A technique most commonly seen in Tenmoku tea bowls, “konoha” is accomplished by applying a coating to an actual leaf and then attaching the leaf to the surface of an artwork before firing. The exact details of this process seem somewhat murky as it appears to be a well-guarded secret among potters. After some research we were unable to identify the potter; and, although there is a signature on the bottom that appears to read “Raishō,” we could find no potter by this name. R...

Hampton sterling silver coffee and tea set on tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1930. This set comprises 7 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Rectilinear with gently curved sides and concave corners. Covers stepped and concave with finial (pot covers hinged). Handles scrolled bracket. Coffeepot and teapot spouts faceted and s-form. Creamer has small lip spout. Creamer and waste bowl have reeded rim. Tray rectilinear with conc...

Fancy American Victorian sterling silver water pitcher, ca 1900. Ovoid with baluster bowl on domed foot. Helmet mouth and high-looping leaf-capped double-scroll handle. Chased fluid ornament with leafing scrollwork and tendrils. Rim interior has leafing scrolls. Turn-of-the-century sumptuousness with nice heft. Fully marked including Shreve, Crump & Low stamp, no. 1835, and volume (5 pts). Excellent condition.

Overall dimensions: H 12 1/2 x W 10 x D 5 1/2 in. Heavy weight: 40 troy ounces. #BY5...

Chrysanthemum gilt sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Traditional lobed and ovoid bowl with short and inset neck and splayed volute scroll supports. Cover hinged and domed with bud finial and plain and scrolled overhanging rim. Foot rim and supports applied with alternating flower head and leaf pattern. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 11133, and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition with nice toning.

Dimensions: H 4 5/8 x W 5 x D 4 in. ...

Engraved Hampton sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1920. This set comprises 8 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, hot milk pot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Rectilinear with tapering sides, concave corners, and stepped rim. Covers domed (pot covers hinged). Handles scroll bracket. Coffeepot and teapot spouts faceted and s-form; milk pot has short u-spout and creamer has lip spout. Tray rectilinear with concave corners and han...

Victorian sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Globular bowl and drum-form neck with small lip spout; c-scroll handle with stylized flower-head mounts. Bowl has embossed border of imbricated leaves or chevrons, a bold motif popularly known as Wave Edge. Neck applied with same. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pre-1875 pattern no. 3077, and director’s letter M (1873-91). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 3/8 x W 7 1/2 x D 6 in. Weight: 22 troy ounces. #B...

Modern sterling silver porringer with Noah’s Ark motif. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1926. Bellied bowl and solid shaped handle. On exterior is acid-etched frieze with a lion, camel, elephant, bear—and so on single file through the animal kingdom. Destination Ark where Noah awaits. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20731A (first produced in 1926), and director’s letter m. Very good condition with strong definition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 6 x D 4 1/4 in. Weight...

Victorian Classical sterling silver porringer. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Bowl has curved sides and rim applied with bold beading. Leaf-mounted open scroll handle with scallop shells. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 12755, and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/4 x W 7 1/4 x D 5 1/8 in. Weight: 8.5 troy ounces. #BW510

Being based in Kyoto we occasionally come across fine Chinese and Korean tea-ware to mix in with our Japanese offerings. Here we have an example of a ceremonial tea bowl from the Shinragi kiln in Korea. Pieces like the one seen here are baked in a traditional wood-fired “climbing kiln” at a temperature of over 1,300 degrees for 5 days. Fashioned after classical works held in museum collections, the motifs are timeless and captivating.

In excellent condition, this piece is 5.5 in...

American Victorian sterling silver shaving mug, ca 1880. Curved and waisted with pierced top bowl and second projecting bowl for brush. Frond and flower repousse. Cast scroll handle has same motif. Marked “Black, Starr & Frost / New-York / Sterling”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 7/8 x W 5 3/4 x D 3 in. Weight: 8 troy ounces. #BZ558

Crafted by one of the most well-known potting families from the Meiji period (Ito Tozan), this black Raku tea bowl displays a glossy sheen and gentle swells rippling through the clay body. The shape of the this tea bowl is known as “tsutsu” in Japanese and is regarded as being especially attractive. Tsutsu bowls are used mainly in the depths of winter to keep in the heat and prevent the tea from cooling too quickly. Tea disciples of all stripes appreciate this type of bowl for its elegant li...

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

Edwardian Classical gilt sterling silver jewelry box. Made by Ahrendt & Kautzman in Newark, ca 1910. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with tapering tab and gently curved top. Acid-etched leafing scroll borders. Velvet-lined interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Theodore B. Starr) stamps and no. 671. Very good condition with nice toning.

Dimensions: H 3 1/8 x W 8 3/8 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 25.3 troy ounces. #BX772

Japonesque sterling silver and mixed metal water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1885. Globular body, straight neck, and c-scroll handle. Allover honeycomb hand hammering. Applied flowers, leafing tendrils, and butterflies. A restrained design with graceful plant and insect motifs. Fully marked including pattern no. 3077 and phrase “Sterling silver and other metals”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 3/8 x W 8 x D 5 1/2 in. Weight: 25 troy ounces. #BM963

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...

Japonesque sterling silver spoon. Made by George W. Shiebler & Co. in New York, ca 1885. Tapering stem and round terminal; front hand-hammered and applied with a bug and bit of bamboo. Oval bowl. Back plain. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Theodore B. Starr) stamps. Very good condition. Dimensions: H 6 3/8 x W 1 3/8 in.;

With: Victorian sterling silver spoon. Made by same, ca 1891. Cast terminal in form of leafing nutmeg on stem. Back plain with engraved 3-letter script mon...

Fabulous Chrysanthemum sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises 5 pieces: coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl.

In the celebrated pattern that is an American interpretation of a Japanese motif. To Baroque forms are applied a profusion of climbing, wrapping, and bunching flower heads. Chrysanthemum was introduced in 1880 and this set dates from the first quarter century of its production.

All pieces fully marked including maker’...

American Edwardian Classical sterling silver loving cup, ca 1910. Tapering bowl with flared rim and curved bottom on reeded domed foot; three leaf-wrapped and scroll-mounted handles. Elegant form with plenty of room for engraving. Fully marked including stamp for Theodore B. Starr, a New York maker and retailer, and no. 5490. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 10 1/4 x W 8 1/2 x D 6 1/4 in. Weight: 29 troy ounces. #BY950