Catalog: Antiques (496)

A very attractive French silver (1st standard=950/1000 pure silver) tastevin, the bottom inset with a 1785 silver coin showing the bust of King Louis XVI. This tastevin departs slightly from the traditional form, with the fluted “godrons” placed immediately around the coin and the sides finished with very nice repousse decoration of grapes, vines and leaves. The tastevin is finished with a single coiled snake handle. Tastevins set with royal coins seem to have been popular during various times in the 19th century when France was ruled over by a king or emperor. Tastevins with Louis XVI coins are not often encountered, however. The tastevin is stamped with French silver marks and with an unidentified master silversmith mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 7.9 x 10.5 cm (3-1/8 x 4-1/8 in). Weight: 105.4 gr.

Very unusual glass paperweight from the New England Glass Company. The weight is worked in a patriotic theme with shards of red, white and blue opaque glass rods making up the scrambled design--possibly in celebration of America's centennial in 1876. The center of the setup is punctuated with a large icepick bubble--a technique I have never seen used in an American scrambled weight. There is also a rare silhouette cane of a pine tree. The crown is high and has a lightly swirled finish. The basal concavity is quite deep and irregularly finished.

Origin: America, circa 1876. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, no deep scratches. Size: 2-1/2" diameter; 2" high.

A classic Sandwich glass hyacinth vase in a rich amethyst shade. The vase is entirely hand blown, shows the traces of hand marvering, and has a large oblong bubble on one side about two inches above the bottom. 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" tall.

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" and recessed "cupules" for viewing the depth of color in a wine. The coin, dating to 1726, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the legend "Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre." The reverse of the coin can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin. The taster is completed with a handle in the form of a single coiled snake. Stamped with an illegible maker's mark.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail to the tastevin, typical wear to the coin. Dimensions: 3-5/16" x 4-5/16" x 1". Weight: 95.4 grams.

A beautiful Victorian sterling silver souvenir spoon from Saratoga Springs, New York. The handle depicts a Native American Chief wearing a feathered war bonnet, his bust surrounded by ears of corn and foliage. The bowl has a design picturing a young Native American man drinking from the natural springs and bears the legend “High Rock Spring Saratoga”. The bowl retains its original gilt surface. The back of the spoon is decorated with a tomahawk, bow and quiver of arrows. The stem is marked sterling and has the hallmark for Howard (1878-1902).

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: near mint. Size: 4-3/16” long. Weight: 11.4 grams.

A fine sterling silver gravy ladle in the 1892 “Richelieu” patterns by Tiffany & Co. This is one of Tiffany’s great early patterns and is very sought after today. It is distinguished by shell motifs at the handle and pendant bellflowers that lead down the stem. The flattened bowl is elegantly gadrooned to match the scalloped edge. The back is marked with Tiffany’s hallmark in use 1891-1902.

Origin: America, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, sharp details, no monogram. Size: 7-3/8” long. Weight: 83.5 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 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.

Sterling silver berry spoon in Towle's 1884 "Arlington" pattern. This rare pattern featured a different repousse design on each piece of the service. The gilt spade-shaped bowl is engraved with climbing roses growing on a trellis. This decoration is especially interesting.

The pattern is named after Robert E. Lee's plantation, "Arlington". Union troops buried their dead in Mrs. Lee's rose garden as a spiteful act, and unwittingly created Arlington National Cemetary.

Origin: America, c. 1880s. Condition: excellent, gilding intact, no monogram. Size: 6-7/8" long.

An extremely rare sterling silver ladle for serving warm alcohol-based punch. The globe-form bowl is the traditional shape for toddy ladles. Today, the ladle could be used for various sauces or beverages such as egg nog—or even a toddy! The straight handle is ornamented with simple turnings before swelling to an olive-shaped terminal decorated with bright-cut floral engraving. The back of the terminal has a period three-letter monogram engraved in a matching style. The inner and outer surfaces of the bowl are heavily stippled and gilt. The back of the handle bears the retailer’s mark “J E Caldwell”. The style indicates this is an early piece of sterling, probably made just after the sterling standard was introduced in America by Tiffany.

Origin: America, ca. 1865. Condition: excellent, all original gilding. Size: 8-3/4” long. Weight: 113.0 grams.

Outstanding sterling silver master salt spoon in a rococo pattern by Gorham. I have not been able to put a name to this assymetrical pattern, although it is very similar to "Marie Antoinette" and "Dresden". The bowl is parcel gilt. The reverse is marked with Gorham's old hallmark.

Origin: America, circa 1885. Condition: excellent, gilding intact, crisp details, period mongram "Y". Size: 3-5/8" long.

A wonderful set of six Victorian silverplate napkin rings. The outsides are decorated with two cherubs grasping baroque reserves framed with swirls of acanthus leaves, pendant bellflowers and other ornate decorative devices. The insides are brightly gilt. It is very unusual to find a complete matching set of Victorian napkin rings.

Origin: probably American, circa 1890. Condition: all original, no monograms, normal wear the the plating on the insides and outsides. Size: 1-5/8" wide; 1-7/8" diameter.

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.

Extremely elegant Louis XV-style French silver master salt dip with cobalt glass liners. The shapes of the containers remind me of Louis XV bombe commodes. The repousse design is very architectural in nature, and makes use of numerous decorative elements such as fluted columns, ribbons, cartouches, and pendant bellflowers. Surprisingly, none of the four cartouches has ever been monogrammed. Although intended for salt only, this piece could be used today to serve both salt and pepper. The server is marked with the Paris 1st standard hallmark for 950 silver (purer than sterling silver) and an unidentified maker’s mark “R&D”. The cobalt liners are of very high quality crystal and might possibly be the work of Baccarat.

Origin: Paris, circa 1860. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, no dings, no monogram. Size: 5-1/4” long; 1-3/4” wide; 4-1/2” tall.

A delightful and rare Victorian tartanware egg timer covered in an unidentified red, green, black and yellow. The top and bottom plates are in an unusual horseshoe shape. The posts are covered in tartan, as well. Exposed areas of wood are ebonized. The tartan is not named, and the piece is marked “Made in Scotland”. The timer measures exactly 3 mins.

Origin: Scotland, ca. 1895. Condition: very good, light wear to edges and varnish, but no major scuffs or missing paper. Size: 3-3/16” tall.

Extraordinary majolica tile raised on bun feet. The tile features a sinuous painted Art Nouveau design of elegant swans swimming in a river with a cityscape beyond, surrounded by a border of bamboo. The design has a distinctly impressionist look that brings to mind some of the Rookwood vellum patterns. The bottom is impressed "66" and has an illegibly impressed maker's mark.

Origin: European, circa 1880. Condition: superficial glaze scratching from normal wear; glaze crazing only on the underneath side. Size: 9.25" square; 1.5" high.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

A classic Baccarat cut crystal perfume bottle in a blue-cut-to-clear cane pattern. While several American and European companies cut this pattern, the stopper of this bottle is a known Baccarat design. It appeared in a Baccarat pattern book under the name “Stella.” The stopper has a blown teardrop in the interior and is accented with a star pattern at the top. Baccarat products were marked only with a paper label until logo until around 1930.

Origin: France, ca. 1890. Condition: very good; a few very minor nicks along the bottom edge (obscured by the design). Size: 4-15/16” tall.

A lovely and unusual Victorian sterling silver jelly knife in Towle’s 1880 “No. 128” pattern. Also known as “No. 28”, this pattern is characterized by a twisted handle, accented with beautiful bright-cut engraving. The serving end is shaped in the form of a leaf and is matte-gilt to highlight the floral engraving. Originally intended to serve savory jellies, the piece could now be used for pastries. The back is hallmarked by Towle and has the pattern number.

Origin: America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, original gilding intact, there may be a slight bend toward the tip of the serving end but it’s difficult to be certain because of the naturalistic form of the bowl. Size: 8-3/8” long. Weight: 45.0 grams.

A fine mid-19th century French silver tastevin (wine taster), the base inset with an 1810 Italian silver coin from the reign of Emperor Napoleon I as King of Italy. The bottom edge of the bowl is decorated with curved, scalloped "godrons" which were intended to reflect light through white wine to judge clarity. This tastevin does not have the "cupules" ("ovoides") specifically intended to deepen the color of red wines. The sides are decorated with grapevines and clusters of fruit. The handle is formed as a coiled serpent--as style particularly popular in Burgundy. The whole is raised on a circular ropetwist foot. Napoleonic coins are rarely seen in tastevins, and this piece probably dates to the Second Empire when Napoleonic items were viewed with some nostalgia. Fully hallmarked.

Origin: France, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, sharp detail. Size: 3" diameter excluding handle. Weight: 72.3 grams.

A beautiful powder jar of colorless crystal cased in rose crystal, cameo cut and then etched. The delicate pattern of wild roses stands out in rose against the frosty etched background. The design is beautifully worked. The bottom has a large concaved polished pontil. Several examples of this coloring and technique, although in different floral patterns, appears in Curtis’ exhaustive book, “Baccarat”.

Origin: France, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks. Size: 3-5/16” diameter; 2-1/4” tall.

Rare Staffordshire spaniel head bank. The spaniel is highlighed with copper lustre spots and a copper luster neck chain/padlock.

Origin: England, last quarter 19th century. Condition: Mint, except for 3/8" flake on the bottom of the foot rim (not visible from the top or side); appropriate glaze crazing for the age. Size: 4-1/4" tall.

A beautiful enameled silver patch or pill box by Nicholai Alexeyev. The hinged box is fully covered with enamels worked in shades of opaque white, aqua, periwinkle and royal blue, accented with translucent red and green. The cover and bottom are worked in a stylized starburst pattern, while the sides feature floral banding flanked by traditional triangular and dotted patterns. Exposed areas of silver are stippled and lightly gilt. The interior is also gilt. The interior of the body and lid are marked with the Moscow city mark, the 88 standard, and the maker’s mark for Nicholai Alexeyev. The lid closes securely and can be used as a functional pill box, if desired.

Origin: Moscow, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage. Size: 2-1/8” diameter; 1” high. Weight: 53.0 grams.

A set of six sterling silver demitasse or coffee spoons in Gorham's early (1870) "Swiss" pattern. The design is similar to Gorham's other early sterling patterns, with a decidedly classical decoration of anthemion leaves. The bowls have a matte finish which contrasts nicely with the handles. The backs are engraved with a period 3-letter monogram "LBE". The backs are marked with Gorham's early hallmarks.

Origin: America, circa 1870. Condition: excellent, no dings, sharp detail. Size: 4-9/32" long.

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.

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.

Stunning cut Bohemian glass powder jar with top-notch polychrome enameling. The lid is decorated with a wonderful scene of an 18th century gentleman surrounded by bowers of flowers. The sides of the jar are decorated with a wreath of flowers and acanthus leaves. The sides are cut in a St-Louis diamond pattern. The rims of both the jar and the lid are gilt. The bottom of the jar is cut with oval printies alternating with mitres. Unsigned, but definitely the work of Lobmeyr.

Origin: Bohemia, circa 1890. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, no missing enamel, only the most minimal wear to gilding (less than 5%). Size: 3-1/2" diam., 2-5/8" tall.

A lovely bright olive green vase with molded ribbed blocking and cold-gilt gold and platinum decoration depicting thistles. The gilding is of very fine quality and has almost an Aesthetic Movement appearance. The vase uses a cased construction of various layers of clear and colored glass typical of Moser. The bottom is finished with a concave polished pontil and is marked with the form/decoration code “Q/195”.

Origin: Bohemia, ca. 1895. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, gilding intact. Size: 10” tall.

Phenomenal Art Nouveau crystal shallow bowl, the bottom with intaglio engraving of a large pansy blossom. The flowers petals are beautifully handpainted in shades of burgundy and then gilt. The flower is surrounded by translucent foliage. The scalloped rim of the bowl is gilt to coordinate with the floral decoration. This piece, with its single large flower, is much more assertive than the more common small reverse-carved pieces such nappies and short compotes. We're not certain if the bowl is Bohemian or French. The pansy was a very popular floral motif in France during the Art Nouveau period. The French word for pansy ("pensée") is also the word for thought and the floral image was often employed to signify and sentimental gift of remembrance or affection.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, 98% of painting and gilding intact. Size: 10-1/2" diameter; 1-1/2" high.

Extremely rare set of six transferware dessert plates depicting Napoleon’s great victories. The rims are printed with crowned “N”s encircled by laurel wreaths and military decorations, alternating with escutcheons with the Emperor’s signature hat and sword. The scenes are entitled “Mort De Desaix A Marengo”; “Le Ge’al Massena Devant Zurich 25 Decembre 1799”; “Bataille De Friedland 14 Juin 1807”; “Combat De Benhout 8 Mars 1799”; “Bonaparte A Arcole 17 Novembre 1796”; and “Napoleon Haranguant Les Troupes Bavaroises Et Wurtembergeoises”.

All the plates were made by Boch Freres of La Louviere, Belgium. Most are marked with the company’s stamp. The monarchy was in and out of favor frequently during the 19th century, and few of the Napoleon transferware items survived.

Origin: Belgium, circa 1850s. Condition: all are in excellent condition with no chips or cracks; one has light crazing to the glaze and minimal discoloration; all the transfer decoration is well-detailed and strongly-colored. Size: 8-1/8” diameter.

A nice sterling silver long pickle/olive fork in the "Nautilus" pattern by Blackinton. The handle is ornately decorated with floral and shell motifs. The tines are parcel matte gilt and have foliate decoration at the shoulders to match the handle. The handle is monogrammed "L" on the front and has the date "[18]98" on the back.

Origin: America, 1898. Condition: excellent, original gilding intact, sharp detail. Size: 6-7/8" long. Weight: 14.0 grams.

Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is mostly worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".

19th century aneroid desk barometer in a stunning ivory case raised on a turned pedestal and surmounted with a carved ivory bust depicting a young farm maiden. The carving is superbly done, with great attention to the girl's hair and 18th century-style lace-trimmed bonnet. Her face is charming. The ivory has a beautiful yellowed patina that has not been cleaned. The enameled dial is in French, but there is no maker's mark visible. This is the finest desk barometer we've ever seen.

Origin: France, ca. 1830. Condition: excellent, expected splitting to ivory on the back, original patina. Size: 7-1/4" tall; 3-1/2" dial diameter.

A nice tin tray with tole floral decoration. The center is painted with a colorful bouquet including roses, tulips, peonies, lilies and ferns. The bouquet is surrounded by a foliate border, and the edges of the tray are highlighted with an orange-gold sand paint. The tray is handmade with soldered seams and rolled edges.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent original paint. Size: 18-5/8” x 12-5/8” x 1-3/16”.

A lovely Victorian sterling silver sugar sifter in Whiting’s 1882 “Antique Lily Engraved” pattern. The simply-shaped handle is decorated with bright-cut engraving of foliage with a spray of lilies-of-the-valley cascading across the end. The bowl is matte gilt and pierced in a pleasant design that does not compete with the restrained decoration of the handle. Sugar sifters were used to sprinkle sugar over fruit during the dessert service, and are not terribly common. The reverse has a period inscription, “Wade”, and is stamped with Whiting’s hallmark.

Origin: America, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, gilding intact. Size: 5-7/8” long. Weight: 25.0 grams.

Cold-painted Viennese bronze sculpture of a devil by Franz Bergman. This half-goat half-man figure is very well detailed, even showing the individual vertebrae along his back and the curls of his hair.

• Origin: Austria, ca 1900
• Condition: near mint; tiny surface rubs at sharp points such as the fingertips
• Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall

Lovely sterling silver bowl by Gorham. The bowl is basically formed in the traditional Revere style, but has a folded over rim enhanced with an Art Nouveau border of waterlilies and lilypads. With Gorham's usual attention to detail, the waterlilies are presented in several stages of development from early bud to full bloom. The bottom is marked with Gorham's hallmark along with date mark for 1898.

Condition: very good; the decorative detail is very crisp; the interior of the bowl shows light scratching from normal use; there is one pinpoint ding on the bottom of the bowl; retains lemony-tinted gilding in and near the decorative areas; no monograms or removals. Size: 6.5" diam.; 2.25" high. Weight: 8.8 troy ounces.

A very fine 12-piece set of gilt silver and mother of pearl dessert, fruit or cheese knives presented in their original fitted box. The tapered mother of pearl handles are tipped with silver finials and ferules decorated in a Louis XVI-style ribbon and reed motif. Most similar sets have plated blades, but these are silver. The silver is gilt, a process that is decorative, but also serves to prevent corrosion from the salts in cheeses which were often served in France as a dessert course. The gilding has faded to a very nice, light lemony color. The interior lid of the velvet- and silk-lined box is marked by the maker, “J. Fayard/Fabricant Orfèvre Joaillier/St Etienne”.

Origin: France, ca. 1860. Condition: knives are excellent, no dings, no cracks, normal fading of the gilding; the box shows considerable wear and has a slightly warped lid. Size: 7-1/2” long.

An attractive personalized glass paperweight by the Union Glass Co. The typical patriotic coloring is made up of the honoree’s name “John W Sullivan” in lampwork letters surrounded by a ring of red and blue lampwork flowers with small green leaves. As with all Union Glass weights, the crown is high and has very nice clarity. The glass is also quite heavy. The polished base is flat.

Origin: America, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, normal light scratches to surface, no chips or cracks. Size: 3-1/2” diameter; 2-1/2” tall.

Pair of Staffordshire pottery cake plates with light blue transfer decoration in the Canton or "Willow" theme. Neither plate is marked.

Origin: England, circa 1850. Condition: one plate has a crow's foot visible only from the back; the other has a 1/2" flake on the back of the rim; both have some staining, particularly along the rims. Size: 10" diam.

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.

An uncommon set of six nut picks, the mother of pearl handles attached to the silverplate picks with sterling silver ferules. The ferules are decorated with ropetwist borders flanking an ornate acanthus leaf pattern. In the Victorian era, fresh nuts would have been served alongside and cheese and fruit as a dessert course. The ferules are marked "Sterling".

Most sterling silver flatware services before 1900 had mother of pearl cutlery instead of knives that matched the rest of the service. Mother of pearl pieces such as a nut picks are considerable less common than knives.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no plating loss. Size: 5-1/4".

A very fine early cut crystal wine decanter with etched grapevine decoration. The neck is panel cut and accented with a diamond-cut ring at the base. The panel cutting extends past the ring on the shoulders and resumes at the base. The sides are beautifully decorated with an etched grapevine pattern. The etching is finely done. The base is star-cut. The hollow-blown stopper is panel cut to match the decanter's neck. The inside of the neck and the base of the stopper are etched with matching numbers, indicating this is the original stopper. The glass is quite heavy and very brilliant. If American, the decanter is probably the product of the New England Glass Company. If European, it is either English or Bohemian.

Origin: probably American, ca. 1850. Condition: the stopper has a 1/8" flake at the very top and a few small roughnesses at the high points around the periphery, some discoloration to the interior, otherwise excellent. Size: 14-1/2" tall.

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.

A pretty Victorian sterling silver berry or preserves spoon in Towle’s 1887 “Clover” pattern. Both the handle and bowl are decorated with bright-cut engraving of clover flowers and foliage. The bowl has a scalloped upper border, repoussed lobes, and matte gilding. The back is marked with Towle’s hallmark and the patent date.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, sharp detail, original gilding, no monogram, no dings. Size: 7-1/8” long. Weight: 48.5 grams.

Stunning Imperial Russian lacquered tea caddy. The top is handpainted with a scene of a Boyar cradling a princess in his arms as they ride a large wolf through the forest--no doubt a scene from a Russian fairy tale. The quality of decoration is superb. The inside of the caddy is lacquered red.

Origin: Russia, circa 1850. Condition: very good; the surface is alligatored but completely intact and colorful; there are a scattered white spots that look like snow along one side of the lid (less visible than in the photos). Size: 4-3/4" x 3-1/2" x 2-1/2".

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.

An absolutely delightful bronze calling card tray, the center designed with a small frog atop a traditional baroque-style wave. The top edge of the dish has a wonderful scene of four frogs riding big-wheel bicycles along a road. They have quite good balance, as all have their arms crossed. The lead frog is even smoking a pipe. Road markers reading “2Km” and “3Km” mark their progress. The frog and bicycle design was taken directly from a J & P Coats thread company advertisement used on trade cards in the 1880s. More than likely, the tray was designed to be used to hold the cards in an exclusive Parisian dressmaker’s or tailor’s shop.

Origin: France, ca. 1885. Condition: excellent; original patina; sharp details. Dimensions: 7-1/2 x 4-1/4 in.

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”.

Extremely rare oil lamp featuring a base of mercury glass decorated with floral painting and satin finishing. The floral decoration is an autumnal design depicting leaves and wheat in shades of brown, gold, green and cream, accented with cornflowers in blue and small orange flowers. The mercury glass has extensive satin finish which further emphasizes the shiny surfaces. The oil reservoir is flint glass of the highest quality cut in a 12-panel design. The metal mounting between the oil reservoir and the mercury glass base is gilt in a way that the mercury glass blends seamlessly into the rest of the lamp. The shade, no doubt a plain clear glass shade, is gone. The wick knob is marked "Ideal Brenner 20".

Origin: American, almost certainly New England Glass Company, circa 1840-80. Condition: excellent, no cracks or chips, painted decoration intact. Size: 17-1/2" tall (to top of burner).

Elegant sterling silver footed basket with flaring, reticulated sides and a hoop handle. The swirling pattern of the piercing echoes the basket's scalloped rim. The top of the handle has a reserve for a monogram, but was never monogramed. The bottom has Durgin's early hallmark and the retailer's mark "Hodson, Kennard & Co." Many of Durgin's earlier products were sold through such upscale Boston retailers.

Origin: America, circa 1890. Condition: excellent, no dings. Size: 5-1/4" x 4-1/4" x 7-3/4" high. Weight: 153.0 grams.

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".

A delightful Bennington-type yellowware cow creamer with mottled brown glaze. The cow stands on a concave oval base. This example is more nicely potted than some, with good detailing in the ribcage area and a quirky facial expression. These creamers were made in both America and England, but the style of modelling suggests this is an American example. The tail has been reglued nicely, and a professional restorer could make the repair completely invisible.

Origin: America or England, ca. 1840. Condition: mint aside from the tail. Size: 6-7/8" x 3" x 5-3/8".

A lovely pair of imperial Russian spoons, the backs of the bowls decorated with finely engraved scenes depicting portions of the Arsenal and the State Historical Museum on Moscow’s Red Square. The handles are finished in the traditional twist motif. The surfaces are gilt, and the engraving is worked through the gilding in some areas and more lightly in others, allowing a nice contrast of colors within the design. Each is fully hallmarked for Moscow, dated 1889 and with the maker’s mark for Ivan Alexeyev (1876-1912).

Origin: Moscow, 1889. Condition: excellent, gilding intact. Size: 5” long. Weight: 27.2 grams (the pair).

A classic Sandwich glass hyacinth vase in a rich amethyst shade. The vase is entirely hand blown, 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 tulip 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" tall.

Very unusual Victorian sterling silver grapefruit spoon with a wonderful plique-a-jour enamel assymetrical handle decorated in six shades of translucent enamel. It is quite unusual for plique-a-jour enamel to have been used on a grapefruit spoon, as it was so fragile that it was usually reserved for more delicate pieces like demitasse spoons. The back is marked with Imperial Austrian marks in use 1866-1922.

Origin: Austria, ca. 1880. Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, original gilding. Size: 5” long.