Pair of Chinese export silver vases, ca 1910. Each: Flat and round moon body on domed foot; animal-head handles mounted to shoulder. On front and back is chased dragon—a horned and taloned serpentine serpent on hand-hammered ground. Marked Wang Hing & Co., an early 20th-century retailer active in Canton and Hong Kong. Very good condition. Handwork visible on foot underside.
Dimensions: H 4 1/2 x W 3 1/2 x D 2 in. Total weight: 7.5 troy ounces. #BY228
Dubya-era sterling silver mint julep. Made by Scearce in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Straight and tapering sides, and beaded and molded rim and foot. A great barware cup from the surprisingly long ago aughts. Marks include maker's stamp and presidential date code "GWB". Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 4 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 5.4 troy ounces. #BY876
Reagan-era sterling silver mint julep cup. Made by Scearce in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Straight and tapering sides, and beaded and molded rim and foot. Ronald Reagan was president from 1981 to 1989. Marks include maker’s stamp and presidential date code “RWR II”. The Roman numeral stands for the boomtime second term. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 4.5 troy ounces. #BY316
Jumbo big game-era safari flask. Made by George Unite in Birmingham in 1888. Glass body. Upper part encased in leather with cut-away vertical windows. At bottom detachable sterling silver cup engraved with armorial. Sterling silver collar with hinged and cork-lined ball cover engraved with same. The alpha model. Holds enough booze for everyone around the campfire. Fully marked. Very good condition with some handling wear from all those big sweaty hands.
Dimensions: H 11 x W 5 x D 2 1/2 in. #B...
Chinese export silver mug, ca 1860. Straight and upward tapering sides with applied pictorial frieze on engraved and stippled ground: Scenes of social life with contemplative sages and chaste maidens amongst palm trees and pagodas. Pastoral exoticism enlivened with scaly, slithering dragon handle, ferocious head peaking above the rim. Armorial cartouche (vacant). Marked “HCH”. Very good condition.
Overall dimensions: H 5 1/2 x W 5 x D 3 in. Weight: 9.6 troy ounces. #BX463
Modern sterling silver serving tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Round with stepped rim. Smart and functional with nice heft. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 21252, director’s letter m (1907-47), and wartime star (1943-5). Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 1/2 x D 10 in. Weight: 16.2 troy ounces. #BX445
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...
Vietnamese silver box, late 19th century. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover flat and hinged. Box sides have embossed blossoming branches, bamboo, and bird; engraved leaves and flowers at corners. Cover top has embossed slithering, scaly dragons with horns and talons in same frame; blossoming branches at corners. Ground stippled. Maker's mark for Guang Qing Yong. Very good condition with deep patina.
Dimensions: H 3 1/2 x W 6 1/4 x D 4 1/8 in. Weight: 18.4 troy ounces. #BW325
Special tha...
Chinese silver mug, ca 1865. Straight and upward tapering sides with dense low-relief frieze: Spearmen and swordsmen on foot and horse thrust and lunge and, in some cases, fall in battle. Applied armorial shield with engraved presentation dated “May 4th 1865”. S-scroll handle in form of scaly dragon with horned head peering over rim. Marked. Very good condition with deep patina.
Overall dimensions: H 5 1/4 x W 5 1/4 x D 3 1/4 in. Weight: 10.8 troy ounces. #BX464
This important and rare necklace by the famous Fred Davis is one of his most sought after styles and is featured in several books on fine Mexican Silver Jewelry. Chevron shaped links of solid silver are connected so it lays beautifully around your neck. It measures 16 1/2" long by 1" wide and weighs 97.1 grams. Hallmarked "FD, Silver Mexico". Secure box clasp. In very nice condition with no damage noted. A superb necklace and a fabulous addition to any collection.
Kiyoshi Saito
Maiko
Date: ca. 1960.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17.25 x 11.5 inches.
Pencil signed and sealed by Saito.
Self-published by the artist.
Silver mica is used on the collar.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has paper residue. Very faint toning.
A fanciful and fabulous early vintage Brooch by the important Taxco silver artist Antonio Pineda in the shape of a pea pod filled with three oval black Onyx peas at the center. Measures 3 1/2" long by 7/8" wide and weighs 23.7 grams. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, Silver, Sterling, 970, Mexico, PZ 571 and the eagle stamp 17. Light age related wear and tarnish with a pin closure. A unique and special piece.
The poem accompanying the artwork on this antique scroll reads: Fishing little trout—Precious drops of dew glisten—Flowing with the blossoms—The mountains and rivers of spring ( Rengetsu, age 78 ). A rather later and mature work by Rengetsu, this piece was created right as Edo ended and Meiji began, marking a major turning point in Japanese history and culture.
Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki fam...
This Silver Necklace by Fred Davis is a rare and seldom seen piece created in the 1930's. Featuring silver bands that are slightly curved to fit around the neck. It measures 1 1/2" wide by 15" long with a three hook closure. Nice and heavy at 137 grams. Marked with the joined FD, Sterling, Mexico. Light age related tarnish but no other damage. A truly fabulous and highly collectible piece.
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...
Kawase Hasui
Morning at Niju Bridge (Nijubashi no Asa)
Date: Monday, August 17, 1936.
Size: 7.5 x 5.375 inches (19 x 13.6 centimeters).
Note: This rare print was the cover of a dinner menu for the Yasukuni Maru, a cruise ship on the N.Y.K. Line (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha). It is identified as a Hasui in the Japanese publication, "The Nippon From Japan - Menu Design of the Cruise Ship Era (2017)(日本が運んだニッポンー客船時代のメニューデザイン).
At various times over the long history of tea practice in Japan, Korean-ware has come into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics from the neighboring country were brought to its shores. Such pieces have long been favored by learned cha-jin (tea people); and, older pieces such as this are quite prized today as relatively few from this era have survived in good condition. While it is possible this piece is of Japanese origin, its apparent age would make it more likely to h...
Austrian 800 silver 4-piece coffee and tea set on tray, ca 1920. This set comprises coffeepot, teapot, creamer, and sugar on tray.
Each: Tapering hexagonal body on raised foot. Handles high-looping stained-wood. Covers stepped with stained-wood finial (pot covers side-hinged). Spouts v-form. Tray has oval well with tapering sides and flat shoulder. Fashionable geometric forms from postwar Mitteleuropa.
Pre-1922 marks. Excellent condition. Teapot handle has minor irregularity.
Dimensions: ...