Catalog (2481)

A nice set of sterling silver cocktail picks, the tops decorated with colorful enameled roosters. The use of the rooster (“cock”) motif in Art Deco barware was a play on the word “cocktail”. Each pick has a hook on the back of the rooster so that it can hang from the edge of the glass. Each is fully hallmarked for Birmingham, 1927. The picks are presented in their original fitted case embossed Abercrombie & Fitch.

Origin: England, 1927. Condition: all original, no enamel damage, box has significant wear. Size: 3-3/16” long. Weight: 13.5 grams.

A good maritime oil on canvass painting of a fishing sloop in a turbulent sea. Signed "IR Lowd" at lower right. The stretcher is pencil signed "Fishermen in a Winter Sea/Winter Rig/Flat Roof". The canvas is an older, probably original giltwood frame. Found in Maine.

Ca. 1920. Condition: fine condition; no repairs; a 1/4" area of flaked paint. Canvas Size: 12-1/2" x 14-1/2". Framed Size: 14" x 16".

A nice 19th century Mexican folk retablo on tin depicting San José. In his role as the husband and protector of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph became one of the more popular retablo subjects, representing an estimated 7% of 19th century pieces. According to the Apocrypha, Mary’s suitors left their staffs in the courtyard of her home overnight, and by the next morning, Joseph’s has sprouted blossoms, indicating he was God’s choice as her husband. The lily-covered staff became a primary attribute of Saint Joseph, and in this retablo it is shown just behind the infant Jesus. The saint is dressed in his traditional colors of green and yellow, the colors of fertility, new life and marriage. This retablo has a pleasant, particularly “folky” feel to it because of the outlining treatment of the fingers and Jesus’ unique garment that looks almost like a modern footed pajama.

Origin: Mexico, ca. 1880. Condition: very good, normal bending at corners and normal moderately-light paint loss. Size: 9-7/8” x 13-3/8”.

A wonderful late 19th or very early 20th century sheet iron weathervane in the form of a sperm whale silhouette. The vane is hand sawn and retains its old coat of oxidized green paint (may be original, but appears to be a second coat). One side still has its black painted eye. The silhouette is attached to its original copper mounting pole. Found in Maine.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: very good, old paint, light rust spotting around edges, welding of mounting pole showing some separating. Size: 15” x 8-1/2” (including pole).

A rare enameled beaker made as a souvenir of the 1896 coronation of Imperial Russia’s last monarchs, Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna. One side of the beaker features the Imperial double-headed eagle and the reverse shows the Imperial cipher. The remainder of the body is decorated with traditional Russian strapwork. The beakers were to be given away to the public on the Khodinka field in Moscow. When the gates were opened, there was a great rush to get to the cups, and hundreds of people were trampled to death. Shortly after, the cup became known as the “Blood Cup” or “Cup of Sorrows”. The incident was thought at the time to be a bad omen for the future of the Imperial couple—an estimation that proved unfortunately correct. These beakers are often in very bad condition, but this one is excellent, with just a small enamel nick on the rim, light rust spots in the interior bottom and light wear to the gilding on the rim.

Origin: Russia, 1896. Size: 4-1/8” tall.

Fine Bohemian green-to-clear cut glass Biedermeier footed spa beaker ("spaglas") featuring five panels, each beautifully engraved with Classical symbols. Beakers of this sort originated in the great spa towns of Bohemia, where they were used to take the waters. Wealthy visitors often brought back a goblet as a souvenir of their restorative stay at the spa. This example is packed with finely-engraved symbols of all sorts--an anchor symbolizing hope; a cornucopia symbolizing prosperity; a swan symbolizing erotic love; a lyre symbolizing harmony; and the serpent of Epidaurus drinking from the bowl of Hygeia symbolizing health. The stem is panel cut, while the foot is simply decorated with printies and notches that match the cut vesicas on the sides.

Origin: Bohemia, ca. 1830. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 6-1/4" tall.

A rare Art Deco double jigger in brown and speckled yellow bakelite.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent. Size: 3-19/32” tall.

A lovely strand of Mikimoto cultured pearls finished with a signed 18K yellow gold and pearl clasp. The strand comprises 113 6.0x6.5 mm fine-quality pearls, graded as A+. They have cream body color, nice silver overtones, and bright luster. The pearls are well-matched and are finished with Mikimoto’s signature bow-shaped 18K gold clasp set with a small pearl and signed with Mikimoto’s oyster shell hallmark. This strand has slightly smaller pearls than are usually used in opera length strands, giving it a lightness that makes it more versatile and appropriate for current fashion. Mikimoto currently prices strands of this quality and length at approximately $8,000.

Origin: Japan. Size: 32-3/4” long. Condition: excellent, secure stringing.

A very nice gilt brass box presented to British soldiers and sailors fighting in World War I. Princess Mary raised funds to provide these tins filled with various combinations of chocolate, notepaper, a bullet-shaped pencil, cigarettes, spices (for Indian troops), etc. Every person serving in the British forces on Christmas Day 1914 eventually received a box, although they were still filling orders in 1916 and those who were prisoners did not receive their boxes until after the end of the war in 1918. The lid is embossed with an image of Princess Mary (daughter of King George V and Queen Mary), the names of the Allied nations and various other images such as laurel wreaths, swords and flags.

Origin: England, 1914. Condition: extremely good, original gilding nearly completely intact. Size: 5-1/8” x 3-3/8” x 1-1/4”.

A very nice modernist silverplate over copper tie bar decorated with a design of coiled silver wire by studio jewelers Morley & Kim Crimi. This use of coiled wire is characteristic of the maker, who more frequently worked in copper than in silver. The back is marked “Morley-Crimi Hand Wrought”.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: good, some wear to lacquered finish near solder joints. Size: 2-3/4” x 11/16”.

A nice 1950's 14K yellow gold tie bar set with rectangular step-cut synthetic rubies. The tie bar is quite short, dating it to the mid-century period when ties were very narrow. Narrow ties are once again in fashion, so this is still the perfect gentleman's accessory. Marked "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Excellent condition. Size: 1-1/4" long. Weight: 3.4 grams.

A very fine and heavy vintage 14K yellow gold necklace by Tiffany & Co. The timeless braided design is enhanced by the gradual tapering of width from the center toward the clasp. The flat braided construction allows the necklace to life flat against the throat. This design has been reinvented several times over the years, and this piece likely dates from the 1960s. It is not currently available, but chains of similar weight are available from Tiffany in the $5,000 range. The clasp is marked “Tiffany & Co. 14K”.

Origin: America, ca. 1960. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 16-1/4” long; 3/8” wide at center. Weight: 31.2 gr.

A superb early Edwardian “style guirlande” platinum, gold, diamond, opal and pearl necklace. The fine platinum chain suspends a platinum and gold pendant centering a beautiful oval opal surrounded by an ornate swagged garland of diamonds punctuated with creamy natural pearls. The opal has strong and even play-of-color with strong flashes of bright green, a bit of blue and pale orange. The single cut and old European diamonds have beautiful color (F-H) and have clarity ranging from SI1 to I1. The center drop is articulated in three places, allowing lots of movement when being worn. The quality of workmanship is very fine, with completely hand-sawed openwork behind the stones, fine millegraining, and precise placement of stones. The back has a heavily worn maker’s mark, but the partial serial number would indicate a quality maker. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold and platinum.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original except the spring clasp which is 14K white gold instead of platinum. Size: necklace, 18-3/16” long; pendant, 2-7/8”W x 2-1/4”L. Weight: 9.0 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: opal, 1.01 cts; diamond, 1.61 cts.

A wonderful Victorian 18K gold acrostic gemstone brooch the shape of an artist's palette. The bright dabs of paint are indicated by a ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby and diamond, the first letters of which spell out the sentiment "Regard". The gems are The design of the pin also includes paint brushes, a drafting instrument, and a hand rest, all tied together with a rag. The gold surfaces are enhanced with a softly bloomed "Russian finish" that was popular in the last decades of the 19th century. Details such as the bindings on the brushes, the lead in the drafting pencil and the pad of the hand rest are detailed in platinum. The gemstones are of fine quality, with bright color. This piece has great wit and the workmanship and detailing are superb. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold and platinum.

Acrostic jewelry first became popular in early 19th century France and remained popular for decades. Gemstones were used to spell sentiments such as "regard", names, important dates, etc. Rings are, by far, the most common pieces of acrostic jewelry. Brooches are quite uncommon.

Origin: probably America, ca. 1895. Weight: 8.8 grams. Size: 2-5/8" x 3/4".

An extremely rare pair of 22K yellow gold cufflinks designed by the famous surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Inspired by his hero, Louis XIV, Dali minted a limited number of his own gold coins in 1966. The artist called his gold coin the "Dali d'or" after the "Louis d'or" coins created for the French king. The coins were minted in four sizes and values, and Dali occasionally used them to pay debts he owed to friends.

In 1967, a year after creating the money, Dali collaborated with the luxury jeweler Piaget to create a line of jewelry incorporating the remaining coins. Dali d'or jewels are quite rare, but can be found as watches, pendants, earrings, brooches and cufflinks.

Like the royal coins, Dali's personal coins featured his likeness along with that of his wife, Gala, on the front. Their faces are surrounded by laurel leaves, fleurs-de-lys and eggs, the last element a recurring symbol of rebirth in Dali's works. The same motifs are repeated on the back, but without the faces and in an even more surrealistic design. Each coin is signed and dated by Dali and is incised with its edition number. The coins used for this pair of cufflinks are #1495 and #1499.

The toggle findings are worked in 18K gold and are signed "Piaget".

Origin: Spain and France, 1967. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 1" diameter. Weight: 35.8 grams.

A very fine vintage pair of double-sided cufflinks and three matching shirt studs by Tiffany & Co. The classic design features round brilliant cut sapphires surrounded by a wide, flat gold border finely incised with lines radiating outward toward the edges. The sapphires have the most desirable color (B6/6--medium dark vivid blue) and have eye-clean clarity. The stones show no indication of heat or other treatment. Each piece is marked "Tiffany & Co." and "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: cufflinks, 19/32" diameter; studs, 3/8" diameter. Weight: 21.6 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.932 carats.

A handsome pair of vintage 14K yellow gold cufflinks, the square faces in a basketweave pattern. Each open square is filled with a prong-set brilliant round cut blue sapphire. The sapphires are a medium-blue color with eye-clean clarity. The stones are nicely cut for maximum light return and have excellent brilliance as a result. The exposed gold surfaces have a finely engraved Florentine finish. The hinged backs are marked “14K”.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4” x 3/4”. Weight: 16.5 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.612 cts.

A nice pair of vintage 14K yellow gold cufflinks, each in the form of a large and a small button, complete with raised gold beads to suggest the stitches. The faces are connected by chains. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4” & 9/16” diameter. Weight: 11.5 grams.