Catalog (971)

A First Period Dr. Wall Worcester teabowl, of octagonal form, with a slightly everted rim, printed in outline and delicately hand coloured with the "Red Bull" pattern, the borders with half flowerheads alternating with green diaper panels. This is the rare early version of this pattern when Worcester first started using printed patterns. The pattern is based on a Chinese famille rose design from the Yongzheng period and appears circa 1754-56.

Condition is excellent, with bright colors, and ...

This is an extremely uncommon Irish cordial or wine glass with a domed helmet foot. The round funnel bowl sits atop a multiple spiral air twist stem (MSAT). The glass is quite heavy and substantial, with a good dark metal, and the weight and thickness of the stem all lead to the Irish attribution.

In perfect condition with no problems whatsoever, the glass is 6 3/8 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 1/8 inches and a foot diameter of 2 15/16 inches.

A fine example of American folk art, painted by John Brewster Jr. on natural organic material. The sitter is a gentleman with light red hair and blue eyes. He is attired in a black coat, white vest, white ruffled shirt, and white silk cravat. The miniature is in its original case, the reverse with a glazed window containing a plait of hair atop which is a gold initial.

The condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, bowing, paint loss, or restoration. The case is also in excellent condition...

A beautiful English creamware plate decorated with violet swags with green trim along the rim of the plate and the edges of the swags. Aside from being of unusual structure, the violet color is rare, and the presence of a second color extremely rare.

This type ware is often mistakenly referred to as Leeds and featheredge. In reality, many factories other than Leeds made items of this nature, and the type edge here is more properly called a molded edge.

The condition of the plate is excell...

A watercolor on organic wafer portrait, done by Matthew Jouett, of a young woman wearing a pale blue Empire style dress with a lace trimmed bodice and a blue hair band trailing from her head. Presented in a case with N. Grayson engraved in the interior.

The condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no issues. Overall size is 2 7/8" by 2 3/8".

NOTES: 1. Although Jouett produced a large body of full portraits during his lifetime, signed or documented miniatures by Jouett are q...

A rare c1835 American miniature by Mrs. Samuel Richardson (1790 - 1852), nee Schetky. It took quite a while, using various lighting settings and filters, to finally discern the almost illegible S (?) Richardson signature along the extreme right. That led me to one of the very few examples of her miniatures, one of which is in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, MO), which confirmed my interpretation. The painting and the cast foliate case which measures 2 1/8" by 1 3/4" are in excellen...

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 very nicely painted miniature portrait done in watercolor on natural organic material. Signed "D.F. Ames NY" along the lower right. The sitter is a nice looking young gentleman in a blue coat with gilt buttons, a black stock tie, off-white vest and ruffled shirt. Based on the hair style and clothing the painting was done at the beginning of the period when Ames was known to work.

The miniature is without any cracks, chips, bowing, or restoration. It is of goodly size, housed in a 3" by 2 1/...

A fine and stately Dutch armorial wine goblet engraved with the arms of Hohenlohe. The thistle bowl of this glass shows two leopards passant within a crowned shield surrounded by fronds. A narrow band of engraving encircles the rim. The heavy bottom of the bowl has an enclosed tear, as does the huge inverted baluster knop below the bowl. The foot is domed and folded, with a rough snapped pontil.

The goblet is quite large, standing 7 5/8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 3" and a foot diameter of...

A beautiful Newcastle Light Baluster wine glass. Superbly Dutch engraved, as the best of these are, with the coat of arms of the province of Holland, the pointed round funnel bowl is on a stem with a teared baluster knop above a central annulated knop above a teared inverted baluster knop. Folded conical foot with a rough, snapped pontil.

The glass stands 7" tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 15/16" and a foot diameter of 3". Good color and tool marks, in excellent condition with no chips, cracks...

A beautiful set of 6 English antique wine flutes, of exceptionally tall size. The trumpet bowls, engraved with bunches of grapes, vines, and birds, lead down to double series opaque twist (DSOT) stems that are comprised of a pair of thick spiral threads around a central gauze. Rough, snapped pontils. The glasses are 7 1/2 inches tall, with bowl diameters of 2 1/4 inches and foot diameters of 2 3/4 inches.

It is quite rare to find a set of glasses such as these, in superb condition, with such ...

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 miniature portrait, on natural wafer, of an attractive young woman decked out in the latest hairdo and height of fashion (well, for the time when the portrait was done). An excellent example of naïve portraiture.

The painting is in wonderful condition, with no issues. The period gilt wood frame has some expected and fairly unobtrusive wear but in person looks much better than it appears in the photo. Sight size of the painting is 3" by 2 1/2", with a framed size of 4 5/8" by 4 1/8...

A large and beautiful gin bari button showing lotus flowers against a purple background, the whole with a silver surround and backing. Uncommon scalloped shape. Excellent condition with no issues, and any apparent imperfections are due to reflections in the photo. The diameter is 1 1/4".

NOTES:
1. Buttons of this type, a pure Japanese creation, were primarily done in the late 19th century, and the subjects display the Japanese elegance and simplicity in depicting nature oriented themes,...

An unusual miniature portrait, done by firing enamel on glass. This combination of subject matter, style, medium, and technique is quite rare for this period and area. The sitter is a quite handsome man in a black coat with a white shirt, vest and tie. He is posed on a red chair in front of a drapery done in hues shading from red to orange. In the center left is a window view of hills, a river and two ships.

The frame is original, and bears the label of F.A. Wenderoth of Phila. Since Wenderot...

A wonderful example of a portrait miniature painted by Mrs. Moses B. Russell (nee Clarissa Peters). This work, done in watercolors on natural wafer, is of a blue-eyed woman wearing a black dress with a brooch centered at the lace-edged bodice. Her strong visage, looking directly into eyes of the viewer, is offset by a beautiful and soft multi-colored background. Housed in a cast foliate case with the reverse engraved "SAWC" and having a lock of hair in the glazed aperture.

The condition of the...

A watercolor miniature of an older gentleman, expertly painted, and signed at the lower right "AG 1800", by Alexander Gallaway. The blue-eyed subject, posed against a blue sky with wispy clouds, is wearing a blue jacket with brass buttons, a white shirt and vest, and a stock tied in a bow. The glazed reverse of the gilt brass case has fine hairwork consisting of interwoven plaits.

The condition of the case and painting is excellent, with no flaws. Sight size is 3" by 2 1/4", and the case size ...

A spectacular Nathaniel Rogers painting done in watercolor on organic wafer. I very rarely, if ever, describe or refer to an item as "the best", or the "finest example ever". However, there is no question that this painting represents Rogers at the peak of his ability, which indeed is quite high. Further, the vast majority of his paintings are only bust length, and do not depict the hands of the sitter, not any additional objects. Here we have the subject sitting with an arm draped over a chair,...

A superb Derby porcelain coffee can displaying a scene of two people on a hillside looking at a town in the distance. The scene is identified in blue script on the bottom as "Near Breadsall", Derbyshire" along with the pattern number 531 and the Derby crossed batons and crown mark. In addition to being a fine example of Derby painting, the ground color on this piece is a beautiful true yellow, one of the most difficult colors to produce and fire without issues, and thus one of the least common c...

This beautiful example of an 18th century English cordial features a round funnel bowl engraved with a flowering rose on a leafed stem with thorns. The stem is a double series opaque twist (dsot) composed of a multi-ply spiral band around a pair of heavy spiral threads. The foot is of the uncommon domed helmet form with a rough snapped pontil. Lead glass with good color, striations, and tooling marks.

Condition is flawless, with no chips, cracks, scratches, or restoration. The pinkish tone in ...

A wonderfully limed work of a young man, done by John Barry. The porcelain-complected sitter, with reddish-brown hair and brown eyes, is finely dressed in a white cravat, a green and cream striped vest and a silk-lined black coat.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws (the white area on the left is light reflection), and is housed in its original gold bracelet slide case. The sight size is 1 1/2" by 1 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: John Barry, who lived in London and was activ...

This fine work, done in watercolor and bodycolor on organic material, was most probably done in Naples. The sitter is an attractive child looking directly at the viewer and holding a jumping jack toy of Pulcinella, a classical character that originated in commedia dell'arte of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. The reverse of the portrait is also quite special, with its plaited hair, ivory plaque, golden hair work initials, metallic threads, and pearls.

The ...

A finely painted miniature portrait, done in watercolor on organic substrate, by Pierre Henri. Done against a blue background, the sitter, a nice looking young gent with blue eyes and hair en queue, is wearing a brown coat with yellow lining.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no bowing, cracks, paint loss, or restoration. Set in a frame with a glazed blue material reverse. The sight size is 1 3/4" by 1 1/4".

Pierre Henri (c 1760 - 1822) was born in Paris and often went by the...

An extremely powerful portrait attributed to Jeremiah Paul Jr., though it is possible that Benjamin Trott was the artist. In any case, due to the technique and strong features of the sitter, the painting has an immediate impact on the viewer and was done by a highly skilled artist.

The overall condition of the painting is excellent, as is the case, The size is 2 7/8" by 2 1/4". Please note that the first photo is an accurate depiction of the miniature, and the second photo, which has all man...

A strongly limned portrait miniature, on natural material, done by Augustus Fuller. The subject is a young lady with dotted white organza collar and fichu, a tall tortoiseshell comb, and ruby and diamond earrings.

Fuller did sign a number of his miniatures, but apparently always on the back. Since this example is presented in its never opened original frame, it is possible that it is a signed piece. Regardless, because of the technique and composition, there is no question that this was done ...

A heavily jeweled Austrian jewelry box lined in velvet; 4 3/4" by 3 1/4" by 3 1/4"

A superb and extremely rare bucket bowl wine goblet with an everted lip. The stem is an 8 sided molded pedestal type, also known as a Silesian stem. What makes it particularly uncommon is that it is not straight, but is wrythen molded, with the additional rarity of diamond molding at the shoulders. Completing the beauty of this piece is the single collar below the bowl, and the double collar above the large foot, which has a rough snapped pontil and an extremely wide fold.

The glass is in perf...

A nicely painted miniature portrait on organic wafer. The sitter is a young gentleman with blue eyes, attired in a white shirt, black tie, jacket and vest. The background is a pleasing shaded blue. Set in a gilt metal case with an unglazed aperture on the reverse.

The cased size of the painting is 2 1/2" by 2". The painting is in excellent condition, with no cracks, bowing, or restoration. The glass on the front has a scratch.

Biographical Note: William Lewis was born in Salem MA in 178...

This is an absolutely charming American folk art painting depicting an idyllic country scene. The work, done in oil on academy board, shows a woman with a sleeping child in the foreground, while in the central distance can be seen a group of building, above which are a richly colored sky and clouds. On the right is a small waterfall with a shepherd surrounded by sheep. The trees and foliage throughout the painting are limned in a whimsical folky style.

The sight size of the painting is 24" by...

An extremely fine example of a saltglaze plate with a scalloped rim and a molded, or embossed, border.

The diameter is 9 1/4" and the condition is excellent with no chips, cracks, or restoration. There are 3 very minor small brown spots on the front due to kiln impurities. It is very unusual to find them in this condition. The color of the paste might appear slightly different in the photos, but that is due to the lighting and reflection.

A beautiful display piece, or for the discrimi...

A lovely balustroid drinking glass with a flared bell bowl on a stem with an inverted baluster knop with enclosed tear. All this above a cushion basal knop surmounting a beaded knop above a domed and folded foot. Note that balustroids with teared knops are sometimes attributed to Newcastle glass houses. The bowl has a small black slag seed.

6 1/2 inches in height, with a bowl diameter of 2 1/4 inches and a foot diameter of 2 1/2 inches.

A stunning Chelsea-Derby tea bowl and saucer, finely painted in puce monochrome with scattered floral sprays and sprigs, reserved on a ground of closely packed gilded spirals. The interior of the bowl is painted with a puce rose and leaves. Both pieces are marked with a gold anchor.

Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Minor gilding wear to the extreme rim edges. The height of the bowl is is 1 7/8", and the diameter is 3 1/8", while the saucer diameter is 5".

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"

An American miniature portrait painting, on natural organic material, of a very attractive boy with gray-blue eyes, wearing a red velvet jacket. The painting is 2 3/4" by 2 1/4" and is in excellent condition.

A superb wine glass enameled by William Beilby, with the additional embellishment of a gilded rim. Leaves and clusters of grapes adorn this glass, with the white enamel displaying the slight pinkish undertone which is one of the hallmarks for identification of works by Beilby.

The ogee bowl sits above a DSOT (double series opaque twist) stem which has a multi-ply spiral band outside of a pair of spiral tapes. The glass is 5 11/16 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 3/16 inches and a foot di...

A simple but charming Benjamin Trott watercolor of an attractive blue-eyed young woman with a ribbon in her hair and dressed in a white empire gown. There are no condition issues. The sight size is 2 1/2" by 1 7/8", and the later frame is 4 7/8" by 3 78".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:
1. From "The Smithsonian Art Museum": Benjamin Trott (c1770 - 1843), thought to have been born in Boston, ranks with Edward Greene Malbone and Charles Fraser as one of America's best miniaturists. During a long career t...

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.

This is an extremely nice example of a Bow porcelain figure of winter from the "Rustic Seasons" group. It depicts an older man wearing a cowled garment, sitting on a mound of rocks, and warming his hands over a brazier. The brazier is set amidst flowers and leaves, with the whole scene raised on four scroll feet.

The piece is 6 1/2" tall, and is in overall excellent and exceptional condition. There are several minor chips to two of the leaves and a flower. There is also glaze dirt or ...

This is a charming example of a Champion's Bristol coffee cup, of fluted form, decorated with swags of flowers and leaves. Marked on the bottom with a blue "X" and "17" painter's number. Certainly the marks add to the value of this as opposed to it being just an attributed example.

Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Bright colors with no losses. A not uncommon 1/4" glaze separation in the bowl interior, shown in the fifth picture at around 7 o'clock, and a minute flea...

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 fine multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) wine glass. The flared bell bowl surmounts a stem that has the rare feature of a vermiform collar. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil. 6 inches in height, with a bowl diameter of 2 9/16 inches, and an extremely generous foot diameter of 3 1/8 inches. Perfect condition.

An unrecorded and possibly unique antique English composite stem wine glass. The upper portion of the drawn trumpet bowl leads into an extended plain bowl base. This is above a double series opaque twist stem, comprised of an extremely wide spiral tape outside of a pair of spiral tapes. Completing the rarity of this glass are a shoulder and medial knop. The foot is of conical form, with a rough, snapped pontil.

There are some small internal annealing fissures to the opaque tapes, due to coolin...

A scalloped top coffee cup made by the Richard Chaffers factory in Liverpool. It has a version of the Scarlet Japan pattern with panels of prunus and chrysanthemums separated by orange bands with gilding and reserved with mons. The interior also has three mons in red. The handle is of simple loop form. The cup is 2 1/2 inches tall, and 2 1/8 inches in diameter. The condition is about as close to mint as you can get, with no chips, cracks, scratches, or restoration. The gilding is also in out...

A nice Chamberlain Worcester porcelain dish of gadrooned and gilded edge form, the ground color in a deep apple green, and the center featuring a bouquet of various flowers. Marked on the reverse with "Chamberlain Worcester" in red.

The overall length is 13 1/2" with a width of 9 1/2". Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. As is not uncommon in this period, there is overall faint craquelure.

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 vibrant and charming American folk art tinsel painting showing a variety of fruit and foliage in a white compote set upon a slab of marble. Wonderful condition, with a sight size of 12 inches by 15 1/4 inches, and a beautiful, non-period frame of 16 3/4 inches by 20 inches.

A beautiful 18K gold ring containing a miniature portrait of a pretty young girl wearing a bicorn hat. The painting is surrounded with authentic seed pearls.

The condition of the painting itself, and the ring, is excellent. The blue section showing in the photo of the underside is a bit of tape that was used to allow a snugger fit for the finger of a previous owner. The front of the ring measures 1 1/8" by 7/8". The ring is a size 7 1/2.

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...

The group of small porcelain items known as "toys" is composed of scent bottles, bonbonnieres, etuis, and seals. These were produced from the early years of Chelsea through to the Chelsea-Derby period. (The most comprehensive work on these items is "The Chelsea Porcelain Toys", by G.E. Bryant, published in 1925.)

Seals were carried by members of the upper class and used to imprint a uniquely identifiable mark in the wax used to sign or secure documents or letters. They were generally 7/8" t...

A fine Chelsea porcelain finger bowl stand,with the red anchor mark and stilt marks on the reverse. Beautifully and softly painted with flowers and insects in the Meissen style. 6" in diameter and in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration.

The group of small porcelain items known as "toys" is composed of scent bottles, bonbonnieres, etuis, and seals. These were produced from the early years of Chelsea through to the Chelsea-Derby period. (The most comprehensive work on these items is The Chelsea Porcelain Toys, by G.E. Bryant, published in 1925.)

Seals were carried by members of the upper class and used to imprint a uniquely identifiable mark in the wax used to sign or secure documents or letters. They were generally 1" to...

This is a small and charming child's gameboard, measuring 13 3/4" long by 10 3/4" wide by 3/4" thick. It was found in Vermont, and most likely originated there. It is made of maple, with bread-boarded ends, affixed with square nails. The dry paint surface, with its red and black checkerboard, outlined with green stripes, is in superb condition, with no overpainting or areas of loss. The wood itself is in excellent shape, with 2 minor age cracks, and a knothole in the back which fell out. The b...

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 miniature painting done in watercolors on natural material, signed "C. Greiner along the left center. The sitter is a gentleman dressed in the clothing and hair style popular in the 1841 to 1844 period. Presented in a cast foliate case, the reverse being engine turned with a glazed aperture containing a braid of hair and engraved with the initials JLD.

The painting and the case are in excellent condition with no issues. Overall size of 2 3/8" by 2".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Christopher (or...

This is an elegantly proportioned wine glass with a flared bell bowl and a color twist stem. The stem has two translucent red and two opaque white spiral threads surrounding a loose vertical cable. The foot is of conical form with a rough snapped pontil.

The glass is of heavy, bright metal, and displays good tooling marks and striations. 19th century. The condition is excellent, with no chips, scratches, or repairs of any type.

6 3/16" tall, 2 1/2" bowl diameter, 3 1/16" foot dia...

A beautiful composite stem English wine glass with a tulip bowl above a stem with a multi-spiral air twist over a teared inverted baluster knop above a plain section. The glass has a domed foot with rough pontil.

The form itself is quite uncommon and when found is almost always with a pointed round funnel bowl or round funnel bowl, and of somewhat shorter height. For a glass of that type see Bickerton p. 193, fig 555. The combination of the tulip bowl and a height of 6 7/8" in this example ...

A superb and rare lead metal antique English Georgian period composite stem wine glass. The round funnel bowl is beautifully engraved with a wide band with a foliate and scroll motif. Directly below the bowl are two knops on a plain stem section, below which is a knopped double series opaque twist stem comprised of a central gauze surrounded by two heavy spiral threads. The conical foot has a rough snapped pontil.

The glass is 7 1/8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 3" and a foot diameter of 3 1/...

A spectacular Chelsea porcelain covered porringer. This wonderful piece is profusely decorated, even on the inside of the bowl, with butterflies, moths, other insects, and flowers. A veritable rainbow of colors was used in the enameling. The finial on the lid is a naturalistically molded rose with hues of reds and pinks, and the handles are painted with a distinct bluish green. The underside has the Chelsea red anchor mark and displays the stilt marks indicative of Chelsea.

Overall condition i...

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...

A superbly limned portrait by Daniel Dickinson, done in watercolor on natural material. The sitter is a young man of the Brown family of Philadelphia. This painting was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, "Exhibition of Miniatures", April 22 - May 6, 1893, and was descended through the Brown family..

The condition of the miniature is superb, with no issues of any kind. The gold bezel is original, but the frame is a later Wiebold Studio reproduction, with both of these also bein...