Catalog (971)

A charming miniature portrait, done in watercolor on natural wafer, and mounted in a later 14K gold ring with an impressed maker's mark of "MP". The sitter is a young red-haired child, facing left, and wearing a black dress with a dotted lace ruffled collar.

The ring size is 6 1/2, and the portrait measures 1 1/16" by 7/8". The condition of the portrait, as well as the ring, is excellent. The line near the left edge and along the top edge is due to refraction and does not appear when viewed in...

A truly lovely and engaging portrait miniature, on natural wafer, of a beautiful young woman. The subject, attired in a green velvet dress with a black cape and a white fichu, is seated in front of an orange drapery with a view of a landscape. The framing of this gem is of fine construction, with an inner gold plated frame that is easily removable (and replaced) if a smaller overall size is desired. Both frames are in very fine order.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with bright col...

A fine miniature by Charles Dixon, signed "CD" and dated 1750. The subject is a gentleman with his hair tied back, wearing a blue coat, red waistcoat, and black stock. Presented in a gilt metal mount with bracelet clasp, measuring 1 3/8" by 1 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Information about Charles Dixon (fl 1748 - 1798) appears to be quite sparse, and there is not even certainty that his first name was Charles since those pieces he signed were done so with "CD". It is known that Benjamin Frankl...

Another fine example from our personal collection of animal hooked rugs, this one featuring an elephant posed on grass with fruited tree branches descending from the top of the rug.

The rug has a felt border, easily detached if so desired. The condition is excellent, with good colors and some slight scattered wear to the border. The size is 40" by 30".

A beautiful creamware tureen and lid, probably Leeds, but possibly a Staffordshire factory. Of oval, quatrefoil shape with molded shell borders, scrolled handles, and a pomegranate finial, painted with turquoise and black enamel trim. An identical, undecorated example is shown in "Creamware and Other English Pottery at Temple Newsam House Leeds", item 331.

The overall condition of this wonderful example is excellent, with no cracks or chips. There was a highly professional and invisible restor...

An early Worcester patty pan with everted rim, carefully painted in blue with the "Bare Tree and Speared Bird" pattern. The pattern features an oriental landscape with a turreted single story building between a figure and a tree, within a diaper pattern pendent husk and scroll border. Workman's mark on the exterior base.

The condition of this piece is excellent, with crisp deep colors and no cracks, chips, or other flaws. The diameter is 4 3/16" (10.5 cm).

A charming and rare three-footed Bow porcelain stand. The top is marbleized in shades of blue, puce and yellow, while the the open latticework sides are surrounded by dragonflies, moths, butterflies, and beetles done in a variety of colors. This wonderful example is in superb condition, with no problems or restoration whatsoever, and has bright, unflawed painting. The stand is 2 1/4" high, and has a 2 5/8" diameter at its maximum width.

The standard reference book for this type figure is "Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era" by P.D. Gordon Hugh. The figure offered here is so rare that the book does not even show an example, although it does have information about the history underlying it. The same model is shown as figure 49, page 32, in Schiffer's "Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875."

The figure, known as the "Death of the Lion Queen," is modeled as Ellen Bright standing with a leopard to her l...

A beautiful and elegant double series opaque twist (DSOT) cordial glass with a honeycomb molded round funnel bowl. The stem has a 12 ply spiral band around a central lace twist. 6 11/16" tall, with a bowl diameter of 1 7/8" and a foot diameter of 2 9/16". Rough snapped pontil, superb condition.

A fine miniature portrait painting, on natural organic material, done by John Alexander McDougall. The sitter is a distinguished gentleman dressed fashionably in a ruffled blue shirt, light blue vest, and black coat.

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no problems or restoration. The brass case is also without flaws. The photo of the back does appear to have blemishes, but these are label residues. Sight size is 3 1/4" by 2 1/2" .

MacDougall was born in New Jersey in 1810, and pri...

A miniature portrait painting by Abraham Parsell, done in his recognizable style with somewhat frizzy hair, and the sitter posed with his arm on a chair. Housed in its original cast foliate frame with a rear aperture containing a lock of hair.

The painting is 2 5/16" by 1 7/8", while the overall locket size is 2 1/2" by 2 1/8". Condition is excellent with no chips, cracks, bowing, paint loss or restoration.

Note: Abraham Parsell (1792 - after 1856), a popular American folk miniature painte...

A beautiful opaque twist cordial glass, the bucket bowl fulsomely engraved with fruiting grapevines. The stem, of the single series opaque twist type (SSOT), making it much less common than the usual double series, has two spiral gauzes. Conical foot with snapped pontil.

This gem is in excellent condition, showing good color, tool marks, striations, and appropriate foot wear. It stands 6" tall, with a bowl diameter of 1 13/16" and a foot diameter of 2 1/2".

Note: Because of the extreme close...

An excellent example of the work of David Gibson, signed, lower left, "Gibson 1793". The sitter is a woman wearing a gown with low decolletage and a green and yellow hat. She is posed looking pensively to the viewer's left.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws to speak of, and is in a gilt metal pendant case. Sight size is 1 7/8" by 1 3/8", and the case size is 2" by 1 5/8".

NOTE: David Gibson (active 1788 - 1797) worked primarily in London and Edinburgh, with some sojourns ...

A fine pair of miniature portrait paintings, on natural organic material, housed in a 1/6 plate daguerreotype case, which is embossed in a cartouche on the front and back "M.B. Brady Case Maker NY". Cases by Brady are highly desirable and avidly collected.

As to the wonderful portraits, the first is of a bewhiskered gentleman in a black jacket, vest, and stock, and a white pleated shirt. The woman is attired in a black pleated dress with lace edging, and a white lace cap. It is highly probabl...

A striking antique wine glass with a solid base bell bowl engraved with a grape vine, leaves, and bunches of grapes. The stem has a multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) extending into the base of the bowl, and features a medial bladed collar. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil. Fine color, striations, and tooling marks.

Condition is excellent with no problems, flaws, or restoration. The height is 6 5/8", a bowl diameter of 2 1/2", and a foot diameter of 2 3/4".

NOTE: On the relatively rare...

A wonderful portrait miniature of an attractive young woman, painted in watercolor and gouache on organic wafer. The sitter, set against a bluish gray background, has a tortoiseshell comb in her hair and is wearing a black dress with lace at the cuffs and at the neckline. Pearl earrings and gold chains complete her ensemble.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws. The red leather travel case has wear to the inside and outside, is missing the tiny eye the hook clasp goes through,...

Hand painted on natural organic wafer, this button depicts a cherub beside a flame topped memorial column, with greenery along the border. Photos under different lighting are shown, with the second photo probably being the most accurate in natural light.

No condition issues, and a diameter of 1 3/8".

Absolutely charming, and a rare piece.

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 o...

A fine watercolor on vellum painting of an aristocratic woman. The sitter, a blue-eyed blonde powder haired woman who is coquettishly toying with a long lock of her hair, is gloriously decked out in a very low cut white gown with a red shawl. The gown is partially held up by a long strand of diamond and gold jewelry with a matching bracelet on her left arm. Farther up that arm the sleeve of the gown is cinched by a diamond and pearl brooch. A pearl bracelet circles her right arm.

A label on p...