Lustreware Vanity Box, Lady in Crinoline, probably continental early/mid C20th
Price: £35
A ceramic figure of a lady dressed in a crinoline formed in two parts, the upper section comprising the body and head of the figure of a lady dressed in a full multicoloured crinoline, which she draws to one side with her right hand while her left holds a fan, the lower section with a flat base on top of which is a deep vessel, presumably for storage, the underneath glazed and with a small impressed mark. While other examples are generally described as English Staffordshire ware, this piece has more of a continental look to it, very possibly German which would be consistent with the paste of the foot rim. Dating is probably to the 1920s or 1930s but if the provenance is slightly uncertain the function is clear and we have here an amusing storage item, perhaps intended for the dressing table. Truly a boudoir item!
Fairing Figurine – A Mouse A Mouse, German, late C19th
Price: £25
Fairing Figurine "A Mouse A Mouse". 'Fairings', as they are known, were ceramic figures made to be given out, sold or won as prizes at fairs, hence the name. They were a product of the late Victorian era but continued to be made until the beginning of the First World War when they fell out of fashion. Manufacture was in Germany principally by the firm Conta and Boehme who developed a mass production method that no other company could match, thereby achieving a market advantage. They exported large quantities to Britain and the United States, but their pieces have even been found in Australia along with other destinations.
The various figures were made in white glazed porcelain with coloured decoration. The compositions were sculptural and often accompanied by an inscription, as here. Many models are known. Two typical examples are 'Returning from the Ball' and 'Twelve Months after Marriage'. Here we have a composition entitled “A Mouse A Mouse!”, which shows a couple, the wife raising herself from the bedclothes while her husband crawls on the floor, having knocked over a chamber pot in the process. Notably absent is the mouse itself…
Some of the fairing figurines are marked, as here. The impressed number '1886', which would be a series number, is combined with the impressed shield mark found on Conta and Boehme pieces from the late C19th. The paste of the foot is consistent with this and the slightly ‘brassy’ look to the gilding (compare Lot 5) complements this as well. It has been suggested that this particular model type is, in fact, a modern reproduction and there are other versions of the design which do indeed look contemporary but this is unlikely to be the case here and we most likely have an amusing and period example of the genre.
Cylindrical Vase, Herman Kähler, HAK, blue glazed stoneware, 1950s
Price: £250
A stoneware vase glazed in blue of upright cylindrical form, the base and neck concave with two ribbed bands, the foot unglazed and showing traces of the potting rings with incised marks ‘HAK’ and 22-118. Herman August Kähler was a Danish ceramic designer and manufacturer who ran the Kähler ceramic factory (Kählers Keramiske Værksted) in Næstved, Denmark which he took over from his Father with his brother in 1872, then running it himself from 1875 when he built a new factory on the town’s outskirts. Kähler was responsible for the introduction of a ruby red glaze which soon became extremely popular and the factory began to produce many well formed decorative pieces which enjoyed a wide reception and were exhibited at the Great Nordic Exhibition held in Copenhagen in 1888 and at the Exposition Universelle held the following year in Paris. Kähler died in 1917 but the firm continued, at first under the direction of his son Herman Hans Christian Kähler.
This vase was designed by Herman Kähler’s grandson Nils Kähler who took over the business with his brother in 1940. Nils Kähler had a special talent for following the design trends of the time. Even though he was enthusiastic himself about traditional wares, the new production was characterized by much simpler designs. He made designer objects such as ashtrays, vases, jugs and lamp bases for Le Klint lamps. Made of stoneware, these bases were fired in his preferred salt glaze or with the strong turquoise or warm golden colors. This vase, then, is a typical example of his work and probably dates to the 1950s.
Rare Ditmar Urbach Art Deco Pitcher, Czech 1930s
Price: £250
The Ditmar Brothers and the Urbach Brothers had merged what was left of their ceramics companies in 1910. Their primary facility was located in Teplitz-Turn, Czechoslovakia. From 1919 to 1938, they operated as Ditmar-Urbach A.G. and produced a large volume of decorative and functional ceramics, many employing forms and decoration typical of the Art Deco style. The form of this vase is unusual, being a double lipped pitcher with a loop handle, and the decoration employs zig zag, almost mountainous, designs in orange, yellow, purple and blue, which can also be found on other pieces from the factory and are typical of the styles of the era. The base is clearly marked ‘Ditmar Urbach’ ‘Made in Czechoslovakia’ which is not the case with all of the pieces made by the firm.
Pair of Royal Dux Secessionist Style Vases, 1930s
Price: £250
A pair of ceramic vases of semi organic form, the body tapering towards the long slightly flaring neck and the sides with four applied loop handles, decorated with stylized floral designs on a grey/beige mottled ground, the base glazed and with a transfer mark of an acorn in a triangle with the letters ‘D’ ‘P’ ‘M’ and impressed numbers ‘11330’.
These vases form part of a group of ceramic items manufactured by a wide number of factories in the early C20th, including Mintons of England, and heavily influenced by the ‘Secessionist’ movement, in which contemporary artists deliberately broke away from traditional styles, which began in Austria in the late nineteenth century and soon spread to Germany and France. The organic forms of the Art Nouveau movement were a strong influence and can be seen here.
Duxer Porzellanmanufaktur, or the Dux Porcelain Manufactory, was started in 1860 by Eduard Eichler in what was then Duchov, Bohemia, later to become part of Czechoslovakia. Production continued until the beginning of the second world war and beyond. The factory started to imitate designs by Copenhagen, Worcester and Sevrés and their pieces achieved great popularity culminating in the company being rewarded with the Grand Prix prize at the world exhibition in St. Louis in 1904. Their output is now now generally referred to by the abbreviated name, ‘Royal Dux’. Some of their pieces were made in the ‘Secessionist’ style, with emphasis on organic forms, as here. There is a wide variety of Royal Dux marks and the one on these vases, an acorn in a triangle (the letters ‘D’, ‘P’, ‘M’ standing for “Duxer Porzellan-Manufaktur”) , indicates a dating after 1918 suggesting that they were made in the 1920s or 1930s but almost certainly before the beginning of the second world war.
Clarice Cliff Celtic Harvest Centrepiece Bowl, marked, 1930s
Price: £35
A ceramic bowl with a bulbous, squat body and three ball like feet, the body with moulded decoration of wheat sheaves and fruit in brightly coloured enamels on a beige raffia style background, the rim with a chrome metal band, the base with transfer marks ‘Celtic Harvest’, ‘Clarice Cliff’ ‘Newport Pottery Co’ ‘England’.
Born in 1899, Clarice Cliff began with a varied career in apprentice roles in the North Staffordshire Potteries, at that time the major employers in the area of women. At the age of 17, she was working with the firm A.J.Wilkinson, owned by the Shorter family, and some of her designs began to appear in their pattern books soon after. In the late 1920s, she experimented with novel and bold designs termed ‘Bizarre Ware’ which met with unexpected success, much to the surprise of Wilkinson’s salesmen. A wide range of pieces in the style was then produced and named ‘Handpainted Bizarre’ by the managing director of Wilkinson’s, Colley Shorter. The ‘Crocus’ and ‘Conical’ ranges then followed and in 1930 Cliff was made Art Director of the firm, soon to be supervising a workforce of up to 1000 at the Newport Pottery. In 1940, she married Colley Shorter, after the death of his first wife, and her career came to an end, decorated pottery being prohibited during the second world war. Shorter died in 1963 and the following year Cliff sold the business to Midwinter Pottery. A recluse for many years, she died in 1972.
The ’Celtic Harvest’ range was typical of her work and comprised a wide variety of serving pieces all decorated in the same style. This Centrepiece bowl was probably intended for fruit and like all the other examples is fitted with a chrome metal rim. Dating is most likely to the 1930s.
Italian decorative duck marble and alabaster
Price: £30
This is a beautiful decorative duck made from highly polished green and brown marble joined with fine alabaster, eyes are also stonef
LOT 28
Pair of Framed Watercolours, landscape scenes, signed W.A.Bettesworth circa 1900 (the frames later)
Estimate: £80 – 120
14d 13h 13m
£0.00
Mods at Clacton 1964, Photograph by Terry Disney for the Daily Express
Price: £45
Easter 1964 saw a gathering of two wheeler transport fanatics in the sea town of Clacton, Essex. These were the ‘mods’ and ‘rockers’ famous at the time, the ‘mods’ with their sharp suits and scooters and the ‘rockers’ with leather jackets and motorcycles. Relationships between the two groups were less than friendly and the inevitable resulted. But if the two rival ‘gangs’ disliked one another, they disliked the police even more and when officialdom stepped in, the chaos increased. Exactly what happened has been debated ever since. The press called it anarchy (see image 6) but the local council was not so sure.
It was, though, a newsworthy confrontation and press photographers were sent in to record events. The most notable of these was Terry Disney who worked for the Daily Express newspaper. Disney was a distinguished and prolific photographer from the 1960s onwards and many of his striking images survive, not least those capturing the major personalities of the entertainment world at the time, including the Beatles themselves. His images of the ‘mods’ (he seemed less interested in the ‘rockers’) capture the atmosphere of the scenes vividly and this photograph is an excellent example of his work on that Easter weekend (for another see image 5). Often only obtainable under licence, this print is an ideal opportunity for a collector to acquire a near iconic image. It is offered with a very basic frame which might well be replaced with something which would enhance the photograph more sympathetically.
Pair of Ceramic Wall Hanging Plaques, Butterflies, probably continental 1960s
Price: £40
A pair of ceramic wall hanging plaques modelled in the form of butterflies with outspread wings, brightly decorated in green, red, orange and black enamels with beaded detail, the reverses plain and with a central cavity, pierced at the top for the wire wall hanger which also forms the proboscis. The fairly coarse paste of the foot rim at the back and general style of decoration suggests continental work, most likely Portugal or Spain and these pieces have a mid century look to them suggesting a a dating in the 1960s when brightly coloured ornaments (and carpets!) enjoyed something of a vogue. Highly decorative then, this pair of lepidoptera would certainly enliven a contemporary interior.
Pair of Japanese Imari Plates, Meiji Period circa 1880
Price: £150
Pair of fine quality Japanese Imari Plates, Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1880, decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gold with a typical fabric derived 'brocade' style design, the central three leaf clover shape roundel surrounded by three shaped panels with fans all on a ground of stylised scrolling foliage, the reverses plain with two concentric circles in underglaze blue next to the foot rim. The form of these plates is unusual, copying the standard design of a Chinese eighteenth century dinner plate.
10 Chromolithographs from Illustrated London News publication celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 1897
Price: £85
This is a rare hand finished chromolithograph print taken from a publication that celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The design and vivid colours harken back to the Victorian era.
Print 1: This print depicts the weddings of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and on the bottom depicts the marriage of Mary of Teck to the then Duke of York. The portraits surrounding these images are of the two brides and other royal family members. (numbered Plate 17)
Print 2: This print depicts the development in the modes of transportation during her reign. Clipper ship to steamer, carriage to train, walking and carriages to bicycles and automobiles. The portraits will be the inventors and visionaries of these developments. (numbered Plate XI)
Print 3: This print depicts the House of Commons with Prime Minister Salisbury and the House of Lords. The surrounding portraits are politicians of the day. The bottom centre is of Gladstone. (numbered Plate A)
Print 4: This print depicts the development of the Royal Navy during her reign. it starts with tall mast sailing ships (1836 fleet) and proceeds to steam ships (1853 fleet) and then finally to the most modern ships and even submarines (1897 fleet). The portraits are a bit random - but probably are naval officers and Royal family members. (numbered Plate IX)
Print 5: This print depicts three important battles during her reign. The portraits depict military officers and other influencers during these wars. (numbered Plate VIII)The portraits depict military officers and other influencers during these wars. (numbered Plate VIII)
Print 6: This print depicts the christenings of Victoria's first two children, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess Royal and Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. The large portrait on the upper left is the Arch Bishop of Canterbury. (numbered Plate V)
Print 7: This print depicts the Queen's marriage to Prince Albert and the image below is a well known family portrait. The portraits are members of the Royal Family such as parents and possibly siblings. (numbered Plate IV)
Print 8: This print depicts Victoria's accession council, the opening of parliament and a royal procession. The portraits are very difficult to pinpoint but they would be politicians and influencers of the day. (numbered Plate III)
Print 9: This print depicts Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838. The top image is the ceremony followed by the procession with Buckingham Palace in the background. The portraits depict monarchs that came before here. Edward the IV is the large central top portrait. (numbered Plate II)
Print 10: This print depicts a later family portrait and three of her residences, Windsor, Balmoral and Osborne. The larger portraits are Edward Prince of Wales, George Duke of York and probably Prince Edward Albert.
Pair of bisque relief plaques by artist Bertel Thorvaldsen. Royal Copenhagen 1969 - 74
Price: £40
This is a stunning pair of bisque porcelain plaques depicting two well known images of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Four Seasons series. Here are Autumn and Winter. This series was produced by Royal Copenhagen Porcelain between 1969 - 74. They are drilled for hanging.
Bertel Thorvaldsen (born Nov. 19, 1770, or Nov. 13, 1768, Copenhagen, Den.—died March 24, 1844, Copenhagen), sculptor, prominent in the Neoclassical period, who was the first internationally acclaimed Danish artist. Prominent in Roman intellectual and artistic circles, he influenced many emerging artists from Europe and the United States. Most of Thorvaldsen’s most characteristic sculptures are reinterpretations of the figures or themes of classical antiquity. The Alexander frieze of 1812 in the Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome, modeled in only three months in anticipation of a visit by Napoleon, is an example of the feverish energy with which he could at times work. Religious sculptures include the colossal series of statues of Christ and the Twelve Apostles (1821–27) in the Vor Frue Kirke in Copenhagen. He also made numerous portrait busts of distinguished contemporaries.
Pair of Art Deco chrome wall sconces
Price: £50
This is a stunning pair of Art Deco sconces in polished chrome. These hold candles and are in a very unusual Art Deco design. A not to be missed lot for Art Deco collectors!
Art Nouveau Bronze Plaque c.1900
Price: £75
This is a beautiful bronze hanging plaque depicting an Art Nouveau woman in natural setting, with integrated ring to hang
LOT 11
Commemorative Ware Silver Jubilee Plate, James Kent Ltd, England, 1935
Estimate: £20 – 30
14d 12h 39m
£0.00
Pair of Art Deco style Wall Pocket Vases, Poole Pottery, mid C20th
Price: £55
A pair of wall pocket vases of urn form with scrolling handles, a crimped base and a scalloped top, the backs flat with one pierced hole for hanging, kiln spur marks and impressed marks ‘POOLE ENGLAND’ ‘879’ and a stamped mark ‘C 54’, both glazed in shades of cream and brown. Poole Pottery began production in 1873 and continued into and throughout the twentieth century, suffering vicissitudes and even periods of liquidation in more recent years but still continuing production to this day. The design of these wall pockets has an Art Deco feel and may have been originally created in the 1930s but was still being made into the 1950s. The two colour or ‘twintone’ decoration was also first produced in the 1930s and the form of the marks here, where the just the factory name appears without the ubiquitous dolphin, may well indicate a pre war rather than post war dating. The impressed numbers indicate the model number and the stamped mark the colour scheme. Pairs of these wall pockets in good condition are not often found and the particular colour range here, which is rather pleasing, is unusual. Desirable items, then for collectors of Poole Pottery but also with a general decorative appeal.
Earthenware Jug, Falstaff or Old King Cole, Furnival and Clark, mid C19th
Price: £75
An earthenware jug glazed in white with a minute craquelure effect and some staining in places, boldly mould modelled as a seated man with a pot belly, a mug in his right hand and his left resting on a branch which forms the lower part of the handle, details of his head picked out in red and a broad hat, forming the spout, seated on his flowing locks, the reverse modelled as his chair and the base with a band of key pattern design.
The design for this jug, usually termed ‘Falstaff’ but sometimes ‘Old King Cole’ is known to have been registered (Rd.No. 32601)by the firm Furnival and Clark on December 30th 1845. This was a very short lived partnership between Thomas Furnival and Richard Clark, based at the Stafford Street Pottery Works, Hanley, Staffordshire and which traded from 1844 to 1846 apparently producing just this one model, albeit in a variety of colours. Thomas Furnival had been involved in other firms before this brief venture and was to be involved in others afterwards. The dating of these mugs is usually attributed to the short period when Furnival and Clark traded but it is quite possible that more pieces were produced afterwards by Furnival himself. The paste and finish of this piece, though, which is not marked, certainly suggest a mid nineteenth century dating. In general, the model is quite rare. Some examples were fitted with a Britannia metal or pewter lid but this was never integral to the piece. This striking composition, then, is a rare and desirable item collectors with an interest in British Staffordshire wares.
A Large Islamic Pewter Ewer, C20th
Price: £45
A pewter ewer with a globular shape body above a flaring foot, rising to a slender neck with a collar and slightly flaring out at the top, the conical lid hinged and with a knop finial, an ‘S’ curved handle to the reverse and a slender tapering spout with a zoomorphic terminal, the whole decorated with bands of impressed stylised foliage. The form of this ewer is typical of middle eastern designs and occurs in a multitude of variants adopting the same basic format. Provenance and dating are uncertain but a Turkish origin seems likely, perhaps from the mid C20th. The use of pewter rather than brass gives a slightly rustic feel and enhances the middle eastern origins of the piece.
Beautiful Victorian ruby glass scent bottle, circa 1880
Price: £350
This is a lovely ruby glass scent bottle decorated with enamel flowers in a rope twist design. It has a brass top with chain and is fitted with the original stopper which is quite rare.
Bisque Scottish boy character doll c. 1900
Price: £60
This is a very sweet souvenir doll comprising a young Scottish boy in tradition dress with a bisque head, hands and feet and a fabric body. With traditional Scottish garb. Made in Germany.
Victorian marquetry miniature table top games table
Price: £75
This is a very unusual miniature table top games table comprising a beautiful marquetry design ready for chess or any game. It is an octagon shape with eight legs. Could be a cabinet maker's example of a large table.
Pair of alabaster bookends, 20th century
Price: £85
This is a very beautiful set of bookends that are worked into shapes of books. What sets them apart is the different colours of alabaster used.
LOT 12
Reproduction Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Teapot, Modern
Estimate: £20 – 30
14d 12h 41m
£0.00
LOT 27
Pair of Brass Wall Plaques of Jousting Knights, Peerage Brass, mid C20th
Estimate: £30 – 40
14d 13h 11m
£0.00
Pair of Beige Opaline Glass Vases, enamelled decoration, probably French late C19th
Price: £75
An elegant pair of beige glass vases of bottle form with a stepped foot, modelled collar and a tall slightly flaring neck, decorated in coloured enamels with flowering holly, the reverses plain and the top rims gilt. Opaline glass is produced by adding materials such as bone ash or lead-crystal to produce a semi opaque effect, the colour varying according to the minerals added and ranging from white through yellows, greens and blues to black. First made in Murano in the sixteenth century it was to enjoy an enormous vogue in France during the nineteenth but had also been produced in England at Bristol in the eighteenth. The delicate style of the decoration here clearly points to French work and a dating towards the end of the nineteenth century seems reasonable indeed the beginnings of the Art Nouveau can perhaps be seen here. Form, colour and decoration combine to produce a highly attractive pair of ornaments which can be enjoyed in a contemporary setting as much as they were when they were made.
Victorian leather bound photo album made by Mechi and Bazin c.1870
Price: £110
This is an incredible photo album comprising a finely tooled green leather cover and gilt edged pages that have inserts for the photos. It is made by Mechi and Bazin, a well respected manufacturer based on Regent Street in central London and mainly known for their campaign fitted toiletry boxes and writing slopes. This album is quite petite so it was most likely also meant for travel. It holds 23 beautiful Victorian photographs : mainly portraits with a few outdoor views.The album Is marked 'Mechi & Bazin Makers London' on front cover.
Beautiful small daguerreotype in a frame c. 1850
Price: £25
This is an amazing daguerreotype of two young girls probably made for an officer to take as a memento while travelling. The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process in the history of photography. Announced to the public in 1839 the daguerreotype enjoyed great popularity in the 1840s and 1850s. Named after the inventor, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, each daguerreotype is a unique image on a silvered copper plate.
Georgian small glass scent bottle in a fitted Etui case circa 1800
Price: £45
This is a rare small glass scent bottle that comes in a fitted etui case perfect for a gentleman's pocket. The moulded glass is finely fluted on both the body and top.
Victorian Bronze Chamber Candlestick in the form of a Griffin, late C19th
Price: £40
This is a very striking bronze chamber stick in the form of a griffin with fine detail to the casting of the face and feathers. The griffin is a well known legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Griffins were known as the guardians of treasures and priceless possessions even in Classical antiquity and were to become familiar elements of heraldry. The choice of this creature as the suppport for a candlestick (the form suggests a chamvber candlestick) cannot be easily explained. Does the griffin here protect its owner in some way? Whatever the answer the result is a striking decorative ensemble which could enhance many a domestic interior.
Two Sets of Serving Cutlery made by Haddad Jezzin Cutlery, Beirut, Lebanon 1960s
Price: £45
Two Sets of Serving Cutlery comprising a carving knife and fork and a pair of salad servers made by the firm Haddad Jezzin Cutlery based in Beirut, Lebanon. The Haddad family began manufacturing metal items, principally army rifles, knives and steel blade swords, after settling in Jezzin, Lebanon in 1770. By the 1930s they had branched out into cutlery and became known for pieces with birds heads made of bone and buffalo horn, inlaid with coloured bone & brass as here. Each of the two sets have near identical decoration with gilt wings, patterned backs and a red bone crest. The carving fork marked ‘S & A Haddad’, the carving knife ‘S & A Haddad Jezzin Stainless Lebanon’. The salad spoon marked ‘S & A Haddad Made in Lebanon’, the salad fork ‘S & A Haddad Stainless Steel’. Each set is contained in its original box with the original label and both sets were given to the vendor’s parents in the 1960s and were clearly made new then.
LOT 9
Arts and Crafts Hand Mirror with Repousse Decoration, circa 1900
Estimate: £40 – 60
14d 12h 35m
£0.00
Vintage Needlepoint Picture of a Garden Scene, framed, second half C20th
Price: £25
This is a charming embroidery on canvas employing the so called ‘needlepoint’ technique in which over half a dozen stitching techniques are used as opposed to ‘cross stitch’ which uses only one. The varieties of technique employed here can be clearly seen in the detail images (3), (4) and (5). The picture depicts a garden scene with a bird bath and path in the foreground leading to a gate with a pergola like floral arch over it and, in the distance, a thatched cottage. The attraction of the design speaks for itself. Dating is difficult but most likely post war and the frame suggests the mid to late twentieth century.
Victorian Black Watch iron doorstop c1890
Price: £25
This is a whimsical doorstop in the form of a Black Watch soldier. It is made of cold paint decorated iron. The 'Black Watch' was another name for The Royal Highlanders, a famed Scottish regiment of the British Army, distinguished by its longevity, having been initially formed in 1725.
Pair of Dorset Fossil limestone goblets in presentation box
Price: £35
This is a very unusual pair of goblets or wine cups made from worked Dorset limestone that is known for its fossils. These goblets are dense with different types of fossilised shells and other marine life. It comes in a velvet fitted presentation box.
Art Deco onyx Chess Set with board and fitted box, 1930s
Price: £110
This is a very elegant chess set comprising finely carved onyx pieces which are stored in their own fitted case. The top of the case has been inlaid with onyx and agate pieces to make up a chess board. The pieces are smaller than a standard chess set which makes the fine carving even more beautiful and all have survived in excellent condition which is unusual. The perfect gift for devotees of the game!
A silver filigree decorative Spoon with an openwork shell shape bowl, probably Scottish circa 1900
Price: £65
This is a delicately worked filigree spoon with an openwork bowl in the form of a shell with stylised leaves, the slender handle of rope twist design with thistle leaf terminals at either end and finished with a thistle flower. Of a decorative rather than practical design, the use of thistles suggests that this piece is Scottish; dating is probably around 1900 or the the early Edwardian period.
Victorian Whitby jet mourning brooch
Price: £75
This is a quite large brooch in a scroll work design and Greek key edging. It is Whitby jet a fossilised wood stone that is from the Jurassic period that is found in the North York moors in northern England. Whitby jet was the main material for mourning jewellery during the Victorian age for obvious reasons.
A gilt metal and onyx figure of a Cherub holding a Globe 1960s
Price: £45
This is an amusing figure of a cherub holding a globe, perhaps intended as a desk ornament or paperweight or possibly as part of a two piece clock set. The cherub is modelled in gilt metal with a smiling face, standing on one leg with the right arm upraised and supporting a globe which is held in place by a screw attachment. The globe and base are formed from onyx with typical striations. Similar pieces are usually dated to the 1960s which would seem to be the case here. Mounted onyx globes do appear, but the addition of the cherub figure is more unusual.
LOT 15
Pair of Opera Binocular Glasses in green leather Case, French, first half C20th
Estimate: £20 – 30
14d 12h 47m
£0.00
Framed Chinese Embroidery Silk Textile, signed, second half C20th
Price: £45
A Chinese silk textile with an embroidered design of a phoenix standing on a rock at the edge of a river, flowering peony below and to the rear a prunus or plum blossom tree with bamboo. On the riverbank also stand a pair of cranes, ducks can be seen in the water and a pair of birds sitting on one of the prunus tree branches with another pair flying to the left. In the distance, the setting sun and at the top right a four character signature probably denoting the artist. There is a mixture of motifs here. The phoenix can denote the Empress, cranes represent long life, peony represents spring while prunus denotes winter. Ducks point to marital happiness and the flying magpies happiness and good luck, whereas the setting sun is often a metaphor for sadness and sorrow. Perhaps a deliberate contrast is intended here or perhaps the various motifs were simply chosen for their decorative elements. As with lots 2 and 3 in this sale, this is another excellent example of the genre and the frame provides a clearer indication of dating. The frame makers ‘Charles and Co’ had a business in Notting Hill, London in the post war years and the telephone number ‘PARk 6306’ indicates a date before 1966 when UK telephone numbers ceased to include letters.
Toulouse Lautrec poster entitled Jane Avril c1950
Price: £95
This is a very good example of the Jane Avril poster by Lautrec. This was originally printed 1893. This version of the print is very true to the original and is not a current reprint. It has been photographed out of the frame to show its age and the accuracy of the colours.
Kenton Clock Radio Hong Kong 1970s
Price: £35
This is an early example of the clock radio format made by the Kenton factory, Hong Kong. The casing is in red leather and the format resembles that of the standard travelling clock, where the mechanism is hinged to the lid and then clips in to the base. There are six transistors and the loudspeaker is of Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) type (moving coil). The clock is of the standard wind up type and the radio, which still works but can only receive a limited range of frequencies, is powered by two AA batteries. The front face with the makers name and the interior marked 'Genuine Leather Case Hand Made in Hong Kong'.
Victorian Brass Paperweight in the form of a Fireplace, English circa 1900
Price: £20
This is a rather charming paperweight or table ornament in the form of a fireplace with a dog seated at the front. It is hollow cast in brass with a solid back and shows a raised basket grate with blazing coals within an elaborate, almost neo classical, fireplace with columns at the left and right and a small figure scene frieze at the top. The mantelpiece is decorated with two vases and a clock and the hearth below is fitted with a poker and a sleeping dog.
The design of the fireplace suggests manufacture in England in the Victorian period and the weight and quality of the brass used conforms with this. The composition is appealing, so much so that modern reproductions exist which can be clearly distinguished from the original by the brass work used and a hollowed out construction at the back where our example is solid (see image 2).
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!
Noritake Vase in the Form of a Pomegranate, marked, Japanese, early 20th Century
Price: £25
A Japanese Porcelain Vase manufactured by the Noritake Company, the spherical body with three short feet and two handles and finished with a short flaring neck and a crimped rim, intended to resemble the form of a pomegranate. The decoration comprises a continous panorama landscape scene with two central circular panels, depicting trees, mountains and a lake, set on a dark blue glaze ground with raised bead work decoration in gilt and blue enamel, the base marked 'Noritake' 'Made in Japan' with a geometric design enclosed by a circle.
The Noritake compnay was set up by the Morimura family at Noritake near Nagoya in the early twentieth century. Called at first 'Nippon Toki Kaisha Ltd' on its founding in 1904, the business soon changed its name to 'Noritake' and began the manufacture of porcelains for the domestic and export markets. The mark seen here is interesting. It comprises a 'Komaru' symbol, crowned with "Noritake" and with the mark 'Made In Japan'. The centre symbol said to be taken from the Japanese character "Komaru", meaning "overcoming difficulties". According to the Noritake company tradition this mark was designed when contact with the different culture of the west early in the 20th century caused problems of adaptation. It is also known as the 'tree crest mark' which is the clan crest of the Morimura family. This mark is said to have been registered in London for the UK market by 1908. The curled up ends of the Komaru symbol seen here distinguish this mark from later versions and allow a dating of this piece to the early twentieth century.
Noritake porcelain became synonymous with finely potted tea and breakfast services made in great quantities for export. This vase is a rather more unusual production and shows the factory capable of producing high quality pieces.
Victorian small note pad for chatelaine
Price: £45
This is a charming small note pad that would have hung from a ladies chatelaine or a ladies "tool belt" so to speak. It is silver plated with the original paper pages with actual notes on them which is fun. There is also the original mechanical pencil. There is a spring hinge so the notepad opens automatically. The silver plate has a repousse design of angels or putti very typical during this time.
LOT 2
French Regency style Bevelled Amber Glass & Filigree Ormolu Casket, mid twentieth century
Estimate: £60 – 80
14d 12h 21m
£0.00
French Souvenir Verre Eglomise Box and Cover, Sacre Coeur de Montmatre, circa 1900
Price: £55
This box, and others like it, was probably made in France as a tourist souvenir in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. Formed as a small casket, the base is of pressed brass with relief decoration and four small pad feet. The lid has a ‘verre eglomise’, or reverse painted glass, bevel edged panel set in a brass mount and the box is lined inside. Some of the decoration of the lid is probably transfer with other elements hand painted on the back of the glass in true ‘verre eglomise’ style. The scene depicted is the well known Basilica of Sacre Coeur situated on the top of Montmatre, one of the most frequently visited sites in Paris and therefore eminently suitable as the subject for a memento of the ‘great city’. This is the ‘Grand Tour’ style rather towards its end with cheaper materials and a more mechanical method of production but an authentic example of a period souvenir to tempt the traveller.
Framed Chinese Embroidery Silk Textile, signed, second half C20th
Price: £25
A Chinese silk textile with an embroidered design of a peacock and a peahen (the male and female peafowl) standing on a grass embankment with a flowering peony bush behind them. There is a four character signature to the top left, probably denoting the artist. The style of the embroidery and the calligraphy of the signature suggest mid to late C20th work, perhaps dating to the 1960s or 1970s. Other embroidery panels with a similar design can be found which are much later. As with the previous lot the composition and the detail and colourings of the embroidery work are pleasing, combining to produce another excellent example of the genre. The frame is European and perhaps contemporary with the date of manufacture (see Lot 24).
An unusual pair of Art Deco style Japonaiserie ceramic vases, probably French 1920s/1930s
Price: £55
The fashion if not mania for ‘things Japanese’ in the late C19th and early C20th is well known and well documented. Sometimes pieces were produced with the aim of being more affordable and this seems to be what we have here. This earthenware pair of vases are of hexagonal form, flaring at the neck and base with a rounded foot, and covered in a crackleware glaze which graduates from black at the foot, through dark brown to mustard yellow at the top with the addition of reds and greens. On this is applied stencil decoration in black of two contrasting but complimentary scenes, on the one two geisha planting small bonsai trees and on the other a single geisha standing in a garden scene with a covered bird’s house in the distance. The reverses are plain and the foot glazed in cream, each with the numbers 1593. Modest pastiches of the Oriental style were produced in England in the 1930s (elsewhere on the site can be seen a Pair of Orientalist Staffordshire ‘Foley Ware’ vases) but this pair were more probably made in France at around the same time, where there was an equal if not an even greater enthusiasm for the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. The clean lines of the shape very much recall the Art Deco era but no parallels seem to exist, making this pair a rather ‘one off’ addition to a collection of Japanese influenced decorative arts.
Framed Stumpwork Panel depicting a Bowl of Flowers, English, 1930s
Price: £45
An attractive oval embroidered panel depicting a bowl of flowers on a beige silk ground. The technique employed here is known as stumpwork where stitched figures are raised from the surface of the work to form a 3-dimensional effect. Its popularity began in England in the mid seventeenth century but has been continued by embroiderers until modern times. The appeal of the design here speaks for itself. A date of production in the 1930s seems likely. The gilt frame may be contemporary or later.
Biomorphic Form Purple glass Bowl, European possibly Czech Chribska, 1970s
Price: £40
A fine quality art glass glass bowl or vase with two raised sides and a third curling downwards, all in a semi naturalistic or biomorphic form, the purple body edged with a border of clear glass and darkening slightly towards the base which is flat with a faintly bevelled edge. The general design of this piece suggests a mid 20th century date of manufacture. It is not marked but resembles pieces made by the Chribska glassworks in Czechoslovakia quite closely. The Chribska glassworks was founded in 1414 and was known as the oldest glassworks in Europe, until its closure in 2007. One of its best known designers was Josef Hospodka who produced many organic, sculptural blown glass designs, which proved very popular in the 1960s and remained in production until the factory closed in 2007.
Brass and Enamel Campaign Serving Set, Made in British India mark, 1920s
Price: £45
This is an attractive set of three small serving dishes, presumably for sweetmeats or cakes, hinged to fold flat and be used as a travelling or 'campaign' item. The central dish rotates around a pivot which can be tightened to hold it in position when open and the side dishes drop down in alignment. The brass body is decorated in relief modelled enamels with stylised floral designs in red, blue, turquoise and cream typical of Anglo British work in the early 20th century. Each of the dishes and the hinges are marked '2.6' and the two outer dishes are stamped 'Made in British India' in addition.
Vintage Gilt Metal Powder Box with a Tapestry Panel, probably French, 1930s
Price: £10
A gilt metal powder box with embossed niello work designs in a variety of repeating stylised floral patterns, three paw feet to the base and the lid with a glazed tapestry panel depicting a floral spray of peony and lotus, opening to reveal a mirror on the underside of the cover and a container for the powder with a fine gauze sifter. The work resembles similar pieces in the French 'Hollywood' style of the 1930s and a similar provenance and dating is likely here.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!
Victorian Silver Buckle set with Paste Stones, German circa 1900
Price: £85
This is a striking silver buckle of rectangular form with two bands of brilliant paste stones surrounding four stylised flower head paste stone clusters, the reverse plain and marked 900 which implies manufacture in Germany where the standard for silver was a minimum of 800 parts to 1000 with 900 parts to 1000 as one of the alternatives (as opposed to the more usually found 925). There is in addition a double mark with a star and a wheel which may well be the maker's mark, but this is hard to identify.
The sparkling stones and high quality mounting (there is a considerable weight of silver in this piece) would have made this buckle a notable addition to the Victorian ladies' wardrobe and it could equally well catch the eye today.
Silver Medal or Watch Fob dated 1923, B.P.C.G.S.
Price: £35
A small piece of history here which will need some unravelling. Suspended on a piece of blue ribbon from a silver bar pin marked ‘1923’ is an oval silver medal or watch fob, decorated to the front with two bands of laurel leaves, geometric shapes in an art deco style and a central gilt coloured shield with the engraved letters B.P.C.G.S. The reverse is plain with the engraved wording ‘SENIOR 1ST’ ‘APPARATUS’ ‘LMILES’ and hall marks for 1923 with the maker’s mark ‘JD&CO’, standing for Joseph Daffern & Co, silversmiths at Hatton Garden from 1908 to 1931 and producers of commemorative medals and watch fobs. ‘Apparatus’ is the Latin word used in English to denote equipment or organisation but may have had a special meaning for whatever body is indicated by the acronym on the front. We may never know but L MILES was clearly a successful and deserving recipient!
Framed Chinese Embroidery Silk Textile, signed, second half C20th
Price: £25
A Chinese silk textile with an embroidered design of a peacock and a peahen (the male and female peafowl) sitting on the branch of a pine tree with peony growing below in a stylised garden scene. There is a four character signature to the top left, probably denoting the artist. The style of the embroidery and the calligraphy of the signature suggest mid to late C20th work, perhaps dating to the 1960s or 1970s. The composition and the detail and colourings of the embroidery work are pleasing, combining to produce an excellent example of the genre. The frame is European and perhaps contemporary with the date of manufacture (see Lot 24).
Mint Coronet Rapid camera with case 1950s
Price: £45
Coronet Rapide is a folding 120 film camera model of Coronet Co., Birmingham, England. It was also manufactured under license by Tiranty Company, Paris, France and produced in late 1940s and early 1950s. This one is particularly interesting because of its condition and the condition of the case. They appear to be unused or very well cared for. It has a Meniscu lenz. This camera has not been tested so we cannot guarantee it works although the condition would indicate that it does work.
A set of three Brass Lizards, Peerage Brass, England 1930s
Price: £55
A set of three brass lizards, naturalistically modelled with crouching feet and sinuous tails, the largest with its head slightly raised and turned to the left and all with carefully punched decoration representing the skin. One of them bears a mark in which the letters 'p' 'e' 'e' and a further 'e' at the end can be made out above 'ENGLAND'. This indicates the English manufacturer 'Peerage Brass' which is known to have commenced in business before 1900' and made original copper & brass ware, with the height of production between 1910-1940's. Their aim was quality period reproductions which were occasionally marked. Peerage Brass became the brand name after World War II until the trademark lapsed in 1991. The format of the mark here, then, indicates a date before the second world war probably in the 1930s. The weight of the brass and the quality of the casting and modelling indicate that the factory certainly attained its goal here. While obviously decorative these animals may well have been intended as desk items, the two smallest perhaps as paperweights. Even larger examples are known and these probably acted as doorstops.
An Arts and Crafts small Brass Tray, English early twentieth century
Price: £40
A small Brass circular tray with a wide flat rim edged with repeating bead work and a round concave centre decorated in repousse work with a procession of parrots on a boldly chased punch work ground. Repoussé work is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. Chasing or embossing is a similar technique in which the piece is hammered on the front side, often with a punch, sinking the metal. The two techniques are often used in conjunction as here, although the effect is slightly bolder than in the previous lot (35). Metalware items with 'hammered' decoration were a common feature of 'Arts and Crafts' work with their reminiscences of earlier metal working techniques and the effect of the slightly rustic. As in the previous lot, the bold metalworking techniques used complement the medium of burnished brass. A dating to the early twentieth century seems reasonable
An Arts and Crafts small Brass serving Tray, English early twentieth century
Price: £40
A Brass circular tray with a shaped raised pie crust edge decorated in repousse work with overlapping geese on a chased punch work ground. Repoussé work is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. Chasing or embossing is a similar technique in which the piece is hammered on the front side, often with a punch, sinking the metal. The two techniques are often used in conjunction as here. Metalware items with 'hammered' decoration were a common feature of 'Arts and Crafts' work with their reminiscences of earlier metal working techniques and the effect of the slightly rustic. The design here is unusual and attractive and the bold metalworking techniques used complement the medium of burnished brass. A dating to the early twentieth century seems reasonable
A Ceramic Moneybox in the form of a Pig, Helensgate Ceramics, mid twentieth century
Price: £25
A ceramic moneybox, pink glazed and amusingly modelled in the form of a rotund pig with wide eyes and ribbon bow, the back with a slot to insert the coins and the base with a circular aperture to retrieve them, sealed with a plastic plug, probably original. A paper label affixed reading 'Helensgate Ceramics'. Little seems to be known about this firm but they clearly specialised in amusing animal figures and in particular moneyboxes. The piece has a mid twentieth century look to it and a circa date of 1960 seems reasonable. While less in use now, there are still some for whom 'cash is king'. If so, this would be a desirable acquisition!
Ceramic Model of a Fish, Jema Holland, signed, 1950s/1960s
Price: £30
A ceramic model of a fish strikingly modelled with outstretched fins and rising out of flowing waves, lustre glazed in tones of green and blue, the base with an incised script mark reading 'Jema' 'Holl.' '132'.
The Jema factory in Holland was started by two brothers, Jelis Mager ( born 1912 in Rotterdam, Netherlands) and his brother Johan Willem Mager (born 1919 also in Rotterdam) both living in Maastricht who took over an existing ceramics factory, founded originally by J.Meussen, in 1942 and traded together in a partnership which was dissolved in 1955 when the firm JEMA KERAMISCH ATELIER N.V. (jema ceramic studio; the first JE standing for Jelis and MA standing for Mager) was created under a new agreement between them. Ceramic products of many types were produced with figurines a speciality and the business continued until 1984 when it became insolvent and closed its doors.
Most of the pieces seem to have been marked, usually with an impressed script as here indicating the factory itself and the model number of the piece. For modest decorative items the quality of the manufacture is of a high standard as can be seen in both the modelling and the glazing of this piece. Their animal figurines were immediately approachable and provided modest but amusing items of decoration.
Framed poster for Victor Bicycles, Overman Wheel Company, C20th
Price: £55
This is an iconic poster image, the original of which was created in 1896 by the famed artist Will H. Bradley for the Overman Wheel Company, famous for their innovative and high quality bicycles in the last years of the nineteenth century. The ‘Victor’ bicycle was the most famous model in their range and enjoyed enormous success after its introduction in 1883. By 1893 it was known as ‘the highest grade bicycle’ and it went on to be sold in a wide variety of models and sizes. But competition and changing economic circumstances saw the company’s business decline sharply and after a devastating fire in 1899 the business was sold in 1900.
Will H. Bradley (1868-1962) was an American artist and illustrator whose work enjoyed enormous popularity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, indeed he became America’s highest paid artist. Some of his most elaborate and original poster and advertisement designs were produced in the last years of the nineteenth century and he was an apt choice for Albert Overman’s then thriving business. His style was quintessentially Art Nouveau and is often compared to that of the English artist, Aubrey Beardsley, indeed he was sometimes dubbed as the ‘American Beardsley'. This poster design for Overman has been much copied and reproduced over the years with original examples residing in museum collections. The dating of this particular printing is not wholly certain; the reproduction is certainly way superior to that of more modern versions and the accompanying frame also indicates some age, perhaps to the 1960s or through to the 1980s. We have, then, both an elegant decorative item and an excellent addition to a collection important poster art.
Four Art Deco style small Glass Vases with silver decoration, possibly Murano 1930s
Price: £55
Four Art Deco style small Glass Vases with silver overlay decoration, possibly Murano 1930s
This is a set of four complementary small coloured glass vases (green, blue, amethyst, turquoise) each with applied silver decoration now slightly tarnished. The clean lines of the shapes, two of baluster form and two with conical bodies suggest the Art Deco era and the decoration, which features gondolas and palaces, suggests Venetian origin and therefore manufacture at the Murano glassworks there. This has to remain slightly speculative and the pieces might be slightly later but the group provides a highly decorative ensemble for collectors or decorators alike.
Art Deco Davidson purple cloud glass bowl, stand and frog, 1930s
Price: £75
This is a sunning flower display set, comprising a bowl, stand and ‘frog’ (or flower holder) made by George Davidson & Co in purple 'Cloud Glass'. This type of glass work was unique to the firm which was founded by George Davidson as the Teams Flint Glass Works in 1867, later becoming known as George Davidson & Co. In the 1880s the company began producing pressed glass tableware in a variety of shapes and by the 1920s their designs began to reflect the new Art Deco trends. From 1923, Davidson began producing their hugely successful ‘Cloud Glass’ range, created by applying streaks of dark coloured glass to paler glass, creating a random swirled, ‘clouded’ pattern of which this piece is an excellent example. The firm continued production until the 1980s, closing in 1987.
This model can be seen in the firm's catalogue for 1931 where the bowl and stand are combined with a separate pierced flower holder in the same style. No doubt the size of the ‘frog’ was up to the purchaser who could choose from a range of dimensions which probably explains the slightly different proportions here to the catalogue image which otherwise illustrates our example extremely well, even down to the milled edging to the rim of the bowl. With its archetypal shape and colouring this piece would be an excellent addition to any Art Deco collection as well as providing a striking and decorative item for a contemporary interior.
A Pair of African Carved Wood Figure Head Plaques, C20th
Price: £45
A pair of carved wood plaques depicting the heads of a man and a woman and carved in a semi abstract style with black coloured detailing to the hair and facial features and marked ‘O’ ‘B’ to the reverse. The style of these and other similar pieces suggests African work but the provenance is uncertain. Both Senegal and Ghana are sometimes mentioned. These are certainly striking examples and probably date to the late C20th.
Very fine German silver scent bottle, c1900
Price: £225
This is an extremely fine silver scent bottle with the decoration comprising delicately formed flowers and scroll work. It has the Crescent and Crown for Germany and the makers mark 'W' for Christoph Windman. It is also marked '835' which was a typical silver purity in Germany at this time. .
Pair of Chinese Hand Painted Eggs in Case, 1970s
Price: £25
This is an excellent example of a type of souvenir model made in China, probably in the 1970s. The pair of eggs are delicately painted with ladies in a garden scene to the front which continues to the reverse. They are displayed on small stands set on a crushed fabric base and set within a purpose built case made from wood and glass. Underneath is a label reading ‘Made in China’ with four Chinese characters ‘Zhong Guo Zhi Zao’ which translate as the same. This type of mark seems to have been used on porcelains from the 1970s allowing an approximate dating here.
Continental Figure of a Cellist, Conta and Bohme, Germany late C19th
Price: £55
This is an amusing ceramic figure of a cellist, seated with his instrument between his legs and a bow in his right hand. He wears a floral decorated tailcoat with brown knee breeches and a purple cap on his head. Below is a rectangular base with gilt decoration to the front. The composition is carefully modelled and finely painted, especially the detail to the face. The underneath has impressed marks, a shield device and the numbers ‘5313’ and ‘154’. The shield device, a small arm holding a dagger (see image 10), was used by the makers Conta and Bohme best known for the manufacture of ‘fairings', which were exported in large quantities to Britain and the USA in the late nineteenth century which is most likely the date of production of this figure. Sometimes this composition is found with a companion figure of a violinist, bearing the same shield mark but different numbers and it is most likely one of an original pair. But it can clearly stand on its own a good example of the decorative porcelains produced in Germany before the first World War.
Set of Three Celluloid Figures of Monks, Japanese, first half C20th
Price: £45
This is an amusing group of three Japanese celluloid figures representing young boys dressed as monks. Each wears a patterned coat with complementary trousers and boots, the coloured details carefully picked out. Their poses resemble those of the celebrated three wise monkeys ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ which is a humorous combination with their apparently spiritual role. Celluloid, often known as the first plastic, was used for the manufacture of accessories and collectibles from the late nineteenth century to the 1940s. The Japanese produced many pieces in the material, other examples of which can be seen elsewhere on this site, but this small group, probably dating to the 1930s, is a particularly charming example.
Octagonal Agate Mortar Bowl, C20th
Price: £25
Truly Art Deco in style, the form of this bowl, octagonal with flaring sides and an upright bevel edged rim, deeply cut out to a rounded interior, is however normally regarded as a mortar shape and would have been used with a pestle, probably in the same material. Commonly used in a laboratory context for grinding samples these agate pieces are very much fit for purpose since the stone is much harder than porcelain, thus reducing the level of impurities introduced during the grinding process. Found in a wide variety of locations including Italy, Africa and Brazil, agate, a form of chalcedony with a wide variety of banding effects, was used for jewellery from the earliest of times but has also had practical uses because of its hardness. This bowl shows the typical banding effects of the stone but perhaps because most likely intended for practical use an impurity in the piece used has been left visible (see image 5).
Art Deco Wooden Cigarette Box, 1930s
Price: £25
An oak wood cigarette box and cover of rectangular form with the sides and handle finished in a dark hard wood, possibly mahogany, the interior lined in green baize. The clean angular style of this piece recalls the Art Deco era and there is little reason to doubt that it was actually produced at that time. Most likely the work of a talented amateur carpenter, the box is carefully constructed with an imaginative combination of woods. Perhaps less likely to be used for cigarettes now, but handy for all those small things that would otherwise get lost!
Pink Alabaster Box and Cover, Italy late c20th
Price: £25
An attractive box and cover of circular form made from pink alabaster, each section mounted in gilt metal and attached by a hinge, the lid with a finely detailed design of flowering lotus. Italy is a prime source for alabaster and many similar boxes have a sticker on the base saying ‘Made in Italy’ giving us the country of origin here. Dating is probably to the 1980s/1990s.
Pink Alabaster Box and Cover, Italy late c20th
Price: £25
An attractive box and cover of circular form made from pink alabaster, each section mounted in gilt metal and attached by a hinge, the lid with a finely detailed design of flowering lotus. Italy is a prime source for alabaster and many similar boxes have a sticker on the base saying ‘Made in Italy’ giving us the country of origin here. Dating is probably to the 1980s/1990s.
Japanese Samurai China Biscuit Box and Cover, C20th
Price: £25
A Japanese ceramic Biscuit Box and Cover with a wicker handle of squared octagonal form, the body slightly flaring outwards and with a flush fitting cover, decorated in bright satsuma style enamels with panels of a samurai and a geisha and two with landscape designs alternating with orange ground panels with stylised foliage in enamel and gilt, the design repeating onto the lid, the base marked ‘Genuine Samurai China’, ‘Japan’, ‘Hand Painted’, and a ‘Reg No’ which cannot be read, the lettering surrounding a shield like device with Japanese characters. The firm ‘Samurai China’ seems to have made modest ceramic items, mainly tea services, for export to the West. Dating is most likely pre war, perhaps to the 1930s.
Bohemian Green Glass Moser style Ewer, late C19th
Price: £35
A small green glass ewer, the slender body of rounded inverted cone form above a rounded spreading foot, the narrow cylindrical neck with a deeply scalloped rim forming the spout and to the side a tall loop handle, decorated with beaded gilt bands and flowers, the top rim and handle with traces of gilding. The form and decoration here is typical of the so called ‘Bohemian’ glass produced for export in the nineteenth century by the workshops from the regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now parts of the Czech Republic. With its origins in the renaissance, Bohemian glass in elaborate forms and with colourful decoration of thickly enamelled floral subjects was made in substantial quantities in the second half of the nineteenth century satisfying an eager demand in both Europe and America. This ewer resembles pieces made by the well known factory Moser but is unlikely to be one of their productions, more a modest version for a mass audience. But it is highly representative of the style and attractive in its own right.
Egyptian Silver Pill Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay, marked, second half C20th
Price: £45
An oval silver box and cover, the lid with an inlaid mother of pearl design comprising geometric shapes which combine to produce a 3D ‘trompe l’oeil’ effect of solid shapes within a rope twist border, the exterior of the lid with a small stamped mark and the interior of the box with three small stamped marks. The markings here, which can be seen on other examples indicate that we have Egyptian work and there are a fair number of similar silver boxes but more commonly in a round shape. They are usually dated to the mid twentieth century. The quality of the craftsmanship is obvious and the form and decoration make this a highly desirable collector’s item.
Blackpool souvenir teapot c1920
Price: £35
This is a wonderful souvenir teapot from Blackpool with a pewter cover. Blackpool was a very popular holiday destination for brits back one hundred years or so. Blackpool is a seaside resort on the Irish Sea coast of England. It's known for Blackpool Pleasure Beach, an old-school amusement park with vintage wooden roller coasters. Built in 1894, the landmark Blackpool Tower houses a circus, a glass viewing platform and the Tower Ballroom, where dancers twirl to the music of a Wurlitzer organ.
LOT 26
Ceramic and Bronze figure of a Blue Tit, Albany Worcester, late C20th
Estimate: £20 – 30
14d 13h 9m
£0.00
Vintage Brass Pocket Case with a lid, probably a Vesta case for Matches, circa 1900
Price: £55
A small brass case with a hinged lid of irregular rectangular form decorated in high relief repoussé tecnique with a devil’s head encircled by a snake whose scaly tail continues onto the lid. Repoussé work is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. Other examples of these cases are known with a similar shape and technique and even the devil and snake motif. It is more than likely that this case was designed for matches, the so called 'Vesta Case' of which there is another example in this auction. Like that piece it is fitted with a ring, presumably to allow it to be attached to a watch chain. But other uses could have been intended, possibly for business or visiting cards (the Victorian calling card was much smaller) or perhaps for pills. The style of decoration very much recalls 'Arts and Crafts' pieces made around 1900 and a similar dating seems likely here.
Vintage Brass Vesta Case in the form of a Violin, circa 1900
Price: £55
A Brass Vesta, or Match, case in the form of a Violin with an opening cover to the bottom and a fabric covered bar inside. Vesta was the Roman Goddess of the hearth, home and family and
altars and temples dedicated to her commonly employed a live flame, which caused some manufacturers of matches in the nineteenth century to name their products 'Vestas', the most famous being the Swan Vesta match produced from around 1900. Early matches were highly combustible and cases to keep them safe were produced from around 1830 onwards. The peak of popularity of the 'Vesta Case' was around 1900 and their use declined in the 1920s when the first cigarette lighters were produced. The cases were made in a variety of forms and materials, even gold and silver. This example is brass and probably from around 1900. The surface of the cover is ribbed in order for a match to be struck against it but he function of the interior covered bar is less clear. The case is fitted with a ring, presumably to allow it to be attached to a watch chain. Practical in their time, Vesta Cases are collectible now and the rarer shapes much sought after.
Kitsch Style Conch Shell with painted landscape decoration, C20th
Price: £45
This is a conch form shell which has elaborate painted landscape decoration to the exterior and interior, the design flowing on almost continuously and extending deep into the inside of the piece. Whether necessarily in good taste or not, the skill of the artist is evident and the detailed and colourful riverside scene is continued right inside the interior of the shell. While painted shells are known, there are no immediate comparisons to what we have here and provenance and dating are rather a matter of guesswork. There seems to be a 1950s feel though and the work looks more English than European. A conversation piece perhaps!
Chinese style Vase and Cover decorated with ladies and courtiers in a garden scene, C20th
Price: £55
A Chinese style vase of ovoid form with a short neck and foot fitted with a matching dome shape cover with a plain finial, decorated with a polychrome design of two ladies in a garden scene being watched through a stylised window by two courtiers, flowering trees to the front and reverse, probably plum blossom or prunus, and typical verandah fencing, the foot, shoulder and cover with pattern designs loosely imitating those of the eighteenth century, including lotus panels, ju'i form lappets and floral borders with scrolling peony. This piece is a pastiche of Chinese work and probably dates to the 1960s. While it looks back in some respects it has a contemporary feel, particularly in respect of the shape which is simpler and more Western than that of its sources. The mark is pseudo Chinese and the manufacturer was clearly European, most probably an Italian pottery since some pieces exist with a label stating 'made in Italy'.
Rectangular Green Onyx Box and Cover, 1960s
Price: £35
Rectangular Green Onyx Box and Cover, 1960s
A box and cover of rectangular form constructed from joined sections of green veined onyx, the lid with a gilt metal hinge. Onyx is named from the Greek 'ónux', meaning “nail,” or “claw,” and is a variety of the mineral chalcedony, a kind of quartz. Onyx with flesh-coloured and white bands can sometimes resemble a fingernail which explains the name but is obviously not in evidence here. These boxes are usually attributed to Italian makers with a mid twentieth century dating which seems reasonable here.
Pair of Capodimonte ceramic Wall Hanging Plaques, boy and girl praying, Italian 1960s
Price: £25
This is a charming pair of small ceramic wall plaques, the biscuit porcelain with a slight ivory tint, with moulded designs of a boy and a girl praying, their hair and robes carefully detailed, set in velvet covered oval frames with cording at the edge which also forms the loop hangers at the top. Near identical pieces often have a paper mark at the back reading ‘Porcellane Capodimonte’ ‘Made in Italy’ surrounding a crown device with an ‘N’ above. Capodimonte porcelain was first made at Naples, Italy, in the mid eighteenth century and was often marked with an ‘N’ and a crown above. The original factory was to enjoy a relatively short life but there were many imitators in the nineteenth century and beyond to the twentieth who freely used the Capodimonte name. This pair of plaques is a very modest and fairly recent (probably dating to the 1960s) example of these ‘Capodimonte’ wares but nonetheless have a distinct appeal of their own.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Hieroglyphic wall plaque c2000
Price: £20
This is a very detailed plaque that depicts an Egyptian owl. It is a replica from Tutenkhamun's tomb that was issued by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Vintage hand carved Fossil Stone Trinket Box and Cover, C20th
Price: £25
A rounded box of compressed apple-like form with a lid finished with a concave set knob, carved from fossil stone in which can be seen shells and a multitude of other marine life objects
all combining in an intriguing and decorative design. Doubtless intended for trinkets this box is an ornament in itself.
LOT 17
Fine Quality engraved French Glass Dish with naturalistic Ormolu Mounts, early C20th
Estimate: £20 – 30
14d 12h 51m
£0.00
Burgundy Leather Jewellery Box with Bramah Lock, early C20th
Price: £95
This is a fine quality jewellery box covered in red burgundy leather. The rectangular base is fitted with a shallow flush lid bevelled at the front and back and attached by brass lever hinges. The front of the base has a lock marked ‘Bramah’ with the original key and the lid an inset brass handle, the surface of which would have been suitable for the engraving of the owner’s initials. Inside are two removable trays, the top one with compartments for jewellery and a circular holder for a watch. The linings of the box and trays are in burgundy leather and velvet. There are many features here of a ‘deluxe’ item, in particular the ‘Bramah’ lock, known for its high security, and the lever hinges. The box most likely dates to the early 1900s and would clearly have been sold by a purveyor of ‘luxury’ items for a wealthy clientele. It retains, of course, its functionality today.
Burgundy Leather Jewellery Box with Bramah Lock, early C20th
Price: £95
This is a fine quality jewellery box covered in red burgundy leather. The rectangular base is fitted with a shallow flush lid bevelled at the front and back and attached by brass lever hinges. The front of the base has a lock marked ‘Bramah’ with the original key and the lid an inset brass handle, the surface of which would have been suitable for the engraving of the owner’s initials. Inside are two removable trays, the top one with compartments for jewellery and a circular holder for a watch. The linings of the box and trays are in burgundy leather and velvet. There are many features here of a ‘deluxe’ item, in particular the ‘Bramah’ lock, known for its high security, and the lever hinges. The box most likely dates to the early 1900s and would clearly have been sold by a purveyor of ‘luxury’ items for a wealthy clientele. It retains, of course, its functionality today.
A pair of Art Deco style Onyx Bookends, C20th
Price: £35
A pair of Art Deco style bookends made from onyx and formed in two sections with a stylised figure of a horse's head set on a rectangular base with a rounded end. Onyx is named from the Greek 'ónux', meaning “nail,” or “claw,” and is a variety of the mineral chalcedony, a kind of quartz. Onyx with flesh-colored and white bands can sometimes resemble a fingernail and a similar effect is seen here. Its use is known since ancient Egyptian times and it has also been commonly employed during the twentieth century. The origin and dating of these bookends is uncertain. Similar examples with a stylised horse's head are ascribed to Mexico in the 1940s but there can be no sure proof that this is the case here. The design is striking with clear reflections of the Art Deco period and the veining of the stone here enhances the decorative effect.
Tubular Onyx Box and Cover, 1960s
Price: £35
A box and cover of tubular form, the circular body with a flush fitting flat lid, the onyx stone with typical veining and striation in shades of amber and brown. Onyx is named from the Greek 'ónux', meaning “nail,” or “claw,” and is a variety of the mineral chalcedony, a kind of quartz. Onyx with flesh-coloured and white bands can sometimes resemble a fingernail and similar effects can be seen here. Its use is known since ancient Egyptian times and it has also been commonly employed during the twentieth century. Similar pieces are usually attributed to Italian makers with a mid twentieth century dating. The clean lines of this piece are certainly consistent with that and it combines elegance with practicality.
Pair of Capodimonte ceramic Wall Hanging Plaques, boy and girl praying, Italian 1960s
Price: £25
This is a charming pair of small ceramic wall plaques, the biscuit porcelain with a slight ivory tint, with moulded designs of a boy and a girl praying, their hair and robes carefully detailed, set in velvet covered oval frames with cording at the edge which also forms the loop hangers at the top. Near identical pieces often have a paper mark at the back reading ‘Porcellane Capodimonte’ ‘Made in Italy’ surrounding a crown device with an ‘N’ above. Capodimonte porcelain was first made at Naples, Italy, in the mid eighteenth century and was often marked with an ‘N’ and a crown above. The original factory was to enjoy a relatively short life but there were many imitators in the nineteenth century and beyond to the twentieth who freely used the Capodimonte name. This pair of plaques is a very modest and fairly recent (probably dating to the 1960s) example of these ‘Capodimonte’ wares but nonetheless have a distinct appeal of their own.
Japanese Carved Wood Figure of a Young girl, Kokeshi doll style, C20th
Price: £45
This is a rather charming carved wood figure of a young girl standing dressed in an elaborate robe decorated with floral blooms and fan shape panels in blue with floral designs. She holds something in her hands (an offering?) and looks out expectantly. The naif style resembles closely the kokeshi dolls that have been made in Japan for more than 150 years as children's toys but the portrayal is much more lifelike than that of its abstract counterparts. Dating is probably to the mid twentieth century.
Pink Glass Centrepiece Set, Arabella, Walter and Sohne, 1930s
Price: £55
A centrepiece set formed from frosted and clear pink glass comprising a figure of a lady, semi nude, her flowing drapery exposed to reveal her body, a dolphin at her rear and a pierced circular base below to act as a ‘frog’ or flower holder together with a scalloped edge dish with pointed corners and a turnover rim with pressed decoration of fish and waves.
The influence of Art Deco style of this piece is clear and it does indeed date to the 1930s. The model, termed ‘Arabella’ can apparently be seen in the 1934 catalogue of the German glass manufacturers Walther and Sohne, founded by August Walther in 1888 at Ottendorf-Akrilla near Dresden. In the 1930s the firm was famous for its Art Deco designs and also produced a version of ‘cloud glass’ which at one time was held to be exclusive to the English manufacturer Davidson. But some of the English glass makers also drew on their German rival’s work such that Walther and Sohne patented some of their designs in the UK in 1937, presumably to protect their work. This centrepiece set is a classic example of Walther and Sohne’s pre war productions and a distinctive example of Art Deco glassware.