Catalog: Sold Items (117)

One of the nicest elk tooth rings I’ve ever seen, set in 14k gold. The teeth are set in a built-up mount of yellow gold oak leaves and pink gold acorns – a classic design but so well executed. Stamped 585 for 14k. Very good condition; one tooth rattles slightly. Ring size 10 1/2.

Utterly charming tiny velvet metal frame purse, circa 1850. There’s a panel of plum velvet on both sides; applied wirework hearts set with cut steel beads decorate the front. The handle is delicately woven wire; purple fabric lines the inside and there’s a clever locking pocket. Pursed is marked on the interior with a museum catalog number. Good condition; velvet is worn and pushed in. Measures 3 ¼” by 2 1/8”.

Rare and wonderful late 19th century two-sided glass beaded purse, depicting an old style gondola and two gondoliers with the words “Ricordo di Venezia” (or “memory of Venice”). On the other side is a lovely village in pink, blue, yellow and white. In her Landmark book “More Beautiful Purse”, Evelyn Haertig pictures and mentions a similar, unusual purse. Wonderful condition: beading is bright and intact. Fringe is missing two strands; white cotton lining is somewhat soiled...

Glorious, richly colored antique microbeaded purse, featuring an elaborate urn with flowers amidst floral scrolls and borders. The beading on the body of the bag is perfect; all it needs is a great frame, new lining and new fringe to fulfill its grand promise. Measures a large 13” by 9 ½”; fringe adds 1 ½”.

Stunning antique glass and cut steel microbeaded reticule in an unusual teardrop shape. Design features a central floral medallion, surrounded by an our floral ring, which is in turn surrounded by violets. Snake chain handle; beaded tassel; white silk lining. Very good condition: streak of dirt to one side of bag (pictured); tassel is missing a few strands; lining is soiled in spots. Measures 8 ¼” by 5 ¾” (tassel adds 2 ¼”).

Amazing and rare antique microbeaded reticule depicting what look like Indonesian shadow puppets dancing in an abstract landscape of green, bronze, white and blue. Crochet header with silk cord handle. Taupe silk lining. Everything is in perfect condition except the matching fringe, which is missing two loops. Measures 5 ½” by 4” (including fringe).

Rare microbeaded figural purse depicting an elaborate stylized pagoda scene, in autumn colors of browns, oranges, greens and cream. Frame features blue stone clasp. Fabulous condition: beadwork and tassel are intact. Taupe silk lining is shattered in a few spots. Measures 6” by 5”; tassel adds 2 ½”.

Beautiful silk knitted miser purse, circa 1820. Striped zigzag pattern in brown, green, red, cream and white, with silk tassel ends. Good condition; one small hole. Brass rings. Marked with museum catalog number (it came from a museum deaccession). Measures 18” from tassel to tassel.

Stunning “El-Sah” figural enamel mesh purse, circa the 1920’s, depicting two birds perched in the delicate branches of a tree. Everything is wonderful! The mesh is in perfect condition, the design worked out in blue and black on a white field. The frame is gorgeous, with marbled blue stones and applied tulips and sapphire glass-set clasp (front only). Finally, the purse is larger than usual! Chain handle may be a replacement. Measures 8” by 4 ½”.

Absolutely fabulous antique microbeaded purse, depicting a profusion of lilacs in purples, pinks and white. The purse features a lilac colored border, and lilac-tipped crystal fringe. The beading is perfect; lining is a rather crude replacement or white silk. Measures 10 ½” (including fringe) by 7 ¼”.

Gorgeous turn of the century hand embroidered and stitched Chinese silk purse, with green bracelet handles. The satin stitch embroidery depicts a bird, standing amid what look like waves, surrounded by flowers; there are bats in the sky! The piece is stitched in pastel colors on black silks and attached to heavy bracelet handles (probably glass) by metallic thread loops. Lined in blue silk – it’s a beautiful piece. Very good condition; some soiling to lining...

Beautiful turn of the century cut steel beaded purse, in a gorgeous pastel abstract floral design. The purse is probably French, and features a plunge-and-pull-tab clasp and goldtone frame. Lovely original pink silk lining. Good condition; some bead loss (separation) under the hinges and at the top near the frame on one side; but seems stable. One side is brighter than the other. Measures 8 ¼” by 6 ¾”.

Super beadlite enamel mesh purse, circa the 1920’s. Fab deco colors of orange, brown, tan and white; gorgeous floral and scroll design on frame. Whiting and Davis mark on frame. Great condition! Measures 6” by 3 ¼”.

Totally deco enamel mesh purse, circa the 1920’s! Wonderful, from the frame with the central enameled medallion depicting a basket of flowers, to the wild abstract design in black orange and green on gold. Good condition: area of wear to four tiny enamel squares on one side; some wear to frame. Measures 7” by 5 ½”.

Charming late 18th century handpainted enameled copper portrait snuff or patch box. The oval box features a woman in a white dress and blue cloak, reclining under a tree and petting a lamb. English or French. Fair condition; lid has a crack; there’s moderate crazing; and the mirror is losing it’s silver. Measures 1 ¾ by 1 ¼”.

A superb, signed example of American miniature portraiture in the waning years of the art, circa the turn of the 19th century! The artist, C. S. Wiltschek, painted several portraits of the Duke family (as in Duke University) which hang in the Lilly Library at the university. The sitter is a regal woman, in pearl, beads and pearl earrings. The gilt metal frame is beautifully chased and enameled, and rests in it’s original leather box (a tad musty). Very good condition; slightly dusty...

A wonderful portrait miniature of a gentleman, in watercolor on ivory, signed (“W. J. Baer”) by the artist and dated 1906. William Jacob Baer, a key figure in the American portrait miniature revival, was born in 1860 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied in Munich in the early 1880’s and was the first president of the Society of Painters in Miniature in New York. The sitter is an imposing gentleman, sporting spectacles, a beard and dark gray coat. Frame tests 14k gold...

Super rare and deco enamel mesh purse, circa the 1920’s. Probably a Whiting & Davis “Delysia” or “Baby Peggy”, this purse takes the form of a small reticule with mesh tassel and engraved “bracelet” reinforcement around the middle. Drawstring top with snake chain. Mesh is in wonderful shape, in colors of dark green and white. The pattern is abstract; one of the shapes is like a swastika – I seem to remember that this was a Native American design (I hope that’s true!)...