Based on famous Eighteenth Century paintings, these country lovers, a smitten swain and the bashful object of his affection, were created by the famous Paris porcelain factory of Jacob Petit in the rue de Belleville around 1830 and probably were modeled by the sculptor Revenand. Their resplendent costumes, lavishly woven and embroidered, belie the couple’s humble origins: these are no field hand and barefoot housemaid, but a pair of courtiers playing peasants...

Wonderfully sturdy but with a delicate air is this lovely chamberstick, French. mid-Eighteenth Century. The base and candle cup are almost identical to Figure C on page 205 of THE BRASS BOOK by Peter, Nancy and Herbert Schiffer (1978, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.), but the shell-decorated handle is pierced and counterbalanced with a finger hold underneath. Excellent condition, approximately 7-1/2 inches long by 3-1/4 inches wide and 1-3/4 inches high.

A superb example of Art Nouveau organic form is this two-part glass vase, a tribute to Venice's ancient connection to the sea. A pair of "sea fronds" -- actually a linked tube of pink glass, pulled and formed -- rises to a height of 12-1/2 inches above their support of shaded red "coral." The vase is in mint condition and is approximately four inches at the widest point. Circa 1900.

Perhaps a paten cover, this finely wrought dish was a scalloped border of rays and pearls. The marks indicate its provenance and age: Guatemala, probably Cuidad Real, first half of the Eighteenth Century. Diameter approximately 4-3/4 inches.

This group is so Etruscan that I am certain they are German. The prints are elaborately framed in ebonized wood with gilt mounts and chains, but the extraordinary thing is the laurel-bedecked verre eglomise (painted and gilded glass) mats. They are in superb condition, the full set is about 31-3/4 inches high and 39 inches wide. The larger piece is 16 inches by 39 inches and each of the other two is 13 inches by 19 inches. Approximately 1840.

Very much in the George II style and incorporating a silver coin of that king’s reign in its silver bowl is this extraordinary sauce ladle, perhaps made to fit into a service of earlier manufacture. The handle is chased and engraved in a rococo chinoiserie manner, with fronds and flowers and an oriental parasol finial. The bowl is repousséd with panels of flowers and a shield...

Replete with myriad romantic subjects – people, animals, flowers, insects and birds – this finely crafted sampler is impressive. Probably British and dating from the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, it is beautifully preserved and has been given full conservation treatment and mounting to keep it that way. The image size is approximately 15 inches by 17 inches, 22 inches by 23 inches in its burl maple and gilt fillet frame.

Very much in the Chinese Export style is this early Nineteenth Century porcelain plate from the Davenport factory. The pure white ground is highlighted by colorful bunches of flowers, and a gilded lambrequin border echoes the gilded rim. The marks are a script “Davenport” and an inventory number, “162.” Mint condition, approximately nine inches in diameter.

Naively engraved with trailing bellflowers (squash blossoms?) and leaves on a ratcheted ground, this charming tumbler is simply marked “Taxco,” and “980,” indicating very high purity silver. Mexico, early Twentieth Century. The condition is fine, with a few little dings that do not detract from its appearance. Approximately 3-1/8 inches tall and 2-5/8 inches in diameter at the rim.

Bearing the Copenhagen silver standard mark for the year 1887, this elegant small tumbler is decorated with subtly bright-cut engraving of floral branches centering on the name “Ingeborg.” Other mark indicate the maker, “C.Hertz,” and the assay master’s cipher. Excellent condition. Approximately three inches tall and 2-5/8 inches in diameter at the rim.

A quite baronial product is this straight-sided streling silver mug by the Whiting Manufacturing Company of Providence, R.I. With domino rim top and bottom, it bears a wonderful strapped and banded design over most of the body, centering on a Gothick-style cypher of a K interlocked with E and M. Supeb condition, approximately 3-1/2 inches tall by 4-1/2 inches wide at the handle. Circa 1875.

A wonderfully simple mug in rather classical mode is this Gorham piece bearing the date mark for 1876, our centennial year, which marked the beginning of a great interest in artistic styles. It has a a main band of "Florentine" matte finish beautifully engraved with an interlocking "CG" or "GC." Excellent condition, approximately three inches tall and 3-3/4 inches wide at the handle.