight: 118.4 grams

Early Staffordshire porcelain saucer decorated with bright polychrome enamels and pink luster arranged in a very pretty wreath pattern. The body is very slightly molded into lobes along the edges.

Origin: England, c. 1840. Condition: good; a small crow's foot on the back side and a small bite to the bottom rim. Size: 5-5/8" diam.

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.

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.

Very elegant Neoclassical sterling silver server, ideal for either pastry or fish. The handle is decorated simply with banded reeds and laurel boughs, and the pierced blade is decorated with engraved laurel boughs and acanthus leaves. The back of the blade is marked with the French export silver hallmarks for 1879.

Origin: France, circa 1879. Condition: excellent, sharp details, period monogram "RS" on back side of handle. Size: 10-3/4" long. Weight: app. 5.5 troy ounces.

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.

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.

Heavy sterling silver serving spoon in Gorham’s wonderful 1888 “Versailles” pattern. This was a multi-motif pattern, meaning that each type of flatware in a service had a different handle design. This serving spoon shows a farmer in Classical dress carrying sheaves of wheat—quite a curious motif compared to the ornate scrolls and shell motifs that make us the rest of the design. The back of the handle is marked with Gorham’s older hallmark and also the mark for extra heavy weight—not often encountered, even in this high-end pattern.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: very good, no monograms, no dings or deep scratches, sharp detail, the bowl shows normal use but could easily be buffed. Size: 8-1/2” long. Weight: 80.25 grams.

A very nice lacquered papier-mache tabletop box, the cover with colorful Chinoiserie scene. The decoration depicts a noble lady and gentlemen being entertained by a troop of magicians in their garden. While two of the magicians look on, the third is juggling four balls. This is a very whimsical design that makes this box really special. The hinged lid has a lock (alas, the key is long gone). Lacquered boxes of this sort were popular in both England and France, and the quality of decoration would suggest a French origin.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, a tight hairline at one back corner by the hinge. Size: 11” x 7” x 2-3/4”.

Lovely Louis XVI style sterling silver fish slice. The elegant spade-shaped matte vermeil blade is engraved with the crossed quiver and torch design originally popular in the late 18th century. The blade and handle are marked by the maker, Pot & Cie., and the handle is marked with a French silver hallmark.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: very good; a bit of discoloration on the blade and very light wear on the handle. Size: 12-1/2" long.

A very nice Victorian inkwell in peacock blue glass. The front side is engraved with an ornate floral pattern. The lid has lapidary cutting around the edges and is engraved with the image of a dove in mid-flight and carrying a letter in its beak. Certainly, the suggestion is of a lovebird delivering a sentimental note! The lid is mounted with a brass hinge.

Origin: America, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, a small flake under the bottom. Size: 2-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 3-1/16” tall.

Fabulous and extremely rare hand-forged iron trade sign in the form of a pretzel. The sign retains an old gilt surface. There is a strong trace of red, yellow and blue paint on the back side and edges of the pretzel, no doubt the colors that were used on the wall or backboard to which the sign was attached through the 13 mounting holes. There also appears to be a red layer underneath the gold. This layer was probably intended to be an undercoating to give the gilding more depth. I don't think the pretzel was originally red and then gilded later. In any case, the gilt surface has considerable age, and probably dates from at least the late 19th century. Approximately 10% of the gilt surface shows wear (nearly all of it on the left side.

Origin: America, found in south-central Pennsylvania, circa mid-19th century. Condition: see paint description above, no cracks. Size: 18-1/2" x 15-1/2" x 1".

A wonderful late Victorian tea caddy in the form of a miniature William IV style double-pedestal sideboard with a scallop shell backsplash. The lid lifts to reveal three small compartments for storing caddy spoons and other implements. The two outer compartments have removable pegs that allow the fronts of each of the pedestals to be removed, revealing two drawers for the storage of tea. The center area between the pedestals would have been used to store a crystal mixing bowl. The front of each pedestal has tombstone inlays in bird’s-eye maple, while the sides are decorated with a diamond pattern of rosewood and maple. The hinged top is edged with holly or sycamore stringing. Figural tea caddies and miniature furnishings are quite rare and desirable.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: some warping to the hinged lid, a 2-1/2” x 1/2" area of missing veneer on the front edge of the right pedestal (not very visible because the mahogany veneer is set over the mahogany carcass), the scalloped backsplash has split and has been secured with old nails, the teeth of the brass lock are missing. Size: 14-7/8” wide; 11-1/4” high; 6” deep.

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.