Lovely Augarten Wein Floral Vase A lovely Augarten Wein “Floral Vase” signed as shown and stands at 4 inches tall and 3.5 inches diameter, in good condition.  More »

Lovely Augarten Wein Floral Vase A lovely Augarten Wein “Floral Vase” signed as shown and stands at 4 inches tall and 3.5 inches diameter, in good condition. Great example of the Austrian Porcelain. Wien is Austrian for “Vienna,” and there are at least two porcelain companies sometimes known simply as Wien. This web site will address two: Augarten Wien and Wien Keram “Wien” translates as “Vienna”, the capital city of Austria. The porcelain factory at Augarten in Vienna has been in production for almost 300 years. Austria began producing porcelain under the grant of the Austrian royal family. Because of their imperial sponsorship, the factory has been referred to by some collectors as “Royal Vienna”. Porcelain produced by the “Vienna Imperial State Manufactory” began using the mark of the Striped Shield, the coat of arms of the Babenberg family. The shield is referred to as the “beehive” mark because it looks like and old fashioned European beehive with a crown, seen above left. The factory was nationalized but is still located in the Augarten Palace, a former imperial hunting lodge. The Augarten Wien factory conducts tours and sells its production at their gift shop and through dealers worldwide. Augarten Wien produced several horse figurines sculpted by Professor Albin Dobrich (the Spanish Riding School series), Karin Jarl-Sakellarios (rearing Lipizzaner), Robert Ullman (Wild Defiance, Shying Horse, fighting stallions), and Professor Herbert Schwaz (rearing Arabian).   « Less

Rare “Pair of Dragon Export Chinese Bowls” This is what we believe to be Rare “Pair of Dragon Century Export Chinese Bowls” each measuring 6.25  More »

Rare “Pair of Dragon Export Chinese Bowls” This is what we believe to be Rare “Pair of Dragon Century Export Chinese Bowls” each measuring 6.25 inches diameter and 1.75 inch deep in good condition and unsigned. Wares from the 16th century include Kraak porcelain, Yixing stonewares , Blanc-de-Chine, Blue and white porcelain, Famille verte, noire, jaune and rose, Chinese Imari, Armorial wares and Canton porcelain. Chinese export porcelain is generally decorative, but without the symbolic significance of wares produced for the home market. With the exception of the rare Huashi soft paste wares, Chinese porcelain is hard paste made using china clay and Chinese porcelain stone, baidunzi. While rim chips and hairline cracks are common, pieces tend not to stain. Chinese wares are usually thinner than Japanese and do not have the Japanese stilt marks. In the 16th century, Portuguese traders began importing late Ming dynasty Blue and white porcelain porcelains to Europe, resulting in the growth of the Kraak porcelain trade (named after the Portuguese ships called carracks in which it was transported). In 1602 and 1604, two Portuguese carracks, the San Yago and Santa Catarina, were captured by the Dutch and their cargos, which included thousands of items of porcelain, were auctioned, igniting a European mania for porcelain. Buyers included the Kings of England and France. Many European nations then established trading companies in the Far East, the most important being the Dutch East India Company or VOC. The trade continued until the mid-17th century when civil wars caused by the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644 disrupted suppliers and the European traders turned to Japan. As valuable and highly-prized possessions, pieces of Chinese export porcelain appeared in many seventeenth-century Dutch paintings. The illustration (right) shows a painting by Jan Treck that includes two Kraak-style bowls, probably late Ming, the one in the foreground being of a type called by the Dutch klapmuts. The blue pigment used by the artist has faded badly since the picture was painted. Under the Kangxi reign (1662—1722) the Chinese porcelain industry at Jingdezhen was reorganised and the export trade was soon flourishing again. Chinese export porcelain from the late 17th century included Blue and white and Famille verte wares (and occasionally Famille noire and jaune). Wares included garnitures of vases, dishes, teawares, ewers, and other useful wares, figure models, animals and birds. Blanc-de-Chine porcelains and Yixing stonewares arrived in Europe giving inspiration to many of the European potters. For the potters of Jingdezhen the manufacture of porcelain wares for the European export market presented new difficulties. Writing from the city in 1712 the French Jesuit missionary Père Francois Xavier d’Entrecolles records that “…the porcelain that is sent to Europe is made after new models that are often eccentric and difficult to reproduce; for the least defect they are refused by the merchants, and so they remain in the hands of the potters, who cannot sell them to the Chinese, for they do not like such pieces”.   « Less

Early “Niagara Fall & Native Indian” Sterling Souvenir Spoon What a great Early “Niagara Fall & Native Indian Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoon” Very  More »

Early “Niagara Fall & Native Indian” Sterling Souvenir Spoon What a great Early “Niagara Fall & Native Indian Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoon” Very fine detailed engraving in the bowl of the spoon , antique marked American Sterling. The spoon measure 4.50 inches” long and all have a “ Sterling AND Thomas Tugby” Hallmark on back. It is in fine condition. Photos show the early American Silver spoon well (bright and dark areas are reflections of the room while being photographed).   « Less

A stunning antique cast bronze exterior doorknob set in Russell and Erwin’s “Courtenay” design, patent dated 1890, with a signed R&E “Improved  More »

A stunning antique cast bronze exterior doorknob set in Russell and Erwin’s “Courtenay” design, patent dated 1890, with a signed R&E “Improved Columbia Lock.” The doorknob features an eye-catching fourfold design with a beaded center; the plate showcases exquisite casting with bead-and-reel trim, flowers, and acanthus leaves. The entire set has a gorgeous patina. This entry set includes a pair of doorknobs with the connecting spindle, a lock, doorplate, and doorknob escutcheon. The door knobs are 2-1/4” in diameter and 2-3/8” deep; the plate is 11-5/8” by 2-5/8”; and the rosette is 2-3/16” in diameter. The lock has a faceplate 1-1/4” by 6-1/2”, with an approx. 2-7/8” backset. NDKS128-RW   « Less

A superb antique Gothic Revival cast bronze doorknob and matching doorplate in P. & F. Corbin’s “Hampden” pattern. The doorknob features an elegant  More »

A superb antique Gothic Revival cast bronze doorknob and matching doorplate in P. & F. Corbin’s “Hampden” pattern. The doorknob features an elegant threefold trefoil design. The plate has an exquisitely cast design, with a Gothic arch flanked by columns and crowned with foliate detail. Both pieces have a beautiful patina. The door knob takes a 3/8” spindle; the escutcheon plate is 2-3/4” wide and 10” long, and the doorknob is 2-1/4” in diameter and 2” deep. NDKS124-RW   « Less

A beautiful antique cast bronze mail slot in Reading Hardware’s “Valence” design, circa 1900. This letter slot features a graceful design with rounded  More »

A beautiful antique cast bronze mail slot in Reading Hardware’s “Valence” design, circa 1900. This letter slot features a graceful design with rounded ends accented by acanthus leaves and a beveled border. The flap, also with oval ends, reads “Letters.” The back of the piece is signed “RHC” on one end and “Valence” on the other. The letter slot measures 8-5/8” by 2-1/4” overall, with an opening of 4-3/8” by 1”. The spring no longer functions, but the door stays closed with gravity. A matching exterior door hardware set is also available, item NDKS127-RW. If desired, we can clean this letter slot to the same finish as the door hardware set for an additional $5. NLS9-RW   « Less

Beautiful antique five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920's. This textured iron fixture begins with a simple canopy with leaf accents. It moves down to a chain and a  More »

Beautiful antique five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920's. This textured iron fixture begins with a simple canopy with leaf accents. It moves down to a chain and a scrolling foliate loop finial. The chandelier body features graceful scrolls, floral details, and a row of prisms. The five original glass shades, each featuring a beautiful lotus pattern, hang from a lower level of iron scrolls. This light fixture is in excellent condition with no cracks or breaks to the glass, just the expected flea bites around the rim. The chandelier has been professionally rewired and comes with all the necessary attachments for modern installation. The chandelier body measures approximately 17-1/2" wide, 19-1/4" tall, and 35-1/2" long overall. Matching chandelier with candle covers and bobeches also available, Item #NC1147-RW. NC1146-RW   « Less

A wonderful antique four-light chandelier in its original finish with glass shades, dating from the 1920’s. The chandelier begins with a brass loop finial atop a  More »

A wonderful antique four-light chandelier in its original finish with glass shades, dating from the 1920’s. The chandelier begins with a brass loop finial atop a gadrooned chandelier body. Four chandelier arms, ornamented with an overlapped circle design, curve outward from the top of the body to hold dangling brass shade holders. Each shade holder has a beautiful antique glass shade, featuring a geometric design studded with flowers along the lower edge. The chandelier finishes in a tassel finial. This light fixture is in excellent condition; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all the necessary attachments for modern installation. The glass is also in excellent condition with no cracks or breaks, just the expected fleabites around the rims. The chandelier body measures 20” wide and 17-1/2” tall (body only), and the fixture is 32-1/2” long overall. NC1148-RW   « Less

Wonderful antique five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920's. This textured iron fixture begins with a simple canopy with leaf accents. It moves down to a chain and a  More »

Wonderful antique five-light chandelier, dating from the 1920's. This textured iron fixture begins with a simple canopy with leaf accents. It moves down to a chain and a scrolling foliate loop finial. The chandelier body features graceful scrolls, floral details, and a row of prisms. A lower level of iron scrolls form five chandelier arms that support beautiful maple leaf bobeches. This light fixture is in excellent condition ; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all the necessary attachments for modern installation. The chandelier body measures approximately 17" wide, 17-1/2" tall, and 33-1/2" long overall. Matching chandelier with glass shades also available, Item #NC1146-RW. NC1147-RW   « Less

Striking antique five-light iron chandelier, dating from the 1920's - 1930's. This fixture begins with an understated canopy and comes down in a chain to a decorative loop  More »

Striking antique five-light iron chandelier, dating from the 1920's - 1930's. This fixture begins with an understated canopy and comes down in a chain to a decorative loop finial. The chandelier body features scroll work, foliate and floral details, and unique flower accents on their own "stems." Five scrolled arms support beautiful leaf bobeches. This light fixture is in excellent condition ; it has been professionally rewired and comes with all the necessary attachments for modern installation. The chandelier body measures approximately 19-3/4" wide, 21-3/4" tall, and 36-1/4" long overall.   « Less