Catalog (971)

A nice double series opaque twist (DSOT) wine glass with an ovoid bowl (slightly ogee) which has a fluted lower half. The stem has a pair of 9-ply spiral bands outside of a lace twist. Conical foot, snapped pontil.

Fine condition with no problems. The height is 5 1/8", and a bowl diameter of 2" with a foot diameter of 2 7/8".

Note: Because of the extreme closeups of the photos, and the non-ideal lighting conditions, there might appear to be spots, discolorations, or hazes in the glass, whic...

An elegantly proportioned and executed Georgian wine flute of lead metal. The drawn trumpet bowl sits above a double series opaque twist (DSOT) stem which is comprised of a pair of spiral threads around a central gauze. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

The condition of the glass is excellent, with no cracks or chips. Good color, striations, and tool marks. There is a very small in the making dip at one point on the rim. Any discolorations, specks, or streaks are due to the photos or d...

A striking French button featuring a transfer print on enameled porcelain of a swallow. Brass back and surround. The condition is excellent with no problems, and the diameter is 1 1/4".

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 deep amethyst finger bowl with its matching undertray, rarely found, and in perfect condition; polished pontils

Bowl diameter, 4 1/2", bowl height 3", plate diameter 6"

A fine ale glass, engraved with hops and barley; funnel bowl; 5 1/2" tall, 2 7/8" foot diameter, 2 3/8" bowl diameter

An 18th century antique drinking glass, English lead, with a flared bell bowl, plain stem, rough snapped pontil, and folded foot. Simple, but with elegant form, this glass is 5 inches tall, 2 1/4 inch bowl diameter, 2 1/2 inch foot diameter. Excellent condition.

A beautiful and uncommon sugar bowl, probably S. Jersey (South Jersey) glass. The bowl has a galleried top and embedded white enamel striping. The bowl rim and foot have an applied green edge.

This fine piece is in superb condition, with no chips, cracks, or problems of any kind. It is 5 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter, with a rough, snapped pontil.

An 18th c French yellow silk underdress front, beautifully and heavily embroidered with metallic threads. The overall size is 27 1/2" by 19". The condition is good, with some scattered wear and pulls. It could highly benefit from a careful pressing.

A round facetted example of what can best be described as flying saucer shape, as seen from the side. Uncommon transparent red base. No condition issues. In spite of the appearance in the main photo, the edges of the gold foil are sharp and not blurred. The last photo shows this. This fine example has a diameter of 1/2" and a thickness of 1/4".

NOTES: 1. Tingues are constructed with a layer of clear colorless glass with a very thin colored glass (typically red) sheet overlay on top. This p...

An elegant taper shape quart decanter with disk stopper; polished pontil; 11 1/2" tall with stopper, 9 1/4" without stopper, 3 3/4" diameter

A very interesting portrait miniature of a gentleman. Done in watercolor on organic material, it shows a half length naive depiction of a man posed with his hand in his waistcoat. The overall "feel" of this work is that it was done in the en grisaille style, in spite of the color in the man's lips, his vest, and cummerbund.

Condition of the painting and simple metal frame is excellent (light areas at the edges are due to reflections off the chamfered glass), with a size of 2 1/4" by 1 3/4".

A fine example of polychrome painting on enamel with cut steels, depicting a couple fishing. This genre arose due to the interests of the increasingly wealthy French middle class in the places and ways people enjoyed their leisure. No condition problems, and the cut steels are brighter in person than the photo shows. 1 3/8" 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 small sample on what we ...

A round facetted example of what can best be described as flying saucer shape, as seen from the side. No condition issues, and with a diameter of 3/8" and a thickness of 5/16".

NOTES: 1. Tingues are constructed with a layer of clear colorless glass with a very thin colored glass (typically red) sheet overlay on top. This piece is cemented to a glass base with a thin sheet of reflective gold foil or leaf between them. The button is faceted to improve reflection.

2. Tingues are nam...

A Bow porcelain creamer featuring three oriental figures. There is a small bruise on the inside of the spout, some kiln roughness to the rim, and the body has rubbing in the white undecorated areas. The height is 3".

A sweet tinsel (foil) painting of a large bouquet of flowers. The painting itself is in very good condition, with no chips, breaks, or image loss. The period or earlier gilded wood frame has normal expected wear. Period wood backboard. The sight size is 11 1/4" by 9 5/8", and the overall size is 12 3/4" by 11".

NOTE: Between September 12, 2012 and January 13, 2013 the American Folk Art Museum held an exhibit on this art form. The following is excerpted from the catalog of that exhibition: "T...

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

This is a very fine example of a simple, yet elegant First Period Dr. Wall Worcester coffee cup. The painting is very nicely executed, and features a large, loose bouquet of flowers, and other scattered blooms, including a purple tulip. The handle is grooved and there is a gilded rim.

The cup is 2 1/2" tall and has a diameter of 2 3/8". The condition is superb, with no chips, cracks, restoration, or scratches. The enamels are vibrant, and the gilding is 99.9% intact.

A fine pair of 18th century English wine glasses in a unusual deep bluish-green color, each with an ovoid bowl over a conical foot with a polished pontil. Each is 5" tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 3/8" and a foot diameter of 2 5/8". Excellent condition with no chips, polishing, or other restoration.

Two paintings are offered here for the price of one! The first done in India ink on prepared cardboard, this finely limned profile shows a man facing left with his right hand tucked into his jacket. It is presented in a gilded, stamped sheet metal frame.

The condition is quite good with several unimportant white streaks, mainly in the jacket. The sight size is 3 1/2" by 2", with an overall size of 5 1/4" by 4".

The second piece is a watercolor and ink on cardboard of a young man n...

A deep cobalt blue salt or sweetmeat, probably of German origin. The bowl has a silvered everted rim with silver leaf decoration and is above an inverted baluster stem. Rough pontil. No condition problems, and with a maximum diameter of 4" and a height of 3 1/2".

A nicely decorated Christian's Liverpool coffee cup with a grooved loop handle and featuring a large rose and other floral motifs. Interior with a flower sprig on the bottom and an iron red border at the interior rim. The condition is excellent with bright colors and no chips, breaks, or paint loss. 2 1/2" in height and having a 2 3/8" diameter. ...

This type ware is often mistakenly referred to as Leeds and feather edge. In reality, many factories other than Leeds made pearlware items of this nature, and the type edge here is more properly called a molded edge. This particular plate is marked with an impressed flower on the back. It has an elaborate raised tree and floral decoration.

10 " diameter, in excellent condition. with no chips, cracks, or other problems. It would could benefit and look brand new with a cleaning with hydr...

A fine transfer printed dark blue and white Staffordshire plate in the "Birds and Fruit" pattern. Attributed to John Hall & Sons, Burslem, England.

The central scene features two birds amidst a panoply of fruit, including pears, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, etc. The cavetto and wide rim has a border of flowers and foliage.

The color of this platter is a deep, clear blue, with no blurriness, and with the desired ripple glaze. Condition is excellent, with no cracks, restoration, ...

An attractive 18th century English porcelain teabowl and saucer, made by one of the Liverpool factories. Excellent condition with no problems. The saucer is 4 3/4" in diameter, with the bowl being 3" in diameter and 1 3/4" in height.

A rare crusie lamp with hanger, dating from the 1st quarter of the 19th century or earlier. The bowls of these lamps were filled with fish oil or mutton fat with wicks of peeled rushes. Crusie lamps were the precursors to Betty lamps and were generally made of iron or tin. To find one made of brass, and with its original hanger, is extremely uncommon.

The condition of the lamp and hanger is quite good, with normal evidence of wear. There is a 1/2" by 3/16" piece broken out of the very end of ...

A very fine twig basket, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century. It was found in Pennsylvania, and is painted black, with the border and edge decoration painted in green, yellow, and orange over the black. The interior central portion of the basket is painted in green.

The basket is 8 5/8" in diameter and 4" tall. Condition is terrific, with no breaks. There is the normal amount of scattered paint flaking which is not really apparent and does not affect the impact of this little ...

A fine American tinsel or foil painting depicting a wreath of flowers, with a bird, around a grouping of fruit and foliage. The wreath is on a variation of the relatively rare "snowflake" type of background. This technique appears to have been done primarily in the 1870's period. The frame and wooden backboard are original.

There is a crack in the glass at the top left, and a small piece of glass is missing. The frame is in good condition with a number of very small scattered flecks of paint ...

An unusual pair of large iron shears with a wonderful surface. Excellent condition and movement. 16 inches long by 5 inches wide.

A simple but elegant brandy warmer with beaded lid and base rims, the thumb rest on the lid molded as a scallop shell, the angled handle of aged wood with a nice patina.

The piece is 3 3/8" tall, and 2 7/8" wide, 5 1/8" wide including the handle. Excellent condition.

A sentimental Bohemian souvenir or memento flashed red glass mug, with a nicely curved handle. Etched with flowers and the saying "Remember Me." In superb condition, standing 4 1/8 inches tall, with a diameter of 2 3/8 inches.

This glass is a companion piece to g1218, identical except for the floral arrangement on top of the cartouche surrounding the saying.

A sentimental Bohemian souvenir or memento flashed red glass mug, with a nicely curved handle. Etched with flowers and the saying "To My Son." In superb condition, standing 4 1/8 inches tall, with a diameter of 2 3/8 inches.

This glass is a companion piece to g1217, identical except for the floral arrangement on top of the cartouche surrounding the saying.

Some examples from the various singles, pairs, and sets of colored wine glasses we have. Many others in our inventory are in different colors, sizes and bowl shapes. Prices are per glass and depend on the specific items chosen.

An interesting pair of miniature portraits, painted on organic wafer. Framed in a slightly different manner, there is no question these were done by the same artist at the same time.

Fairchild is an obscure artist, with very few, if any, signed works. This attribution is based on the similarity in technique to an example in a book by Bolton, and information that the pair came from a couple living in CT who are purportedly descendants of the artist.

No condition issues to speak of, with...

This fine miniature portrait was painted in watercolor on organic material by Henry Shumway. Depicting the attractive blue-eyed sitter in a white gown and adorned only with an earring, he chose to present her with a simple classical elegance.

The condition of the miniature is excellent, with no issues, as is the gilt metal case with a glazed aperture on the reverse. The case size is 3 1/8" by 2 5/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Henry Colton Shumway (1807, CT - 1884, NY) studied, probably with T...

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...

A fine miniature portrait, attributed to J.V. Sturgeon, of a gent posed in front of a green curtain with blue skies visible through the window. This type of setting is uncommon in American minis, but has been done by Sturgeon in some of his works.

The miniature is set in the original gilded copper pendant with a glazed aperture on the reverse containing plaited dark hair. Excellent condition with no issues to speak of. The sight size is 2 1/2" by 2", with an overall size of 2 5/8" by 2 1/8".

A rare Worcester coffee cup with a slightly flaring rim, a grooved loop handle, and incurving toward the base. Painted in the famille verte palette and displaying chrysanthemums growing from a large triangular rock in a landscape which also features other flowers. This wonderful piece has a panelled green diaper border and a red flower sprig on the inside base.

An identical cup sold as lot 586, Watney II, Bonham's 5/10/2000 for 4500 pounds ($6893) including premium. As far as has been de...

A charming and unusual Continental portrait miniature, painted in watercolors on natural wafer. Except for a very small number of miniaturists, and occasional examples by other miniaturists, the full profile format is quite rare. In this example the sitter is wearing a blue dress, gold earring, and a pearl necklace. Of obvious impression on the viewer is a very large white head covering, with yellow decoration, of a type that cannot quite be called a bonnet or hat.

The painting is presente...

A wonderful miniature by Daniel Dickinson of a handsome gentleman. The sitter is dressed in the height of fashion for the time, wearing a blue jacket with velvet lapels. Note the broadness of the brush strokes and chiseled modeling of the face, both characteristics of Daniel's style, contrasting with his brother Anson's work.

The frame deserves special mention, being gilt silver with a 14K gold back and central plaque with "AM" initials. It is quite thick and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces. The...

A striking c1790 miniature by Richard Cosway. The subject, a blue-eyed infantry officer with his hair en queue, is wearing a red jacket with a white epaulet, white trim, and cravat.

This portrait is a good study example as many of Cosway's techniques and style characteristics are present: use of floating transparent paints to allow the luminosity of the substrate to show through, enlargement of the pupils, massed hair as opposed to finer individual strands, a sky background using a stro...

A scent bottle, enameled and gilded by James Giles, the most famous and important English decorator of glass and porcelain in the 18th century. The bottle was purchased immediately after its sale at Christies in the mid 1980's and has been in a private collection, unseen and not offered to anyone, until the present time.

The glass bottle is a translucent deep blue color (the third photo shows the bottle with a light source behind it), of flattened faceted form, with the original gold moun...

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 heavy baluster dram glass, displaying a truly "gutsy" presence; pointed round funnel bowl; rare ball knop, beautifully placed tear; rough snapped pontil. A weighty glass in perfect condition.

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

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...

An extremely rare and fine composite stem English Georgian marriage wine goblet with Dutch engraving.

The round funnel bowl features an oval cartouche with a pair of clasped hands, reaching out of clouds, in front of a blazing heart, all of this backed by rays of sunshine. The cartouche is surrounded by fulsomely engraved elaborate scrolls, foliage, and groups of flowers, all highlighted by superb polished details. The reverse of the glass is inscribed with 'T GOED SUCCES VAN 'T HOUWELYK.

...

An extremely fine watercolor and gouache on organic substrate miniature portrait done by Henry Benbridge, painted in his crisp, realistic style. The sitter is attired in a blue coat and a white ruffled shirt and collar, the fabrics of which are carefully and richly depicted, a characteristic of Benbridge's work. The surround to the painting is gold, while the original case, with a pin on the reverse, is gold filled.

Both the painting and the case are in excellent condition. The sight size of t...

A superb pair of miniature portrait paintings done by Joseph Dunkerley. Labels on the reverse of each case identify the sitters as Joseph Packwood and Denise Wright Packwood, and are dated 1780.

Mrs. Packwood is wearing a large white hat with a blue ribbon and accents, a light blue gown with flowers embroidered on it and with dark lace edging at the bodice. Her husband is wearing a blue jacket and waistcoat, and a white cravat.

Excellent and scarce examples, and in fine condition. The gold...

A superb and true English heavy baluster goblet, having a round funnel bowl with a solid base containing a small tear. Just below the bowl the stem begins with a large, teared, triple annular knop, continuing into a teared straight section above a basal knop, all above a domed foot.

This wonderful example has a gutsy presence, standing 7 1/16" tall, with a bowl diameter of 3 1/8" and a foot diameter of 3 1/2". Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Great color, striations, ...

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 beautifully done Horace Hone portrait, painted on natural wafer, signed and dated "HH 1782" on the right. The sitter might well be Mary, Viscountess Dillon, as she bears a great resemblance to another portrait Hone did of her. Whether this is the case or not, the subject of this miniature is a striking blue-eyed woman, with a coquettish mien to her. Her hair is styled elaborately, her eyes are shadowed with blue, and she is wearing a very low-cut blue gown trimmed with white edging over a prom...

A wonderful English lead metal gadrooned ale glass dating from the late 17th century. It has a flared round funnel bowl, and teared shoulder and basal knops above a folded foot. Of a lovely dark metal with superb striations and tooling marks, this glass stands 5 1/2 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 7/16 inches and a foot diameter of 2 3/4 inches. Perfect condition.

A glass of this type should not be confused with the later and much less rare dwarf ales, which have shorter stems and less ...

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...

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...

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,...

An unusual and spectacular pair of portrait miniatures. Although both are signed by Moses B. Russell, it is almost certain, due to slight technique variances, that the portrait of the woman was done by Mrs. Moses B. Russell, nee Clarissa Peters. Although it is known that some of his signed pieces were, in fact, done by her, I know of no other instance where each artist did one of a pair.

The paintings are in excellent condition, with vibrant colors and no cracks, bowing, mold, retouch, ...

A rare and early English heavy baluster wine glass of beautiful proportions and stance. It has a trumpet bowl with a markedly solid base containing a tear over an angular teared knop, and a basal knop over a domed and folded foot. The height is 6 inches and there are no flaws or restorations. This is a superb early glass of dark metal and heavy weight.

A striking Newcastle Light Baluster (NLB) drinking glass, featuring a round funnel bowl finely engraved with the arms of George III. The stem has 3 knops leading into a central tear-filled knop followed by an additional 3 knops. Conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

The glass stands a goodly 7 1/2" tall, with a bowl diameter of 3 1/8" and a foot diameter of 3 1/16". Good color and tool marks, in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs.

A strong enamel on copper painting by William Prewett, depicting James Thomson. Thompson (1700 - 1748) was a Scottish poet and playwright, best known now for writing the lyrics to "Rule Britannia". The case is original, but engraved as follows several years after the death of the sitter: James Thomson/Poet/1700 - 1748.

The condition of the painting and the case is excellent. Overall size is 1 7/8" by 1 5/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: According to Foskett: "William Prewett (or Prewitt) (fl. 1735 - ...

The title of this wonderful oil on canvas work by George Henry Story is "Daydreaming," and that beautifully conveys the feeling of the piece. A pretty young girl is sits on a ladderback chair with a pan of fruit she is peeling resting on her lap. At the right of the painting is a wooden cupboard displaying tableware. At the left the family bible and another book rest on a table which is covered with a flowered cloth. However, it is the window at the far left, and the gaze of the subject, pensive...

A beautiful portrait, by Gervase Spencer, of a striking young woman, painted in enamels on copper. Signed and dated "GS 1759" on the lower right. The subject of the painting, with brown hair and blue eyes, is clearly wealthy, attired in a blue gown with lace trim, and accessorized with pearl earrings, a pearl encrusted hair barrette, a pearl choker, and a long pearl necklace centered by a pearl, onyx and gold brooch. The case for this miniature has a gold bezel, deep (5/16") gilt silver sides, a...