Catalog (334)

Japanese woodblock print by Kunitero Utagawa (1808-1876) in three sheets, depicting the war council of the forty seven ronin. These ronin, the loyal retainers, had been Samurai in the service of Lord Asano when he was obligated to commit seppuku for drawing his sword at the Palace of the Shogun. He was provoked to drawing by many insults from Kira Yoshinaka. At their Lord’s death the samurai became ronin and swore revenge on Kira Yoshinaka which they carried out a year later and then many of t...

American decorated heavy porcelain ice-water pitcher. The porcelain in probably American, though it might be French. This form, with a bridge near the spout for holding back ice cubes, is also known as a “sweetheart pitcher,” because of the vaguely heart-shaped wreath on either side. On this pitcher, outside the “hearts” is a solid magenta ground, inside the hearts on either side in gilt Gothic letters is written, “Crescent Valley/House.” It is 9 3/8 inches (24 cm) tall. This form w...

Large and well decorated porcelain pitcher with a group of flowers on one side and on the opposite side inside a gilt cartouche “L. Cummings.” in Gothic letters. The country of origin may be either France, in which case it was probably brought here blank and then decorated here or possibly it was made by an American manufacturer. The hard paste porcelain is unlikely to have been made in England, though they did on occasion import French blanks. Anyway, nice decoration from about 1870. 9 inch...

A large heavy porcelain ice-water pitcher made in either America or France but decorated in America, probably by E.V. Haughwout, a major New York City retailer of porcelain, glassware and silverware. This form, with a bridge near the spout for holding back ice cubes, is also known as a “sweetheart pitcher,” because of the vaguely heart-shaped wreath on either side. In that wreath on this pitcher is painted a view of the Green river in Wyoming and on the other side in gilt the name, “Mathew...

An albumen photograph of Lake Como and the town of Como by Giacomo Brogi (1822-1881). He was a successful photographer with shops in Florence, Rome and Naples. The business was continued by his son Carlo Brogi (1850-1925) who according to Wikimedia is responsible for photographs in the series with numbers above 8000. As this one is 9005a, it is probably Carlo’s rather than his father’s. Titled in the lower margin, “9005a. COMO – Panorame della Citta col Colfo” and in the far right, “...

An albumen photograph of campers on the shore of Loch Hourn with their boat anchored off-shore and misty hills on the far side of the Loch. Loch Hourn is a sea loch. The campsite looks a little messy, though the tent looks good and the four men well dressed and fed. 7 ¼ x 11 3/8 inches (18.5 x 29 cm), with a 14 x 17 inch (35.7 x 43.3 cm) mat. Attached to backboard with T mount at the top and clear photo corners at the bottom.

James Valentine (1815 -1879) was a noted later half of the 19t...

An albumen photograph titled in the center of the lower edge, “Loch Killean Nr Strathepeffer” with the number 11,780 and the initials GWW for George Washington Wilson (Scottish 1823–1893). The photo shows a horse and buggy with driver in the lower right and the Loch stretching out in the distance. The photograph has been T-mounted and is matted. The image is 7 5/16 by 11 3/8 inches 18.6 x 28.9 cm). The mat is 14 x 17 inches (35.5 x 43.2 cm).

Condition: Very good with the only damage t...

An albumen photograph of the Royal Gardens and the adjoining Bay of Naples with the city beyond. Titled in the margin at the bottom lower left and the photographer’s credit in the lower right. Michele Amodio was active in Naples from about 1860 to 1890. This photo is laid down on a stiff carboard mount. The photo is 8 x 9 15/16 inches (20.3 x 25.2 cm). the card 9 ¾ x 11 ½ inches (24.8 x 29.2 cm).

Condition: the photo with minor surface faults and dirt, the card with rough edges and some ...

An albumen photograph of five women, with knitting, seated on the ground and two girls standing behind them against a stone wall or side of a cottage. George Washington Wilson (Scottish, 1823-1893) was already a successful photographer with a large business in Aberdeen when he made a photographic journey to the Outer Hebrides in 1885. This photograph is titled in the bottom center of the negative, “Maids and Matrons St. Kilda.” with the number 6196 and the photographers initials G.W.W. Ima...

An albumen photograph of the mountains Scuir-Uran and Scuir-an-Carnich rising behind what appears to be a stream that according to the caption in the negative feeds into Loch Duich in Ross-Shire. Loch Duich is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The title includes the number 799 and the initials G.W.W. for George Washington Wilson (Scottish, 1823-1893). The photograph is 7 3/8 x 11 ½ inches (17.8 x 29.2 cm), the mat 14 x 17 inches (35.6 x 43.2 cm).

Condition: very good, some waviness...

A pair of soft paste porcelain underglaze hand painted blue and white porcelain plates in the “La Mouche” pattern. These have a mark that I can’t identify, though they may well be a workman’s factory mark. The pattern of the fly buzzing a bush is distinctively from the Tournai factory. The pair of shallow soup plates are 9 1/8 inches (22.86 cm) diameter.

Condition: No chips, cracks, hairlines or repairs. Use and stacking wear on both sides of both soups.

Soft paste porcelain luncheon or salad plate, 8 3/8 inches (20.32 cm) diameter, with hand painted underglaze medium blue in the “Ronda” pattern. Though unmarked, the pattern, the color and the deep molded swirled ribs and basketweave border are distinctively Tournai. The underglaze blue “2” on the back is probably the mark of the painter.

Condition: no chips, cracks, hairlines or repairs. Minor surface scratches.

A well-executed watercolor of a tightly grouped bouquet of flowers. This may be a theorem made with stencils, though this painting looks as if it was done freehand. Theorems were more often stenciled on velvet. The style is of the mid-19th century. It could be either American or English. The frame is a good one of that period. The painting was almost certainly in an oval frame originally and the slight shadow around it is evidence of that frame. The sight size is 12 3/8 x 15 ½ inches with the ...

A hand colored lithograph by Currier and Ives titled, “The Narrows, New York Bay/ from Staten Island.” The scene depicts a nearly rural Staten Island in the foreground with part of the harbor in the middle and the narrows, now home to the Verrazano Bridge in the distance. Currier and Ives in the lower left below the image and their Nassau Street address in the lower right. Kennedy Galleries label taken from the earlier back board, now on the new backing. Sight size 9 ¼ x 13 inches, overall ...

Hand colored lithograph titled, “THE BATTERY, NEW YORK/BY MOONLIGHT.” N. Currier lower left, address lower right. Promenade under the leafy trees with the full moon lighting the harbor with sailing vessels. Kennedy Galleries label taken from the earlier back board, now on the new backing. Sight size 9 x 12 ½ inches, over all with frame, 16 1/8 x 19 1/8 inches.

Condition: Minor tears in the margins and some slight discoloration, but otherwise good condition.

A good sized Jubako box, with an extra lid, decorated in gold with flowering bamboo. The lacquer is applied over wood, the interior is red and the compartments have gilt top edges. There are four compartments and two covers. Each compartment is 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. The overall height is 11 7/8 inches (30.5 cm). It is 9 5/8 inches (24.5 cm) wide and 9 inches (23 cm deep). Probably late 19th century.

Condition: Some minor wear, some spots on the lacquer and wear to the gilding on the rims. ...

A large black lacquer box with gilt, silver, copper (?) applied colors and Mother-of-Pearl inlay on the top and lacquered interior. Some floral decoration to the sides. The box is 5 3/8 inches (13.5 cm) tall, 8 ½ inches (21.5 cm) wide and 11 inches (28 cm) deep.

Condition: the two short sides of the top have partially separated and broken the lacquer surface. Minor spots and wear.

A group of three Staffordshire plates. The first a small (6 ½ inch diameter) pearlware plate with good handpainted roses and a solid colored border with lines and dots. The second plate (8 3/8 inches diameter) also pearlware handpainted with a border of small roses, leaves and ovals over two lines. The third a ceramic plate with a shaped edge (10 1/8 inches diameter) with a very bold free hand painted single Adam’s rose dominating most of the area. All are unmarked. The first two are probably...