Catalog (971)

This is a rather large portrait miniature done in body color and watercolor on ivory. The signature on the lower right is "P(or T)ouktuz Sta??er". The signature and attire indicate the painting was probably done by an Eastern European or Russian artist. The subject of this 19th century work is an attractive young girl from a wealthy family, based on the expensive clothing (the fur coat, gloves, hat, and boots).

The condition of the painting is excellent, with some scattered black speck...

A beautiful American ring, marked 14K gold, set with a large central pearl surrounded by 12 deep blue sapphires. Excellent condition with a ring size of 7 3/4.

Nicely executed miniature, on natural organic material, of a woman in bonnet and lace; enamelled frame; sight size 2 1/4" by 1 3/4"; slight paint rubbing at 5 o'clock

A nice naïve portrait of a woman, painted in watercolors on organic wafer. The sitter is simply presented in a black dress with lace edging at the bodice. An interesting twist is the fragment of a business card in the back of the case. It says "Painter ***wich City CT" (Norwich City). The artist attribution has been made based on a signed example provided by Brad Crisler, shown in photos 3 and 4, and is unmistakable based on technique and the location of Norwich City.

The condition of the pai...

A finely painted American miniature portrait of a gentleman in a black jacket and tie, posed in front of a red drapery. What makes this highly unusual for a miniature cased portrait is that it is oil paint on wood, rather the the exceedingly more common watercolor on ivory or paper.

There is a very old note in the gilt metal case identifying the sitter as John Calvin Margin, born in 1790, the son of Curtis and Claire Margin, with a reference to Boston, Mass and Binghamton NY.

The painting ...

A fine miniature portrait of a pretty young child, done in watercolors on organic material by William Egley. The case has hallmarks for 9K London gold and a maker's mark for G.S. Both the case and the painting are in excellent condition with no problems. The size is 1 5/16" by 1 1/16".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: William Egley (1798–1870), was born in Doncaster, England, and moved shortly after to Nottingham. Originally working in a publishing house and bookshop, he had developed an interest in pai...

A very unusual James Pennington bowl with a shaped rim. The painted scene depicts oriental buildings, with the reverse showing rockwork and a variety of odd trees. The interior rim of the bowl has a blue border with stylized flowers or fruit.

The bowl is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, paint loss, or restoration. The enamels are a deep, rich blue. The diameter is 4 3/8" and the height is 2 1/8".

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 fine miniature portrait painting done in watercolor on organic material. The young boy, wearing a black hat, white coat, and coral sash, is posed against a background of a blue sky and a tree. The artist has cleverly painted the tree branch to arc over the boy's head, creating a natural framing effect and drawing the eye to the center of the work.

The painting is in excellent condition, with no flaws, and is housed in its original silver case, which measures 1 7/8" by 1 5/8".

A fine pottery dark blue and white Staffordshire platter, transfer printed in the "Birds and Fruit" pattern. Unmarked except for an impressed "12" on the reverse, but 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 ...

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 and beautiful balustroid type ale or large wine glass, of lead metal. The pointed round funnel bowl, which has close wrythening, flares slightly, making it almost a bell bowl, and sits atop a stem with a wrythened flattened shoulder knop and a wrythened basal knop. The stem also has close wrythening. Such a stem is often referred to as rib-twisted.

The glass is in superb condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. It is 5 3/4" tall, and has a 2 1/2" diameter bowl, and a 2 1/2" di...

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 fine antique baluster drinking glass of the type often referred to known as being "Kit-cat" glass. The form is a drawn trumpet bowl with a medial inverted baluster knop in the plain stem. The foot is folded with a rough, snapped pontil.

The height of the glass is 6 5/8", with a bowl diameter of 2 5/8" and a foot diameter of 2 7/8". The condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, haze, or restoration.

NOTES: 1. Though this form is quite often called a "Kit-cat" (or Kit-Kat), and accep...

A fine portrait miniature painted by William Lewis. The sitter is an attractive gentleman in a black coat, white vest, stock, and shirt, the latter highlighted with a stick pin containing three rubies. It should be noted that the technique and facial structure of this painting is at a higher level than Lewis' works display (see Note 2 below).

Excellent condition with no issues. Sight size is 2 3/8" by 1 7/8", and the later frame is 2 5/8" by 2 1/4".

BIOPGRAPHICAL NOTES: 1. William Lew...

Superb antique English porcelain plates from the Worcester Flight, Barr and Barr factory. Placed on a gilded "seaweed" background, the central roundels depict exotic birds, beautifully painted by Charles Stinton, a well-known and highly acclaimed painter of birds.

One of the plates has the impressed crown and FBB mark, and the other has that mark and the red printed mark. Condition is mint, with no flaws of any kind, including all the gilding. The diameter of each plate is 8 3/4".

NOTES: 1. ...

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...

A beautiful lobed Chelsea porcelain plate, fulsomely decorated with a variety of flowers in a panoply of colors. The reverse with an anchor mark and three stilt marks.

Excellent condition with bright colors, no chips, cracks, or restoration. 8 1/4" diameter.

A fine miniature portrait on natural wafer, done en grisaille in watercolor and ink against a blue background. The sitter, an older woman wearing a lace cap and fichu, is beautifully limned in profile, an uncommon approach. Housed in a gold plated metal frame with fabric on the reverse.

There are no condition problems with the painting, which measures 2 1/2" in diameter.

PROVENANCE: The well-known Dr. Leo Catzenstein Collection, and thence to his descendants.

A nicely executed watercolor, on natural material, of a gent in a black coat with white stock and ruffled shirt. Presented in the original gilt metal case with hair work under glazing on the reverse.

The overall condition is fine, with some tiny dust motes under the glass. The white areas circling the top half are reflections from the chamfered cover glass. Overall frame size is 2 1/4" by 2".

A stunning pair of elaborately metal-worked brass candlesticks in superb condition with removable bobeches. 9 3/4" tall

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 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...

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 lovely and ethereal miniature of a blond-haired, blue-eyed beautiful young girl. Signed center left "T.R. Manley 1900", it is in its original gilt sterling case with a beaded edge, with the reverse appearing to be evenly tarnished. Excellent condition with no problems, and measuring 3 1/4" by 2 3/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE : Thomas Rathbone Manley (1853 - 1938), later referred to as "The Dean of the Montclair (NJ) Artists". Originally studying law, he realized his love was painting and enr...

An elegant and superbly proportioned antique English toasting wine glass with a a drawn flared trumpet bowl atop a plain stem and conical foot; rough pontil. A beautiful and graceful glass, and quite uncommon in lead, as this one is.

6 3/4" tall, 2 7/8" bowl diameter, 3" foot diameter

A very fine English wine glass with an elongated waisted bucket bowl. The stem features an uncommon single series air twist (SSAT) comprised of a pair of multi-strand spiral cables. Conical foot with snapped pontil. Good tooling marks, color, and striations.

The impression and proportions of this glass are beautiful, with it standing tall at 6 3/4", with a bowl diameter of 2 1/4" and a foot diameter of 2 1/2". Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or repairs.

Note: Because of the extre...

A beautifully executed miniature folk art watercolor on paper portrait by J. H. Gillespie, housed in a metal locket with a black card backing.

Condition is excellent with no paint loss, tears, folds, foxing, or restoration. The piece is 2 3/4 inches by 2 3/8 inches.

NOTE: Gillespie was active on the East Coast of North America, Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia around the 1829-1838 time period. He painted miniature portraits and silhouettes very carefully, and with great attention to ...

A well painted portrait miniature, on organic wafer, of a blue eyed gentleman wearing a deep blue coat, white ascot, shirt, and vest. Presented in a brass frame.

The condition is excellent, with no issues to speak of. The reddish area on the edge from 9:00 to 12:00 is due to light reflection. The painting appears much better in person than the photo shows. Framed size is 2 1/2" by 2".

A beautiful green English balustroid wine glass with a hollow stem. The cup bowl is over a shoulder cylinder knop which sits atop an egg knop. The stem is finished off with a true baluster knop above a high domed foot.

The glass is of lead metal, is 6 1/16 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 5/16 inches and a foot diameter of 2 13/16 inches. Perfect condition with no restorations.

Note: Glasses of this type were primarily sold as export to the continental market in the 1760 - 1770 period.

A beautiful and elegant Derby covered chocolate cup and saucer. Decorated in cobalt blue, gilding, and heavily painted white dots to simulate pearls. Both the cup and saucer are marked with the puce crown and batons, which indicates a very desirable Derby period. Also, both are marked with an puce "8", indicating that the gilder was William Longden, and a blue "5", showing that the painter was Juno.

Superb condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Colors are bright and unscratched, and ...

A beautifully painted William Reid coffee cup with a large floral group and several smaller ones. Loop handle. The paste and glaze combination gives this cup a very distinct greenish gray appearance, not seen in other factories. It is difficult to capture the color properly in photos, but the first one shown in this listing comes closest to the actual color.

This piece is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. It is 2 3/8" tall, with a diameter of 2 1/16" at the top.

A nicely executed American miniature painting, on natural organic material, of a good-looking young gentleman. Although unsigned, there is no question that this work was done by Newcombe. Presented in a period stamped brass frame.

Excellent condition with no issues at all. Sight size is 2" by 1 1/2", and the framed size is 3 3/4" by 3 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: George W. Newcombe (1799-1845) was born in England and was working in NYC by 1829. He was an Associate at the National Academy and e...

A truly striking reverse-painted game board featuring a rainbow of colors and a highly unusual mottled border. In pristine condition, and housed in its original wood frame.

22" by 22" by 1 1/2" high.

A fine naïve folk portrait profile of a gentleman, signed on the reverse by the artist Samuel Rowell. In the same hand is the location of Amesbury, Mass, and the name of the sitter, Moses Henderson.

The painting is on card, done in watercolor with gum arabic highlights, and is in the original gilded wood frame. An additional piece of glass has been put on the back to protect the written information.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no folds, tears, or staining. There is a v...

A charming portrait miniature, done in watercolors on natural wafer, of a young woman in a low-cut blue dress with sleeves decorated with pearl buttons, and a sheer white fichu fastened with a black pin. Her black hair is covered by an elaborate white lace bonnet and she is wearing large gold earrings and a gold chain tucked into her sash. Presented in an ebonized frame.

The miniature is signed "R.C. Woolnough" and dated July 1816 on the backing paper. This is very interesting as there is ext...

A superb miniature portrait, done en grisaille on organic substrate, by Samuel Andrews. The sitter is an attractive woman with an elaborate wig and hair style, and wearing a cap and gold earrings. The painting is wonderfully executed, and with such skill that there is a three dimensional effect. The photos do not at all due it justice.

The painting is beautifully presented, surrounded by a gilt metal bezel, outside of which is a plait of hair, the whole in a red leather travel case. The condi...

A beautiful portrait miniature, done in watercolor on natural wafer. The sitter is a lovely young woman wearing a large and striking turban and a lace fichu over a light apricot dress. A brooch below her bodice echoes the circular motif on the turban.

Housed in its original bronze case with a diameter of 3 1/4". Both the case and the painting are in excellent condition. A striking addition to any7 collection.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Guido Reni was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, althou...

An extremely well painted American miniature portrait of a young boy wearing a black coat, white shirt and cravat. He is posed in front of a red drapery. Rather than being done as these miniatures usually were, in watercolor on ivory, this is a far rarer oil on copper example.

The painting is in excellent condition, and has just a slight bit of rubbing at a couple of spots where it meets the period stamped brass frame. Sight size is 2 5/16" by 1 7/8", while the framed size is 2 3/4" by 2...

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 silhouette done in black and bronze gilt, of an older woman. Although unsigned, the work was unquestionably done by John Field. The reverse of the gilt metal case, which comes with its silk lined red leather travel case, has elaborate and tightly woven hairwork of two colors, indicating that one of them was hers, while the other was of a loved one.

Both the miniature and the case are in excellent condition. Sight size of the piece is 2 3/8" by 1 7/8", with the case size being 2 9/16" b...

A strong watercolor on organic wafer portrait of a British staff officer. With his mutton-chop whiskers, he is dressed in the well-known red jacket, and sports gold epaulettes. The painting is housed in a wonderful gilt bronze brooch with a guilloche silver back, which displays a nicely tied curl of hair under a glazed aperture.

Sight size is 1 1/2" by 1 1/4", with an overall size of 1 3/4" by 1 1/2". The condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no issues at all. The white fle...

A fine pan-topped square bucket bowl glass engraved with a fruiting vine having polished grapes, raised on a stem containing a multi-spiral air twist. Conical foot with polished pontil. Condition is excellent with no flaws. The apparent cloudiness in the bowl in the first photo is not present in real life. The height of the glass is 5 5/8", with a bowl diameter of 2 1/2" and a foot diameter of 2 3/4".

NOTES: 1. Ex Tony Stout collection.

2. For a similar glass see Hughes "English Scottish & ...

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...

An elegant and superbly proportioned antique English toasting wine glass with a a drawn flared trumpet bowl atop a plain stem and conical foot; rough pontil. A beautiful, tall, and graceful glass, and quite uncommon in lead, as this one is.

7 1/8 inches tall, 2 5/8 inch bowl diameter, 3 1/8 inch foot diameter. No condition issues.

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...

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...

A German goblet from the Potsdam area, of potash glass. The overly large funnel bowl, profusely engraved with flowers and leaves, sits atop a merise which in turn sits atop a huge teared and notched baluster knop. The merise is of triangular form which might be due to cutting to symmetrize a chip.

Excellent overall condition. 7 1/8" tall, 4 3/8" diameter bowl, 5" diameter foot.

A large gin bari cloisonne button depicting three snowy egrets against a background with shades of green, the whole with a silver surround and backing. When viewed from the side, the button has an intentionally undulating shape, making it highly unusual. The side is hallmarked and there appear to be other markings. Excellent condition with no issues, and any apparent imperfections are due to reflections in the photo. The diameter is 1 3/8".

NOTES:
1. Buttons of this type, a pure Japa...

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,...

A fine Dr. Wall (First Period) Worcester pickle leaf dish in the "Pickle Leaf Vine" pattern, showing flowers and vines within a feuil-de-choix border, and with a workman's mark on the reverse. Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, paint loss, or restoration. The white areas at places along the edge are light reflections. Length 3 1/4", and width 3 1/2".

A beautiful set of four deep cobalt blue glass water goblets. The large ogee bowls have wide fluting and sit atop a bladed knop on a plain stem.

The glasses are 5 5/8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 4 3/8, and a foot diameter of 3 1/2". Polished pontil. Condition is excellent with no chips, cracks, or restoration.

IMPORTANT NOTE: An additional 4 glasses, identical to this set, are available.

A nicely painted portrait of a woman in white, including her lace edged gown, lace edged scarf, and turban. The artist clearly used a monochromatic palette to convey a sense of simplicity and serenity in the sitter, identified on the reverse as a Mrs. Hobbs, or Hobby.

Painted with watercolors on organic wafer, the miniature is housed iin a later case which is gold over silver (vermeil), and has hallmarks indicating it is sterling silver made in London with the maker's mark of JHP. Fine condi...

An elegant and finely proportioned antique English toasting wine glass with a drawn flared trumpet bowl atop a plain stem and conical foot. Lead metal with a rough snapped pontil. A beautiful and graceful glass, and quite uncommon in lead.

7 1/4 inches tall, 2 3/4 inch bowl diameter, 2 7/8 inch foot diameter. No condition issues.

A nicely painted American portrait miniature on organic wafer. The fine looking gentleman is nicely set off against a background of blue on the left side and a light brown on the right. Condition is excellent with no cracks, bowing, or paint loss. The case size is 2 1/8" by 1 5/8".

A fine example of a plique-a-jour button, all of which are uncommon (see Note 1, below), featuring translucent greenish-blue enamel in a gold metal surround and cells. Excellent condition with no issues. The color of the enamel is actually deeper than shown in the main photo. The diameter is 13/16".

NOTES: 1. Plique-à-jour (French for "letting in daylight") is a vitreous enamelling technique where the enamel is applied in cells, similar to cloisonné, but with no backing in the final pr...

A fine example of early American folk art. Generally classed as fraktur type, paintings such as these were done by children, and were often, as this one was, painted on a page from a ledger or notebook. This particular piece is a charming depiction of a horse, and is housed in a period frame with a wonder crusty surface.

The painting is in very good condition, with good color, and no tears or creases. It does have some very common spots of discoloration which might well have been there since ...

A beautifully worked c1890 Japanese repousse tri-color silver button showing an ornate lotus blossom and foliage. Japanese hallmark on the reverse.  1 1/4" diameter and in excellent condition.   

A nicely proportioned lead wine glass, the ogee bowl with rib molding above a double series opaque twist (DSOT) stem comprised of two spiral threads around a central gauze; conical foot with rough snapped pontil. Perfect condition.

6 1/8" tall, 1 7/8" bowl diameter, 2 11/16" foot diameter

A nice Georgian antique wine glass with a round funnel bowl. The stem is a single series opaque twist comprised of a pair of spiral gauzes. Single series twists are much less common than double series twists. Conical foot with snapped pontil.

The glass is in excellent condition, with no problems, displaying good color, striations, and tool marks. It is 6 1/4" tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 3/16" and a foot diameter of 2 3/4".

Note: Because of the extreme closeups of the photos, and the non-...