French Classical silver coffeepot, 18th century. Baluster with silver-mounted stained and turned wood handle. Cover hinged with bud finial. V-form fish-mouth spout. Three hoof supports with oval medallion mounts. Gadrooning, twisted fluting, and ribbon-tied blossoming branch. Engraved on underside are 3 presentations of which two dated 1881 and 1950 as well as phrase “Bought in Tours, France”. Marked. Good condition with nice patina.

Dimensions: H 10 3/4 x W 9 1/4 x D 4 1/2 in...

A rare French silver (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin from the reign of Louis XVI. This classic example features a classic design of angled “godrons” (grooves) accented with raised “perles” (pearls). The lack of deeply recessed “cupules” suggests that this wine taster was specifically intended for use with white wines. The center of the bottom has the expected tiny lathe mark where the vessel was raised from a solid block of silver...

An Early Silver Beaker, North European, Baroque period, dated 1701.

A beautiful engraved and large beaker with an extrafine decoration, consisting of vertical lines, framed with double concenthric lines on the body; with two beautifully engraved Floral medallions and another central medallion, engraved with P.F.S.S / Z.F.D.S and below the inscription with 1704. Stamped with three symethrically placed stamps in the bottom.

Size: 10,7 cm. heigh and ca. 10,4 cm. wide...

Very large and Early Silver Beaker, North European, Baroque period, dated 1701.

Perhaps misleading to call this large Baroque Silver vessel, a beaker, it could be used as a vase. A beautiful engraved vessel with dotted decoration on the body and with a central medallion engraved with CFS:BRD and below the dating 1701. A double concenthric line to the rim which is engraved with the letters P:L:A:M:B.

Size: 12,4 cm. heigh and ca. 11 cm. wide.

Weight: ca. 213 grams...

A stunning French silver box with a beautiful repoussé of Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), the famed French emperor whose military and political actions shaped greatly the European politics in the early 19th century.

The relief of “Napoleon Empereur Des Français Et Roi D’Italie”, (Napoleon the emperor of the French people and king of Italy) is visible on the cover centering the profile of Napoleon Bonaparte in his famous laurel wreath decoration. On the sid...

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pour silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical "perles" and fluted "godrons," the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves, berries and shells in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the 19th and 20th centuries...

A very pretty early 20th century French silver tastevin in the style typical of Dijon in the Burgundy region of France. This style retains the usual convex base surrounded by a wreath of “perles”, but the gadrooning (“godrons”) along the side have been replaced with a decoration of very finely worked grape leaves and clusters of fruit. The handle, also in typical Burgundian style, represents two snakes with the heads of ducks grasping the forbidden apple between their beaks...

A superb Rococo-style first standard (950/1000 pure silver) tastevin by the master silversmith Marc Parrod. This large example retains the round shape of a traditional tastevin but replaces the usual bowl decoration with ornate bunches of grapes tied with ribbon bows and a remarkable handle treatment illustrating a young couple stomping grapes while holding hands. Parrod created excellent classic Burgundian tastevins, but his fantasy pieces stand apart from all the other Dijon masters...

Gorgeous Italian 800 silver repousse wall plate, finely crafted hand hammered decor. The back of the plate contains a hanger for wall hanging. 19th Century.
Measures: 12.20" (31 cm) diameter.

An elegant classic-style French silver tastevin of traditional form. The bowl is decorated with raised "perles", concave "cupules" and elongated "godrons" for assessing the depth of color in both red and white wines. The curved sides help concentrate the aroma, so only a very small amount of wine has to be poured to judge quality. The looped handle allows the tastevin to be worn suspended from a chain. Tastevins with round thumbpieces are generally from the Paris region. The handle is marked for...

Possibly made in Italy or Denmark. With beaded base and knop stem. Finely etched with leaf garland (Imperial) surrounds the piece. Seals on the side. Early 20th Century.
Measures: 8 2/16" (20.32 cm) tall X 4.25" (10.79 cm) in diameter.

An elegant second standard (800/1000 pure silver) French tastevin. Rather than the typical “perles,” "coupules," and fluted “godrons”, the bowl is decorated with repousse grape leaves and berries in the 18th century style. This treatment is sometimes seen in tastevins made by Marc Parrod, one of the most influential makers of tastevins in the early 20th century. The handle is in the traditional form of two entwined duck-headed snakes grasping an apple in their mouths, thought to repre...

A very good first standard (950/1000 pure) silver small-size tastevin by the highly regarded Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. This example retains the classic round shape with a convex bottom, but the usual "godrons" and "cupules" are replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with "cupules". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in the traditional form of two snakes grasping an apple, alluding to the the Ga...

A very good first standard (950/1000 pure) silver small-size tastevin by the highly regarded Dijon silversmith Marc Parrod. This example retains the classic round shape with a convex bottom, but the usual "godrons" and "cupules" gare replaced by repoussé grape clusters alternating with raised "perles". Each grape cluster is accented with stylized vines. Parrod was particularly noted for this unique variation. The handle is in a rather unusual shape slightly suggestive of the double snake handle...

A wonderful boxed set of six 800 silver Jugendstil (“Art Nouveau”) demitasse or chocolate spoons, each featuring a scene from different Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The tales include “Bremen Town Musicians”, “The Frog Prince”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and “Puss in Boots”. Bruckmann, one of the most important Imperial German silversmiths of the Jugendstil period, worked with many leading designers. In this case, the designer was...

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 se...

A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form by master silversmith Alexandre Vauger. This example is of small size, intended for use in evaluating cognac, Armagnac or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the “perles” and “godrons” found on the walls of a wine taster, a cognac taster more accurately reflects the liquid’s color using a smooth surface. Similarly, cognac tasters are smaller than wine tasters because the alcohol is considerably stronger and a smaller ta...

A classic 19th century French 2nd standard (900/1000 pure silver) tastevin, inset at the base with a 1702 coin bearing the likeness of King Louis XIV surrounded by the legend translated as "Louis XIV by grace of god King of France and Navarre." The bowl of the tastevin is finished with the typical arrangement of "perles" and elongated "godrons" designed to create reflections in the wine to better judge its color and clarity. The handle is formed from a pair of intertwined snakes grasping an ap...