Catalog (971)

An impressive and charming green-tinged very large champagne flute with a conical bowl above a bladed knop, all surmounting a hollow baluster knop. Soda glass with scattered bubbles, as expected.

7 3/4 " tall.

An elaborate large German wine goblet, the round funnel bowl cut and etched with two winged figures clasping hands over an orb. The inscription on the reverse of the glass reads, in Old German: "unser freundschaft sol bestehn bis wir mit der welt vergehn", which translates to "our friendship shall remain until we leave this world". The beautifully cut stem is of the teared inverted baluster type. Folded foot with rough snapped pontil.

The glass is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks,...

In referring to certain types of pottery, "Leeds" and "featheredge" are both common misnomers. People think of certain types of Staffordshire pottery as being Leeds while in actuality only a small portion was made by that factory.

Further, to be completely accurate, this platter is really what is known as "shell-edge", as opposed to featheredge. It is pearlware, made around 1810, and is an extremely large 17 3/4" by 13 1/4" in size. Wares of this type were often made in blue, and, much ...

A large (15 1/4" by 12") blue and white Staffordshire platter in the "Lakes of Killarney" pattern, maker unknown; beautifully bright and crisp (what appears to be a darkness on the platter in the photo is due to a lighting problem)

A rare and striking large porcelain bowl made by the William Reid manufactory. The scene, handpainted in an underglaze soft grayish-blue, depicts oriental buildings and foliage. The interior has a border of alternating flower heads and dots, and the bottom has a workman's mark. Both the large size of the bowl, and the scene itself, contribute to the rarity of this piece.

The bowl is 6 5/8" on diameter, and is 2 5/8" in height. Condition is superb, with no cracks, chips, paint loss, or restorat...

As mentioned for other similar items on the site, 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. This particular plate was made by Riley, and is indicated as such with an impressed mark on the back. Being able to identify the maker does increase the value to some extent. Also, green-edged wares are considerably less common than blue.

Thi...

A rare miniature portrait by Leopold Unger, painted with watercolors on organic wafer. The sitter, a very attractive blue-eyed young woman with brown hair done in sausage curls, has a wistful or slightly sad expression on her face and in her eyes. She is in a black dress with black lace edging at the bodice, and is sitting in a brownish-red chair, holding a red book, and with a multicolored scarf draped over her arm.

The miniature is signed "P. Unger. px. 1839" along the lower left. The bac...

Painted by Louis Francois Aubry with watercolor and gouache on organic wafer, this portrait miniature combines the superb skills of the artist with the radiant beauty of a young woman. The sitter, with hazel eyes and curly black hair, is wearing a deep navy velvet jacket over a white dress with a fancy lace ruffled collar. Completing her ensemble is a long double looped gold chain. Note the shadow, on the white dress, of the bottom loop of the chain, exemplifying the care and evolved technique t...

This is an extremely fine example of a Lowestoft tea canister, made in the 1775 - 1780 period. It is of rectangular form with sloped shoulders and a molded ridge following the outline of the sloping portion. The printed design features flowers and insects. An open crescent mark is on the underneath.

The condition of the tea caddy is superb, with no blurriness, chips, nicks, paint loss, cracks, scratches, or restoration. There is a very small firing tear on the bottom, which does not go th...

A beautiful and finely painted miniature portrait painting, done in watercolor on natural material, by Thomas Seir Cummings. The sitter is a very attractive woman wearing an academic or possibly a cleric gown, and a white lace and blue material cap. The frame, which is later, is a beautiful burl wood.

The sight size is 4" by 3", and the framed size is 6 1/2" by 5 1/2". Condition is excellent, with no cracks, chips, paint loss, bowing, or restoration. The slight disturbance along the botto...

An extraordinarily large and rare lead glass wine Newcastle light baluster goblet; pointed round funnel bowl; triple annulated knop above an inverted baluster knop with enclosed tears, above a basal knop. Ex Delosmosne collection. Perfect condition; rough snapped pontil.

10 1/4" tall, 4 1/2" diameter bowl, 4 1/4" diameter foot

An exceedingly fine example of a miniature brass cannon, probably English, with a fine patina and superb condition having only the usual nicks due to age. The cannon is 10 inches long, 3 1/4 inches wide, and 3 1/4 inches high.

A pale vaseline glass miniature or crocus vase on a stemmed base; 4 1/2" tall

A very well executed miniature portrait painting of a gentleman, watercolor on natural organic material, by Edward Nash. The leather travel case states that the miniature was owned by Mrs. Thos. Higham. The miniature is in wonderful condition, but lacks an inner case to the travel case. The size is 2 13/16" by 2 5/16".

NOTE: Edward Nash (1778-1821), reportedly a hunchback, exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1800 to 1820. He lived for a while in the Lake District and knew Wordsworth, Coleridge...

A wonderfully painted miniature portrait, on natural organic material, of a young gentleman in a brown coat. The miniature is housed in its original gold bezel and brooch, with an elaborate monogram in gold on the reverse. The overall size is 2" by 1 5/8", and the painting and case are in excellent condition, with no problems. The discoloration in the photos is due to light refraction during scanning.

This piece was sold in 1966 by Charles Woollett, a highly respected London art dealer, and wa...

A fine miniature portrait painting, strongly attributed to Samuel Broadbent. The sitter is reputedly Michael Butler, founder of the Union News Company. The attribution is based on the heavy coloring used in the sitter's face, the positioning in the painting of the sitter, the background technique, and the similarity to the example in the Manney collection.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no cracks, bowing, or restoration. It is housed in what appears to be the original locket fram...

A superb enamel on copper portrait miniature by Jean Andre Rouquet. The sitter, dressed in an embroidered red jacket, ia a royal personage, evidenced by the ermine trimmed robe or cloak on his lap.

The condition of the miniature is excellent, with bright colors, no cracks, and no restoration. The duller areas along the edges are due to the way the light reflects off the curved edges. The early 19th century ormolu frame also is in fine condition. Sight size of the painting is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8", ...

A striking portrait, on natural material, of a French colonel, purportedly Charles Ferdement, Baron de St. Clair. The colors are vivid, and the strength of the sitter is well captured by the artist. The condition is excellent, and the diameter is 2 3/4".

A finely done miniature portrait painting by Joseph Wood. Although unsigned, there is no question that this fine rendering of a young woman was done by Wood.

Sight size of this nice example is 2 1/4" by 1 13/16", and the period case is 2 1/2" by 2 1/16". The condition of the painting is excellent, with vibrant coloring, and no chips, cracks, or restoration. The period case (and glass) is in excellent condition, but it is missing the back, a replacement for which which can be made.

Joseph...

A nicely executed portrait miniature, done in watercolor and gouache on organic wafer. The sitter is a fine looking gentleman with blue eyes and brown hair, attired in a black jacket, vest, and stock.

The painting was descended in the family, and the sitter has been identified as John Amory Lowell (1798 - 1881). He was the grandson of John Lowell (1743 - 1802), an American lawyer, selectman, jurist, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, and federal judge. Known within his family as â...

A finely painted portrait miniature of a young girl, presented in its original gilded case, the reverse with woven plaits of hair under glass. The sitter, who has a slight smile playing on her lips, has blue eyes and brownish-blonde hair, and is simply dressed in a white top.

The painting and the case are both in excellent condition with no issues at all. The case size is 1 5/8" by 1 3/8".

An extremely large and beautifully made drinking vessel, or loving cup; gadrooned bowl, applied trailing to rim, applied medial ring; blade-knopped stem over conical foot with rough pontil.

7 1/4" tall, 4 3/4" bowl diameter, 3 3/4" foot diameter, 8" across handles

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 fantastic Clarissa Peters (Mrs. Mose B. Russell) mourning painting of a baby and toddler. Peters chose a simple palette of white and bluish-gray to emphasize the ethereal and ephemeral nature of the painting, reserving the use of colors to the hair, lips, and eyes of the subjects. Known for painting children, Peters' mourning paintings are scarce, and double mourning portraits are exponentially rarer yet.

Adding to the importance of this piece is the velvet lined gutta percha case, which h...

A fine English drinking glass with a pointed round funnel bowl engraved with grapes and vines above a double merise (rare) and a short plain stem section, all above a multiple-spiral air twist (MSAT) stem with an inverted baluster shoulder knop and an angular medial knop. The plain section, although short, combined with the air twist might allow classifying this glass as a composite stem type. Conical foot with a rough snapped pontil.

6 3/8: tall, 2 1/4" bowl diameter, 2 5/8" foot diameter.

A watercolor on natural material done by Nathaniel Plimer. The sitter is a somewhat older woman, with a pensive and somewhat sad mien about her. Set against a background with gradations of blue, she is simply dressed in a white gown and bonnet, accented with a pendant medallion on a black ribbon, and a gray belt.

The painting and the original bronze frame are in excellent condition with no flaws or restoration. Sight size of the miniature is 2 3/4" by 2 1/4", with an overall size of 3 3/4" by ...

A charming and beautifully rendered double portrait miniature attributed to Nathaniel Plimer. Executed in watercolors on natural wafer, he depicted, in classical style, an attractive young woman dressed in a low cut white gown with a reddish robe draped around her. The very young and strikingly angelic child, with fulsome red curls, has its arms clasped around the mother's neck.

This appealing gem is in excellent condition, with no flaws. The case is 3 1/4" by 2 3/4".

This miniature was sold...

A large, decorated, Navajo coil basket; 13 1/2" diameter, 4" tall Excellent condition with no flaws.

A superb and tall Newcastle light baluster (NLB) wine glass or goblet with marriage or anniversary significance. The flared bell bowl has a trapped tear in the deep bottom. The stem features a shoulder angular knop above a slim inverted baluster knop, then a plain stem section leading to a basal ball knop above a conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

What makes this a marriage type glass is the superb Dutch engraving, which depicts a couple toasting each other. On the other side of the bowl...

An elegant and rare Newcastle light baluster (NLB) antique English trick wine glass, with a round funnel bowl set on a tall stem with a shoulder annular knop above a knop, above a large, teared medial knop, finishing with a ball basal knop. Conical foot with rough snapped pontil.

The bowl is Dutch engraved with a band of leaves and flowerheads, with a sprig below. The "trick" to this glass is that it is a dribble glass, with holes in the center of three of the flowerheads. An unsuspecting gues...

A beautiful and tall open flame oil lamp of Facon de Venice type, probably from Liege. Showing superb proportions and elegance, the large spouted font sits atop a capstan type knop, above a hollow, squat inverted baluster knop, which in turn leads into an elongated, hollow, rib-molded inverted baluster type stem that has 3 graduated applied ruffled collars or trailings, finally ending in a basal knop above a folded foot.

The lamp is 9 5/16" tall, with a foot diameter of 4 3/8". Except for a sm...

A rare and beautiful double series opaque twist wine glass. The bowl, of uncommon tulip form, sits atop a stem containing two heavy spiral threads around a central gauze. What makes this glass rare, aside from the bowl shape, is that, opposed to being conical, as is usually the case, the foot is domed, a feature very rarely found on opaque twist glasses.

This fine example is 6 1/8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 7/16", and a foot diameter of 2 5/8". Condition is excellent, with no chips, crac...

An elegant and wonderfully proportioned Dutch glass; soda metal with a bell bowl above a shoulder-knopped double series opaque twist comprised of a central gauze with 4 outer spiral threads.

Excellent condition with some minor nibbling in one section to the underside of the foot, not visible from the top

6 1/4" tall, 2 5/8" diameter bowl, 2 3/4" diameter foot

A beautiful antique wine glass with a bell bowl above a double series opaque twist stem (DSOT) with collar, medial, and basal knops. Knops on opaque twists are much less common than straight stem opaque twists, and the more knops, the rarer. The opaque twist has a pair of 3-ply spiral bands outside of a central gauze.

6 1/8 inches tall, 2 3/8 inch diameter bowl, 2 5/8 inch diameter foot

A wonderful English watercolor miniature on natural wafer, painted by Ozias Humphry. The gentleman depicted is clearly of the upper class, dressed in a dusty rose colored jacket with a lace collar, a style worn in England specifically in the 1765 to 1770 period. The case, which is probably original and of gold, comes with a 28" long gold chain attached through the bale, and is also most likely to be original.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no flaws to speak of, and no restora...

An exceptional American gameboard with a red wash and black painted decoration; compartments at each end for the game pieces; construction is pine with breadboarded ends and wrought nails; condition is excellent with all original surface; one small portion of a breadboarded end has been replaced at some point long ago; 30" by 17 3/4"

Boards of this type (non 8 x 8 squares) are often commonly and mistakenly called checkerboards. In reality, they are boards for the game of "draughts", which evol...

A charming scene showing classical ruins; great detail and contrast in the sky; great period frame; sight size 20 1/4" by 14 7/8", framed size 26 1/2" by 21"

A fine painting of a youth, signed and dated "P. Jean 1789" on the right side. The sitter is dressed in a red jacket with a white ruff. The reverse of the gold case has interwoven plaits of hair under glass.

There are no condition issues with the painting or the case. The discoloration along the top of the painting is light reflection. The size is 2" by 1 1/2".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Philippe Jean (1755-1802)was born in Saint Ouen, Jersey, the son of Nicholas Jean and Marie Grandin. He was at fi...

A lovely Chaffers Liverpool bowl, decorated with peonies issuing from hollow rockwork, a red bird on a branch. and an insect to the reverse. Chaffers, even more so than the more common Liverpool factories, has seen a substantial and lightning growth in interest and value, especially for items in good condition. This piece is in overall excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration, although the interior has a rubbed flower, as is often the case. 6" in diameter, and 2 3/4" tal...

A fine miniature portrait by Augustus Fuller, done on natural material. The sitter is an attractive hazel-eyed woman sporting sausage curls and wearing a white lace bonnet, a white lace fichu with a centered brooch, and a black dress. Fuller took pains in this painting to the extent of showing details of the dress design with faint white highlights, shown in the second photo.

The condition of the painting is excellent, and viewed in person the miniature is far better than the photo shows. The...

Confidently attributed to Edward Savage, this miniature portrait is painted on organic material. The sitter, who has a strong countenance and blue eyes, is wearing a deep blue coat with gold buttons, a white vest and shirt, and a white cravat.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws, and is housed in a gilt copper case, the reverse of which has a glazed aperture containing woven plaits of hair.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Edward Savage (1761 in Princeton, Massachusetts – 1817 in Pri...

A beautifully painted watercolor on natural wafer, with a very strong attribution to John Barry as the artist. The sitter is an attractive woman with brown eyes and gray-brown hair cascading down her shoulder. She is wearing a dark blue velvet bow in her hair, a gauzy white fichu, and a blue dress with fine white lines and small white dots.

The painting is in superb condition, with no chips, cracks, bowing, or restoration. The sight size is 2" by 1 1/2" and the gold case is 2 3/16" by 1 3/4"....

A nice example of a miniature portrait, painted by Nathaniel Hancock on organic material. The sitter is a woman in a blue gown with a lace edged bodice. The gold case has chamfered glass on the front, and the reverse identifies the sitter as "Ridgely 1791."

The condition of this little gem is very fine, with no flaws to speak of. There was some minimal clean-up of a few painting drips in the background. Overall size is 1 3/4" by 1 1/2".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Information about Hancock is rel...

A finely painted portrait of a beautiful young woman, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter, identified on the reverse as "Wife of Dr. Kent" is attired in a simple white gown, with no jewelry or other embellishments shown, and is presented against a multicolored background.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws to speak of. The later case shows some wear, and has a cardboard or leather backing. Overall size is 2 5/8" by 2 1/8".

A fine oil on board of Isaac Henderson, attributed to Giddings Hyde Ballou. Ballou was a highly regarded itinerant painter, born in CT, who did a good portion of his work in the Cape Cod area. Documentation relating to his work is provided with this painting.

Sight size 15" by 12"

A fine example from the Quadrupeds Series, manufactured, primarily for the American market, by John Hall between 1802 and 1832. This particular piece depicts the pronghorn antelope, with a beaver, otter, coyote, and raccoon in the cartouches at the edge of the plate. Marked on the reverse a printed "Hall Quadrupeds".

The plate is 8" in diameter and is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration, and having the desirable deep blue ripple glaze.

En suite with p1108.

A fine and rare mixed twist wine glass with a pan top bowl. The stem has a central air cable surrounded by two heavy spiral opaque threads. 6 1/4 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 5/16 inches and a foot diameter of 2 11/16 inches.

This glass is a true pair with item jg116.

This is an unusual, wonderful, and beautifully done folk art example of a tinsel or foil painting. The vast majority of tinsel paintings are of flowers. This rarity depicts a bluebird hovering over a basket filled with pears, a melon, and apples. A cluster of cherries, and bunches of grapes and foliage surround the basket. Colors are deep and very vibrant, and include blues, purple, brown, various shades of yellow and green, white, reds, and others.

Tinsel paintings of this type are almost ...

This is a superb, early, and rare Chinese libation cup. The paste itself appears to date from around 1735, while the decoration is most likely from around 1775.

The outside has applied polychrome lotus roots and flowers. Surrounding these are delightful vignettes of houses and boats with fishermen, the whole being further decorated with insects and birds. The interior has two large butterflies, or moths, and flowers. The base is gilded and molded to also resemble a lotus root.

The oval cup ...

A wonderful watercolor on natural wafer, painted by Robert Field. The sitter, a very pretty young woman with brown hair and eyes, is posed in front of a red drapery, and is wearing a black jacket over a white dress with a neck ruffle. The ebonized frame appears to be original, as is the cover glass which has a black and eglomise border.

The condition of this rare gem is excellent, with no cracks, chips, paint loss, or bowing. Except for a discolored area in the top right, the frame is also in ...

A beautiful and rare bucket shaped cup made by the Bow porcelain factory and decorated in gilt, iron red, green, and blue in the kakiemon "Two Quail" pattern. The arrangement of the pattern is also unusual on this piece, with the birds placed directly opposite the handle.

This piece is in superb condition, with no chips or restoration, and showing bright enamels, with a truly minor in the making glaze split at the top of the handle (shown in extreme magnification in the 6th photo). The cup is...

A fine and rare Bow porcelain coffee cup and saucer painted with the "Dragon Chasing (the Flaming) Pearl (of Wisdom). The interior of the cup also shows the dragon, while the exterior of the saucer is painted with clouds. One of the ways to distinguish this early Bow version is the arrow shaped tongue emanating from the mouth of the dragon. The pieces are very finely potted, and each has a workman's number 13 on the bottom. The handle of the cup is of the crabstock or twig form.

The condition ...

A wonderful Bow porcelain factory tea bowl painted in the "Jumping Boy" pattern. Although this pattern is occasionally found on Chaffers porcelain, and is not common, it appears to occur even much less frequently on Bow porcelain pieces. The potting is extremely thin and light. The painting, done in shades of dark and lighter blues, is extremely well done, and features a seated Oriental woman holding a sprig of flowers. To her left is the jumping boy, suspended in mid-air with a Chinese emblem a...

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 beautiful and rare Chelsea Red Anchor plate distinguished by both its raised strawberry and leaf decorations around the gently undulating border, and the central bird. Plates with such a border are known, but not common. However, almost without exception, these plates have a floral center, rather than the bird surrounded by the wonderfully colored and rendered insects that this one has. The plate is 8 inches in diameter, and has no chips, cracks, or repairs. The normal crazing to the glassy gl...

A striking quilt in a deep red and black. Most importantly the quilt has, stitched on its reverse, "Sarah amd Anne Hoit, Burlington, VT 1838". It also has, stitched at a later time, "A Present to O. Sherman 1881". It is very uncommon to find a quilt, especially such an early one, with such complete information as to the maker, place and date. The piece is approximately 82" square, with the cutouts being 16" square.

Overall condition is not bad, but there is some surface wear, and some scatte...

It is highly uncommon for dram size glasses to have a domed foot, and this is a superb example. The ogee bowl is above a double series opaque twist (DSOT) stem consisting of spiral bands outside of central spiral tapes. Rough snapped pontil.

4 1/4" tall, 1 7/8" diameter bowl, 2 5/8" diameter foot.

An unusual double series air twist (DSAT) short cordial glass; the ovoid bowl above the stem consisting of 3 spiral threads surrounding a vertical cable; conical foot with rough, snapped pontil

5 1/16" tall, 1 5/8" bowl diameter, 2 1/2" foot diameter

A rare and elegant first period Dr. Wall Worcester cream boat. This thinly potted superb example is of vertical faceted form with a double C-scroll handle with a raised thumb rest, and is painted in blue in the Prunus Root pattern. The gnarled root depicted has flowering branches trailing around the rim and small insects, the bottom with workman mark "IH".

Pristine condition with no issues at all. Clear, non-blurred painting. The length is 3 3/4 inches and the height is 2 1/4 inches.

A...

This is a very fine Dr. Wall Worcester sparrow beak cream jug, dating from the 1765-1768 period. The pattern features brightly painted pomegranates in various stages of development. There is only one other example of this pattern recorded: a coffee cup that was theorized to have been made as a replacement for a Chinese teaset, and was offered in one of the Zorensky sales. Not only is the subject matter unusual, but the use of matte black enamel (to emphasize the ground) is very rare, as it vir...