Excavated near Filadelfia, Costa Rico, this impressive vase is in the striking Nicoya Polychrome style. Applied to one side of the bulbous tripod body is the head of an  More »

Excavated near Filadelfia, Costa Rico, this impressive vase is in the striking Nicoya Polychrome style. Applied to one side of the bulbous tripod body is the head of an animal, probably a jaguar or coatimundi, resting on its forearms. A band of hieroglyphs encircles the vase's collar and other designs run around the legs and in a ribbon down the back. Excellent unbroken condition, with some wear to the buff paint of the body, but with all motifs intact. Approximately 11 inches tall and 10-1/2 inches wide at the largest point.   « Less

An unusual example of of Persian metalwork -- possibly crafted in China for the Persian market -- in a graceful form. The widely flared top portion is deeply fluted and  More »

An unusual example of of Persian metalwork -- possibly crafted in China for the Persian market -- in a graceful form. The widely flared top portion is deeply fluted and bears finely detailed engraving of flowers along its lobated edges. The uneven number of sections indicates that the piece was hand wrought, not cast. The bulbous body, also delicately engraved with floral motifs, has a plain collar above and an ogeed base below. Of thick gauge, the vase is formed of paktong (or tutenag, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc), which was introduced in the Eighteenth Century to British silversmiths, such as Matthew Boulton, who used it in fashioning candlesticks, wine labels, etc., as a replacement for highly taxed sterling. Persian or Chinese, late Sixteenth Century. Mint condition. Approximately 5-1/2 inches high and six inches in diameter at the top.   « Less

In mint condition, the glaze of this classic English silver luster teapot was the first commercial use of platinum, a metal discovered in about 1750. It was the answer for  More »

In mint condition, the glaze of this classic English silver luster teapot was the first commercial use of platinum, a metal discovered in about 1750. It was the answer for those who wanted a silver teapot but could not afford sterling; electroplating soon met that demand. This model successfully copies the typical silver example, with its swirling fluting and tender details. English, 1820 to 1840. Approximately 9-1/4 inches long by 5-3/4 inches tall by four inches wide.   « Less

Tall and glamorous, this finely crafted glass overlay vase is a real tour de force. The underlying white glass layer lends a varied luster to the turquoise blue, rather like  More »

Tall and glamorous, this finely crafted glass overlay vase is a real tour de force. The underlying white glass layer lends a varied luster to the turquoise blue, rather like ancient Persian glazes. The tall-necked baluster form of the piece and the intricate palmate and dotted designs enameled on the surface, echo this appeal to Orientalism. There is a hallmark that I have not deciphered, a script letter "A" in an artist's palette. English or Continental, circa 1880. Condition is almost mint, except for some wear to the slight gilded areas. Approximately 11 inches tall by 6-1/2 inches in diameter. Very stunning.   « Less

This highly decorative shallow bowl, a major product of the Seto kilns, depicts the encounter of a beautiful and elegant Japanese woman and fierce-looking bearded man with  More »

This highly decorative shallow bowl, a major product of the Seto kilns, depicts the encounter of a beautiful and elegant Japanese woman and fierce-looking bearded man with some sort of evil intent in mind. Oh, you know the story... Well, frankly I don't, but if I find out, I will write it in. Anyhow, the whole thing is illustrated in elaborate colored enamels and gilt on the finely potted body with a crackled glaze. The condition is excellent, with only one small firing bubble that has burst (see closeup photograph). A superb piece of ceramic artistry with great presence. Approximately 14-1/4 inches in diameter and 2-3/4 inches high. Probably dates from around 1870.   « Less

A charming Napoleon III letter seal of machine-turned bone and chiseled silver, French of around 1870. It is in beautiful condition, with no breaks or cracks. The initials  More »

A charming Napoleon III letter seal of machine-turned bone and chiseled silver, French of around 1870. It is in beautiful condition, with no breaks or cracks. The initials "PG" are carved into the silver bottom, which also bears the hallmarks for France after 1848. Approximately 3-5/8 inches in length and 1-3/8 inches in diameter at the top.   « Less

Made more for whimsy than for actual use, this folding set of bone implements must have given some sailor hours of creative amusement. The tapered body, decorated on both  More »

Made more for whimsy than for actual use, this folding set of bone implements must have given some sailor hours of creative amusement. The tapered body, decorated on both sides with color-filled bull'-eyes, encloses a fingernail scraper, an awl and a pretty deadly ear cleaner. The bottom has a rounded notch and the business end is crudely shaped to resemble a whale or walrus. American, circa 1800 to 1825. Cf.: McManus "A Treasury of American Scrimshaw" (Penguin Studio), p. 140. Excellent condition, with some rust staining on one side around the pins at the base. Approximately 3-3/8 inches by 11/16 inch closed, 4-5/8 inches long opened.   « Less

A delightful Louis XVI tortoiseshell etui with pique-d'argent inlays in the form of classical festoons and stars. On either side is an oval lozenge , one of which bears  More »

A delightful Louis XVI tortoiseshell etui with pique-d'argent inlays in the form of classical festoons and stars. On either side is an oval lozenge , one of which bears the initials "LAW." Originally, it would have held a pair of dainty scissors of some other personal conceit, but now could serve as a pillbox or matchbox. The condition is superb, with only a minute separation on one side where the tortoiseshell meets. Tapering form, approximately 2-3/8 inches by 1-5/8 inches at the top by 1/2 inch thick.   « Less

A finely detailed and hefty snuffbox in the Louis XVI-Empire style decorated on all surfaces with classical designs of lambriquins, fronds, flambeaux and a pair of shields  More »

A finely detailed and hefty snuffbox in the Louis XVI-Empire style decorated on all surfaces with classical designs of lambriquins, fronds, flambeaux and a pair of shields among leafy borders and imbricated panels. On the bottom there is engraved in the central lozenge "MA" in probably contemporaneous script with added above and below it in light Roman letters Presented to" and "By S. Berwin, June, 1916." The beautifully preserved vermeil interior bears on the lid the Austrian purity mark of "14" (.875) and the maker's mark, "KOHN," (untraced); on the right outer rim is the Vienna mark, partly erased, for a year between 1814 and 1819. Condition is excellent, with a slight separation at the hinge area. Approximately 2 inches by 3-3/8 inches by 3/4 inch deep.   « Less

Stately and subtle, this tall vase exemplifies the virtues that have made Oribe stoneware favored by Japanese tea ceremonial connoisseurs and others for centuries. The  More »

Stately and subtle, this tall vase exemplifies the virtues that have made Oribe stoneware favored by Japanese tea ceremonial connoisseurs and others for centuries. The soaring form and intentionally coarse surface make a monolithic background for the underglaze iron-oxide designs of weathered pinetrees on one side and the cavelike scene of "hanging persimmons" suspended from a slanted double border of latticework on the other. A green mantle of glaze engulfs the upper portion, a surprise of purplish-red bleeding out of the lower edges -- an effect I associate with wares of the late Nineteenth Century to the early Twentieth Century, the period of this piece. Condition is perfect. Approximately 11-1/4 inches tall by 5-1/2 inches at the largest diameter.   « Less