Catalog (971)

A pair of black papier mache wine bottle coasters, each beautifully hand painted with a colorful bird within a red and gilt cartouche. The form is quite rare, with more common versions made of silver or silver plate. Because of the date, and the quality exhibited in these, it is quite probable that they were made by Jennens and Bettridge (fl. 1815-1864), the English firm most respected for this type work.

The coasters are 6 1/4" in diameter and 1/2" in depth. Overall condition is excellent, wi...

A beautifully limned tinsel, or foil, painting, reverse painted on glass. The subject matter is a white urn, filled with a an array of various flowers, including a large rose and a lily. The period and probably original frame is of high quality.

This good-sized painting is in overall excellent condition, as is the frame. The sight size is 14 5/8" by 12 3/8", and the framed size is 19 5/8" by 17 1/4".

NOTE: Foil paintings were done primarily in the second half of the 19th century, and ...

A fine antique English hollow stem wine glass with a domed and folded foot. Dating around the middle of the 18th century, few glasses of this type were made.

This example has a very strong presence, with a goodly sized round funnel bowl. Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Good tool marks, color, and striations, and of substantial weight. The height, at 6 3/4", is also greater than is usually found, adding to the desirability. The bowl diameter is 2 5/8" and the foot...

An uncommon, beautiful, and elegant baluster drinking glass, with a bell bowl engraved on the top half with fruiting vine decoration. The bowl has a solid base and surmounts a stem with a collar knop and a large drop knop atop a basal cushion knop.

The glass is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, blooming, or restoration. This fine example is 6 3/4" in height, with a bowl diameter of 2 7/8" and a foot diameter of 3".

A pair of oil on card paintings, each signed lower left, by C. Ph. Weber. The first is of a church and churchyard behind a rock wall. The second depicts fishing along the Delaware river. Typical of the artist's work is the fine use of light and color, rendering an almost impressionistic feel.

Condition of the paintings is very good, with no damage or restoration. There are some scattered minor areas of surface dirt on the fishing scene, which could easily be cleaned without harming the painti...

A colorful Uzbeki velvet Ikat textile fragment in a striking plethora of colors. In good overall condition and mounted on linen. The sight size is 20" by 16" and the overall size is 23 1/2" by 19 1/4".

Purchased in Istanbul in 1996 for a private collection.

NOTES: 1. Ikats are the oldest known patterned textiles in the world. Though existing for thousands of years, these fabrics garnered fame in the nineteenth century, when the finest examples of them from Central Asia were used as a for...

A very nice watercolor painting on natural wafer. The sitter is a beautiful young girl with hazel eyes and brown hair, simply dressed in a bluish gray gown with lace edging at the bodice.

The painting is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, bowing, or restoration. The original pressed brass frame with wood backing, and has some dents and a crease, which do not take away from the appearance. Sight size is 2 3/8" by 1 7/8", with the framed size being 3 3/4" by 3".

A striking and extremely rare hooked rug featuring a peacock displaying its beautiful plumage. This is a very graphically strong depiction, striking in its design.

One of the factors that contributes greatly to the rarity is the use of silver metallic threads circling the "eyes" of the peacock's feathers. The color range in the rug is beautiful, with no jarring clashes. All dyes are natural, with no use of artificial coloring.

The condition is excellent, with virtually no worn spots, tear...

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 pot stone at the rim and foot rim. Any discolorations, specks, or streaks are due to the photos. The height o...

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 pot stone at the foot rim. Any discolorations, specks, or streaks are due to the photos. The height of this ...

A bold and beautiful tinsel, or foil, painting, reverse painted on glass. The subject matter is a yellow and white urn, filled with a bountiful array of various flowers, done in a rainbow of colors. The period and probably original frame is of high quality mahogany, which is very rarely found on this type of work.

The painting is in overall excellent condition, and the frame itself has some scuffing and wear, which could easily be touched up. The sight size is 12" by 10 3/4", and the framed si...

A nicely done miniature, on natural wafer, of a gentleman in a black. The reverse of the case is a beautiful example of repousse work, and has an aperture with hairwork within.

The painting is in good condition, with no chips, cracks, or inpainting. The case is in excellent condition and measures 2 1/2" by 2".

A charming and beautifully painted landscape done by George W. Drew (signed lower right) in the early 20th century. The scene depicts a country path following beside a river and wending around a wooden house. Adding to this idyllic scene are ducklings on the path and a woman in front of one of the cherry trees surrounding the house, The wonderful luminosity that Drew is well-known for is apparent in this work.

The painting is 36" by 24", and the fine period frame is 43" by 31". Both the paint...

A superb Derby porcelain coffee can displaying a wrecked ship and rescue efforts. This can was painted by George Robertson, whose depictions of ships and maritime scenes are among the most highly sought after and collected items of Derby porcelain. This particular scene, named on the bottom in blue script, is "A Shipwreck After a Storm."

The gilding on the cup, both in the interior leaf and berry border, and throughout the exterior of the can, is of the high quality that Derby was known for. I...

A beautiful set of twelve Bow porcelain knives, each decorated with flower sprays and a fuzzy caterpillar at the end of the handle.

Knives of this type and date can be found occasionally as singles, pairs, and rarely, as a set of 6. However, this is the first set of 12 that we have seen or encountered in 25 years. Further, many of these other knife handles were originally fitted with base metal knives, which were often replaced, with base metal, over the years. The set offered here had all th...

A very early and rare miniature, enamel on copper, done circa 1690-1700 by Peter Boy the Elder (1651-1727). The sitter is Johann Wilheim II. He was Elector Palatine (1658–1716) of the Wittelsbach dynasty and was Duke of Neuburg (1690–1716), Duke of Jülich and Berg (1679–1716), and Duke of Upper Palatinate and Cham (1707–1714). From 1697 onwards Johann Wilhelm was also Count of Megen. Clearly a busy and well titled fellow.

The miniature is in its original gold mount on a 19th c...

A totally charming miniature painting of a child, done in watercolor on natural material, and housed in an elaborately molded 15K gold case and surround. The cute sitter is in a white gown and posed against a cloud-filled blue sky, with foliage and a tree to the right. The reverse of the case is glazed, with a lock of hair in the aperture, and a pin so that the miniature can be worn as a brooch.

The condition of this lovely example is excellent. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 2 1/8" and the case size...

A fine American miniature portrait of a young woman with sausage curls, wearing a lace cap and fichu, with a black dress with black dots. The watercolor painting is done on natural wafer, and enclosed in a period cast bronze foliate case with a glazed aperture on the reverse.

The miniature has no chips, cracks, or bowing. The painting slipped slightly in its case when I scanned it, but this is easily adjusted. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8", while the case size is 2 3/4" by 2 1/4".