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...
George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.5 troy ounces. #BY618
George V covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Crichton in London in 1930. Girdled urn on stepped, raised, and gadrooned foot; s-scroll side handles with leaf cap and pendant flower heads. Cover domed with gadrooned rim and finial. Cutout strapwork applied to bowl and cover. Traditional Classical form in Britannia (that is, 958) silver. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7 x W 5 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. Heavy weight: 16.2 troy ounces. #BY619
Modern American Georgian sterling silver bowl. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Tapering with curved bottom and flat gadrooned rim; four hoof supports. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp and no. 9576AB. Good condition; minor bump on well bottom.
Dimensions: H 3 x D 5 1/4 in. Weight: 6.5 troy ounces. #BY448
George V sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Charles & Richard Comyns in London in 1922. Urn with ovoid bottom on raised and stepped foot; leaf-capped high-looping double-scroll side handles. Cover stepped and domed with cast flame finial. Traditional form with lots of room for engraving. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Overall dimensions: H 13 3/4 x W 11 1/4 x D 6 1/4 in. Weight: 37.7 troy ounces. #BY557
Unusual Italian Modern sterling silver box, ca 1940. Straight sides partitioned with four square compartments, each with hinged cover. Marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 8 x 8 in. Heavy weight: 30.5 troy ounces. #BY700
Gorgeous French Belle Epoque Rococo 950 silver and crystal decanter, ca 1890. Crystal baluster bowl with acid-etched leafing and flowering branches and wavy bands. Silver mounts with dynamic wave and scrollwork, shells, and leaves. Cover hinged with fish-mouth spout and scallop shell thumb rest. High-looping leaf-capped handle. Four scroll supports. Minerva head mark. Very good condition with deep patina.
Dimensions: H 12 5/8 x W 6 1/2 x D 4 1/2 in. #BX727
Elizabeth II sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Edward Viner in Sheffield in 1963. Wide shallow bowl with canted and elongated bracket side handles; cover raised with vasiform finial. Knopped baluster on stepped and domed foot. Fully marked. Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 11 1/2 x W 13 1/4 x D 7 in. Weight: 27 troy ounces. #BY558
Art Nouveau sterling silver nursery rhyme baby cup. Made by Whiting in New York, ca 1900. Tall and waisted bowl with wavy rim and c-scroll handle with splayed trefoil mount and baluster tail. Engraved depiction of the Three Blind Mice, sightless rodents with alert ears and long whiskers. Acid-etched text: "Three / Blind / Mice / Did you / ever see / such / a sight in / your life". Gilt interior. Fully marked including maker's stamp and no. 413A. Very good condition with strong definition.
Dime...
Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Inari Shrine at Oji - Peddler and Woman
Size: Approximately 14.875 x 6.75 inches.
Date: 1924-30.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Shotei catalog #M-26. Ota-ku 2005 Catalog #:198.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back has paper and adhesive residue. A few foxing spots. Faint crease near top.
Mitsuhiro Unno (1939-1979)
Valley of Utsu - A set of five miniature Japanese woodblock prints.
Date: 1966.
Each woodblock print is 2.25 x 2 inches.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Set includes woodblock-printed title sheet, colophon, and list of subjects.
The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: "As a pastime ― bringing clumsy, fragile things to sell ― at Uruma Market ― how lonely!" A very significant poem as it conveys a bit of irony; for the Edo period nun who inscribed this poem would go on to create a legacy of art, beauty, and philosophy that endures even today. The poem also suggests that this is one of her earlier works that would have been produced before she became renowned throughout Japan for her...
Tsuchiya Koitsu
Twilight at Hira
Date: 1936.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Edition. First. Watanabe D seal at right margin (used 1931-41).
Artist's signature and seal at lower right.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-18.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: TK-WN-7 in Koitsu catalog.
Condition: Print is fully adhered to slightly larger board. Two marks above boat. Slight soling in sky. Fr...
Arai Yoshimune
Kominato Bay
Date: 1910-60.
Size: Chuban. 10 x 7.5 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower right.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku. From the famous "Night Scenes" series. Hasegawa catalogue No. 1261.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
American Modern sterling silver picture frame. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Rectangular window in same surround with convex front and flat sides. Midcentury chic in hard-to-find landscape form. With glass, silk lining, and laminate back and hinged easel support. Fully marked including retailer’s stamp, no. 54/14, and phrase “Hand Made”. Very good condition.
Dimensions: Frame: H 6 7/8 x W 9 3/8 in. Window: H 5 1/2 x W 8 in. #BY634
American Edwardian 3-piece carving set, ca 1910. This set comprises knife, fork, and sharpener. Each: Ribbed and irregular ebonized horn handle; sterling silver mounts with low-relief leafing scrollwork and asymmetrical scrolled frame (vacant); end has engraved monogram. Blade, shank, and rod stainless steel. Marked “Sterling”. Very good condition.
Dimensions: Knife: H 14 in. Fork: 10 1/2 in. Sharpener: H 13 in. #BY531
Plymouth sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1909. Tapering and paneled ovoid body, reeded helmet mouth, capped scroll bracket handle, and stepped oval foot. A fine piece in the classic pattern. Fully marked including maker's stamp, pattern name, no. A2788, date symbol, and volume (3 3/8 pints). Very good condition.
Dimensions: H 10 3/8 x W 9 3/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 24.7 troy ounces. #BY636
Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by Sampson Mordan & Co. in Chester, 1905-13. Each: Two flat discs mounted to flat circular base. Front disc smaller and enameled scene with leaping, writhing fish, the hook and line barely visible. One has engraved 2-letter block monogram (ER). A second has same in script. Fully marked including 1905, 1912, and 1913 date letters as well as retailer’s stamps “Finnigan’s Manchester” (2) and “Wilson & Gill / 139 Regent St Londo...