Catalog (971)

A finely painted portrait miniature, on natural wafer, of a bespectacled officer of the 7th Bengal Native Infantry of the Honourable East India Company. Done in vibrant colors and wonderful; detail, the work can be strongly attributed to Raja Jivan Ram. Works from this period in this style by Indian artists are quite uncommon and highly collected. More specifically, very few works by Ram are in private hands.

The painting here is in overall excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or bowing...

A fine Dutch dark green glass globular wine bottle from the second half of the 17th century, with the applied seal depicting the arms of Amsterdam. Of goodly size with a height of 8 3/8" and a diameter of approximately 5 1/2". The condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Normal expected wear. It is very uncommon to find an early bottle with the seal totally intact.

NOTES: 1. The bottle was purchased in 1968 from Frides Lameris, a well-known and highly respected glass deal...

A fine portrait painted by Thomas E. Barratt using watercolor on organic substrate. (In person this work displays much better than the photographs show.)

Aside from the quality and relative rarity of the painting, what makes this offering truly special is the casework. The case is gold and gold on silver and hinges so that the miniature is enclosed on both sides by the metal. The front and back are done with different guilloche (engine turned)designs. Both sides of the case are the same color...

The Chelsea porcelain toy offered here is a magnificent 3 3/4 inch tall scent bottle in the form of a flower vendor dressed in a white apron, a blue bodice enhanced with a red ribbon, a yellow lined purple flowered jacket, and a turquoise skirt. She is holding an elongated basket of greenery in her right hand, and a large basket of flowers cradled in her left arm. Her hat is adorned with various types of fruit, as is the stopper of the bottle. The concave base has a gilt floral sprig within a de...

A superb Dr. Wall First Period Worcester porcelain tea canister of oval and fluted "French" shape. This beautiful example is decorated below the neck with a border of deep blue edged with foliate gilding. the body divided into 3 sections by green columns enhanced with a dot design and edged with gilding. Each of the body sections having pendant floral sprays, with the bottom portion of the canister having a wide gilt-edged green border. In contrast to the great majority of surviving tea canister...

A beautifully painted portrait of a well-dressed gentleman. As superb as the painting is, it is matched by the reverse of the miniature, which has interwoven plaits of hair and an organic plaque decorated with the initials "EW" on a monument which is topped with a quiver and arrow.

The photos do not even begin to do justice to this superb piece, which has fine limning, vibrant colors, and no damage at all. The color differences and light lines on the front and back are due to reflections. The...

An Alfred T. Agate watercolor on natural substrate of a nicely featured gentleman. The sitter is attired in a black jacket with black stock and a white vest and shirt. Housed in a cast foliate case with a ringlet of hair in the glazed compartment verso.

Condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no flaws to speak of. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 3/4", and the case size is 2 1/2" by 2 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Alfred Agate (1812-1846, born in Sparta, N.Y. was the younger ...

This beautiful bracelet, marked 14K, features blue guilloche work, a gold filigree area with 2 small moonstones and a large central one surrounded by 11 sapphires and 2 garnets. A stunning piece with beautiful craftsmanship.

The inside of the bracelet measures 2 1/4" across and 1 7/8" high. Excellent condition with no issues.

A rare and fine multi-spiral opaque twist (MSOT) antique English wine glass or small goblet. The large round funnel bowl sits above a stem with a very tight and beautiful enamel twist. The stem is further complemented with shoulder and basal knops, a very unusual combination.

The glass is 6 11/16 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 3 1/16 inches and a foot diameter of 3 5/16 inches. Rough, snapped pontil. No chips, repairs, or condition problems. Good color, tool marks, and striations.

A fine watercolor on natural wafer, signed lower left by Hyacinthe Mercier and dated 1813. The sitter is an attractive young woman posed in front of a column with a landscape featuring a church in the background. Presented in the original frame.

No condition issues, with a diameter of 2 3/4" and a framed size of 5 1/2" by 5 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Mlle Hyacinth Mercier worked as a miniaturist in Paris, living at 27 rue Neuve Saint Rochet. She exhibited at the Salon in 1808 and 1810. H...

A miniature portrait, done in watercolor on organic wafer, and signed on the reverse: "Painted by/ T. Barratt/ 136 Chestnut/ Phila/ 1838". The sitter is a young gentleman with sideburns, wearing a black jacket and cravat. Presented in a gilt metal foliate case with an empty glazed rear aperture.

The painting has no chips, cracks, bowing, mold, paint loss, etc., with the case also being in fine condition. The overall size is 2 3/4" by 2 3/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Thomas E. Barratt (c1814 -...

A charming portrait miniature painted by John Carlin on organic material. The blue-eyed, brown-haired baby is dressed, in the custom of the time, in a white gown and cap.

The portrait is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, bowing, or restoration. The gold case is also in fine condition. Sight size of this gem is 1 3/8" by 1 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: John Carlin (1813 - 1891) was born in Philadelphia. He was a deaf mute, and one of sixteen original students, he graduated in 182...

An extremely fine hallmarked 18K gold button featuring a watercolor painting on natural wafer, under glass. Black enamel surrounds the vignette. The scene is very charming, depicting two figures dressed in 18th c attire, appearing to be a man and woman. However, upon closer examination, one notices that the faces and body form are those of children. It seems that the artist was attempting to capture the first blush of young courtship, hence the shy downcast look of the maiden. A wonderful piece....

A fine and small mahogany tea caddy with inlaid scallop shell, crossbanding and chequering; key; 4 1/4" by 4 5/8" by 4 1/2"

A well proportioned baluster glass featuring a trumpet bowl raised on a drawn stem with a large annular medial knop. A virtually identical glass is classified in Bickerton's "Eighteenth Century English Drinking Glasses" as a heavy baluster. Conical folded foot with a rough snapped pontil.

Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, hazing, or restoration. The height is 6 1/2", with a bowl diameter of 2 5/8" and a foot diameter of 2 3/4". Ex collection of Tony Stout.

A beautifully limned still life of flowers on a table. Done in oil on copper, with a silvered back. Excellent condition with no issues. Quite large, with a diameter of 1 1/2".

PLEASE NOTE: We collected buttons for many years, but have decided to sell our collection. The buttons shown on our site represent but a small sample on what we have, so please do not hesitate to ask if you are looking for a particular type.

A fine and early Worcester patty pan, painted in underglaze blue with the "Bare Tree and Speared Bird" pattern, with trailing leaf sprays on the exterior and a painter's mark on the bottom. This pattern appears to only have been used on patty pans, and is also the only other pattern, aside from the full "Mansfield" pattern, that has a "Mansfield" pattern border.

More important is that the patty pan with this pattern, uncommon in itself, was made in two forms. The more common is shallowe...

A miniature painting displaying the work of Walter Stephens Lethbridge at its finest. The sitter, according to family records of the former owners, is H.B. Lott, a Member of Parliament from Honiton, Devon. Lott, a handsome blue-eyed curly-haired gentleman, is posed against a clouded blue background, and is wearing a bluish gray jacket with gold buttons, a gold weskit, and a white ruffled shirt with a white stock.

The reverse of the gold case deserves special mention, having a tailed circlet of...

A well painted miniature portrait done by Charles Robertson. The subject is a bewigged blue-eyed gentleman of striking visage, posed in a blue and gold jacket. The miniature is presented in a silver case with silver scrollwork. The reverse of the case has the impressed mark "L.V".

The condition of the painting and the case is excellent. Sight size is 1 1/2" by 1 1/4", with an overall case size of 2 1/4" by 1 1/2".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Charles Robertson (c1760-1821)was born in Dublin and ...

A beautiful multiple series air twist (MSAT) wine glass with a flared bell bowl. The shoulder and basal collars make this a highly uncommon and superbly proportioned piece. Perfect condition. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

6 1/4" tall, 2 1/2" bowl diameter, 2 1/2" foot diameter

A heavily jeweled Austrian jewelry box, lined in deep green velvet, unusual in that there are even jewels on the legs; 5 1/2" by 4 1/4" by 3 1/4". Excellent condition.

A rare Bow chocolate cup of slightly flared form with the painted Koto Player pattern. Interior painted with Oriental motifs. Excellent condition, with one tiny footrim chip, no cracks, or restoration. There is an in-the-making glaze disturbance on one side. Painter's number 2 on the bottom. 4 inches tall, 2 3/4 inches in diameter.

A wonderful example of southern American folk art. Southern folk art is very desirable and highly collected. This piece is quite unusual for several reasons: it is done on blue paper, and has the name of the artist (Sarah M. Daye), the location it was done (Charlottesville Seminary), and the date (1851). It depicts a young girl outdoors, feeding treats to her two dogs as a method of training them. The title, "Who Speaks First," is done in calligraphy at the bottom.

The sight size is is 12 1/2...

An extremely rare triple series opaque twist (TSOT) English glass wine goblet. The capacious round funnel bowl is above a stem that has a pair of 8 ply spiral bands outside of a central solid spiral core surrounded by a spiral gauze. This configuration, with 3 distinct twists, is so uncommon that L. M. Bickerton, in his classic book, did not even address the question of triple series opaque twists.

The glass stands 7 1/4" tall, with a bowl diameter of 3 5/16" and a foot diameter of 3 3/8". The...

This is a superb English MSAT wine glass with a vermicular collar. It is a pair with item g1252 and matches g1251, though that glass is considerably and uncommonly larger. The glass for sale in this listing is shown on the right in the first photo.

The bell bowl is finely engraved with a band of fruiting vines below the rim. The stem is a multiple-spiral air twist (MSAT) with a nicely fashioned central vermicular collar. The conical foot has a rough, snapped pontil.

The glass stands 7 1/4" t...

A fine miniature painting, attributed to Jeremiah Paul, of a handsome brown-eyed man in a black coat and waistcoat, white shirt and cravat. The reverse of the gilt metal pendant case has a glazed aperture containing a wreath and plait of hair, one of which is most likely the sitters and the other of a loved one. E. Grosvenor Paine provenance.

Condition of the painting and the case are both excellent, without problems. Sight size is 2 5/8" by 2 3/8" and the case size is 2 7/8" by 2 5/8".

NOTE...

One of the best incised twist glasses you will find, superb in its simple elegance and craftsmanship. The hammered trumpet bowl leads into a stem with tight and beautifully fashioned twists. Conical foot with a rough, snapped pontil.

Wonderful color, tooling marks, and striations. No condition problems at all. Added to this is the unusual height of the glass, at 7 1/4". The bowl diameter is 2 1/2", and the foot diameter is 2 7/8".

A rare and beautiful sweetmeat with a double ogee bowl with an everted rim. The bowl is atop a set of 3 merises, below which is an opalescent stem with a double series opaque twist (dsot) composed of a 17 ply spiral band around a lace twist. At the bottom of the stem is a nicely domed and folded foot.

The glass is in overall excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. There is a tiny 1/16" inclusion in the side of the bowl, not at all uncommon and truly of no importance. Excel...

A fine and rare Chelsea porcelain figure of winter. The subject is an older man, obviously in distress, wearing only a wrap, and standing beside a brazier. This is a classical representation of "Winter", part of the Seasons group.

Beautifully modelled, painted, and glazed, the condition is excellent, with only a small invisible professional restoration to the thumb area. The height is 4 1/2".

A fine miniature of a handsome gent with strawberry blond hair, painted by Henry Jacob Burch. Adding to the desirability of this example is the Burch trade card that was fitted to the back of the painting, rarely seen in his works.

Excellent condition, with an overall size of 2 3/4" by 2 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Henry Jacob Burch was born in London in 1763. He entered the Royal Academy Schools at the age of 16, and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1787 to 1834. Examples of his wor...

A portrait miniature done by Moses B. Russell and I wish I could say more about this painting or the sitter, but the original backing paper, where Russell signed and often threatened people (incorrectly) not to remove the paper, has been removed. However, the painting was clearly done by Russell and closely mirrors one in the Metropolitan Museum. Excellent condition (any apparent problems in the photo are due to reflections) and presented in a 2 3/4" by 2 1/4" gilt metal case with a lock of hair...

A wrythen molded wine or ale glass made in the Netherlands in the Venetian style that was popular in the 17th century. The elongated bowl ends in a merise, below which is a hollow knop with applied pincered vertical ridges above the hollow stem, which terminates in a domed foot; soda glass

6 1/2" tall, 2 1/2" bowl diameter, 2 1/2" foot diameter

A pair of watercolor on natural wafer paintings of a nice looking couple, set against a clouded blue background, a motif often used by the artist. Each miniature is signed, in the lower right, with the conjoined initials HB, for Henry Jacob Burch. The paintings are set in period ebonized wood frames.

Condition of the paintings and frames is excellent. Sight size of each is 2 3/4" by 2 3/16", and the framed size is 5 1/8" by 4 3/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Henry Jacob Burch was born in London in 1...

A strikingly limned portrait miniature painted in watercolor on natural substrate. Because of the framing, the artistic technique used, and the pose, there are very strong indications that this is a China Trade piece. The sitter is clad in a deep navy jacket with a striped vest, and a masonic pin adorning his shirt.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no issues. The period and probably original gilt metal frame has wear to the green velvet border between the inner ands outer metal su...

A wonderful Barr Flight Barr Worcester porcelain coffee can painted by Thomas Baxter or William Doe, the two Worcester decorators who did the finest feather painting. This beautiful example features 4 glorious feathers, a gilded Greek key border, and a gilded ring handle. The bottom is marked with an impressed crown above "BFB".

The condition of this little gem is superb, looking fresh from the factory with absolutely no issues. The height is 2 3/8" with a diameter of 2 1/2"

For several reasons, this is a very unusual basket. To start with a basic description, it is a very large (17" by 17" by 15 1/4"), square, covered splint basket from the Maine area, most probably made by the Penobscot Indian tribe. Many baskets of this type are of splint, colored with vegetable dyes. Some have the added design of potato stamped patterns on the splints.

This particular basket is done in vibrant tones of green, yellow, and natural brown. A sun motif was then potato stamped in...