Catalog (971)

A fine double series opaque twist (DSOT) wine glass with a widely flaring waisted bucket bowl, the bowl atop a stem containing a pair of spiral threads outside of a central gauze. Conical foot with rough snapped pontil. Lead glass with good color, striations, and tooling marks.

Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, scratches, or restoration. Height 6", bowl diameter 2 3/8", foot diameter 2 5/8".

A beautifully fashioned English antique firing dram glass. Most glasses of this type (opaque twist firing glasses) have an ogee or ovoid bowl, as opposed to this funnel, or conical, type. The lower half of the bowl is fluted, while the stem contains a double series opaque twist comprised of a pair of spiral threads outside of a central gauze.

Condition is excellent, with no problems at all. Good color, striations, and tooling. The height is 4 1/4", with a bowl diameter of 2" and a foot diamete...

A fine example of a triple knopped double series opaque twist (DSOT) antique wine glass. The bell bowl sits above a stem with three heavy spiral threads outside of a loose central gauze, and with shoulder, medial, and basal knops. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

The vast majority of opaque twist glasses have straight stems, and the addition of even one knop adds substantially to the difficulty of making them, and the value. Each additional knop increases these factors. Also, unlike ...

A fine pair of miniature portraits, done in watercolor on wafer, by Ozias Humphry. They are mounted back to back in a gold case which has black and gold eglomise work on the cover glasses. The sitters are, purportedly by descent within the family, a Mr. and Mrs. Poole. The woman is attired in a white classic white gown and wears a bone comb in her hair. The man is in a blue jacket with gold buttons, and sports a white ruffled shirt and stock.

The condition of the paintings is excellent, with g...

A pine lap desk, in original turkey red with yellow sponged decoration; probably PA; 13" by 11" by 6". Excellent condition.

A fine example of French polychrome painting on enamel with cut steels, depicting the cherubic infant Cupid holding a bird. During the Victorian era images of Cupid or cherubs were widespread, symbolizing the romantic and sentimental interests of the time. No condition problems, and the cut steels are brighter in person than the photo shows. 1 1/16" diameter.

PLEASE NOTE: We collected buttons for many years, but have decided to sell our collection. The buttons shown on our site represent but ...

A striking and colorful painting on silk of a signet ring with, not surprisngly, the word "Signet" and the date 1870; period frame; 11 1/4" by 9 1/2" framed size, 8 1/2" by 6 1/2" sight size

A fine watercolor on card portrait done by Paul Gomien. The sitter is a woman wearing a puffy sleeved gray-blue dress with a lace collar. Her accessories include a black belt and a gold necklace.

In addition to being signed "Gomien" and dated "1822" along the center right edge the reverse has a trade card reading "P. Gomien/Peintre, Rue St. Honore No 247 pres le Palais Royal". For the period and location this is quite rare. The framing attests to the expense of the piece at the time it was pai...

A fine example of a coffee can made by the Seth Pennington Liverpool factory. The pattern, known as the "Scolding Woman" shows two polychrome Chinoiserie figures along with a large tree and rockwork.

The condition is superb, with no flaws and looking factory fresh. The height is 2 1/2" and the diameter is 2 1/4".

A beautifully done Pennsylvania Quaker sampler, featuring three sets of the alphabet, two bushes, an urn of flowers, birds and dogs, and the verse:

Let the most blessed be my guide
If it be his blessed will
Unto his vale into his fold
Up to his holy hill.

The sampler is signed Martha Graham Work Done in her 11th Year 182X. The last digit of the year was removed, as was often the case to hide the exact age of the maker.

Martha Graham was born in 1815, the daughter of Reverend Rober...

A beautiful handmade tablecloth and napkins set of Italian needle lace of Pointe de Venice type, with the characteristic scrolling floral patterns with additional floral motifs worked in relief (embroidered).

The condition is excellent, with no tears or other flaws of anything but minor note. The tablecloth is 106" by 70" and the 12 napkins are 21" by 21".

A charming first half 19th centrury miniature of a young woman. The exceptional thing about this piece is the wonderful high karat gold flip case with guilloche work (engine turning) on the front and back. The painting in this little gem is 1 1/8" in diameter and the case is 1 1/2" in diameter. Excellent condition.

An incredibly sweet miniature done in watercolor on organic wafer. Posed against a background of a blue sky with clouds, foliage on the right, and a body of water on the left, the subject is a beautiful young girl with large eyes, golden curls, and rosy cheeks. The artist used her red lips and the sash of her embroidered dress to provide "pops" of color.

The condition of this gem is excellent, with only a very small spot of restoration at the water at the extreme edge at 8:00 o'clock. T...

A good c1770 British miniature portrait of a older gentleman, with the artist having cleverly displayed the wrinkles of age. He is dressed simply in the style of the time, wearing a wig, a white stock, and a gray coat.

The condition of the painting is excellent, and the papier mache frame is also in good condition but with a nick at the top right edge. The sight size is 2 1/2" by 2", with a framed size of 4 5/8" by 4".

NOTE: For those of you who are new to collecting portrait miniat...

A miniature portrait, painted in watercolor on organic wafer, depicting a gentleman with powdered hair, a deep blue jacket, and a white shirt and tie.

The miniature is housed in a period, heavy gilt bronze frame which in and of itself has a good amount of intrinsic value.. Neither the painting nor the frame have any condition issues. Sight size is 2 1/8" by 1 5/8", with a frame size of 5 5/8" by 3 1/4".

A nicely painted miniature portrait, on natural wafer, of a fashionably attired gentleman. The sitter is wearing a white shirt and stock, a black coat with velvet lapels, and a gray vest with black polka dots. Presented in a period, and possibly original, ebonized frame.

No cracks, chips, restoration or other condition issues. Sight size is 2 1/2" by 1 3/4", and the frame size is 4 3/8" by 3 3/8".

A fine c1790 portrait miniature of a woman with a somewhat serious demeanor, wearing a white fichu with lace trim, her powdered hair beneath a white bonnet with blue bows. The painting is in a period gold bracelet clasp frame. Excellent condition with an overall size of 1 5/8" by 1 1/4".

Meet Captain William Hathaway, of Brooklyn NY, who passed away in 1834, according to the original section of his obituary, which was found inside the case of the miniature. Please note the gold anchor centered on his ruffled shirt.

The painting is finely done, with no condition issues. Any apparent flaws are due to my poor photographic skills. The in-person brightness is about midway between the first two photos. The cast foliate frame is also in excellent condition, measuring 2 3/8" by 2...

A finely limned miniature of a woman wearing a lace edged black dress, a blue shawl, and gold earrings. In a 5" by 4 1/2" ebonized frame with a brass liner and a sight size of 2 1/8" by 1 3/4". Excellent condition.

A miniature painting of a lovely young woman attired in a double strand coral necklace and a blue gown with puffy sleeves and a pink flower at the waist sash. Excellent condition with no issues, and in a period black wood frame. Sight size is 3 1/2" by 2 7/8", and the framed size is 5 5/8" by 4 1/2".

NOTE: I have shown two full length photos as the background color varies somewhat depending on whether the painting is seen in natural, fluorescent, or incandescent lighting.

A naïve miniature watercolor on wafer painting of a gentleman with a piercing gaze and a neatly trimmed beard. Set against a darkish green background, he is wearing a black jacket, vest, and tie with a stickpin. In a cast foliate case with a coil of plaited hair in the glazed window on the reverse.

Condition is excellent, with no issues. Sight size is 2 1/8" by 1 3/4", and the overall size is 2 3/8" by 2".

A totally charming miniature painting of a child, done in watercolor on natural material, and housed in an elaborately molded 15K gold case and surround. The cute sitter is in a white gown and posed against a cloud-filled blue sky, with foliage and a tree to the right. The reverse of the case is glazed, with a lock of hair in the aperture, and a pin so that the miniature can be worn as a brooch.

The condition of this lovely example is excellent. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 2 1/8" and the case size...

A fine mid 19th century watercolor on organic wafer of a good looking young man. The sitter, with blue eyes and brown hair, is wearing a black coat and tie with a white shirt.

This painting is in its original A.P. Critchlow thermoplastic velvet lined case, an item which, in and of itself, is often sought after by collectors. Note that this case was produced even before a patent was granted.

Condition of the painting is excellent, with no issues whatsoever. The case condition is also excellen...

A fine and charming watercolor on paper portrait of a mother and daughter, the daughter with a book and an apple. Sight size is 5 3/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches, while the framed size is 9 5/8 inches by 8 inches.

The portrait is in excellent condition, although the photos exaggerate some very minor toning. The bird's eye maple frame, which is not new and might be original, is also in excellent condition.

A fine and rare 18th century English button with a hand painted scene on paper under glass depicting 5 blacks working in the field. The button is vermeil, gold on silver, with the back showing English hallmarks. Excellent condition, with no issues. The button is 1" by 13/16".

Formerly owned by Ingrid Bergman and Alan Freed, this is a large and exceptional fine American tinsel or foil painting featuring a full wreath encircling an urn of flowers on a green base. Although the use of a wreath in a tinsel painting is not at all uncommon, this particular format is extremely rare, if not unique. The flowers are so densely packed as to make the execution of the painting quite difficult. Further, there are 6 birds amidst the flowers, and the lower area motif has switched fr...

A striking and extremely rare hooked rug featuring a peacock displaying its beautiful plumage. This is a very graphically strong depiction, striking in its design.

One of the factors that contributes greatly to the rarity is the use of silver metallic threads circling the "eyes" of the peacock's feathers. The color range in the rug is beautiful, with no jarring clashes. All dyes are natural, with no use of artificial coloring.

The condition is excellent, with virtually no worn spots, tear...

A Bow porcelain coffee cup of very rare beaker, or bucket, form. The scene is "The Koto Player", depicting a woman seated under a tree, playing the koto. The other side shows a table with a few fronds in a vase. Labels on the base show the provenance as the Bonham's Billie Paine sale, and Rod Jellicoe, a highly respected English porcelain dealer.

The condition of this piece is excellent, with no flaws, and deep clear colors. The height is 2 1/4", with a top diameter of 2 1/2" and a base diamet...

A very fine and rare Bow porcelain chocolate cup with the "Golfer and Caddy" pattern. The cup of tall "U" Shape with a strap handle. The interior with a wavy border, the handle with a flowering plant, and the base with a "2" workman's mark.

The overall condition is excellent, with only an invisibly done museum quality repair to a small interior rim flake. This wonderful example looks much better in person than the photos show. Cup height is 2 7/8" with a 2 3/4" diameter.

A Bow porcelain factory wine coaster of deep circular form. This elegant and pleasing form, although it is very rarely seen, is also described as a potted meat dish. Painted in shades of blue with vignettes of oriental symbols and the "Koto Player" in a landscape, the interior also painted with a scroll. Retains labels from Klaber & Klaber and the Barbara Leake Collection.

Overall condition is quite good, with some minor scattered kiln speckling and a little slight blurring to one wavy line (s...

A rare Chaffers Liverpool porcelain hexagonal beaker, handpainted in blue and white. The design, taken from the Chinese, shows alternating panels of floral groups, with a trellised and floral diaper along the upper rim.

The condition of this piece is excellent, with no cracks or restoration. There is a tiny firing bite at the rim, and the bottom shows kiln bubbling common to this factory. The height is 3" and the diameter is 2 3/8". Retains the label of Winifred Williams, a well known and hig...

An extremely rare and striking c1754 Chelsea cup and saucer. The bell bowl with loop handle features a bird on a leafed branch, with several insects around the girth of the cup. The saucer is similarly decorated.

The overall condition is excellent, with clear and bright colors. Both pieces have the red anchor and stilt marks. The saucer is 5" in diameter, with the cup being 2 1/8" in height. 

A Chelsea ecuelle and cover, fulsomely painted with fancy and aquatic birds. Applied flowers and leaves decorate the bases of the twig handles, while the uncommon (but original) knop on the lid is a beautiful flower painted in three colors. The ecuelle's interior features a large convolvulus spray.

The condition of this gem is superb, with bright colors and no missing paint. There is a very small spot of high quality and invisible restoration to the bottom of the knop's stem, where it meets t...

An extremely rare and charming pottery figure, with colored glaze decoration, of a hyena or jackal. Condition is superb, with no flaws or damage at all. 3 1/4" tall.

An extremely rare and striking Derby chocolate cup and saucer of very unusual form. The bell-shaped cup has an undulating rim and a flat ear-shaped pierced handle. It is painted in famille verte enamels with leaves and flowers positioned in compartments bordered in an iron red. The saucer is decorated in a similar fashion.

As rare as the cup is, according to several sources the saucer is much more so, and has rarely been offered at auction. A cup alone has appeared a very few times in the la...

A large elaborate and beautiful patch mark Derby porcelain figure group of "Music" from the Muses series. Some sources refer to a very similar group as "Poetry". However, this particular group is somewhat different and is a rare variant.

The group shows a woman, holding a lyre, standing in front of a reeded column on top of which is a book and a sheet of music. Atop the base is a standing putto holding a music pipe in one hand and some type of instrument in the other. A second putto is seated ...