Catalog (971)

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 fine watercolor on natural wafer, signed lower left by Hyacinthe Mercier and dated 1813. The sitter is an attractive young woman posed in front of a column with a landscape featuring a church in the background. Presented in the original frame.

No condition issues, with a diameter of 2 3/4" and a framed size of 5 1/2" by 5 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Mlle Hyacinth Mercier worked as a miniaturist in Paris, living at 27 rue Neuve Saint Rochet. She exhibited at the Salon in 1808 and 1810. H...

A watercolor on natural wafer, painted by John Cox Dillman Engleheart. The sitter is a handsome gentleman dressed in a black jacket, white shirt, and gray tie. The glazing on the fron of the case has an eglomise border, with the glazed reverse of the case having opalescent glass on top of which is hairwork fastened with a pearl band and gold threads.

The condition of the painting is excellent, as is that of the case. The hairwork on the reverse has some disturbances. Sight size is 2" by 1 5/8...

A superb example of a triple knopped double series opaque twist (DSOT) antique wine glass. The bell bowl sits above a stem with a pair of 3-ply spiral bands around a central gauze, and shoulder, medial, and basal knops. 6 1/2 inches tall, 2 11/16 inch bowl diameter, 2 7/8 inch foot diameter. Unlike many multi-knopped opaque twists, which are poorly fashioned and on the spindly side, this glass is elegantly executed and proportioned.

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...

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 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 superb portrait miniature, painted by Nathaniel Rogers in watercolor on natural material. A note inside the case identifies the sitter as Charles B. Meek. Research has found that he lived in Canandaigua, Ontario, NY. Mr. Meek, a very handsome young gentleman, is posed sitting on a red chair, wearing a black jacket, with white waistcoat, shirt, and stock. The fine skill of Rogers is evident in the detailed luminosity of the face, the shadowing in the clothing, and the overall visual impact of t...

A pair of watercolor on natural wafer paintings of a nice looking couple, set against a clouded blue background, a motif often used by the artist. Each miniature is signed, in the lower right, with the conjoined initials HB, for Henry Jacob Burch. The paintings are set in period ebonized wood frames.

Condition of the paintings and frames is excellent. Sight size of each is 2 3/4" by 2 3/16", and the framed size is 5 1/8" by 4 3/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Henry Jacob Burch was born in London in 1...

A superb enamel on copper miniature portrait by Jean Andre Rouquet. The sitter, wearing a powdered wig and a blue velvet jacket and waistcoat, displays a fine English gravitas.

The miniature is presented under glass in a high karat (15K or higher) gold case, the reverse of which is engraved with a half flowerhead above what appears to be the initials BEE. Below this is an engraved bee.

The condition of the miniature is excellent, with bright colors, no paint loss or cracks, and no restorat...

A miniature painting, watercolor on natural wafer, by Mary Ann Knight. The sitter is a young woman with long hair clad in a white dress with low decolletage, posed against a background of trees and a blue sky.

The painting is in excellent condition with no issues. Sight size is 2 9/16" by 2 1/8". The gold pendant case is 2 3/4" by 2 3/8".

NOTE: Mary Ann Knight (1776 - 1851) was born in London and began painting miniatures around 1802. She was a pupil of Andrew Plimer, who then married Mary A...

Painted by Samuel Shelley, this is a beautifully limned portrait miniature of a British officer. The epaulette being on the left shoulder, instead of on the more usual right, indicates that the sitter was in a cavalry regiment of the British army. That, taken with other characteristics of the uniform show him to be with the heavy dragoons. The white facings and silver buttons allow the identification to be narrowed down to the 3rd Irish Horse Regiment which, in 1788, became the 6th Dragoon Guar...

A beautiful c1840 miniature, painted on natural material by Thomas Seir Cummings. The sitter, a gray-eyed young woman, is in a pale pink off the shoulder dress, and is resting against a blue cushion. The reverse is inscribed in pen with an illegible name and "22 yrs". Presented in a bronze surround set into a burl wood frame. Excellent condition with no issues. The sight size is 3 1/2" by 2 3/4", with a framed size of 7" by 6 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Thomas Seir Cummings was born in Englan...

A beautiful watercolor on organic material attributed to the hand of William Grimaldi. The subject of this work of art is an older gentleman wearing a blue coat, yellow vest, and ruffled stock, and shown against a beclouded sky background. Housed in a gold filled case.

The condition of the miniature and its case is excellent, with no problems. The overall size is 3" by 2 3/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: William Grimaldi (1751 - 1830) was born in England and was the son of Alexander Grimaldi and...

A beautiful and pristine Dr. Wall First Period Worcester hexagonal creamboat with a flared rim, a double scroll handle and the lip moulded with a geranium leaf. This wonderful piece, of highly desirable form, is painted in bright colours of green, iron-red, fuchsia, purple, blue, and yellow, and features two bouquets of flowers within scroll moulded cartouches, amongst scattered blooms. The front and the interior are also lavishly decorated with further sprays. The bottom has a label from Manhe...

A beautiful and profusely engraved air twist Georgian drinking glass, the bell bowl depicting a woman holding a branch and a cornucopia, with packages and maritime instruments cascading from it, the figure flanked by trees. The two line inscription below the rim "devrede stort op aarde weer, de koopman schap en konsten neer" translates as "When peace is upon the earth commerce and the arts will blossom." The stem contains a multiple-spiral air twist and has a medial swelled knop. The foot is of ...

A well proportioned baluster glass featuring a trumpet bowl raised on a drawn stem with a large annular medial knop. A virtually identical glass is classified in Bickerton's "Eighteenth Century English Drinking Glasses" as a heavy baluster. Conical folded foot with a rough snapped pontil.

Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, hazing, or restoration. The height is 6 1/2", with a bowl diameter of 2 5/8" and a foot diameter of 2 3/4". Ex collection of Tony Stout.

A fine miniature of a handsome gent with strawberry blond hair, painted by Henry Jacob Burch. Adding to the desirability of this example is the Burch trade card that was fitted to the back of the painting, rarely seen in his works.

Excellent condition, with an overall size of 2 3/4" by 2 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Henry Jacob Burch was born in London in 1763. He entered the Royal Academy Schools at the age of 16, and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1787 to 1834. Examples of his wor...

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...

A tall and elegant toasting glass with a drawn trumpet bowl leading into a stem with a multiple-spiral air twist. A nice gray metal, good striations, and tooling marks, with two small inclusions in the bowl. Rough, snapped pontil. Excellent condition with no chips or restoration.

7 5/8 inches tall, with a bowl diameter of 2 3/4 inches and a generous conical foot diameter of 3 1/16 inches.

A single series air twist (SSAT) stem, much less common than the normal multiple spiral air twist (MSAT); a pleasing glass with a trumpet bowl; 7" tall, 3.3" diameter foot, 3.1" diameter bowl

A multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) glass with an uncommon waisted bucket bowl and a shoulder knop; 6.3" tall, 2.6" foot diameter, 2.4" bowl diameter

A naïve portrait of a young man holding a book, done in watercolor, ink, and pencil. Although unsigned, every characteristic of J.A. Davis' work is present, from the materials used to the composition, to the painting technique. Similar to lot 834 at the Sotheby's 1/25/15 auction and to lots 119 and 120 at the Skinner 11/2/18 sale. .

Excellent condition with no tears, folds, or restoration. There is some light even toning which is very common with her works and does not detract from this gem o...

A superb and beautifully engraved German glass wine goblet of friendship or marriage significance and extremely large size. The capacious pointed round funnel bowl is elaborately decorated with crowned hearts below clasped hands. There are flowers and foliage and an inscription in old German, roughly translated as "No matter where in the world we are, our friendship will last forever." The stem has a faceted shoulder knop, and a hollow faceted inverted baluster medial knop leading into a basal ...

A fine miniature portrait painted on natural wafer by Alexander Gallaway. The sitter is a distinguished gentleman with a white wig, and attired in a tan jacket, cream vest, and white shirt. Framed in a 15 karat gold case with half moon and dot work on the border of the reverse side.

The condition of the case and painting is excellent, with no flaws. (The white area at the right of the painting is due to light reflection in the photo.) The case size is 1 1/2" by 1 1/4".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: ...

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...

An Alfred T. Agate watercolor on natural substrate of a nicely featured gentleman. The sitter is attired in a black jacket with black stock and a white vest and shirt. Housed in a cast foliate case with a ringlet of hair in the glazed compartment verso.

Condition of the painting and the case is excellent, with no flaws to speak of. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 3/4", and the case size is 2 1/2" by 2 1/8".

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Alfred Agate (1812-1846, born in Sparta, N.Y. was the younger ...

A strong naïve miniature portrait, rendered in oil and watercolor on organic wafer, which is a very unusual combination. The sitter is a fine looking gentleman attired in a white shirt and collar, with a black jacket, vest and tie. He is seated in a formal armchair, holding a green covered book, in front of a red drapery with a red tasseled tieback. A wooded scene with a blue sky is in the background.

The size of the work is large and quite unusual for an American piece on natural material, h...

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 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 charming miniature painting done in watercolor on organic wafer. The subject of this delightful work is a very pretty young woman, with brown hair and eyes, wearing a pleated white dress with a lace lined bodice, at the midpoint a brooch with flowers. An old label attached to the painting attributes this work to Moses B. Russell. Housed in a bronze frame with fabric backing.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no chips, cracks, paint loss, bowing, or restoration. The sight size ...

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 truly spectacular portrait miniature executed in watercolor on natural wafer. This is, by quite a few years, one of the earliest known pieces by Samuel Cotes. The painting is signed "SC" and dated "1756" at the center left. The sitter, clearly a nobleman, is seated in a chair as he plays a mandolin. It appears, from his expression and eyes, that the music is transporting him to some remembered or imagined place.

The condition of the painting is excellent. with no chips, cracks, paint loss or...

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 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...

An 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 has molded flutes in the lower three quarters and leads into a stem with a 14-ply spiral band outside of a pair of spiral tapes.

This glass is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, or restoration. The proportions are excellent, with a height of 6 7/8 inches, a bowl diameter of 1 9/16 inches, and a f...

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 an eagle, and is housed in a period frame with good 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 the paint...

An elegant and beautiful Derby porcelain figure of "Flora," from the "Antique Seasons" set. Flora (or Spring)stands on a tall plinth, is wearing a diadem of flowers, has gathered her robe in her left hand, and is offering a wreath with her right. The Antique Seasons set was made in 1771, and each has the model number "5" incised in the base. It is described in Peter Bradshaw's book "Derby Porcelain Figures 1750-1848" as being exceedingly rare.

This figure is 9" tall, and is in fantastic condi...

An uncommon multiple-spiral air twist glass distinguished by the vermicular, or "ruffled," collar around the stem; a two piece glass with a flared bell bowl with a solid base; conical foot with rough, snapped pontil.

6 1/2" tall, 2 9/16" bowl diameter, 2 13/16" foot diameter

A charming miniature portrait painted in watercolors on wafer. The sitter, with curly auburn hair and blue eyes, is simply attired in an off the shoulder sky blue gown, and is depicted in front of a cloud filled blue sky. Such a pose is often used to indicate that the work is a mourning piece. According to family history, the sitter is Lucy Ann Bainbridge, the daughter of Commodore William Bainbridge.

The miniature, in what might be the original case, which has a glazed aperture on the reverse...

An important antique drinking glass, a beautiful tall Newcastle light baluster (NLB), featuring the Dutch engraved coat of arms of Kurt Christof, Count von Schwerin. The engraved border has a pair of sitting doves, foliage, and a single dove about to take flight. The large pointed round funnel bowl sits atop an inverted baluster knop, above an angular knop, which in turn is above a true baluster knop. The foot is also quite special and uncommon, being engraved, domed and folded, with a rough, sn...

An antique drinking glass with exceptional engraving of three tulips on the bell bowl. The stem features an inverted baluster knop with trapped air tear. Dutch soda metal. Height 5 3/4 inches, bowl diameter 2 1/4 inches, folded foot diameter 2 3/4 inches.

A stunning 18th century English champagne or sweetmeat glass having a double ogee bowl with an everted lip above a single merise. The 8 sided Silesian (molded) stem surmounts a basal collar above a domed foot. A superb and flawless example.

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

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 wonderful molded pedestal glass with an unusually large pointed round funnel bowl above a crisp 6 sided hollow Silesian stem; folded foot. 6 1/4" tall, 2 3/4" bowl diameter, 2.8" foot diameter

Although the glass is soda, the lead-like ring to it, combined with its extremely high overall quality strongly indicates a Tyneside (N. England) origin.

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

An extremely fine set of 6 antique wine glasses, double series opaque twist (DSOT). Rare because of the triple knop and the fact that it is a true set of 6. Round funnel bowls. 6 3/8 inches tall, 2 7/8 inch diameter foot, 2 5/8 inch diameter bowl

A fine lead antique wine glass, being a true Jacobite multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) glass engraved by Engraver B in Seddon's book. The air twist is very tight and elegantly fashioned. The round funnel bowl has a 6 petal rose, and a closed rose bud to its right. On the reverse of the glass is an oak leaf, an important Jacobite symbol which represents the Boscobel Oak, the tree that Charles II hid in. Charles II was the predecessor king to James I, the father of James II, father to James Edwar...

An antique wine glass of lead composition. This drinking glass has a drawn trumpet bowl and a stem with a trapped tear. The bowl has diamond point engraving with the names Harlord Wright and Frances Chat, followed by the Latin saying flammae felices quas mutuus exitat ardor. Loosely translated, this means How fortunate are those for whom the flames of love burn without change, a charming sentiment for what is a marriage or anniversary glass. A nice heavy glass of good color. Folded foot with rou...

A beautifully made and proportioned antique wine glass with a multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) stem. The cup bowl has honeycomb molding, and the stem has shoulder and medial knops. With good weight and tooling, this elegant glass stands tall at 6 1/2 inches, with a 2 9/16 inch bowl diameter and a 3 1/8 inch foot diameter. Conical foot with a rough, snapped pontil.

A fine baluster wine glass with a solid base funnel bowl atop a stem with a teared acorn knop and a basal knop. Acorn knops are one of the least common formations in baluster glasses. The glass has a conical folded foot with a rough, snapped pontil.

The condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. There is a small enclosed pot stone at the rim, of no particular importance. This is shown, greatly enlarged, in the second photo. The height of the glass is 5 1/4", with a bowl dia...

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 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 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 pair of extremely large antique English drinking glasses, each with a bucket bowl on a plain stem. Glasses of this size in this form are quite uncommon, and it is very unusual to find a pair. Good color, striations, and tooling marks. Rough snapped pontil.

Their condition is excellent, with no problems whatsoever. A museum label remains on the foot of one of the glasses. The height is 8", with bowl and foot diameters of 3 3/4".

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...

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 watercolor on organic natural wafer of a somewhat older woman wearing a blue jacket with fur edging, a pearl choker, and a rust colored cap with lace. The unusual characteristics of the piece are the hand decorated paper surround and that the painting is in a frame that slides into a close fitting leather case.

The condition of the painting is excellent, with no issues, while the case has exterior wear but is structurally sound. Sight size is 2: by 1 5/8", and the case is 2 7/8" by 2 1/8"

A c1835 delightful and rare miniature by Pamelia Hill, depicting an attractive young woman with hazel eyes and reddish hair gathered in a snood. She is wearing drop earrings and a brooch just below the lace edging of her pleated, deep blue dress. And, of course, the aforementioned snood. Snood, snood, snood...that word always makes me smile.

The painting, in a red leather traveling case, is in excellent condition, having a sight size of 2 1/2" by 2 1/8", and a closed case size of 3" by...

A fine and rare Chelsea porcelain figure of winter. The subject is an older man, obviously in distress, wearing only a wrap, and standing beside a brazier. This is a classical representation of "Winter", part of the Seasons group.

Beautifully modelled, painted, and glazed, the condition is excellent, with only a small invisible professional restoration to the thumb area. The height is 4 1/2".