Catalog (971)

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.

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...

A spectacular and huge English baluster goblet with a mushroom knop. The thistle-shaped bowl, with solid base, sits atop a short section over a wide (2 1/4 inches) mushroom knop with a tear extending into a basal ball knop above a folded foot.

This work of beautiful craftsmanship is distinguished by its rarity, mammoth size, and pristine condition. It stands 9 1/8" tall, has a bowl diameter of 4 1/4", a foot diameter of 4 3/8", and weighs an astonishing 1 pound 14 ounces. The metal is a wond...

A tall, elegant, and beautiful English ratafia DSOT (double series opaque twist) glass. Ratafia glasses are quite uncommon, and this is a particularly fine example. The elongated conical bowl is molded and leads into a stem with a pair of spiral threads outside of a lace twist.

This glass is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. The proportions are excellent, with a height of 7 1/2 inches, a bowl diameter of 1 5/8 inches, and a foot diameter of 2 9/16 inches.

No...

A rare and early baluster champagne glass featuring an everted lip cup bowl over a hollow inverted baluster knop. Finishing the stem is a basal knop over a high domed and folded foot. The height of this gem is 4 1/4 inches, and it has no condition issues whatsoever.

Although this type form was also made slightly later, the thinly blown dark metal strongly suggests a late 17th century date.

A wonderful and rare southern folk art small watercolor on paper portrait of a gentleman, identified as Mr. Bunning on the reverse, along with the date of 1824. Examples of southern folk art are quite uncommon and highly sought after. This fine example was found in Florida, and the presence of a palm tree and water in the background, along with a classical style column, indicates that it was done, in fact, somewhere along the southeastern coast of the U.S

The figure of the man is very nicely r...

A beautifully rendered watercolor and pencil portrait of a woman done by Jane Anthony Davis, more commonly known as J.A. Davis. The sitter, as was usual with Davis' portraits, is dressed in black, with color being reserved for decorative objects, such as books, flowers, or jewelry, as in this case. What is highly unusual is that Davis signed very few of her works, and on this piece, on the cardboard insert behind the painting, is written "Caroline Mathilda Brown Wife of Nicholas Brown". Beneath ...

A wine glass rinser, rare because of the deep and beautiful red color. Wine rinsers or wine washers were used to cool or rinse wine glasses between courses of meals. Red was, by far, the least common color of glass in this period because of the expense in making since gold had to be added to the molten metal to achieve the color. This is a wonderful example in excellent condition. The height is 3 3/4 inches and the diameter is 4 5/16 inches. Polished pontil.

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...

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 charming and beautifully rendered watercolor portrait, of a very attractive young woman, painted by Emanuel Reynolds. The sitter is dressed in the height of fashion for the period, around 1837, with a spangled diaphanous blue shawl over a low cut, pleated, black dress highlighted with a central blue brooch. Long blue and purple earrings, and a fine gold chain woven through her elaborate hairdo complete the picture of a wealthy member of the elite society.

What makes this piece truly spe...

This is an unusual, wonderful, and beautifully done tinsel or foil painting. It depicts a large bouquet of flowers in a an urn. The urn has been painted to look like it has a mica or quartz type surface, with the stand being done in the same manner. Colors are very vibrant, and include deep blues, purple, pink, various shades of yellow and green, white, reds, and others.

Tinsel paintings of this type are almost a completely American form, becoming highly popular around 1870, and continuing ...

A beautifully limned miniature portrait painting by Elkanah Tisdale. The sitter, though unknown, is a handsome young man dressed in a black coat. The painting measures 3" by 2", and is in superb condition, with no chips, cracks, bowing, paint loss, or restoration. It is housed in a later metal case.

Few miniatures by Tisdale are known to exist, and with very rare exception, are, as is the case here, unsigned.

Tisdale was born in CT around 1771, then moved to and worked in NYC from 1794 to ...

A striking oil on canvas portrait of an attractive young woman painted by William Matthew Prior. The woman is sitting in front of a window draped with red fabric, trees seen through it in the background. She is holding a book and sits on a chair which has a red shawl over the back. Use of the highly lit face and hands against a dark background exemplify characteristics of Prior's and Prior-Hamblin works.

The painting is 25 1/2" by 21 1/2" sight size, while what appears to be the original paint...

This is a spectacular and huge English wine glass with a vermicular collar. The bell bowl is finely engraved with a band of fruiting vines below the rim. The stem is a multiple-spiral air twist (MSAT) with a nicely fashioned central vermicular collar. The conical foot has a rough, snapped pontil.

The glass stands 8 1/2" tall, an amazing and rare size for this form. The bowl diameter is 3 5/8" and the foot diameter is 3 11/16". Good color, tooling marks, and striations, with no condition proble...

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 rare and striking folk art example of a tinsel or foil painting. The vast majority of tinsel paintings are of flowers, but this one, as does item a1175, focuses instead on fruit. This particular gem shows a rose colored glass compote with plums, cherries, strawberries, pear, etc. Colors are deep and very vibrant, and include blues, purple, orange, yellow, greens, etc.

As mentioned in other listings, tinsel paintings of this type are almost a completely American form, becoming h...

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 wonderful American folk art mourning portrait painting of a young child, done by Horace Bundy. Although unsigned by him, virtually all the characteristics that indicate such an attribution are present. In addition, an old label from an antiques dealer is on the back, along with a pencilled inscription about Bundy on the backing board.

The work, which is oil on canvas, simply displays a beautiful child, with grayish-hazel eyes, in a simple white gown, the whole wreathed in clouds in a painted...

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...

A fine and rare English Georgian period wine glass rinser, beautifully engraved with an armorial crest of a crowned leopard rampant. The rinser is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or other flaws. It has a wide polished pontil and is 3 7/8" tall and 4 7/8" in diameter.

A superbly painted portrait of a handsome gentleman, strongly attributed to James Tooley. The sitter has blue eyes, red hair and beard, and is attired in a black jacket, black vest, with a blue-gray waistcoat and cravat.

The artistry shown in this piece is of the highest quality, and the feel and techniques indicate that it was done by James Tooley. Further, on the back of the painting, under the protective paper backing, was a trade label for Kaussler & Smith, a 19th c Philadelphia maker of ...

A superb miniature portrait painting by Giovanni Battista Gigola. The sitter, shown in 3/4 length, is a young man attired in a green coat with brass buttons, posed in front of a cloud filled blue sky. Unframed, and in superb condition, with no cracks, bowing, paint loss, or restoration. This fine example of Gigola's work measures 2 1/2" by 2".

Note: Giovanni Battista Gigola (1767 - 1841) is a highly esteemed Italian artist, best known for his miniature portraits on ivory. His works are in ...

An American watercolor portrait miniature of a striking young man with brown hair and gray eyes. The sitter is wearing a black coat with brass buttons, a white vest, shirt, and cravat. Signed "Williams" at the lower right, the painting is in the original gilt pendant frame with a cast foliate rim. The reverse of the case has a glazed aperture holding plaited brown hair.

The overall size of the portrait is 2 5/8" by 2 1/4". The condition of the painting is excellent, with no cracks, chips, or ...

One of the finest miniature paintings done by William Massey Stroud Doyle, showing a young man in a black jacket, white shirt and tie with a stickpin. The finely limned gentleman is shown against a white cloud-filled blue sky. Signed "Doyle 1822" at the lower right.

Not only is the painting itself beautiful, but the original case is also very fine, containing a lock of hair in the glazed rear aperture. Condition of the mini is excellent, with no cracks, chips, or restoration. The case is also...

An extremely nice tinsel, or foil, painting, showing a pearlescent urn overflowing with a wide variety of flowers, with a fallen rose bud at the base of the urn.

Housed in a period and probably original frame, measuring 17" by 13 1/4", the painting itself is 12" by 8 1/2". The condition of this gem is excellent.

Tinsel paintings of this type are almost a completely American form, becoming highly popular around 1870, and continuing into the mid 20th century. Earlier pieces, such as this on...

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...

A fine miniature portrait painting by the important artist John Carlin. This work shows a beautiful young woman posed simply in a white dress. Carlin obviously intended to have the viewer focus on her fine features and luminous eyes.

The painting is signed and dated on the reverse backing papers, and is housed in a brooch. The sight size is 1 5/16" by 1 1/8", and the brooch size is 1 3/4" by 1 1/2". Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, bowing or restoration. The brooch is missing its...

A wonderful micro beaded figural purse from the 1st quarter of the 20th century. The scene shows two figures in 18th century clothing, the man serenading, with a mandolin, a woman seated in a chair in the garden. The same scene appears on both sides of the purse.

Complementing the multi-colored scene is a beautiful enameled and jeweled frame and a full four color fringe.

The condition of the purse, inside and out, is excellent, with no holes or tears. The clasp closes firmly and evenly. The ...

A beautiful set of four c1775 English wine glasses, engraved with a scene of horsemen, hounds, foxes, and a house, the lower part of the ogee bowls cut and the stems with facet cutting.

The glasses are 5 1/8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 2", and a generous 2 3/4" foot diameter. Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or repairs. Good color and striations, and a rough, snapped pontil

A beautiful and unusual cordial drinking glass, with a round funnel bowl, the lower half of which is fluted. The stem is of the double series opaque twist type, and is comprised of a 17-ply spiral band outside of a lace twist. What makes this a truly special glass is the domed helmet foot, and the overall proportions.

The glass is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. There is a small slight "ripple" on the underside of the foot, which occurred at the time of manufactu...

A stunning multiple-spiral air twist (MSAT) English drinking glass, unusual because of the high domed foot. The glass has a bell bowl with a solid base.

Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or repairs. Good color, striations, and tooling marks. Snapped pontil.

The height of this beautiful and rare example is 6 1/2", with a bowl diameter of 2 11/16" and a foot diameter of 2 13/16".

A striking antique English porcelain coffee cup. Made at the Worcester factory during the Dr. Wall, or First Period, it is painted with the Pu Tai pattern in beautiful, bright enamels. It shows Pu-Tai, also known as the Laughing Buddha, seated, with two attendants. The cup has a slightly everted rim, a handle of the grooved loop type, and the interior border is gilded in addition to the iron red enamel.

The cup is 2 3/8" tall, with a top diameter of 2 1/8". Condition is superb, looking factor...

An important Newcastle light baluster (NLB) antique wine glass of John Paul Jones American Revolutionary War interest. Round funnel bowl with the stem having a rare configuration of a teared and cushioned inverted baluster knop above a multi-teared inverted baluster knop, and a basal knop. The glass is from 1760, but the engraving was done about 20 years later, to commemorate the important events described below. The foot is conical with a rough snapped pontil. Condition is excellent, with no ch...

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,...

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.

An excellent Swiss miniature portrait painting, on natural organic material, of an architect. The subject is a distinguished gray-haired gentleman wearing a blue coat and white shirt, and is seated in an upholstered chair. His elbow is leaning on a table which has a diagram of a bridge. Housed in its original case, the reverse of which is white glass which has the initials CT or TC in the center, surrounded with a border of flowers, all of which is done with hairwork, gold filigree, and black pa...

A fine miniature portrait painting attributed to Theodore V. Peticolas, done on natural organic material, of a nice looking young gentleman with red hair and hazel eyes. He is wearing a brown jacket edged with black velvet, a white shirt with stickpin, and a black velvet bowtie.

The condition is excellent with no problems, as is the condition of the case, which has a glazed aperture on the rear. The size of this charming painting is 2 1/2" by 2".

Note: Theodore Peticolas (1797 - 1866) was ...

A beautifully painted miniature portrait on ivory, signed and dated lower left "Gerald S. Hayward 1882". The sitter is an attractive young woman wearing a diamond necklace and white gown. The background is white clouds against a blue sky. This, taken with the 1883 date of the painting contrasting with the engraved 1884 date on the reverse of the cast foliate case (along with the sitter's initials of F.L.A.) would be a strong indication that this is a mourning painting, done in the year prior to ...

A well done miniature portrait painting on natural organic material, with the sitter being Bishop William White. This piece was done based on the original work painted in enamel on copper by William Birch in 1830. This example kept very true to the original.

The painting is in excellent condition, as is its original velvet travel case, although the photo is not of the highest quality. Sight size is 1 3/8" by 1 1/8".

NOTE: William White (1748-1836) was the first bishop of the Protestant Episc...

A beautiful and highly desirable Dr. Wall Worcester salt in the form of a scallop shell, the interior painted with an agitated bird amidst foliage with red berries, the rim shaded with pink, and the whole supported on a raised trefoil base applied with a variety of shells, seaweed, and coral in vibrant colors. The underside of the rim of the base marked with an impressed "T" for John Toulouse.

The overall condition is excellent, with a small, very tight, hardly visible hairline, about 3/4" whi...

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 beautifully rendered miniature painting, on natural organic material, by John Barry. The sitter is an attractive and stately woman with the mass-like appearance of her hair that is one of the characteristics of Barry's work. The casework is as fine as the painting, with the miniature set in a gold bezel, and the reverse with foil backed blue glass surrounding a display of tightly woven hair.

Both the painting and the case are in excellent condition, with no losses or restoration. Overall siz...

An extremely fine enamel on copper miniature portrait painting done by William Prewett (Prewitt). The sitter is an older gentleman, of quite aristocratic bearing, wearing a powdered wig, white shirt and stock, and a reddish-brown jacket. The painting is in its original gold bezel case.

Condition is excellent, with no issues. The discoloration at the top is due to scanner reflection. The sight size is 1 7/8" by 1 1/2", while the overall size is 2 1/4" by 1 5/8".

IMPORTANT NOTES:1. This piece ...

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...

A rare miniature portrait, on natural organic material, painted by Thomas LeClear. The sitter is a young man with dark brown hair and eyes, staring almost directly at the viewer. He is dressed in a black coat with silk trim, a black tie, and a white shirt. On the reverse, the painting is signed "Painted by Thomas Le Clear in Buffalo 1842".

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no bowing, chips, cracks, or restoration. It is housed in a thermoplastic case, also without issues. The sigh...

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.

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 very nicely executed pair of portraits of a man and a woman, done in watercolor on card or paper. The woman is identified on the reverse as Elizabeth Gill Elford, painted by J. Mitchell Cox in 1835. The sitter's name and the artist's signature are on card that was cut out and applied to the newer backing, but were part of the original backing to the painting. The man is identified as Benjamin Elford , and signed twice on the back as painted by J. Mitchell Cox in 1835.

Beth is wearing a...

A fine and unusual antique English drinking glass of Jacobite significance. The round funnel bowl is beautifully engraved with a rose, a bud to the right, a butterfly, and foliage. The stem is of the double series air twist type, quite uncommon because of the configuration of a pair of mercury corkscrews outside of a central cable. Conical foot with a rough snapped pontil. Lead metal with good color, striations, and tooling marks.

The condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restorat...

A beautiful and elegant Dr. Wall First Period Worcester tankard, or mug, painted with the "Walk in the Garden" pattern, showing a "Long Eliza" figure holding a basket and a ruyi sceptre, the boy at her side with a speared bird, and birds in the branches of a fine tree on the reverse. The inside of the footrim has a workman's mark which appears to be IH or JH.

The mug is of quite a goodly size, being 4 3/4" in height. The condition is remarkable, looking factory fresh with crisp painting and n...

A truly beautiful pair of miniature portraits, on natural wafer, exemplifying Hugh Bridport at his very best. Signed on the back of the boy,, in graphite, "Painted by Hugh Bridport, Phila".

The very handsome gentleman is wearing a black ascot, white collar, white shirt with onyx studs, and a black jacket. The young boy, with fine, light brown hair, is wearing a sky blue garment with white embroidery on the wide collar.

Both miniatures are in superb condition, with no cracks, chips, or bowing...

A fine Derby porcelain dish painted by Zachariah Boreman, marked on the reverse with a blue crowned "D" and pattern number 343. The kidney-shaped dish has a beautiful soft green wide border with a gilded edge. The white ground within the green border has elaborate drape and swag gilding on the outside edge, and gilded foliage surrounding the kidney shaped cartouche in the center. The cartouche has a scene identified on the reverse as Solfatara, Italy. This central painting displays mountains, s...

The most common type of air twist found in mid-18th century English glasses is the multiple spiral air twist (MSAT). Double series air twists are occasionally found, but triple series twists are incredibly rare, with very few still in existence. This particular example has an ogee bowl leading into a stem with a central air core surrounded by a two ply heavy thread which is in turn surrounded by a three ply heavy thread. Because of the complexity of this, the third photo is a very large close...

A wonderful example of this well-known and highly collected historical Staffordshire scene. This plate is 6 3/4" in diameter, with the impressed Clews mark on the reverse. The condition is superb, with deep color, high clarity, sparkling glaze, and no chips, cracks, scratches, or restoration. It is as fine an example as one could hope for.

The full title of the scene is "Landing of Gen. Lafayette at Castle Garden New York 16 August, 1824", and was produced for the American market to commemorat...

A spectacular and rare 18th century Chelsea porcelain teabowl and saucer, each piece very finely and thinly potted and fulsomely painted with exotic birds and insects in landscapes, with a thin reddish-brown edge to the rims. The interior of the bowl has a flower sprig. Examples of this pattern are almost unheard of, and because of the superb technique, the painting was very probably done by Jeffrey Hamet O'Neal or William Duvivier. I cannot stress enough how striking these pieces are, and how ...

This beautiful miniature portrait, painted in watercolor on natural material, is signed "SH 1786" on the right center of the painting, and also on the reverse as "Sophia Howell 1786". The sitter, a woman wearing a white gown with a lace-edged black overpiece, and holding a salmon colored muff, is posed in front of a blue drape and a stone column and plinth.

The artistic quality of this work is evident in so many ways, from the colors and textures in the drapery, to the painting of the hair, t...

A tall and beautiful antique English ale glass with a DSOT stem. The elongated ogee bowl is engraved below the rim with meandering branches of barley and hops. Midway down the bowl is a finely engraved bee. The stem contains a double series opaque twist comprised of a multi-ply band outside of a pair of spiral tapes. Conical foot with a rough, snapped pontil.

The glass is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Good color, tool marks, and striations. The height is 8 1/4"...

A nicely painted and early miniature portrait of a man done in watercolor on natural organic material. The blue-eyed sitter is a nice-looking gentleman fashionably attired in a full, long wig, a blue loose fitting robe, and white ruffled shirt.

One of the interesting things about this piece is that the original gold case is of a type known as a "slide case". The top protuberance is attached to a small sheet of metal (in this case gold), and when a little knob is pushed, the sheet can slide com...

A wonderful and charming pair of portrait miniatures by Moses B. Russell, housed in their original matching gold-filled engine turned cases, each with the sitter's hair in the reverse aperture.

The beautiful young woman, with blue eyes and dark brown hair, is wearing a royal blue dress trimmed with lace at the bodice. Signed on the backing paper "Painted by MB Russell 1843 This Paper to Stay On," and in pencil "Susan E. Cushing Taken When 17 years of age". The painting is in superb conditi...