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...

Set of 4 Victorian sterling silver place card holders. Made by Saunders and Shepherd in Chester in 1899. Each: A rifle is propped against a shilling coin dated 1899, the year war broke out in South Africa between the British and Dutch colonial settlements. The rifle is the famous Lee-Metford, which was by then a tad old fashioned, but still considered reliable by British as well as Dutch troops, who made use of captured specimens. Open lunette base with vertical support. Fully marked including d...

Victorian Gothic sterling silver goblet. Made by James Charles Edington in London in 1857. Tall and flared bowl with gilt interior; girdled cylindrical stem on raised foot with studded lobes and scalloped rim. Bowl has four studded and stippled strapwork frames of which two inset with flowers and a third with a medieval horseman galloping through a rocky landscape accompanied by a dog, all in relief. Fourth frame engraved “Hugh Eayrs / Memorial / Trophy”. Eayrs (1894-1940) was president of t...

This Meiji period vase is made of fine white porcelain fashioned after classic Chinese motifs.. The potter, first generation Miura Chikusen, is the same generation as many of the better known Imperial Court artists (Kozan, Siefu, Tozan, etc…) and just as accomplished in terms of mastery of technique, level of artistic expression, and volume of pieces produced.

An exceptionally skilled Meiji potter, Chikusen (1854 – 1915) specialized in high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and...

German 800 silver bowl commemorating Napoleon I and Marie-Louise. Lobed quatrefoil with embossed medallion bust portraits of the couple surmounted an eagle; at bottom a military trophy. Open sides with leaf swag with pendant ribboned medallions (vacant) applied to interior. Beaded rim. Mounted end handles in form of burning torch between gryphons.

The eternal flame such as might have been supposed to burn between Napoleon and his teenage bride, an Austrian archduchess—and grandniece no less ...

Equestrian-themed silver tankard with German imperial association, ca 1875. Straight and paneled sides with low-relief frieze depicting galloping riders, racing through the countryside, trees and buildings in the background; branch borders. Split-mounted s-scroll handle with thumb rest. At bottom applied branch and leaf border and open supports. Cover hinged and bellied with imbricated leaf rim; on top is cast finial in form of mounted jockey and engraved phrase citing Kaiser Wilhelm I in an all...

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...

An often overlooked implement in tea ceremony, here we have the humble kogo (incense box) with an image of a sleek and flowing dragon. Commonly thought to represent strength, freedom, good luck, and magic, dragons are a popular theme in the artwork across Eastern cultures. Interesting to note, the dragon here is portrayed in the Korean style with four claws, with dragons in China typically having five claws and dragons in Japan typically having three. Fashioned by one of the few great female Jap...

This pretty brooch with stones mounted in silver-topped 18k gold has been designed in the shape of a flower. The petals have been formed from 5 incised citrines in a warm smokey yellow-brown color which surround a cut diamond in the center. The stem of the flower and the petals' border are all highlighted by inlaid old European and rose-cut diamonds. The back has been marked with a French guarantee stamp. The brooch measures approximately 1 3/4" X 1 1/4" and was made Circa:1880. It is a lov...

Midcentury Modern sterling silver bowl. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Curved sides and splayed foot ring. Cover top gently curved and mounted with cast strawberry and leaf finial. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, postwar pattern no. 23923, and director’s letter L (1956-ca 1965). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/2 x D 4 7/8 in. Weight: 14.5 troy ounces. #BZ359

Art Deco sterling silver bowl. Made by Currier & Roby in New York, ca 1930. Curved sides and raised and spread foot; mouth rim has wide scallops with applied beads. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Cartier) stamps and no. 604. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/2 x D 4 1/8 in. Weight: 3.7 troy ounces. #BZ178

Gorgeous American Art Nouveau sterling silver picture frame, ca 1900. Rectangular window in flat surround. On front acid-etched iris flowers with floppy, irregular petals and scrolled and whiplash tendrils. At top trapezoid (vacant). Sides plain. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back with hinged easel support for portrait (vertical) display. Fully marked including retailer’s (Black, Starr & Frost) and no. 1845/4. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 10 x W 8 1/8 in. Window: H 8 1/2 x...

Set of 12 Japonesque mixed metal sterling silver butter pats. Made by Whiting Mfg. Corp. in New York, ca 1885. Each: Round and spot-hammered. Shoulder has applied fish, crustaceans and squigglies enmeshed in the flotsam and jetsam of marine vegetation. Allover spot hammering. Well gilt-washed. Perfect for a seafood dinner. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 19A. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1/8 x D 3 in. Total gross weight: 14.5 troy ounces. #BZ662

Retro Deco sterling silver tray. Retailed by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Square with chamfered corners, tapering sides, and molded rim. In the Modern geometric style. Nice heft. Marked “Tiffany & Co. / Sterling / Portugal”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 12 1/4 x D 12 1/4 in. Heavy weight: 34.5 troy ounces. #BZ604

Midcentury Modern sterling silver picture frame. Rectangular window in wide and flat surround with incised honeycomb pattern on front; edges plain. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back with hinged easel support for portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) display. For a big group shot of the whole hive colony. Post-1967 Italian marks with Frataelli Cacchione maker’s stamp. Very good condition. Velvet wear.

Dimensions: Frame: H 11 3/8 x W 9 in. Window: H 9 x W 6 1/2 in. #BY902

American Art Nouveau glass trivet with engraved silver overlay, ca 1900. Round with straight sides. Overlay in scroll and flower pattern with alternating flowers in round tendril-entwined frames and fleurs de lys. Sold center engraved with interlaced script monogram. Silver marked “Sterling 3092” with diameter. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1/4 x D 10 in. #BZ661

Pair of German 800 silver pheasants, ca 1920. A rooster and hen, each with hinged wings, long overlapping tails, closed beak, and wary stare. An on-guard couple standing on scaly talons, ready to take flight if the party talk turns dull. Heads detachable for hiding a secret stash of treats or booze. Hanau maker’s marks (Vereinigte Silberwarenfabriken). Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: Rooster: H 8 1/2 x L 19 3/8 x W 4 3/8 in. Wingspan: 7 1/4 in. Hen: H 9 x L 18 3/4 x W 4 1/2 in. Wing...

Modern sterling silver porringer. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Round with straight sides. Cast open cinquefoil handle inset with acorn-nibbling squirrel. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 23111, director’s letter m (1907-47), and wartime star (1943-5). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 5 7/8 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 6.5 troy ounces. #BZ175