Early 19th century netsuke of a boy holding onto a bamboo branch next to a large ball. Netsuke illustrates one of the paragons of filial virtue, that of Moso - a young scholar who went into the snow to look for bamboo shoots, a favorite dish of his ailing and dying mother. Bamboo does not grow in the snow but the Gods were moved by his filial piety and allowed bamboo shoots to suddenly spring from the ground. The large ball probably represents a snowball. Strong early and unusually detailed carv...
Edwardian sterling silver porringer. Made by William B. Kerr in Newark, ca 1910. Round with gently upward tapering sides and solid shaped handle. Rectilinear frames with etched scenes of girl kneeling in prayer, feasting from a fruit platter, and seated at table with steaming pot and bowl of porridge. With text propounding dubious causality: “Every night / my prayers I say, / And get my dinner / every day;” and “And every day / that I’ve been good, / I get an orange / after food”. Cent...
Pair of Victorian Classical sterling silver sauceboats. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1883. Each: Rectilinear body with lip spout and curved corners on same raised foot; high-looping leaf-covered handle with ribbed cast volute scroll terminal between scrolls and incised volute scroll mount. Repousse rinceaux band between molded lines. Stylized egg-and-dart rims. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 7370 (first produced in 1883), and director’s letter M (1873-91). Very go...
Victorian Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1877. Globular bowl with drum-form neck, small lip spout, and c-scroll handle. Bowl has vertical ornament in form of applied acanthus leaves alternating with embossed gadroons. Neck has applied harps in wreaths between leafing scrolls. Handle has applied rosette and leafing stem. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 4706 (first produced in 1877), and director’s letter M (1873-91). Very good ...
Set of 4 German Rococo Classical 800 silver candlesticks, ca 1900. Each: Cast figural shaft in form of adroitly-draped, bare-bottomed cherub standing on chubby, stubby legs with arms outspread, holding a floral garland. Ovoid socket with detachable bobeche and double-domed foot. Chased and engraved ornament with figures, masks, lion heads, and leaves. Socket mounted with cast ram heads. Marks include Hanau maker’s stamps, American retailer’s stamp (Buchholz & Zelt), and country of manufactur...