Catalog: Vintage Arts (249)

Art Deco Sterling Silver RIONDO COCKTAIL Recipe Cocktail Stirrer An uncommon sterling silver cocktail stirrer with a paddle-form handle and a twist stem. The handle is engraved with the recipe for a “Riondo Cocktail” on one side and a gin martini on the other. Riondo was a high-end brand of Puerto Rican rum in the 1940s. The stirrer is hallmarked by Blackinton, maker of some of the best sterling silver figural barware of the Art Deco and mid-Century periods.

• Origin: America, ca. 1940
• Condition: excellent, a few pinpoint dings to the stirring sphere
• Length: 10” (25.3 cm)
• Weight: 29.8 g

Mexican sterling silver jigger and bar stirrer utensil by Sanborns. The jigger is in a beehive form with each incised ring marking off 1/2 oz, 1 oz, and 2 oz measures. The cup is entirely hand-hammered. The shaker spoon is in a simple design that complements the jigger form. The back is stamped with the Sanborns mark used from 1955 until the late 60s.

• Origin: Mexico, 1955-1970
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Length: 9-1/4"
• Weight: 50.6 gr

A classic French silver tastevin in traditional Burgundian form by the Parisian master silversmith Alexandre Vaguer. Due to its small size, the taster may have been intended to evaluate cognac, Armagnac, or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the usual decoration of “perles,” “godrons,” and “cupules,” this example has a smooth bottom that would be more useful with liquors. The sides are enhanced with repousse and engraved decoration of grape clusters and leaves typical of Burgundian wine tasters. The handle is in the traditional Burgundian form of two entwined snakes grasping an apple, thought to represent the Garden of Eden and the potential temptations of alcohol. Most interestingly of all, though, is that the entire tastevin was created 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 a tastevin from a coin 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 the skill stopped working in 1968. This example is stamped with the maker’s mark for Alexandre Vaguer, who began working in Paris in 1931 as part of the Atelier van Destel.

• Origin: France, ca 1935
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 2-3/16” x 2-15/16” x 11/16”
• Weight: 29.2 grams

A French Art Deco cocktail pick set in the unusual form of a large snail accompanied by a pair of baby snails. The snail is usually alone or occasionally with just one small snail. They are worked in chrome and are set on a mahogany base. The design is by the famed French Art Deco illustrator Benjamin Rabier, who had a side jpb designing entertaining barware. The twelve picks have red bakelite finials. Sets such as this were used on bar and café counters to serve cocktail garnishes, canapés, or even escargot.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent; very light wear to wooden edges; all original
• Dimensions: 7” x 3-1/8” x 4-1/4”.

A vintage sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a syringe by Gorham. These were called “Martini Spikes” when sold by Gorham in the 1960s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe and then dispensed in precisely calibrated doses for your medicinal cocktails. The syringe originally cost $10. The syringe is presented in its original fitted box and is accompanied by the illustrated instruction card.

• Origin: America, 1967-70
• Condition: excellent, fully functional, no monograms or dings; case near mint condition
• Length: 6.25”

A sterling silver jigger in the form of an 18th century tavern tankard. The jigger measures 2 oz. Luxury New York retailers such as Cartier and Tiffany sold a selection of sterling silver novelty barware made by their suppliers. In this case, Cartier chose J. C. Boardman & Co. The bottom is stamped “Cartier” and also has Boardman’s hallmark.

• Origin: America, ca 1950
• Condition: very good, a tiny pinpoint ding (1/16”) to one side, no monograms
• Height: 2.25”
• Weight: 67.1 g

A vintage sterling silver figural jigger by Gorham, the sides marked off with enameled stoplights in green, yellow, and red, meant to signify “go,” “caution,” and “stop.” Each light corresponds to the 1-, 2.5-, and 3.5-ounce markings on the jigger’s bottom. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham

• Origin: America, ca. 1950
• Condition: excellent, a 3/16” ding at the edge of the bottom visible upon close inspection
• Dimensions: 2-7/16”
• Weight: 50.7 grams

A classic mid-century sterling silver double jigger by Gorham. The smaller cup measures 1 oz and the larger one 2 oz. The interior is stamped “Gorham Sterling.”

• Origin: America, ca 1950
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Height: 3-/ 2”
• Weight: 36.8 g

A classic mid-century sterling silver double jigger by Gorham. The smaller cup measures 1 oz and the larger one 2 oz. The interior is stamped “Gorham Sterling.”

• Origin: America, ca 1950
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Height: 3-/ 2”
• Weight: 37.6 g

A classic figural sterling silver thimble jigger by Thomae & Co. The rim is engraved “Only A Thimble Full.” The interior retains a softly gilt surface. Several companies made variations of thimble jiggers, but those by Thomae are among the best because of their superior weight and workmanship.

• Origin: America, ca. 1935
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Height: 2”
• Weight: 44.3 g

Vintage sterling silver figural jigger in the form of a jigger by Towle. The rim is engraved “Just a thimbleful.” Thimble jiggers became popular in the late Victorian era and remained so through the mid-20th century. The base is hallmarked by Towle.

• Origin: America, ca. 1960
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Height: 2” tall
• Weight: 28.9 g

An unusual mid-Century Taxco version of the classic sterling silver thimble jigger. Like most Mexican silver of the era, this piece has tremendous weight and a simple charm. The rim is engraved “Just A Thimbleful 1-1/4”. The bottom bears the hallmark of the Dominguez family. We have once before had the exact jigger with the mark specific to A. Dominguez and the Eagle stamp used in the late 1950s.

• Origin: Mexico, ca. 1955
• Condition: excellent, no dings
• Height: 1-11/16”
• Weight: 43.5 g

A sterling silver figural jigger in the form of a tankard by Simons Brothers. The jigger measures 1-1/2 ounces. The bottom is stamped with Simons’ hallmark.

• Origin: America, ca. 1950
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 2” tall
• Weight: 20.3 grams

Lunt Sterling Silver Tankard Figural Jigger A sterling silver figural jigger in the form of an 18th century ale tankard by Lunt. The jigger measures 1 ounce. The bottom is stamped with Lunt’s hallmark.

• Origin: America, ca. 1960
• Condition: excellent, interior gilding intact, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 1-3/4” tall
• Weight: 24.9 grams

An early 20th century first standard (950/100 pure) silver tastevin decorated in the traditional Burgundian style with a coiled snake handle and appliques depicting vines of grapes and foliage along the sides. Applique decoration is uncommon, and this is a particularly nice example. The bowl is decorated with elongated cupules along one side for use in judging white wines and with large recessed cupules and raised perles for reds. Snake handles are thought to have represented the Garden of Eden and the temptations brought on by wine. The bottom is marked with an unidentified silversmith’s mark and with French first standard guarantee marks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3” x 4”
• Weight: 101.0 grams

A classic Burgundian first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin. The bowl is enhanced with repousse decoration of grapevines, leaves and fruit. The bottom is left unadorned in a style usually reserved for judging white wines. The tastevin is finished with a classic handle in the form of two entwined snakes grasping an apple in their jaws. This design is to represent the serpent from the Garden of Evil as a reminder that wine may lead to earthly temptation. The handle is stamped with French first standard silver marks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, no dings
• Dimensions: 3” x 4” x 13/16”
• Weight: 58.7 grams

A rare chrome and bakelite barware set comprising a mechanical garnish spoon for olives or cherries, a ladle for dipping mixers or juice from a pitcher into a cocktail glass, and cocktail picks/stirrers. Each piece is finished with a bakelite cherry finial. The mechanical spoon is marked CADO, while the picks and ladle are unmarked, but are in a fitted presentation case marked “Créations H.P.” This set was purchased together, and it’s possible there was originally a case for the mechanical spoon, as well. Little is known about CADO except that the company produced a range of well-designed barware sometimes sold under its own name and sometimes under the name of a particular retail boutique such as Créations H.P.

• Origin: France, ca 1950
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: Mechanical Spoon, 13-5/8” long; ladle, 11” long; picks, 3-1/4” long

A classic mid-century bell-shaped sterling silver double jigger. This example is accented with an incised line and exaggerated flared lip on the larger cup. The jigger is stamped “Sterling.”

• Origin: America, ca. 1960
• Condition: excellent, no monograms or dings
• Height: 4-9/32”
• Weight: 37.8 g