German Modern 800 silver box, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides and crisp corners. Cover hinged with tapering tab; cover top gently curved and inlaid with shagreen in geometric pattern. Cedar-lined interior. Open leather-lined bottom. Marks include maker’s stamp (Wilhelm Binder). Good condition with some wear and rubbing to shagreen.
Dimensions: H 4 x W 7 1/2 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 28.6 troy ounces. #BX428
Dramatic Japanese Meiji silver centerpiece vase, ca 1900. Globular bowl with tall cylindrical neck and flared mouth; raised and inset foot. Bowl has wraparound roiling waves with claw-like spume in relief and a horned and scaley dragon, baring teeth and gripping the sides with talons. Visible hand hammering. Signed on bottom. Very good condition.
Large dimensions: H 20.5 x W 15 x D 14 in. Weight: 116.5 troy ounces. #BY184
Unusual American Modern 18k gold chain, ca 1980. Small yellow gold links interspersed with large tooled ovals with central wraparound band as well as thick and solid rose ovals. With clasp. Very good condition.
Length: 32 in. Weight: 21.7 dwt/33.8 g. #1232
Luminous Obsidian stones are at the center of this large and lovely Antonio Pineda Bracelet in a design known as the Swans. Measuring 1 1/4" wide by 7 1/3" long it is a bracelet with a bold modernist style. Very heavy at 108 grams. Secure clasp and attached safety chain. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, 970, Hecho en Mexico, Silver and the eagle 17. The Swan design in the form of a Necklace is featured in the book Silver Seductions. This is a gorgeous bracelet with an impressive style.
American Modern ring with cabochon tiger eye in 14k yellow gold setting; brilliant-cut diamond on each shoulder. Hallmarked. Excellent condition.
Size: 8 1/2. Weight: 10.5 dwt (16.3 g). #1223
With pottery shards from excavated kilns dating back to the 5th Century, Mino-ware is one of the oldest and most revered pottery traditions in all of Japan. Though the piece featured here does not fit neatly into any of the typical categories of Mino pottery such as Kiseto, Setoguro, Oribe, or Shino; the shape and overall feel of this piece unmistakably places it within this pottery tradition.
Exceptionally well-proportioned and utterly unique, this tea bowl displays a ...
German 800 silver picture frame, ca 1920. Oval window in chased and tooled surround comprising flower heads and leaves. Textural with irregular rims. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back with hinged easel support. With loose-mounted ring. For portrait (vertical) display. Marked with Hanau maker’s stamp Vereinigte Silberwarenfabrik. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 5/8 x W 5 3/4 in. Window: H 5 1/2 x D 4 in. #BY044
Victorian ring in platinum on 18k gold with rose-cut diamonds and rubies in crisscross design. England, ca 1880. Hallmarked. Excellent condition.
Size: 4 1/2. Weight: 2.1 dwt (3.2 g). #1221
Large Dutch silver cow creamer, 1910. A sweet beast with stocky body on slender legs and delicate hoofs. Head quizzically turned to side with flexed ears, sharp horns, red cabochon glass eyes, and gaping mouth spout. Flicked back tail handle and hinged back cover. Appears to be unmarked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 1/4 x L 10 3/8 x W 3 3/8 in. Weight: 19.5 troy ounces. #BX771
German 800 silver cow creamer, ca 1910. Stocky body, flexed ears, flicked-back tail handle, and hinged and stippled back flap with engraved wreath and applied fly finial. A gentle face with red-glass eyes and gaping-mouth spout. A capacious dispenser on four firmly planted hoofs. German marks and American importer’s mark for Buchholz & Zelt in New York. Very good condition.
Overall dimensions: H 7 1/2 x L 10 x W 3 1/8 in. Weight: 17.5 troy ounces. #BX770
European silver fish-form spice box, 19th century. Hinged head and lower mouth, and faceted red eyes. Articulated and scalloped wide body, and hinged fins and tail. Loose-mounted ring. Unmarked. Very good condition with deep patina.
Overall dimensions: H 1 5/8 x L 3 1/8 x D 1 7/8 in. #BS513
German 800 silver cigarette case, ca 1910. Rectangular and hinged with curved corners. On cover are enameled sin symbols: Women (opera girl), wine (champagne), and gambling (cards and ponies). Three vices – but smoking is not among them. Marks include maker’s stamp (Louis Kuppenheim) and no. 130. Very good condition with intact color.
Dimensions: H 3 1/2 x W 3 1/4 x D 3/8 in. Gross weight: 4.3 troy ounces. #BX884
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...
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...
Here we have a beautiful scroll with a mounted letter penned by famed Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) who is known as one of the 4 great haiku poets of Japan along with the likes of Bashō, Buson, and Shiki. As one might expect, Kobayashi’s life was one of turbulence punctuated by several tragedies including the death of his mother at an early age and a lengthy legal battle with his step-mother over the family inheritance after the death of his father. Through it all Kobay...
An excellent offering from Higaki Ryota of Katsura Kiln, this piece displays a classic and iconic shape coupled with a beautiful Kase-guro glaze said to be used over 400 years ago by Chojiro. The color of this tea bowl changes quite dramatically, taking on the characteristics of its environment; light and cheerful in direct and bright lighting, more austere, deep, and reflective in standard tea room lighting. Perfect for those venturing into the world of Raku tea-ware or for those lo...
A collectible Scandinavian gold and amethyst pin by Kippittan Kulta of Finland. The pin is stamped with the anvil mark 585 Finland and measures 2 1/4" x 1-1/4". Weight 3.6gr.
French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver tea urn, ca 1900. Ovoid with turned stained-wood handles with silver scroll and leaf mounts. Scaly fish spout with tail mount and gaping mouth spout and turned stained wood and silver scroll tap. Double-domed cover with berry finial. Three double-scroll supports with leaf mounts and feet mounted to stepped and stained-wood drum-form blocks. Heating element set in scroll-mounted ring. Twisted fluting and lobing. Vitruvian scroll and leaf borders. Engraved...