German Renaissance 800 silver wine bottle coaster, ca 1890. Round and deep well. Central rondel (vacant) in engine-turned frame radiating leaf and scroll ornament on lined ground. Wide and flat rim with embossed curvilinear scrollwork and ovals (vacant) between beaded borders. Fully marked including maker’s (Koch & Bergfeld) and retailer’s (Gebrüder Friedländer) stamps. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 1/4 x D 6 1/2 in. Well diameter: 4 in. Weight: 3.5 troy ounces. #BY...

Edwardian Classical glass vase with engraved silver overlay. Made by La Pierre Mfg. Co. in Newark, ca 1910. Faceted cone with scalloped rim; round flat foot with star cut to underside. Overlay in form of garlands threaded through interlaced arches (body) and star (foot); scrolled frame (vacant) also on foot. Marks include maker’s stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 1/8 x D 5 in. #BY773

Edwardian Classical glass vase with engraved silver overlay. Made by La Pierre Mfg. Co. in Newark, ca 1910. Faceted cone with scalloped rim; round flat foot with star cut to underside. Overlay in form of garlands threaded through interlaced arches (body) and star (foot); scrolled frame (vacant) also on foot. Marks include maker’s stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 1/8 x D 5 in. #BY772

French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver tea urn, ca 1900. Ovoid with turned stained-wood handles with silver scroll and leaf mounts. Scaly fish spout with tail mount and gaping mouth spout and turned stained wood and silver scroll tap. Double-domed cover with berry finial. Three double-scroll supports with leaf mounts and feet mounted to stepped and stained-wood drum-form blocks. Heating element set in scroll-mounted ring. Twisted fluting and lobing. Vitruvian scroll and leaf borders. Engraved...

German Classical silver beaker cup, 18th century. At top leafing scrollwork and scallop shells; at bottom twisted leaf-and dart border. Ornament chased and heightened with engraving. Interior gilt washed. Maker’s mark comprising letters S and I. Condition: Minor dent on bottom otherwise very good with excellent patina.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x D 3 in. Weight: 3 troy ounces. #BX624

Japanese silver box, ca 1890. Rectangular with straight sides and hinged cover. On cover top and box sides are chased and engraved iris flowers and tendrils in eddying water. Stippled ground. Box and cover interior lined with stained wood. Open bottom. Meiji-era Art Nouveau for the cosmopolitan West. Appears to be unmarked. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 3 x W 6 3/4 x D 3 5/8 in. Gross weight: 15 troy ounces. #BX248

French 950 silver inkwell on stand, ca 1910. Straight sides with vertically applied strapwork bands; curved bottom and raised foot. Cover hinged and domed with flower-head finial. Gadrooned rims. Interior has engraved curvilinear border and clear-glass liner. Mounted to oval curvilinear stand with ornamental border. Fully marked including maker’s stamp CG. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 5 x W 9 3/8 x D 5 7/8 in. Weight (without glass): 15.5 troy ounces. #BT381

Art Nouveau red glass cologne bottle with engraved silver overlay. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1886. Globular with short neck and flat everted rim. Stopper globular. Tight and dense overlay with flower heads and rolling scrolls. Scalloped borders. Scrolled cartouche with interlaced script monogram. Glass red except stopper plug, which is clear. Fully marked including patent year 1886 and no. S682. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 7 1/2 x D 4 in. #BT185

Turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau glass vase with engraved silver overlay. Baluster with dense and vertical overlay in form of entwined stem flowers in curvilinear frames. Scrolled cartouche (vacant). Glass is green. Fully marked including maker's stamp (Alvin), retailer's stamp (Black, Starr & Frost), and no. G3215/3. Excellent condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 6 3/8 x D 2 5/8 in. #BT558

Turn-of-the-century French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver gravy boat on stand. Oval bowl with curved sides and elongated end spouts. Side handles entwined and split-mounted with leaves and flowers. Stepped oval foot mounted to stand with oval well and reeded and serpentine rim. Armorial engraved on stand shoulder. Marks include unidentified maker’s stamp and Minerva head. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 4 1/4 x W 10 1/2 x D 7 in. Weight: 20 troy ounces. #BX235

Gorgeous French Belle Epoque Rococo 950 silver and crystal decanter, ca 1890. Crystal baluster bowl with acid-etched leafing and flowering branches and wavy bands. Silver mounts with dynamic wave and scrollwork, shells, and leaves. Cover hinged with fish-mouth spout and scallop shell thumb rest. High-looping leaf-capped handle. Four scroll supports. Minerva head mark. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 12 5/8 x W 6 1/2 x D 4 1/2 in. #BX727

Turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau glass vase with engraved silver overlay. Elongated baluster with flared rim and raised foot. Overlay in form of budding and blooming tulips with entwined and whiplash tendrils. On foot is scrolled cartouche engraved with scroll-letter C between the years 1880 and 1905. Glass is green. Silver has faint marks including La Pierre maker's stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 12 3/8 x D 3 3/4 in. #BZ148

Set of 3 plique à jour enamel and gilt 930 silver open salts. Made by Marius Hammer in Norway, ca 1910. Each: Round with curved sides. Well guilloche enamel (two red, one blue). Horse bust side handles. Bands of stylized plant and geometric ornament. Fine craftsmanship and rich colors. In form of Viking kjenge (ale bowl). Beautiful pieces by this maker, who contributed to the revival of Norwegian art and history. Fully marked including maker’s stamp. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/2...

French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver gravy boat on stand, ca 1910. Boat has ovoid bowl with helmet mouth and raised oval foot with imbricated leaf rim. High-looping and split leaf-mounted handle with armorial engraved in beaded oval frame. Stand oval with open well and four trefoil supports. Both have stippled tubular frames alternating with stylized flower heads. Reeding. Fully marked with Minerva head and maker’s stamp (Alphonse Dutac). Very good condition.

Dimensions: Boat: H 6 x W 8...

Magnificent American Classical coin silver tureen. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1860. Curved ovoid bowl on stepped oval foot mounted to four beaded and round supports. Cover domed. Bowl rim has bold beading bordered by applied guilloche. On each end is cast satyr’s head with flamboyantly ribbed horns and slack jaw holding loose-mounted ring. Also cast is cover finial, a gentle herbivore quadruped standing on tooled grassy mound. Marked with maker’s and retailer’s (JE Caldwell) stamps a...

George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.5 troy ounces. #BY618

George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.2 troy ounces. #BY619

Occasionally while browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to place it to a specific period or kiln given enough time and research. In some cases however, this proves to be a fruitless task and I am left only to appreciate the beauty and form of the object without having access to too many d...