Victorian Classical sterling silver baby cup. Made by John Bell and Frederick Brasted in London in 1860. Baluster bowl on raised foot; leaf-capped double-scroll handle. Engraved interlaced strapwork frames of which two inset with flowers and two vacant. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 4 3/4 x W 4 x D 2 3/4 in. Weight: 3.8 troy ounces. #BW475

An example of some of the finest porcelain modern Japan has to offer. According to Wakao Kei, the artist who crafted this piece, it took him years of trial and error to perfect these stunning translucent glazes and associated techniques such as getting the right flowing consistency and pooling effect around the base. The unglazed portions at the foot of the bowl seen here in pictures was created by the artist's fingers as he plunged the vessel into the glaze while holding firmly to the porcelain...

Pair of English Neoclassical sterling silver candlesticks. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1916. Each: Tapering column on dome flowing into stepped and concave base. Tapering socket with detachable bobeche. Ribboned swags. Fine fluting that shimmers in candlelight. Fully marked including maker's stamp, pattern no. 19187 (first produced in 1916), director’s letter m, and phrase “Reproduction Original by John Parsons & Co. Sheffield 1784”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 3/4 x ...

Chinese export silver mug, ca 1880. Straight and upward tapering sides with allover low-relief battle frieze depicting soldiers—spearmen, lancers, and swordsmen—with a few hapless members of the flag corps wandering into the thick of things. In background (that is, at top) peacetime is represented by houses and trees. On front applied heraldic shield (vacant). Cast dragon handle—a horned scaly, serpentine serpent gripping the side with talons. Gilt-washed interior. Marked. Very good condit...

Father to internationally known Hagi potter Kaneta Masanao (the 8th generation Sanzaemon potter), though he never achieved the same level of notoriety as his son, his pieces have a grace and elegance all their own as demonstrated here with this charming tea bowl. With its milky crackled glaze and split foot (wari-kodai) showing the rich clay this piece was fashioned from, it possesses strong character and has a calming presence, bringing a sense of stability. Perfect for those deepen...

Appearing to be from a 2006 excavation site in Tokyo known to be a former residence of the Owari Tokugawa clan—the most senior contingent of the Tokugawa clan that united Japan under one rule—this lovely Mishima tea bowl is one of just two I have seen appear on the Japanese art market over the years. The previous bowl also listed on our site had a large portion reconstructed with a gold repair. This piece meanwhile is entirely intact and even has its original box. Details about t...

English Georgian Classical sterling silver ewer, 18th century. Girdled ovoid bowl and scrolled helmet mouth with beaded and flowering strapwork rim; cast double-scroll handle with Venus, her torso undraped offering grapes to recumbent Cupid. Satyr head applied to spout exterior. Chased leaf borders. Gilt-washed interior. Marked. Very good condition with deep patina.

Overall dimensions: H 9 3/4 x W 7 1/2 x D 4 in. Weight: 21.4 troy ounces. #BR833

English Modern sterling silver box. Tall and rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged with gently curved top and double-scroll tab. Box interior cedar-lined with open leather-lined bottom. Cover interior gilt. Worn marks including maker’s stamp for Arthur & John Zimmerman, a Birmingham maker active from the 1920s to 1940s. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 x W 6 1/4 x D 4 7/8 in. Gross weight: 33.7 troy ounces. #BV990

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...

Edwardian Regency sterling silver trinket box. Made by Mauser Mfg. Co. in New York, ca 1910. Heart-shaped. Sides straight with chased garland. Cover hinged and raised with vacant center bordered by flowering branch. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 3666. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x W 4 1/8 x D 4 3/8 in. Weight: 4.7 troy ounces. #BY419

Victorian Modern sterling silver box. Made by Joseph Braham in London in 1895. Rectangular with straight and plain sides. Cover hinged and tabbed; top gently curved engine turning bordered by same. Box interior cedar lined. Cover interior gilt-washed. Underside leather lined. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/2 x W 5 5/8 x D 3 3/4 in. Gross weight: 17.5 troy ounces. #BZ621

Turn-of-the-century German Rococo 800 silver box. Rectilinear with tapering sides and chamfered corners with scroll supports. Cover hinged, raised, and inset. Chased ornament with chubby, bare bottomed cherubs with adroitly arranged drapery surrounded by garlands and and Classical architecture. Gilt-washed interior. Marks include Hanau maker’s stamp (Storck & Sinsheimer). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 7/8 x W 6 3/8 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 15.5 troy ounces. #BX028

Classical coin silver christening mug, ca 1850. Baluster bowl with high-looping leaf-capped s-scroll handle and round stepped foot. Large scrolled frame (vacant) surrounded by rural idyll with house and barn set in bosky landscape. In foreground a hunter takes aim at a fox. No vermin allowed in paradise. New York retailer’s stamp (Ball, Black & Co.) and star and eagle associated with Hartford production. Very good condition with nice patina.

Overall dimensions: H 5 x W 5 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight...

Large Edwardian big-game sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1910. Baluster bowl with twist-mounted horn handles. On front is engraved parchment scroll for enumerating Deeds of Courage. More room on back in case you run out of space. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. A6806 and letters QLR. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 x W 12 1/4 x D 8 in. Gross weight: 63.5 troy ounces. #BZ435

Handwoven with delicate precision, this Japanese bamboo ikebana basket showcases the beauty of traditional bamboo weaving and the elegance of classic Chinese design that much of Japanese traditional art is based on. Its sturdy construction and balanced proportions make it perfect for ikebana arrangements, merging floral artistry with cultural aesthetics.

Though little is known about this artisan, I was able to find examples of their work in several high-end Japanese g...

First presented at the Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition, this fine mizusashi crafted with extraordinary precision is a testament to the generational knowledge, skill, and dedication of one of Japan’s top traditional craftsman. Its tapered polished sides have a beautiful texture and luster that compliment perfectly with the hand-crafted custom lid adorning the top. Truly an exceptional artwork fused with the aesthetics of tea culture that gives it a sense of stability, calm, a...

Turn-of-the-century Classical sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Ovoid body, flared mouth, and c-scroll handles with realistic leaf and bud mounts. Spread foot has same applied to four supports. Interior has gilt wash. A fine design with lots of room for engraving. Fully marked including pattern no. 14417 (first produced in 1900) and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 x W 10 1/2 x D 6 1/2 in. Heavy weight: 54.4 troy ounces. #...

American Colonial sterling silver coffeepot. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1916. Conical with capped and scroll-mounted s-scroll spout. Capped double-scroll handle in stained wood. Cover hinged and domed with finial. Holds 2 1/4 pints. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 19189 (first produced in 1916), director’s letter m, volume, and phrase “Reproduction / Original by / Pygan Adams / New London / 1712 1776”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/2 x W 8 1/2 x D...

From a well-known series entitled “Chōtō” (Listening to the Waves) this large contoured vase features a sandy glaze that the sculptor claims is an expression of the features of the landscape where he grew up.

Born in the port city of Shimoda, Sakiyama studied art in Osaka and then later went on to open his own kiln that he named “Hidaka” (High Sun). Appearing to have a natural gift for form and proportion, his pieces soon attracted the attention of galleries and collectors...

A student of Itaya Hazan, one of the most sought after potters in the world of Japanese art, the ceramicist who crafted this fine vase displays here a high degree of mastery, both in form and glazing technique. For the collector who has always wanted a Hazan but has never been lucky enough to chance upon one, this may be a worthy acquisition. Although much of Inoue’s work is quite different in style to that of Hazan’s, you can find a number of pieces where the influence is unmistakeable—th...

Midcentury Modern sterling silver water pitcher. Designed by Alphonse La Paglia (d. 1953) for International Silver Co. in Meriden, Conn. Baluster with helmet mouth. Capped high-looping handle with volute-scroll terminal mounted with Blossom-style seeding pod. Open foot ring inset with stylized flower and bead border. An original American design that pays homage to Danish master Georg Jensen. Marked “International / Sterling / La Paglia Designed / 118”. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 9 ...

Francis I sterling silver 3-light candelabrum. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton. Central socket on spool base to which are mounted to reeded wraparound branches, each terminating in single socket. Branches have short leaf and flower band. Branch plug set in socket mounted to baluster shaft; raised foot. Engraved and low relief ornament with leaves and fruit and flower clusters. Sockets bellied and shaft and foot fluted. Foot and bobeche rims scrolled. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, patt...

George III sterling silver baby cup. Made by Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard in London in 1816. Campana urn bowl with cast palmette and shell border; raised foot with cast leaf-and-dart border. Cast two-headed snake handle. Gilt-washed interior. Gorgeous Georgian for the newborn who deserves a bit of Regency opulence. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 1/4 x D 2 3/4 in. Weight: 6 troy ounces. #BZ556

Dramatic sterling silver seafood serving bowl. Made by Buccellati in Italy. Two joined scallop-shells bowls on scallop-shell supports. A traditional form enlivened by the figure of an octopus squatting in the center, its curled and tangled legs draped over the bowls. A graphic contrast between the scales and suckers of the octopus and the controlled and stylized ornament on the shells. Very original. Beautiful craftsmanship. Fully marked including “Buccellati” stamp and post-1967 Italian mar...

Tokoname pottery has a rich history that dates back over a thousand years. Originating in the town of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, this pottery tradition has flourished due to the region's abundant red clay deposits. The history of Tokoname pottery can be traced to the 12th century when the art form was greatly influenced by Chinese ceramics, specifically, by the Yixing clay pottery tradition. Over the centuries, Tokoname pottery evolved to develop its unique style characteri...

Pair of Francis I sterling silver 3-light candelabra. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton. Each: Central socket on spool base to which are mounted two reeded wraparound branches, each terminating in single socket. Branches have short leaf and flower band. Branch plug set in socket mounted to baluster shaft; raised foot. Low relief ornament with leaves and fruit and flower clusters. Sockets bellied and shaft and foot fluted. Foot and bobeche rims scrolled. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pat...

German Classical 800 silver centerpiece, ca 1910. Solid oval well and curved sides with reeded rim, open basketweave, and chased and engraved ornament: Leafing scroll frames inhabited by cherubs feasting on grapes in company of a goat as well as waving torches and hoisting flower baskets overhead. Cast double-scroll end handles surmounted by cast figures of same, precariously perched and drapery-clad cherubs. Four scroll- and flower-mounted stepped supports. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked ...

Pair of traditional Georgian sterling silver 4-light candelabra. Made by Asprey in London, 1992-3. Each: Four capped and curvilinear arms each terminating in single faceted socket with same wax pan and baluster pendant. Arms mounted to tall and faceted baluster finial set in girdled and knopped baluster shaft on square, stepped, and chamfered foot. A stylish step back in time by a noted maker.

Fully marked including date letters for 1992 (bases) and 1993 (arms). Excellent condition.

Dimensi...

Victorian sterling silver baby cup. Made by George W. Shiebler & Co. in New York, ca 1890. Curved bowl with allover frond and flower repousse on stippled ground. Reeded scroll bracket handle wrapped with applied band decorated with stylized flower head. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (JE Caldwell) stamps and no. 1306. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 1/2 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 4.8 troy ounces. #BY965

This scroll contains a sutra written as [寿至蓬莱不老僊], pronounced in Japanese as “Jyu-Ita-Hōrai-Furō-Sen.” Originating from Chinese, the characters “蓬莱” refer to the mythical land of “Penglai,” home to the immortals. According to legend the trees that grow here cure all disease; there are rice bowls and flasks of wine that never go empty; and its great castles are built entirely out of gold and silver.

The brushwork is done by a Rinzai sect m...

Pair of German silver birds, ca 1920. A rooster and hen with downturned wings and flamboyant flouncy tails. The rooster has a shaggy crown and raised talon and looks down while the hen, who has a small trim crown and scaly wattles, looks up. Cawing beaks suggest a barnyard tiff. Marked. Very good condition Gilt wash traces.

Dimensions: Rooster: H 6 x L 6 1/2 x W 2 1/2 in. Hen: H 4 3/4 x L 6 3/4 x W 2 1/2 in. Total weight: 10.6 troy ounces. #BZ417

Pair of German 800 silver figural bird bowl, ca 1920. Each: Swan with ovoid body, upturned tail, and scaly-s-scroll neck terminating in in closed bill. Imbricated feathers and hinged plumy wings that can be opened to suggest flight. Hollow gilt-washed interior for holding treats. German marks including Hanau maker’s stamp (Gebrüder Neumann) and American importer’s stamp (Buchholz & Zelt). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x L 6 3/4 x W 3 1/4 in. Wingspan: 8 1/2 in. Total weight: 1...

A key figure in the Japanese folk craft movement of the 20th century, Fujita Kyohei is credited with helping to develop a thriving glass-working community within Japan. Best known for his “dream” or “Liuli” boxes—very colorful and skillfully crafted boxes that often incorporated gold and silver leaf into their designs. Here we see a piece that would likely have been crafted earlier in his career but that demonstrates his masterful technique even then. In 1972 Fujita, along ...

In excellent condition, this bird-shaped, or “torigata” vase is a beautiful example of Iga pottery from last century. A master of form, material, and technique, the potter Furutani Michio (1946-2000) wrote several books later translated to English on the construction and use of the “anagama”—an earth-dug, wood-fired, small-batch kiln traditionally used in Japan—celebrated for the extraordinary results that often emerge from its fires. Winner of a number of awards during his lifetime ...

German Rococo 800 silver centerpiece, ca 1900. Ovoid and bellied bowl with leaf and flower-capped split-mounted double-scroll end handles, and four scroll-mounted supports. Exuberant leafing scrolls, layered scallop shells, and open flower-strewn diaper. Two scrolled and bead-and-reel frames (vacant). Detachable brass liner. Gilt interior. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (Bruckmann & Söhne). Very good condition with nice patina.

Dimensions: H 8 3/4 x W 17 3/4 x D 8 1/2 in. Weight (wi...

Pair of dramatic sterling silver seafood serving bowls. Made by Buccellati in Italy. Each: Two joined scallop-shells bowls on scallop-shell supports. A traditional form enlivened by the figure of an octopus squatting in the center, its curled and tangled legs draped over the bowls. A graphic contrast between the scales and suckers of the octopus and the controlled and stylized ornament on the shells. Very original. Beautiful craftsmanship.

Fully marked including “Buccellati” stamp and post...