Catalog: Vintage Arts: Decorative Art: Metals: Silver: Continental (16)

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 delightful second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin featuring a mermaid. The overall design is in traditional Burgundian style, with “cupules,” and “perles” for viewing the color and clarity of either red or white wines, but this example is set apart because of the seaweed-surrounded mermaid set into the bottom. She has a distinctly “naughty mermaid” appearance typical of 1950s/60s Playboy illustrations. The thumb ring is worked in a rope motif. Both the thumbpiece and the bowl are stamped with French silver marks and the master silversmith’s mark for Ste Arcaud. The tastevin is presented in its original box from the Rolta boutiqueon rue de l’Opéra in Paris.

• Origin: France, ca. 1960
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/4” x 1”
• Weight: 86.0 grams

A terrific first standard (950/1000 pure) silver tastevin by the acclaimed Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. Though working in the very early 20th century, Parrod was fond of creating tastevins in fantasy styles of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Among his catalog of motifs were sides with repoussé decoration of grape clusters and leaves, bottoms inset with royal coins or medallions, double snake handles representing temptation in the Garden of Eden, and handles with engraved scenes or witty sayings. He must have had some /extra time when he made this tastevin, because it includes all these except the snake handle. In its place is a “tab handle” engraved with a cluster of grapes surrounded by a heart below the saying “A bon vin bonne humeur” (“To good wine and a good mood”). The bottom features a medallion (“jeton”) with the image of Louis XVI surrounded by a legend translated as “the most Christian King Louis XVI 1785”. The reverse of the medallion shows the coat of arms of the Duchy of Burgundy and the inscription “Comitia Burgundiae.” Silver jetons were struck by various civic governments (in this case, the Three Estates of Burgundy) or by the Crown itself to honor important people, significant historic occasions, or personal visits by the King. The rim is engraved with the name of the tastevin’s original owner Paulin from the wine village of Corton. The handle is stamped with Parrod’s mark and first-standard silver marks.

• Origin: Dijon, ca. 1903-1944 (most likely toward the earlier part of this period)
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms, sharp detail
• Dimensions: 2-7/8” x 3-13/16”
• Weight: 67.2 grams

A very good 19th century French silver tastevin (wine taster). This example is the in Burgundian style with repousse and engraved grape and leaf decoration around the bowl, rather than the more typical “perles” and fluted “godrons.” The handle, however, is in the classic style of two snakes grasping an apple symbolizing the Garden of Eden and the temptations of wine.The handle and the side of bowl are stamped with French 1st standard silver marks (950/1000 pure silver) and an unidentified maker’s mark.

• Origin: France, probably Burgundy, ca 1890
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-1/2” x 1-1/8”
• Weight: 125.0 grams

A fine Art Deco 800 silver graduated jigger in an exaggerated flaring design. The sections measure 1, 1 1/2, and 2 1/2 ounces. The bottom is stamped for 800 silver and has an Italian mark used 1935-38 that was applied to finished silver goods already in the inventories of Italian jewelers and silversmiths.

• Origin: Italy, ca 1930
• Condition: excellent, no dings or monograms
• Dimensions: 2 1/8” tall; 2 1/2” wide at rim
• Weight: 36.0 grams

A very rare French first standard silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin, the bottom bearing the coat of arms of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. The arms depict St. Vincent, patron saint of winemakers. The body is further decorated with the traditional raised “perles” for highlighting the reflections in the wine and recessed “cupules” and elongated “godrons” intended to concentrate the color during the tasting process. The handle is worked in the snake motif traditional in Burgundian tastevins. The rim is stamped with the master silversmith’s mark for Emile Mémery & Henri Hours.

The Confrerie was established in 1934 to promote the wines of Burgundy. Modeled on Medieval guilds, membership in the Confrerie is strictly controlled and is open only to sponsored candidates. A tastevin bearing the arms of the Confrerie could only have belonged to a member. Tastevins used by the Confrerie come in a few different variations (not all the members are wealthy and must make do with a silverplate taster), with the being the rarest and most prized. Known for their service to the elite of Burgundy, Alsace and Lorraine, Mémery & Hours were the preferred silversmiths to the Confrerie’s elite.

• Origin: Lyon, France, ca 1935
• Condition: excellent; sharp detail on the coat of arms; a minor ding on each of two “cupules”
• Dimensions: 3-1/16” x 4” x 1”
• Weight: 96.8 grams

A classic Art Deco first standard (950/1000 pure) silver jigger by the Parisian silversmith Auguste Roustang. The tapered form is simply decorated with a series of increasingly narrower steps at the base for a streamline look. The rim is hallmarked by Roustang.

• Origin: France, 1909-29
• Condition: excellent, no dings
• Dimensions: 1-15/16” tall
• Weight: 34.9 grams

A vintage Austrian silver stopper for a wine bottle or decanter, the finial constructed from a coin known as the “Maria Theresa Thaler”. These coins were first minted during the reign of the Empress Maria Theresa, mother of Marie Antoinette. The front depicts Maria Theresa and the back features the imperial Hapsburg double eagle arms. The abbreviated Latin inscription reflects her full title, “Maria Theresa, by grace of God, Empress of the Romans, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, Duchess of Burgundy, Countess of Tyrol” and includes her personal motto, “Justice and Clemency.” When the Empress died in 1780, the date on the coin was fixed in perpetuity. The coin had a very reliable silver content and became one of the most accepted coins for international trade—especially in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. It ceased to be used as legal tender in the Austrian empire in 1857, but continued to be minted for international trading purposes. The coin used for this stopper has characteristics usually associated with early 20th century examples, and the hallmark on the stopper’s collar is that used in Vienna after 1922.

Origin: Austria, ca. 1930.

Condition: excellent, sharp detail, all original;

Note that the cork is too wide to fit a wine bottle, but could be shaved down to fit.

Size: 2-1/4” from bottom edge of silver collar to the top of the coin; 1-5/8” wide across the coin.

Weight: 45.0 grams.

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than 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 sometime see in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The handle is in the tradition form of two entwined snakes grasping an apple in their mouths, thought to remind drinkers of temptation and sin. The tastevin is fully hallmarked and has an illegible maker's mark.

France, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 1". Weight: 53.5 gr.

A fine silver tastevin inset with a 1772 silver 8 reales coin from the reign of Carlos III. The deeply-curved sides of the tastevin are decorated in a characteristically Spanish baroque style with ornate chasing and engraving. The handle is in the form of a curled dragon-like creature.

Though they were fashionable in France in the 19th century, coin tastevins only became stylish in Spain around 1950. Generally, they were made by high-end silversmiths as custom orders by clients who provided their own antique coins. In this case, the coin is an 8 reales (known colloquially as a "piece of eight") minted in Mexico City for use in the Spanish colonies and in Spain itself. The tastevin was made by the silversmith Manuel Garrido and bears the retailer's mark of Bagués, Spain's most luxurious jeweler.

Origin: Spain, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3-1/8" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 76.9 gr.

An elegant pair of 1st standard (950/1000 pure) silver jiggers by Hermes in the form of tankards. Each is fully hallmarked by Ravinet D'Enfert, the company responsible for most of Hermès silver creations in the Deco era. The bottom of each is marked "Hermès Paris". The jiggers are accompanied by an Hermès drawstring pouch.

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no dings, no monograms. Dimensions: larger jigger, 3" tall; smaller jigger, 2-5/16" tall. Weight: 132.0 gr.

A silver jigger engraved with the pennant of the Norwegian-American Lines and the name of the passenger liner SS Stavangerfjord. The ship was commissioned in 1917 and sailed until 1963. In 1964, it was anchored in Tokyo Bay for use a hotel during the Tokyo Olympics. This jigger is engraved "Olympiske Leker", indicating that it comes from the short time the liner was used during the games. The bottom is marked "S830". Origin: Norway, 1964. Condition: excellent, two tiny dings on the bottom edge (only visible from the bottom). Dimensions: 1-13/16" tall. Weight: 13.0 gr.

A silver jigger decorated with a raised ocean liner pennant enameled in the colors of the Norwegian-American Lines and engraved with the name of the passenger liner SS Stavangerfjord. The ship was commissioned in 1917 and sailed until 1963. In 1964, it was anchored in Tokyo Bay for use a hotel during the Tokyo Olympics. This jigger is engraved "Olympiske Leker", indicating that it comes from the short time the liner was used during the games. The bottom is marked "S830".

Origin: Norway, 1964. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, no dings, no monograms. Dimensions: 2-1/16" tall. Weight: 15.6 gr.

A very rare French first standard silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin, the bottom bearing the coat of arms of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. The arms depict St. Vincent, patron saint of winemakers. The body is further decorated with the traditional raised "perles" for highlighting the reflections in the wine and recessed "cupules" and elongated "godrons" intended to concentrate the color during tasting. The handle is worked in the snake motif traditional in Burgundian tastevins. The rim is stamped with an unidentified silversmith's mark.

The Confrerie was established in 1934 to promote the wines of Burgundy. Modeled on Medieval guilds, membership in the Confrerie is strictly controlled and is open only to sponsored candidates. A tastevin bearing the arms of the Confrerie could only have belonged to a member. Tastevins used by the Confrerie come in a few different variations, with this being the rarest and most prized.

Origin: France, ca. 1935. Condition: excellent, light wear to coat of arms consistent with age, a minor ding to one cupule. Dimension: 3-1/16" diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 91.6 grams.

A very handsomely decorated set of 12 sterling silver demitasse spoons. The handles are finely decorated with a cast and pierced stylized bellflower. The swirling character of the finial design nicely contrasts with the more angular line of the lower handles and the oval bowls. The backs are fully marked with Swedish hallmarks for 830 silver, including the town mark for Norberg.

Origin: Sweden, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original, no monograms. Size: 4-1/16" long. Weight: 92.0 grams.