Pair of Japonesque sterling silver open salts. Made by John C. Moore for Tiffany & Co. in New York. Round with open rectangular bracket handles and straight foot. Engraved overlapping seals decorated with modish motifs, including fan, bug, vase, and bamboo. Foot decorated with acid-etched spirals and lunette-form flower heads, and pierced leaves. Union Square mark (1870-5) with pre-1875 pattern no. 3007 and order no. 901. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x W 4 5/8 x D 3 3/8 in. Total w...

Amusing shakudo brooch with copper and gold detail featuring a woman in repose. The brooch is braced by a sterling silver mount. Made in Japan. Meiji period, ca. 1880. Excellent condition with fabulous patina.

Length: 2 3/8 in. #1120

Midcentury Modern sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Svend Toxværd in Copenhagen. Baluster body with helmet mouth and grape-bunch mounted scroll handle. Alternating grape bunches and palmettes applied to base. Body has allover hand hammering. Fine Danish craftsmanship with a strong Jensen influence. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 8 3/4 x W 7 1/2 x D 4 3/4 in. Weight: 19 troy ounces. #BL327  

Turn-of-the-century Silberiris glass vase by Loetz with engraved silver overlay. Ovoid with impressed shoulder and molten-style irregular turned-down rim. Overlay in form of whiplash tendrils and loose and fluid blooms. Glass iridescent in purple, yellow, and green with a few glimpses of blue. Gorgeous Art Nouveau with nice shimmer. Silver marked “Sterling” with La Pierre maker’s stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 3/8 x D 3 1/2 in. #BX850

A beautiful and very old Hagi tea bowl; showing signs of long use and appreciation. The gold repairs add to the overall composition and highlight the important role this piece played in someone’s tea practice. Though still functional to be used as a ceremonial implement, this would fit much better as a treasured display object.

In excellent condition this tea bowl is 5.1 inches in diameter at its widest point (13cm), and stands 3.1 inches tall (8cm). It comes with a pe...

Stylish Italian 800 silver lighter. Large apple with naturalistic irregular form and striated skin. Leafing stem. Underside has inset lighter. Italian maker’s mark (1944-68) as well as script Buccellati stamp. Good condition with deep patina. Lighter not detachable or in working order.

Dimensions: H 4 1/4 x W 4 1/4 x D 3 3/4 in. Gross weight: 6.3 troy ounces. #BZ547

Chinese silver mug, ca 1910. Straight and upward tapering sides and c-scroll handle. A spare form enlivened with applied wraparound dragon chasing its tail. Marks include stamp for Wang Hing, a maker and retailer in Canton and Hong Kong. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 x W 5 x D 3 1/4 in. Weight: 10.8 troy ounces. #BX461

Dutch Neoclassical 934 silver salver, late 18 C. Round. Open gallery sides with flowering rinceaux and beaded rim. Four fluted and tapering supports. Fully marked including Amsterdam city stamp. Very good condition with nice patina.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x D 12 3/4 in. Weight: 31 troy ounces. #BU158

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

Turn-of-the-century Chinese export silver picture frame. Oval window in shaped surround with scrolls and flower heads at top, and leaves, stars, flowers, and heart cartouche vacant on stippled ground at bottom. With glass, silk lining, velvet back, and hinged easel silver wire support. Marked “Sterling”. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: Frame: H 7 1/4 x W 4 3/4 in. Window: H 4 1/4 x W 2 3/4 in. #BW978

A beautiful old Kyo-ware tea bowl slightly elongated on one end producing an interesting and unique effect. The collector who furnished the box labeled it as being by the legendary potter Ninsei (17th C.). Though the potter’s mark suggests this could be the case, there is no way to confirm for certain other than by its age and undeniably elegant craftsmanship. Believing it to be quite precious, the previous owner bestowed it with the poetic name "Ibitsu" which means "warped" or "cu...

German 800 silver wine trolly nef, ca 1920. A 3-mast galleon with billowing sales and complicated rigging. Gun ports open and cannons ready to fire. Lots of deck action, too with fighting swordsman and fallen sailors. Holds a special cargo because wood-style hull is a wine trolly. Figurehead spigot with threaded plug, and dolphin side mounts with rotating wheels for cruising across the table. Gives new meaning to the expression “getting sloshed”. Memorable dinner party guaranteed.

Hana...

Victorian Classical sugar caster. Made by William Gibson & John Langman in London in 1893. Girdled body on stepped foot. Twisted fluting with scalloped borders. Cover has ornamental piercing and finial. Initials EAW engraved on underside. Elegant and substantial in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 8 1/2 x D 3 1/2 in. Weight: 11.5 troy ounces. #BV187

A simple silver bangle with niello marked Sterling. The width is a tad over 1/16"~ inner diameter 2-5/8".

Turn-of-the-century American Art Nouveau green glass silver overlay perfume. Ovoid with flattened ball stopper. Semi-abstract flower heads with curvilinear stems overlapping 2 thin hoops. Neck spool form with silver rim collar and thick knop, and subtle faceting. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 9 x D 5 in. #BT174

A testament to the brilliance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, this lacquered mizusashi—skillfully handcrafted from bamboo—showcases a deep crimson hue that radiates warmth and sophistication. Its seamless design and flawless finish reflect the skilled hands of the first generation artisan who crafted it, achieving a harmonious balance between form and function. Designed for use in Japanese tea ceremony, this indispensable implement would love to be put back into service o...

Going back over 1,300 years, Seto-ware has the distinction of being Japan’s oldest pottery tradition still active today. Made from the rich clay and silica of the region of production, Seto porcelain in particular has been highly prized throughout the history of Japan. The piece shown here can be described as Seto-guro (Black Seto) and is an excellent example of this type of pottery. The writing on the box describes it as being from Muromachi, so well over 400 years old. The form and compositi...

Living in Kyoto it is not uncommon to come across beautiful antique tea bowls, however, finding pieces that are in good condition, aesthetically compelling, and with all of the trappings that let you know they were cared for by a devoted cha-jin can be quite challenging. Here we see all three. The shape of this tea bowl is exquisite and something I have not seen before in a Mino piece. The lacquer box, while not the original was undoubtedly custom made for this tea bowl and looks to be 100 - 200...