George V sterling silver bun warmer. Made by Roberts & Belk Ltd in Sheffield in 1927. Egg-form. Cover has flat oval top with radiating facets and lobed bands; hinges have vasiform mounts. Bracket end handles. Perpendicular tab has ring inset with ball finial. Four tapering hoof supports. Pierced detachable tray set in solid detachable tray. Reeding and beading. For a fun Downton Abbey-style buffet breakfast. Fully marked. Excellent condition.
Overall dimensions: H 8 3/8 x W 13 1/8 x D 9 3/4 in...
Edwardian Classical gilt sterling silver jewelry box. Made by Ahrendt & Kautzman in Newark, ca 1910. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with tapering tab and gently curved top. Acid-etched leafing scroll borders. Velvet-lined interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Theodore B. Starr) stamps and no. 671. Very good condition with nice toning.
Dimensions: H 3 1/8 x W 8 3/8 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 25.3 troy ounces. #BX772
Here we have a beautiful scroll with a mounted letter penned by famed Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) who is known as one of the 4 great haiku poets of Japan along with the likes of Bashō, Buson, and Shiki. As one might expect, Kobayashi’s life was one of turbulence punctuated by several tragedies including the death of his mother at an early age and a lengthy legal battle with his step-mother over the family inheritance after the death of his father. Through it all Kobay...
An excellent offering from Higaki Ryota of Katsura Kiln, this piece displays a classic and iconic shape coupled with a beautiful Kase-guro glaze said to be used over 400 years ago by Chojiro. The color of this tea bowl changes quite dramatically, taking on the characteristics of its environment; light and cheerful in direct and bright lighting, more austere, deep, and reflective in standard tea room lighting. Perfect for those venturing into the world of Raku tea-ware or for those lo...
This lot includes eight marked Gorham sterling 4780 nut dishes . Two are mongrammed on the bottom( one of those has very faint etched numbers). 4" x 2-1/2" Total weight 6.8 ozs.
A collectible Scandinavian gold and amethyst pin by Kippittan Kulta of Finland. The pin is stamped with the anvil mark 585 Finland and measures 2 1/4" x 1-1/4". Weight 3.6gr.
Edwardian Regency sterling silver jewelry box. Made by William B. Durgin in Concord, ca 1910. Rectangular with straight sides and hinged drop-front. Cover hinged and flat. On sides, wraparound garland held-up by sweet bare-bottomed cherubs. Cover top encircled with same (center vacant). Reeded rims. Interior velvet-lined. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 1809. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 4 x W 9 3/8 x D 4 1/2 in. Heavy gross weight: 40.6 troy ounces. #BX652
Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver wine bottle holder. Made by Odiot in France, ca 1890. Open body comprising two rectilinear supports mounted to round bowl with straight sides. Conical neck with adjustable screws. Leaf-capped double-scroll handle. Meandering fruiting grapevine on stippled ground. Perfect for enjoying a special vintage. Note: The bowl is smallish, so the best fit is going to be one of the really old bottles down in the cellar. Fully marked with Minerva head and maker’s stamp....
Olympian sterling silver wine cooler. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Each: Round with gently tapering sides and three reeded c-scroll handles with leaf mounts and caps. Foot ring with beading and bead-and-reel ornament, and 3 paw supports with leafy volute-scroll mounts. At bottom a dense repousse frieze of love-making, harp-strumming nymphs, gods, and cherubs. Gilt-washed interior. A beautiful early piece in the celebrated Beaux-Arts pattern that was conceived by French designer F. Antoine ...
English Victorian Modern sterling silver smoking box 1885. Rectangular with straight sides. Scroll-bracket handle mounted to central panel between two hinged covers. On one in blue enamel “Cigars”; on other “Cigarettes”. Cedar lined. Felt-lined underside. Fully marked including London assay stamp and maker’s initials “T.W”. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 4 x W 7 3/4 x D 6 1/2 in. Gross weight: 28.3 troy ounces. #BX649
Chippendale sterling silver serving tray. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1944. Round with flat curvilinear ogee rim. A large and heavy piece in this pattern. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. 42613, and date code. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 1/2 x D 13 3/4 in. Weight: 38.4 troy ounces. #BW956
Also known as "The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life,” here in this pre-Edo Buddhist painting we see Amida and his two assistant bodhisattvas, Seishi on the left (associated with wisdom and strength), and Kannon on the right (associated with compassion and mercy), descending from the Western Pure Land to welcome newly deceased believers into the realm of paradise. In this practice known as raigō, the faithful are transported via the small lotus pedestal the Kannon holds in his...
Although reports vary, it is generally thought that Zeze-yaki had its heyday in the late Momoyama to early Edo period under the influence and patronage of legendary artists/ men of tea, Honami Koetsu and Kobori Enshu. It was also counted among the seven best kilns selected by Enshu Kobori (1579-1647), a tea master and military commander of that era. In the mid-1600s the tradition died out for a time after the destruction of the kiln by fire. The kiln was later resurrected on two occa...
With a base of dazzling red ochre clay, a technique known as “san-giri,” pioneered by the progenitor of this generational potting family and now widely used among Bizen potters, is employed here to bring out stunning mustard yellows, mossy greens, charcoal blacks, along with a range of subtler hues.
The potter, Konishi Tōko II (1927 -2018) was second daughter to Konishi the first. After graduating from women’s college she assisted her father at the family kiln, e...
This elegant work of Karatsu pottery has an unglazed foot, showing the rich ferrous clay from which it is constructed, and displays splashes of ferrous pigment on a backdrop of ashen glaze with a milky white overglaze. The triangular shape and large proportions make for a very distinctive work of e-Karatsu or “painted” Karatsu.
Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century, Korean potters...
Japanese Modern silver box on stand, ca 1930. Rectangular with curved corners. Box has straight sides and cover top is gently raised and has applied gilt medallion with dramatic dragon in low relief. Box and cover interior lined with stained-wood. Stand has wide and tapering shoulder and flat well border with open stained-wood bottom. Marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: Box: H 2 1/2 x W 6 1/2 x D 4 3/4 in. Stand: H 7/8 x W 8 1/8 x D 6 3/8 in. #BX437
Belle Epoque Rococo soup tureen on stand. Made by Tetard Frères in Paris, ca 1910. Ovoid bowl with tapering sides and curved bottom with fluted and turned-down leaf handles. Sides have projecting volute scrolls inset with leaves. Leaves stippled and irregular. Sides have curvilinear panels applied with leaf and berry garlands with central branches forming wreaths. Raised oval foot. Cover domed and paneled with fluted top on which is mounted a cast finial in form of two embracing cherubs, their ...
The pottery style know as “nerikomi” or sometimes “neriage” in Japan is a technique where various colors and consistencies of clay are stacked together and then cut through to reveal a unique pattern. Here we see a beautiful execution of this approach by potter Wakasugi Naomi (b. 1974) who spent many years perfecting the technique. Wakasugi typically uses Shigaraki clay and porcelain clay from Kyoto in her works and says that when she first started out very few people were ma...
The craftsman who fashioned this piece, the 9th Ohi Chozaimon (1901-1986), is the most widely recognized and most accomplished of the now 11 generations of Ohi potters. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture at the start of the 20th century, he took up the family craft and, at the age of 26, became the head potter. Raku tea bowls made by Ohi 9 are some of the finest you will encounter, comparing favorably to even tea bowls made by the main Raku lineage in Kyoto. The lightness of the clay, the s...
Sometime around the year 1600 the first Takatori kiln was constructed at the foot of Mt Takatori in Fukuoka. This tradition was based on styles created by Korean potters brought to the shores of Japan during its colonial expansionism of the late 16th century. A favorite of the Kuroda lords of the time, its production and use was closely guarded until later in the 19th century when the domain system was abolished, freeing it up to be more widely used. Though Takatori-ware has been admired by many...
Pair of Midcentury Modern sterling silver 2-light candelabra. Designed by Alphonse La Paglia (d. 1953) for International Silver Co. in Meriden, Conn. Two arms, each comprising two open quadrilateral scrolls inset at center with volute scroll terminating in buds overhanging sides. Each arm terminates in socket. Sockets tall and tapering with wide flat rim and stylized leaves and beads at bottom. Arms mounted to raised foot with knop comprising alternating rings and beads. Marked “International ...
Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is one of the most important Shigaraki potters alive today and continues to create master works into his old age. Originally a resident of Tokyo, at the age of 33 he moved to Shigaraki and started creating high-quality tea-ware implements, most notably, fine tea bowls in the style of early Raku masters. A devotee of Zen and a lover of tea, Sugimoto is able to create tea bowls that are not just attractive, pleasant to hold in the hand, and a joy to drink f...
Set of 4 Edwardian sterling silver place card holders. Made by Sampson Mordan & Co. Ltd. in Chester, 1904-6. Each: Two flat discs mounted to flat and circular base. Front disc smaller and enameled with fox loping through forest. In leather-bound case with fitted velvet and silk lining; lining has gilt retailer’s stamp (Arnold & Lewis, Manchester). Fully marked including date letters 1904 (3) and 1906 (1), and design nos. 402227 (2) and 429790 (2). Very good condition with strong color.
Dimen...
English Georgian sterling siler ladle with oval bowl; twisted baleen handle with sterling silver terminal. Worn marks including maker’s initials TM (possibly Thomas Mynd). Good condition.
Height: 13 7/8 in. #BX386
Set of 6 Victorian sterling silver equestrian place card holders. Made by Samuel Jacob in London, 1896-1902. Cut out with chasing, stippling, and tooling. Each different with jockeys, polo players, and hedge-jumping hunters. Hinged c-scroll support.
Fully marked including date letters 1896 (3), 1901 (1), and 1902 (2). Five holders have each a different design number; the numbers were registered between 1894 and 1897. Three have retailer’s stamp (Thornhill & Co.). Very good condition.
Ove...
Italian silver gilt grand-tour bell, ca 1920. Figural handle in form of piping faun with puffed out cheeks and hoofed and hirsute hindquarters. Based on Greek statuette excavated in Pompeii and today in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Marked. Very good condition with nice toning.
Dimensions: H 4 3/4 x W 2 3/8 x D 1 3/4 in. Weight: 3.6 troy ounces. #BX081
American Neoclassical sterling silver bowl. Retailed by Georg Jensen USA in New York. Curved sides and raised round foot mounted to square base. Beading. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp, no. 777, and phrase “Reproduction”. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x D 6 in. Weight: 20 troy ounces. #BX067
Italian Midcentury Modern 800 silver box. Rectangular with straight sides and thumb rest. Cover flat and hinged with tab. Allover engine-turned curvilinear ornament in plain borders on sides and cover top. Box underside plain. Marked “800” and stamp (1944-68) for Florentine maker Bartolini Bartolozzi. Condition: Minor bung to upper left corner. Otherwise very good.
Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 7 1/8 x D 3 3/4 in. Weight: 9 troy ounces. #BW633
Set of 4 George V sterling silver place card holders. Made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths in London in 1911. Each: Round gilt ring inset with cast animal head. Two holders have fox heads and two have hound heads. Prey and predator have long pointed snouts and red glass bead eyes. In original leather-bound case with silk lining and fitted velvet. Fully marked. Very good condition with nice patina and toning.
Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 1 1/8 x D 1 1/2 in. Case: H 2 1/8 x W 8 1/4 x D 2 5/8 in. Total w...
Set of 8 Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by James William Benson in Birmingham, 1902 to 1909. Each: Enameled coat of arms and open oval clip mounted to flat octagonal base. Each coat of arms different. Symbols include lions, ravens, eagles, and swords. All fully marked. Date letters vary: 1902 (1), 1905 (1), 1906 (2), 1907 (1), and 1909 (1). Two have indistinct marks. Six have design no. 454426. Retailer’s stamp (“Rowell / Oxford”). Excellent condition with st...
Set of 4 Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by James William Benson in Birmingham, 1901 to 1902. Each: Enameled coat of arms and open oval clip mounted to flat octagonal base. Two each in two coats of arms. In leather-bound case with silk lining and fitted velvet. All fully marked including date letters 1901 (2) and 1902 (2). Design no. 454426 and retailer’s stamp (“Rowell / Oxford”). Excellent condition with strong and intact color.
Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 1 ...
Set of 4 Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by James William Benson in Birmingham, 1906 to 1908. Each: Enameled coat of arms and open oval clip mounted to flat octagonal base. Same design comprising yellow cross and birds on cobalt ground. In leather-bound case with silk lining and fitted velvet. Case has retailer’s stamp (Army and Navy Co-Operative Society) All fully marked including date letters 1906 (3) and 1908 (1). Design no. 454426 and retailer’s stamp (“Ro...
Edwardian Classical water pitcher. Made by Redlich in New York, ca 1890. Clear cut-glass with bead-and-reel bands on bowl and brilliant star on underside; Neck faceted and notched with reeded bands. Sterling silver collar with helmet mouth and applied leafing scroll and beaded rim. Silver-mounted horn handle. A beautiful big game-era piece. Silver fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 305. Excellent condition.
Overall dimensions: H 9 3/4 x W 8 1/4 x D 6 1/2 in. #BX106
Federal Classical coin silver flagon. Made by Nicholas James Bogert in New York, ca 1820. Upward tapering cylinder on spread and stepped base. S-scroll handle with ribbed thumb rest and heart terminal. Hinged and domed cover with bud finial. Curved spout with ogee opening. Bold and spare by a historic regional maker. Maker’s stamp. Very good condition with nice patina. A few areas of firescale.
Dimensions: H 13 x W 9 1/4 x D 6 1/4 in. Weight: 33 troy ounces. #BX039
Large Georgian-style sterling silver tray. Made by International in Meriden, Conn. Round with curved and tapering sides, and flat ogee piecrust rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. W36. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 3/4 x D 14 1/4 in. Heavy weight: 32.5 troy ounces. #BW628
Traditional Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Dominick & Haff in New York, ca 1920. Tapering and faceted bowl on round and stepped foot. High-looping capped and scrolled handle and helmet mouth. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (SA MacQueen) and no. 0310. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 11 x W 9 1/2 x D 6 in. Weight: 24.5 troy ounces. #BX721