The origins of the hookah come from the north western provinces of India along the border of Pakistan in Rajasthan and Gujarat nearly a millennia back. In Persia, before the age of cigar and cigarette, hookha was used for generations and generally they were made from clay. The aristocrasts and wealthy had the upper section of their hookha made from silver and the base was porcelain or crystal...

An example of American folk art drawing: watercolor of roses on the stem with leaves, created circa 1840 by an artist working in the distinctive style of the time. The piece measures 9 1/4" by 7 1/4" (12 3/4" by 10 3/4" in faux wood grain frame of the period). Since it is that old, the paper shows evidence of the great age; there is browning/foxing at lower corners/along right side as shown...

Heavy sterling silver serving spoon in Gorham’s wonderful 1888 “Versailles” pattern. This was a multi-motif pattern, meaning that each type of flatware in a service had a different handle design. This serving spoon shows a farmer in Classical dress carrying sheaves of wheat—quite a curious motif compared to the ornate scrolls and shell motifs that make us the rest of the design...

A repousse sterling silver footed creamer made in Sheffield 1900. It is fully hallmarked for Sheffield, England 1900-1901. This 2-1/4" high serving piece has the maker's mark for either John Deacon & Son or John Dixon & Son, and it weighs 67 grams. This item is in mostly excellent condition with no breaks, corrosion, losses, repairs but it acquired some tiny edge dents on the right and left side edges from a recent disappearance (may need to expand the pictures to see it)...

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...

This is a Late Victorian era STERLING BON BON SPOON with Beautiful Floral Patterns on the Handle. The Bowl is Pierced and is engraved: VIRGINIA. This SPOON measures 5 7/8" long; the BOWL measures 2" X 2 5/8" (lightest gilding still remains). In EXCELLENT Condition date this BON BON SPOON ca. 1900

A 19th century Rococo revival silver plated ornate wine bottle stand/carrier c1875-80. This two bottle stand has a Gothic railing surrounding the bottle section, and a handle adorned by the three Graces with birds on the handle. The base has naturalistic slightly rococo flowers and leaves. It measures just over 12 inches in height, and the base measures 12" x 5-1/8". The handle can be unbolted from the base for easier polishing...

A Victorian reticulated platter by Heath & Blackhurst, with the brown transfer printed border used for their popular Park Scenery pattern. The well with the crest of an English family. Marked Park Scenery and H & B for Heath, Blackhurst & Co (1859 – 79) in Burslem, Staffordshire. Diameter “10/ 25,5 cm. Condition: fine.

Eggshell thin cup and saucer of lobed and fluted shape, ivory matt glaze to the exterior, twig handle and raised gilt leaf decoration. French, unsigned, around 1890, the design with a touch of Japonisme. Height of cup "2/ 5.3 cm, diameter of saucer "4 / 10.2 cm. Condition: fine.

Black-glazed English small teapot with floral decoration in raised enamels, Victorian, c 1850-70. The glaze is named after Jackfield, a town in Shropshire where pottery with a jet black shiny glaze first was produced in the 18th century. No mark except for a brown S (painters mark?) to base. Height including lid "4/ 10 cm. Condition: chips to the inside of lid (cf. pics). A cup and saucer with very similar decoration is offered in another Global Ceramics listing (cf. the last picture).

Pearlware dinner plate in the Curbing palms pattern, by Job Ridgway, transfer printed in blue, unmarked. Job Ridgway’s manufacture worked for only a short period, 1802 – 1813. A variation of the Willow border and an additional Nankin border surround an Oriental landscape with curbing palm trees and exotic pagodas. Diameter "9 ¾ / 24.7 cm. Condition: fine.

A pair of dishes, printed and hand painted with flowers in pastel shades, the edges scalloped and gilt. Doulton Burslem mark for 1885-1902. Diameter "8¾/ 22,5 cm (both plates). Condition: fine.

Two bowls and a lidded box in blue opaline glass. The bowls undecorated, the box with some gilt. All three French and from the 2nd empire / Napoléon III period, c 1850’s. The blue colour is the same as the “bleu céleste” so much en vogue in Sèvres porcelain of the time. Height of larger bowl: 3 ¼”/8 cm, diameter 4 ¾”/12 cm, diameter of box "2 ¾ / 7 cm. The box with polished base. Condition: wear to the gilt (cf. pics).

Meissen porcelain cup and its holder, a Turkish “Fincan” and “Zarf”. Unmarked, Marcolini period (1774-1814), for the Ottoman market. Decoration of roses (gül) in Famille rose enamels and gilt. Height when put together "2 / 5.2 cm. Condition: fine.

An iridescent magenta and orange ciselé vase, pinched. Bohemian, Loetz or Kralik, made around 1900. Height "4 ½ / 11 cm. Polished pontil, unmarked. Condition: a small bubble near the line of the wooden mold and a nick to the mouth rim (cf. pics).

Chinese Export coffee cup with underglaze blue decoration of a diaper border and peony, chrysanthemum and aster(?). Qianlong period, c 1760. Height "2 ½ / 6.5 cm. Condition: a 1 cm hairline to the rim (cf. pics).

Two Eau de Cologne scent bottles, flacons, with sterling silver lids, c 1880-1900. Of square shape, the upper parts faceted and the corners bevelled. Cut glass stopper and screw-on lid to one, the other lid not belonging. One lid with monogram engraving, the other with the traditional English design of a hand holding a dagger. The smaller bottle with a paper label saying something like "Another mist" in Russian - the name of a perfume? Height of both "3¼/ 8 cm without the lids...

A sturdy little earthenware salt, French, c 1760-80. Octagonal and decorated with a diaper pattern and cornflowers in a rustic variation of the Louis XVI style. Width "3/ 7.5 cm, height "1 ½ / 3.5 cm. Condition: a small area rough and unglazed, a mishap caused during fabrication (cf. pic 2).