Framed Chinese Painting of a Court Official, C20th
Price: £45
A Chinese painting on silk depicting a court official or ‘mandarin’ standing on a wooden decked veranda, dressed in his official robes with a phoenix emblem on his chest, an elaborate bead necklace round his neck and his sceptre of office by his left wrist (the hand is mysteriously lacking). A pavilion can be seen to the rear and beyond the terrace wall are reeds and flowering prunus in a stylised garden setting. The artist has caught the self important majesty of the figure who is perhaps described in the calligraphy inscription to the top right with an artist’s seal stamped in red. Perhaps a portrait but more likely a generic design, this composition probably dates to the early C20th. The frame and mount are, of course, much later but complement the image well and provide an attractive ‘ready to go’ example of Chinese decorative painting.
Japanese Arita Bowl decorated with panels of flowers and interior Scenes, circa 1820
Price: £45
A Japanese Arita small Bowl the deep sides narrowing towards the base with a short foot, decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gold enamel highlights in green and grey
with two panels of flowers alternating with two panels of interior scenes with screens and a small animal resembling a buffalo sitting on a table, the foot with small blue
panels highlighted in gold between geometric designs, the top interior rim with alternating segments of iron red and underglaze blue both highlighted in gold and the base interior
with flowering chrysanthemum.
The rather more elaborate style of decoration here and the addition of enamel colours to the standard imari palette of underglaze blue, iron red and gold resembles 'kenjo imari' pieces produced in Japan in the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, a specific type of Imari that was highly decorated and meant for domestic consumption, Kenjo, meaning 'for presentation'. The paste of the foot, harder and smoother than that used in the later nineteenth century, suggests a dating here to around 1820 before trade with the West was temporarily paused. The form suggests a cup for Sake and this piece was probably one of an original set of five, but it stands on its own as a decorative item in miniature.
Long strand of Chinese cloisonne beads c1950
Price: £45
This is a beautiful strand of Chinse cloisonne beads in an unusual green colour. It has the original corresponding clasp also in cloisonne. These would be very fresh for the spring or summer.
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: £55
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.
Pink and yellow enamel butterfly brooch, Norway c1950
Price: £45
This is a very lovely quality guilloche enamel butterfly brooch in pink, yellow and lavendar. It is from Norway and can be attributed to Hroar Prydz but it is not marked with his mark so it could be from another workshop. This design was very popular so there would have been those who made similar designs. It is marked Sterling.
Taxco Necklace and Bracelet set with obsidian stones c1960
Price: £150
This is a very elegant Taxco set of a necklace and matching bracelet both comprising silver stations in a leaf form set with obsidian stones. The necklace sits beautifully on the neckline and makes a real statement. Both pieces have a typical Taxco box clasp and are marked 'Mexico 950' 'TB-80' to indicate the silver quality and the maker.
Small Chinese Blue and White Brushwasher, C20th
Price: £25
The form here, a flattened broad body with curved walls and a wide opening at the top, is an example of one of the classic ceramic Chinese brush washer shapes and is found in a wide variety of decoration, often monochromes but there are also many pieces where underglaze blue and white was employed. The miniature size here is rather unusual; just possibly it was part of a set. The exterior is decorated with continuous scrolling lotus (perhaps an association with water was intended) below two concentric circles at the top with a single circle at the base. Underneath is the standard four character mark for the Qianlong period (1736 -1795), the characters reading from right to left and top to bottom ‘Qian’ ‘long’ ‘nien’ ‘chi’ (Qianlong years made). This is, of course wildly optimistic. The paste of the foot suggests a dating to the early years of the twentieth century, but this desk accessory has great charm, nevertheless.
Chinese painting on Silk, Storks and Pine, circa 1900
Price: £25
A Chinese painting on silk, the fine and detailed brushwork depicting a gnarled branch of pine with three cranes astride on a background of blue clouds with a full moon in the distance. Both the crane and the pine tree symbolise long life and longevity and so there is perhaps a hidden message here which might be uncovered in the elaborate calligraphic inscription at the top right with no less than three red artist’s seals. Great care has been taken with this composition and the overall style suggests earlier work than that found in many pieces perhaps dating to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The board mounting is considerably foxed but the painting itself much less so and if reframed it would provide an attractive if slightly enigmatic example Chinese decorative painting.
Japanese Kutani Vase of Water Dropper form, circa 1880
Price: £35
A small Japanese Kutani vase of globular form with a narrow straight neck, decorated in the typical colourings of iron red, grisaille, salmon pink and gold with a continuous scene of
flowering peony below stylised clouds, the neck in iron red with gilt highlighting also depicting stylised clouds. The base with three simple bands in iron red and the base
with a two character mark reading 'Ku' 'Tani'.
Kutani (the word means 'nine valleys') porcelain was made at various factories in the former Kaga province of Japan. The earliest pieces were in a completely different style employing a palette of colours emphasising green, the so called 'Ko Kutani'. Production of this ceased around 1730, and manufacturing was not revived until the early nineteenth century when the more familiar colourings of iron red and gold were introduced. This small vase is typical of pieces exported to the West in fairly large quantities at the end of the nineteenth century. The form suggests a water dropper and is found in Imari colourings as well. Many of the Kutani pieces were marked, sometimes simply 'Ku' 'Tani' as here. The glaze was sometimes unstable with a tendency to craze as can be seen here, but this is original to the manufacture and does not detract from the piece's decorative appeal.
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 factory since some similar pieces exist with a label stating 'made in Italy'.
Charming small amber pendant brooch set as an owl c2000
Price: £15
This is a very sweet small pendant brooch that is shaped like an owl with an amber belly. With full hallmarks and bail for pendant.
Egyptian Revival statement necklace signed EBE c1930
Price: £110
This is a beautiful necklace comprising heavy brass elements and lapis glass beads. The central pendant has the Egyptian bird god Horus flanked by Tutankhamun on a serpent scroll work background. The pendant is set with lapis glass cabochons that match the beads. Most likely Czech glass elements assembled in France.
Ebony carved wood figure of an Impala (antelope), African, second half C20th
Price: £75
An impressive carved wood figure of an impala, standing on a rocky base with his head erect, the ebony wood finely detailed and with an attractive patina. The impala is a species of antelope, slightly more delicate in physique with long slender antlers and found in Southern and Eastern Africa. It was the subject of wood carvers in the later years of the twentieth century and similar figures are dated to the 1970s and thought to have been carved in Tanzania, which is most likely the case here. This is an excellent example of good size which has survived in perfect condition (the horns are often subject to damage) making it a striking decorative accessory for a modern interior.
Two Bing & Grøndahl plates, scenes from Hans Christian Andersen, late C20th
Price: £45
These are two plates from a series produced by the celebrated Danish porcelain manufacturers Bing & Grøndahl representing scenes from the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. Made from fine quality porcelain and with gilt edged openwork borders, each plate is decorated in colour with a scene from Andersen’s stories : ‘Little Claus and Big Claus’ and ‘The Nightingale’. The plates are clearly marked at the back with the manufacturer, the scene depicted and the artist who drew it.
Bing & Grøndahl was established in 1853 by the sculptor Frederik Vilhelm Grøndahl and the merchant brothers Meyer Hermann Bing and Jacob Herman Bing. Their trademark, which can be seen on these two plates, was that of three towers, which was derived from the Coat of Arms of Copenhagen. Their designs proved popular and it is said that their dinnerware service in the ‘Seagull’ pattern could be found in one in ten Danish households in the 1950s. Eventually, in 1987 the company merged with its competitor, the Royal Porcelain Factory, under the name Royal Copenhagen, but some of the pieces produced thereafter still display the initials ‘B&G’ and the three tower symbol, as here. Originally sold with fitted boxes (not included here), these plates were probably produced in the early years after the merger and are sought after as collectors’ items today.
Mdina pulled ear glass Vase, Blue Summer pattern, signed, second half C20th
Price: £55
A stoutly blown glass vase of tapering ovoid form with a narrow neck and a widely flaring rim the sides ‘pulled’ to resemble stylised ears, the base flat with an etched signature ‘Mdina’, the blue flecked glass with colourings of green and yellow.
Mdina Glass was founded in the Maltese town of Mdina in 1968 by Michael Harris and Eric Dobson. The town had no history of glass making but the venture proved to be a success. Its wares, free formed organic glassware, often in colours inspired from the sea, sand, earth and sky, proved very popular with tourists visiting Malta. This vase is one of the earlier productions made by Mdina (the format of the signature confirms this) probably dating to the 1970s and, if not designed by Michael Harris, it certainly resembles the organic forms he created and the colourings, often referred to as ‘sea and sand’ although more correctly termed ‘blue summer’, reflect this. The raised detail to the sides enhances the overall profile contributing to a piece of satisfying charm.
Cosmetic Box with Japonaiserie Decoration, Boch Freres, early C20th
Price: £45
A ceramic box and cover, the base of inverted hemisphere form, the angular cover gently sloping towards the columnar knob finial, the black glaze ground with gilt bands and the lid with a stylised Japanese landscape design showing a snow capped Mount Fuji with trees and a pavilion and surrounded by two floral sprays of lotus and chrysanthemum, the base with a stamped circular mark for ‘Boch Freres’, script (? pattern) marks and impressed numbers ‘1251’.
The firm Boch Freres Keramis was founded by Eugene and Victor Boch and their brother-in-law, Jean Baptiste Nothomb, in 1841 and was located in La Louviere in eastern Belgium. In 1906 Charles Catteau joined the company as artistic director and was responsible for a new and wide ranging series of designs, some under the influence of Japonisme, transitioning the company from producing utilitarian objects to highly decorative ceramics. His work can clearly be seen here in a piece which appears to be quite unusual. Both the form and the decoration reflect early twentieth century fashion in the clean lines and the images inspired by Japan. There is a hint of the aesthetic movement here producing an object of great attraction and interest.
Danish silver plate Photograph Holder,with repoussé decoration, 1970s/1980s
Price: £45
This is a folding silver plate photograph holder each side with a similar repoussé work scene of a traditional rustic interior with metal workers busy plying their trade. 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. Very similar pieces carry a mark for Denmark, as here, (see image 4) but also the initials JThS, or a slight variant on this, which seem to stand for Jorgen Th Steffenson of Randers who is known to have worked in the late 1970s. While not necessarily by him, a similar dating is most likely here.
Chinese Cloisonne Shallow Bowl, C19th
Price: £45
A Chinese cloisonne shallow bowl of typical form with a compressed globular body, a wide opening with a gilt metal rim, a short gilt metal foot, the interior and the base enamelled in blue and the exterior decorated in cloisonne enamels with multicoloured floral blooms on a green ground with repeating a repeating fish scale border at the base and a band of ‘ju’i’ lappets at the top. The cloisonné technique, where glass derived enamels are inlaid between gilt metal outline designs, the so called 'cloisons' or 'partitions', was developed in China from as early as the fourteenth century and employed continuously thereafter, even until the present day. The weight of this piece and the quality of the decoration suggests a dating to the nineteenth century, perhaps towards the middle. Certainly, it is a much above average example of a form which was to be produced in substantial quantities in the early years of the twentieth century for export to the West. Its smaller size enhances its attraction making it an attractive collector’s item.
Pair of Japanese Arita Shallow Bowls circa 1880
Price: £75
A pair of Japanese Arita circular shallow bowls with lightly lobed edges, the reverses with a broad unglazed circular ring to the foot, decorated in polychrome enamels (brick red, greens, blues, grisaille) with the addition of a small amount of underglaze blue, with a cenral roundel of flowering chrysanthemum, surrounded by four floral panels with prunus and peony and four small vignette panels of flower heads and geometric design, all on a brick red ground with gilt stylised scrolling foliage, the reverse with a stylised floral design in underglaze blue to the walls.
The town of Arita in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū island, was a major centre for the production of porcelains in Japan. Best known for blue and white pieces it also produced polychrome wares as well, including the familiar imari colourings. While similar to Imari, the wider palette of colours used here is usually termed ‘Arita’ and the decorative appeal of the style is clear. These bowls probably come from an original set of five and their quality is much above average. Dating is to the Meiji era (1868 - 1912) probably around 1880.
Scottish Agate beads with purple banding c1920
Price: £125
This is a constructed necklace comprising large Art Deco Scottish Agate beads in the very rare purple colour. These have been strung with modern amethyst and calcedony bead stations. Has a modern silver clasp. This necklace is very long and can be very easily wound around for a double strand.
Three art glass paperweights, second half C20th
Price: £60
Three attractive paperweights of typical globular form with flat bases, the first with a yellow lily growing from deep blue water with bubbles, the second with a green lily like plant issuing from clear water with foam on the top and the third with two dolphins above blue and white flecked waves. Features of the first and the last (the ‘bullicante’ bubbles and the two swimming dolphins) are found in Murano pieces and this may well be their place of manufacture. The second looks more English and could be from one of the many firms who make paperweights, such as Caithness. Dating is probably to the later years of the twentieth century.
Pair of Japanese Arita Vases decorated with Oni, late C19th
Price: £95
A pair of ceramic vases of tapering ovoid form with a galleried rim, decorated in polychrome enamels with complementary scenes of oni, or demons, one offering a drink on a cushion to a terrified attendant and the other in pursuit of a fleeing maiden whom he holds fast by her left leg, both with scrolling lotus to the reverse, the bases glazed white but not marked. Oni were a fundamental part of Japanese folklore and were often represented in art, usually with exaggerated bodies and sometimes with three eyes, as is the case with one of the demons here. There is more humour than terror in these images but the work cannot be attributed with certainty to any of the known ceramics factories and is best termed Arita from its use of a wide palette of colours. The paste of the foot rim, though, clearly indicates late nineteenth century work, presumably made for export to the West.
Owl glass Vase, Italian probably Murano, second half C20th
Price: £45
An art glass vase of globular beaker form, the front face modelled as the face of an owl with raised ears at the side and the base flat, the amber coloured glass with diagonal flecks, presumably intended to represent fur and the base with layers of glass employing the ‘sommerso’ technique. Similar owl vases were made by the Cristalleria d’Arte glassworks at Murano, Venice but these are of a slightly different shape and the eyes are rendered in black and white. But the techniquese employed here, particularly the ‘sommerso’ layers at the base are typical of Murano work and this seems to be the most likely provenance. The chunky modelling suggests a dating to the 1960s for this amusing and skilfully made piece.
Czech rhinestone jewelled glass metal filigree Perfume Bottle and Stopper, C20th
Price: £45
This is an elaborately decorated perfume bottle of a type produced by Czech workshops in a variety of similar but differing designs. The blue glass bottle is encased with elaborate gilt filigree work which does not cover the entirety of the reverse as is quite common. The intricate filigree design is enhanced by studded rhinestones, or imitation diamonds, in greens and blues, which adds to the opulence of the piece. There is a removable gilt cap fitted with a glass wand which remains intact. Definitely an addition to the handbag for a very special occasion!
Stunning Art Deco Indian silver neck ring and bracelet c1920
Price: £650
This is a very rare set of a necklace and bracelet that is Indian in origin. It is very heavy and has a twisted design with dual rams’ heads. The rams’ heads are very detailed, and this quality continues throughout both pieces.
Both have a very strong bolt type clasp that allows the two pieces to open and then it is locked in place. The clasp mechanism is crafted from iron and not silver. This is to ensure that it remains strong and in position.
This design is very well known in many cultures but is probably best known in Greek and Etruscan jewellery. These pieces might have been commissioned and were most likely made for a man. The size fits both genders but it is so chunky that it doesn’t seem likely to have been made for a woman during the 1920s.
They would look great on anyone today!
Fine quality Japanese Cloisonne bottle form Vase with black ground, late C19th
Price: £45
A cloisonne vase of bottle form, the bulbous ovoid body rising to a tall narrow cylindrical neck, the flat base in copper metal, the black ground decorated on the body with flowers including peony and butterflies, with a stylised wave border below and a band of peony blooms on the shoulder on a brown speckle ground, and on the neck with stylised hanging floral blooms. While not necessarily at the level of some of the signed pieces produced by the Japanese craftsmen in the late nineteenth century, this vase is an excellent example of the best work produced for export. The decoration is detailed and complex and employs some of the ‘special effects’ used, including shading to the enamels and a speckle ground, created with the addition of gold filings to the enamel, both seen in the decoration to the shoulder (see image 5). No doubt intended as a cabinet piece and not necessarily one of a pair, this vase is an excellent tribute to one of the classic ‘arts of Japan’ produced towards the end of the nineteenth century.
Pair of Chinese Paintings on Silk, framed, C20th
Price: £45
A pair of Chinese paintings on silk, each rectangular panel with indented corners and finished with yellow ground patterned edging, the first depicting a lady in a garden with rocks and bamboo, the second with a mountainous landscape scene, a river bank and a man in a boat to the foreground with craggy tree lined rocky outcrops in the distance the further one surrounded by mist. Both pictures are signed in script with a red seal mark below, most likely denoting the artist or the artist copied by the painter. The style of the brushwork implies twentieth century work and the dating is probably to the 1960s. The paintings were later framed in Europe and provide a complementary pair of decorative items which accurately reflect the tradition of classical Chinese painting.
Curb link pad lock bracelet, London 1977
Price: £85
This is a very classic heavy curb bracelet with the padlock clasp. It has a safety chain and the clasp is very firm and holds well. The padlock is fully hallmarked for London, 1977 with a makers mark of RGS. r
Arts and Crafts brass Tray with hammered decoration, early C20th
Price: £45
An oval brass tray polished at the front, the sunken centre with a broad flat rim, the interior decorated with a punched or ‘hammered’ design and the outer rim with six embossed stylised flowers, probably intended to represent lotus, the reverse unpolished. There are slightly hybrid design elements here. The general form draws on the aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts movement with its emphasis on simplicity of design and a slightly rustic appearance whereas the six flower heads with their flowing semi abstract design reflect more the style of Art Nouveau. The two design trends were partially contemporary, of course, and not dissimilar in their objectives so that there was sometimes an overlapping between the two. Unsigned, this tray was probably made as a modest decorative item for the home but it has an appeal of its own, even when set beside rather more grand productions. Dating is probably to the Edwardian period when this style was still very much in vogue.
Wall Vase, designed by Noomi Backhausen, Søholm Stentøj, Denmark, late C20th
Price: £95
A stoneware wall vase of flattened rounded form, decorated to the front with an abstract floral design in shades of cream, brown and blue/green, the sides and base with a brown speckle glaze and the back unglazed and pierced for hanging. On the side is the first name of the designer ‘Noomi’ and at the back are impressed script marks ‘Søholm’ ‘Denmark’ ‘Stentøj’ with the numbers ‘3575’ for the model.
The company Søholm Stentøj was founded by Herman Sonne Wolffsen and Edvard Christian Sonne in 1835 at Rønne, the principal town of Bornholm, a Danish island off the south coast of Sweden. One of the most respected of the Danish potteries it continued producing a wide range of ceramics until the firm closed in 1996. Noomi Backhausen was a designer for Søholm from 1966 to 1990 and set up her own pottery in Rønne in 1996 after the closure of her old employers. This wall vase is a typical example of her abstract organic designs and would be a worthy addition to a collection of twentieth century Danish design.
Pair of Art Deco glass Vases with applied silver snakes, 1930s
Price: £95
This is a very unusual pair of glass vases with no obvious parallels. The shape is that of a slender beaker vase flaring out towards the base and neck. The black glass of the body has a narrow band of silvered decoration at the top and bottom and applied silver snakes are coiled around the centre, making an effective contrast. The clean lines of the pieces imply a dating to the Art Deco era and the decoration, with its reflection of Egyptian Revival, suggests manufacture in France but this is not certain. But whatever the provenance these vases are striking decorative accessories which could find a home in the most contemporary of interiors.
Magnifying Glass with Crown Handle, C20th
Price: £45
A large magnifying glass with silver plate trim, the handle with a ball shape terminal decorated with bead work and stylised floral designs and a crown shape finial again with beadwork, both separated by a ridged tube of ivorine. This elaborate desk item is sometimes found as part of a boxed set together with a matching paper knife. Highly useful for reading that small print it probably dates to the 1950s but retains its functionality today.
Pair of Chinese Paintings on rice paper, C19th, later framed
Price: £110
A pair of Chinese paintings on rice paper of two figures, a lady and a gentleman, in traditional court dress. She holds a fan while he holds a quiver of arrows in one hand and a bow in the other, suggesting, perhaps fancifully, a contrast between war and peace. Finely detailed, almost jewel-like, cabinet paintings of this type were made in the 18th and 19th centuries for export to Europe, from the Chinese ports and in particular Canton. The subject matter included botanical studies, commercial and domestic scenes and, as here, people depicted wearing elaborate Chinese dress. These paintings were often issued in sets or albums either to be enjoyed as connoisseurs’ items or for framing to be used as wall decoration. The detail of the brushwork here, especially seen on the robes, and the expression of the faces represents the best of work which was exported and the rice paper ground is in remarkably good condition with little or no trace of foxing. Dating is fairly certainly to the nineteenth century and perhaps to the 1840s/1860s since the style of work resembles that seen on the porcelains produced at this time. The simple frames are doubtless a twentieth century addition and allow these two miniature masterpieces to be displayed with great effect.
Swirl design art glass Vase, probably Italian, second half C20th
Price: £55
An impressive art glass vase stoutly blown and of compressed globular form, the concave neck rising to a flaring rim, decorated in mottled blues and pinks with a continuous swirl design merging into white at the top, the interior rim with white flecks and the decoration continuing to the base with an irregular circle to the centre, possibly a pontil mark indicating that the piece has been hand blown. There are no direct parallels for this finely made piece but the work seems to be Italian if not, perhaps, from the glassworks at Murano itself. Both the form and decoration indicate a maker of some skill and the vase is extremely heavy which is an additional sign of quality in the manufacture. Dating is probably to the 1960s or 1970s but this highly decorative vase would be a fine accessory for any contemporary interior.
Chinese lace agate earrings and necklace suite
Price: £50
This is a beautiful and detailed set of necklace and earrings in Chinese grey lace agate. The necklace is in a lariat style with beads and a circular carving that has four carved "charms" hanging from it. The beads are facetted agate and the clasp is a very fine carving of a flower. The earring compliment the necklace with carvings that have a barrel shape.
Chinoiserie necklace with peking glass plaques c1960
Price: £45
This a lovely necklace by an American company called "Exquisite". It has faux jade or Peking glass plaques and oriental motif gold tone stations. It is signed or marked Exquisite.
Papier-mâché trinket box and cover, Kashmir, India, C20th
Price: £25
An attractive papier-mâché box and cover of slightly compressed globular form, the cover with a knob finial, and the base and lid with a mating small triangular section to ensure a secure fit, finely decorated in polychrome colourings with panels of stylised lotus on a gilt scroll ground, the top with gilt cells on a black ground and the base with a band of repeating gilt stylised lotus leaves, the interior and underside finished in black. The style of the decoration here is typical of the papier-mâché wares produced in Kashmir in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries which were known for their fine and elaborate floral decoration. Round trinket boxes were a particular speciality and this is a good example which probably dates to the early twentieth century.
Sylvac woodland range Rabbit and Tree Jug, 1950s
Price: £35
This amusing jug is from a group of pieces made by the well known English pottery manufacturers Sylvac (or more correctly SylvaC) in the 1950s called the ‘Woodland Range’. The title is really self explanatory. This jug is in the form of a naturalistically modelled tree trunk with branch handles and on a ledge is seated a small smiling rabbit. The base has impressed marks for Sylvac and the model number ‘4242’.
‘SylvaC’ (the name was written with a capital ‘C’ after registration of the trademark in 1938) was a trade name of Shaw and Copestake, a company formed by Mr. William Shaw and a Mr. Copestake around 1900. Mr. Copestake sold his shares to a Mr. Richard Hull after about six months of business and this partnership continued until Mr. Hull’s death in 1935. He was succeeded by his son, Mr. Richard Hull junior. In the following year, the business became a limited company. Various mergers and acquisitions followed and in the 1950s new premises were built and production expanded considerably continuing until the early 1980s when changing markets and increased competition forced the company into liquidation.
Sylvac were famous for imaginative glazed wares, particularly animals, and this jug is a typical and pleasing example of their work.
Graduated set of three Royal Doulton Harvest Pattern Jugs, early C20th
Price: £150
A graduated set of salt glaze earthenware jugs, each of compressed globular form with straight necks, a pinched spout and a strap handle, ribbed with a leaf terminal, the bodies glazed in contrasting fields of matt mustard and glossy brown with moulded decoration in cream depicting scenes of rural life including hunting and drinking, the base unglazed and with an impressed mark for Royal Doulton, the pattern number ‘2892’ on two of the jugs and on the largest jug the artist’s mark ‘a’.
While this model, often called the ‘harvest pattern’, is found quite often, it is very unusual to see a graduated set of three, all matching. The form of the mark, where the lion does not sit above a crown, was used between 1922 and 1927 which gives us the dating here. The largest jug carries the letter ‘a’ which was a decorator’s mark and stands for Louisa Ayling. Perhaps she worked on all three, but this must remain a guess although the quality of the work on all three is quite consistent producing a highly decorative and attractive ensemble.
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.
Two Photographs of Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, signed and numbered, late C20th
Price: £40
Eel Pie Island is one of London’s more curious landmarks. Situated in the River Thames near to Twickenham it is only accessed by a narrow pedestrian bridge. There are no cars or roads on the island which is home to about 120 residents, 26 artist studios, and working boatyards. The public can only visit twice a year when there are ‘open studio’ weekends. It is the subject here of two art photographs, most likely taken with some form of panoramic camera device to create the long narrow views. In one we see the access bridge and in the other a view of the island entire. Both seem to have been taken in the early morning. The pictures are the earliest examples of an edition of 900 (1/900 and 2/900 respectively). It is not clear whether the whole edition was 900 or each photograph issued as a run of 900. The former seems more likely and these were perhaps at one time the property of the photographer himself who signs his name (probably; the signature is not wholly clear) as ‘Keith Johnson’. These are curiosity pieces but fine examples of traditional photographer’s work, now rather eclipsed by digital equivalents. The framers seem not to exist now which is consistent with a dating to the late twentieth century which would match the type and style of the photography.
Pair of Mamluk Revival hexagonal brass Vases, Cairo Ware, probably Syria C20th
Price: £150
An unusual pair of brass vases of hexagonal form, the angular baluster body above a spreading foot and below a long, slender concave neck flaring out towards the top, decorated all over in repoussé work with stylised floral tendrils on a chased hammer punched ground of small circles, the base, shoulder and top rim with bands of studding. 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 are often combined, as here.
The form and style of these vases link them to a group of pieces known as ‘Mamluk Revival’ ware, produced in Syria in the early twentieth century and marketed through Cairo, where the Sultans there gave considerable stimulus towards their production and sale. The Mamluk period (1250–1517) was the greatest Islamic empire of the later Middle Ages and included control of the holy cities Mecca and Medina. During it, the arts flourished with an especial concentration on elaborately decorated metalware and it was these pieces which provided the inspiration for the twentieth century craftsmen copying and adapting their style. Similar and rather grander pieces are known where the brass is inlaid with silver and copper, often with Islamic calligraphy. This pair of vases is rather more modest and perhaps intended for a domestic rather than export audience, but no small amount of care was taken in their manufacture, the soldered joins of the various panels forming the vases as a whole requiring great skill. Under a strong light the decoration, from which a considerable amount of old dried polish has been removed, glows with an attractive intensity and the vases certainly have a pronounced ‘Islamic’ look and feel.
Faux pearl necklace c1910
Price: £15
This is a lovely necklace that features very lustrous faux pearls in natural shapes. The central pendant is a massive 25 mm faux pearl.
Egyptian Revival statement necklace c1920
Price: £85
This is quite an early example of Egyptian Revival pieces made available for the general public. It is a short necklace in a breast plate design with two hanging pendants with many of the standard Egyptian symbols and icons cast in brass and decorated with enamel painting. This would have been quite a modest item in its time, created for those who wanted a taste of the glamour of the Egyptian era.
Italian tiger stripe glass Handbag, possibly Murano, second half C20th
Price: £45
This is a novelty glass item made in the form of a handbag with a barrel shape body and large loop handles, with orange and black stripes resembling tiger’s fur and the interior encased in white. These pieces are often described as Murano style and some carry a label for the ‘Vincenza Collection’. The work, in fact, does resemble Murano pieces very closely, particularly the glass wrapped candies produced there, and the slight depression to the base (see image 10) is a typical Murano feature so manufacture there, probably in the later years of the twentieth century, is more than a possibility. These bags could possibly be used for the display of flowers or even to act as bonbonnieres, but it is as decorative items that they most appeal.
Long baltic amber bead necklace c1980
Price: £65
This is excellent quality amber necklace. Each bead is carved in a triangular shape to complement the geometric pendant. This beads are graduated which adds to the elegance of this long necklace. There are a few types of amber here honey, cognac and egg yolk.
Chinese Soapstone Double Brushwasher, C20th
Price: £45
A Chinese soapstone brushwasher carved in the form of two hollow bamboo stems standing between strands of trailing peach and resting on a rocky base with stylised foliage and a bird, the curved reverse plain and with three holes to facilitate the carving and the base recessed and with small holes. Various similar pieces can be found with one or more containers or vases surrounded by flowers or sometimes animals and presumably intended as brushwashers. Soapstone was first used by the Chinese over three thousand years ago but began its popularity in the Ming dynasty (1368 -1644) with the height of production during the ensuing Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911). Production continued into the 20th Century and even takes place now, but the style of work here, with fairly coarse hand carving but the evident use of a drill, and the colouring of the stone itself suggest a mid century dating, perhaps to the 1940s. But while not of the highest technical expertise, this piece certainly has a rustic charm and can act as a pleasing ornament with the potential use as a desk accessory.
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.
Small Chinese Gilt Ground Cloisonné Bowl, C20th
Price: £35
A small bowl with a short foot and an everted rim, the gilt ground decorated in raised cloisonne enamel with prunus flowers, the base and interior finished in mottled turquoise enamel. The cloisonné technique, where glass derived enamels are inlaid between gilt metal outline designs, the so called 'cloisons' or 'partitions', was developed in China from as early as the fourteenth century and employed continuously thereafter, even until the present day. In the early twentieth century pieces were produced with a gilt ground onto which were applied raised cloisonne enamel designs, as here. The quality of the work is excellent and self evident but note in particular the shading effects in the enamels which are seen in images (3) and (4). Prunus is the emblem of Winter and the symbol of life because its blossom appears in springtime on an apparently lifeless tree. This small bowl or cup was probably intended for drinking tea or wine which explains the shape of the rim. Dating is most likely to the first half of the C20th.
Glossy brown crocodile handbag 1960s
Price: £65
This is a stunning hard side bag that is covered in brown patent croc. It is lined with suede. It is most likely made in England although it is unmarked. The handle has been restored to it's original beauty and is ready for daily use.
Victorian style Czech glass statement necklace c1930
Price: £40
This is a beautifully designed necklace that features a central lariat pendant set with red glass stones. The necklace has corresponding red beads.
Egyptian Revival Czech statement necklace set with real beetles c1920
Price: £150
This is an unbelievably rare example of early Czech costume jewellery. It is set with real beetles and faux lapis glass cabochons and beads. There is even a beetle on the central drop. Between the beetles are Egyptian icons, enamel flies and gilt leaves set on a cartouche design plaque.
Two ceramic Clown Figures by Lino Zampiva, Italian late C20th
Price: £25
These are two ceramic figurines designed Lino Zampiva. Each depicts a clown figure, the larger holding balloons and the smaller playing the violin, both with a distinctive ‘spaghetti’ hairstyle. They are amusingly modelled and colourfully decorated and each carries Zampiva’s signature, the balloon seller with ‘Made in Italy’ in addition. Lino Zampiva founded PastelCeramica SnC in Montebello, Vicentino, Italy, in 1976 and began the production of these whimsical ceramic figurines which enjoyed great popularity. Many of them were clown figures but there were other subjects as well including dolls. Considerable artistry was expended in the creation of these pieces making them a little more than just ‘kitsch’.
North American Turquoise pendant necklace c1990
Price: £150
This is a very striking necklace comprising a large pendant with a modernist design set with North American turquoise, most likely from the Kingman mine. The pendant is marked 925 and has been later paired with a complementary and heavy Balinese chain which is unmarked.
Hanley Ware circular bowl, Lancaster and Sons, 1920s
Price: £25
A shallow circular bowl of compressed form, the rim turning in at the top, decorated to the top exterior with a continuous polychrome transfer design depicting a rustic landscape scene edged in black on a yellow lustre ground which is repeated on the interior, the base glazed white, with a transfer mark ‘Made in England’ above a lion couchant, ‘L&Sons Ltd’ above a shield shape panel with ‘Hanley Eng’ below, and impressed numbers ‘216’
Lancaster & Sons Ltd were manufacturers of earthenware at the Dresden works, Tinkersclough, in the Shelton area of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. The firm was founded in 1899 under the name ‘Lancaster and Barker’ was renamed ‘Lancaster & Sons Ltd’ in the early 1900s and continued production until 1944. In the 1920s they produced various pieces with rural landscape scenes of which this is an example. Some see reminiscences of the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement here but the mark found on the bottom clearly dates the piece to the 1920s. The yellow lustre glaze is interesting and free from the crazing sometimes found.
Japanese Imari Bottle Vase, circa 1900
Price: £30
A Japanese ceramic vase of slender bottle form with a near globular body rising to a narrow cylindrical neck, decorated in the ‘Imari’ palette of underglaze blue, iron red and gold with two red enamel ground stylised floral panels on a ground of scrolling peony, the neck with scrolling prunus above a band of repeating chrysanthemum heads and the base with a band of repeating stylised leaves. The paste of the foot and the style of the decoration suggest a dating to the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912) probably around 1900.
Fine Quality engraved French Glass Dish with naturalistic Ormolu Mounts, early C20th
Price: £25
A small glass circular dish with deep sides and engraved to the centre with flowering lotus, mounted to the rim in gilt meatal or 'ormolu' with a circular band cast with a repeating loop design,
astride which are a well modelled frog and a lily pad. Perhaps intended as a bonbonniere or a trinket dish, this charming piece clearly reflects the Art Nouveau style with its emphasis on
naturalistic design. Similar pieces are held to be French and this is most likely the provenance here with a dating to the early C20th.
Outstanding Suede Lanvin Clutch in original box 1950s
Price: £250
This is a stunning large clutch bag comprising brown kid suede with kid skin edging. it is a basic envelope design with no closure and one interior zip compartment. It is constructed to fold over securely to fit under the arm. A feature of this bag is the Art Nouveau enamel decoration on the front of the bag. The bag is lined in fabric that has a monogram logo. It is worth noting that Lanvin did not manufacture their handbags in the 1950s but rather designed them and outsourced the manufacture as most couture houses did during that time. This bag comes in its original box with the plastic dust jacket intact as well. The labelling 'Made in British Colony Hong Kong' was used principally in the 1950s/1960s which matches the dating here, although some clothing manufacturers continued to employ it into the 1980s. Complete, then, with its original packaging, this is a timeless and elegant bag that is worthy of Audrey Hepburn!
Victorian silver gilt filigree bracelet, Morocco
Price: £95
This is a stunning bracelet comprising four stations set with real stones amethyst, calcendony, tigers eye and garnet. These are surrounded with faux pearls. There are also small stations set with turquoise. It is marked 950 Silver. Probably Moroccan or North African.
Zuni Cuff Bracelet set with Kingman Turquoise, marked, New Mexico 1970s
Price: £550
This is a heavy silver cuff bracelet comprising a large oval Kingman turquoise stone set into a typical Zuni design featuring clean lines and millegrain work. The Zuni Tribe, located 34 miles south of Gallup, New Mexico, is an extensive community with over 10,000 members and renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistry, particularly in the realm of jewellery manufacture. Many of their pieces employ the use of turquoise and the colouration and features of the stone here indicate a provenance from the Kingman mine in North West Arizona. This exceptional piece has the stamped maker's mark 'CIRCLE J.W.' 'STERLING', possibly for Jack Whittaker, an artist known for other pieces in a similar style, and is a prime example of Zuni work, highly fashionable at the time of manufacture in the 1970s and highly desirable today.
Murano bud glass vase with paperweight base, second half C20th
Price: £25
A bud glass vase with a long narrow and very slightly flaring neck above a globular body, the neck deep purple with white streak highlights and the body with a coloured relief sculpture of a flower growing from rocks in the style of a paperweight. This model was produced at Murano in the later years of the twentieth century and was clearly popular from the number of similar pieces which can be found today. Intended to display a single flower it can also double as a paperweight itself making it both decorative and functional as its new owner pleases.
Past Times Art Nouveau Style Vase, Veronese Collection, 2004
Price: £45
This deceptively attractive vase which reflects Art Nouveau design in both its form and decoration is, in fact a recent reproduction sold by the once popular UK firm ‘Past Times’. The organically shaped slender ovoid body with a flaring base and a wide, open top is decorated with applied decoration of lotus, water lilies, reeds and a dragonfly, both the ground and its ornamentation intended to imitate bronze metal whereas the material is, in fact, bronze effect resin. The base has an attached felt pad with the repeating words ‘Veronese’, the name of the collection or range to which it belonged. There is also a small signature on the body and a copyright mark for the date of manufacture, 2004.
‘Past Times’ was founded in 1986 by John Beale, at first as a mail order company but then trading from physical stores and developing into a business which enjoyed enormous popularity with over one hundred shops in the early 2000s. The stock was focused on retro and vintage style items also including a wide range of licensed products, such as Harry Potter and Beatrix Potter merchandise. Badly impacted by the recession in 2008 it went into administration in 2012 and was bought by W.H.Smith a year later leading to the disappearance of its products from the marketplace.
This ‘Art Nouveau’ vase can be seen as an example of their range at its best. Manufactured with care it presents an appealing souvenir of the era it aims to recreate at a rather more affordable price than the authentic originals.
Abstract design studio pottery vase, signed E.E. Lewis 1954
Price: £35
An attractive studio pottery vase of broad ovoid form with a short stepped foot and a cylindrical rim, glazed overall in speckled brown with a slight craquelure, the pronounced potting rings showing through, and decorated with an incised design of abstract organic motifs, the base glazed, also with clear traces of the potting rings, and with an incised signature ‘E.E.Lewis 1954’. The maker cannot be otherwise identified but was clearly an accomplished amateur and the form and decoration combine to produce an elegant decorative piece.
Tall glass swirl design Vase, Herner Glas Germany, late C20th
Price: £35
A tall glass vase, the body of tapering form with a short concave neck and flaring rim, decorated in mustard and brown colourings and traces of white with a trailing swirl pattern, a small label to the side reading ‘Herner Glas’. The firm ‘Herner Glas’ was founded in 1986 at Herne, a town in the Ruhr area of Germany. It specialises in hand blown art glass and marble effect pieces, as here, are one of its particular specialities. Many of its pieces survive with the original maker’s label containing the distinctive red ace of spades and some also include the model number.
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.
Framed Picture of Two Elephants signed Mary Beth Zeitz and dated 2003
Price: £25
This attractive composition was, in fact, drawn on a serviette as the label at the back indicates and can easily be seen from the material itself. Depicted are a pair of confronting elephants with colourful saddle hangings and open top howdahs. The painting is skilful and there is much detail in the representation of the fabric hangings and the sides of the howdahs. But then, this is the work of an accomplished and known artist, Mary Beth Zeitz, whose signature appears at the bottom right hand corner (see another example of her work [image 7] for comparison). Born in the C20th in Louisville, Kentucky, she was raised in Wilmington, Delaware from the age of 3 and then went on to study French at the University there following this with a spell the Universite de Montpellier while she was living in the South of France. Her work is distinguished by detailed subjects and antique-style textures which are often to be seen in her watercolours. Her paintings have found their way into several galleries and have been purchased by private and corporate collectors. The recipient of this gift was lucky then and received a decorative object of great charm and skill.
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!
Purple and white glass Jack in the Pulpit Vase, Elan Glass Studio, second half C20th
Price: £25
The distinctive form of this vase with its wide conical base narrowing towards the top and flaring outwards into a broad turned over leaf resembles the plant named ‘Jack in the Pulpit’ and was adopted by various glass manufacturers from the Art Nouveau period onwards. There are examples by Tiffany and Loetz and the shape was later produced at Murano and by some of the British glass studios. An example by Alum Bay Glass, Isle of Wight, can be seen elsewhere on this site. As the label indicates, this piece was made by the Elan Glass Studio in Wales but little is known now about this studio which was, perhaps, rather short lived. Although the stouter form suggests the 1960s or 1970s, this has to remain a guess but with its swirling designs and contrasting colourings of purple and white it is an attractive variation of the type.
Decorative pair of Chinese ceramic figures of children, Yunu and Jintong , late C20th
Price: £45
This is an amusing pair of ceramic figures depicting the two children Yunu and Jingtong, Taoist deities well known from Chinese mythology and traditional religion. They are represented with hands clasped and attached to their arms are coins or ‘cash’ (to use the Chinese word, later adopted into the European language), considered to be good luck symbols. Yunu and Jintong were the favoured servants of the Jade Emperor and the martial God Zhenwu. They acted as guides to the underworld but also became known as the paradigm of happily married couples; pictures of them are sometimes displayed during the Chinese Sprig Festival. There are accordingly many associations with good fortune here and these pairs of figures were doubtless sold as lucky charms in the later years of the twentieth century.
Pink pressed glass dressing table set, Libochoviche, Czech, 1950s
Price: £35
A five piece dressing table or trinket set made from press moulded pink glass and comprising a tray, a pair of candlesticks, a covered pot and a ring stand, all elaborately modelled with repeating ball borders. The designs for this set can be found in a pattern book for the Libochovice glassworks in Czecholslovakia which apparently dates to some time before 1958. The tray is pattern number 3020 and the other pieces have numbers between 3021 and 3024, there being two numbers for the covered pot which was made in different sizes. The Libochoviche factory was founded in 1912 by H. Feigl and J. Moráve and after an initial period of producing mainly utilitarian pieces turned to the creation of innovative decorative items, mostly in pressed glass for which it had perfected the techniques and in combination with professional artists of the day, maintaining a highly popular output of designs until its closure in 2006. In 1945 it became part of the Sklo Union cooperative along with other manufactures of pressed glass such as Rosice and Hermanova Hut whose work can be seen elsewhere on this site.
Papier Mâché Tray with Millefiori Decoration, Kashmir, C20th
Price: £55
A Papier Mâché Tray of octagonal form with rounded indented corners profusely decorated in rich and detailed colourings with small floral blooms, the ‘millefiori’ (thousand flower) pattern, a central roundel and four hemisphere panels at the corners all set on an orange ground, the border with bands of floral spray and repeating geometric design in gilt, the reverse plain showing the black lacquer ground. Trays and boxes in this distinctive style were made in Kashmir in India and some carry the label for Srinagar, a city famous for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts like the Kashmir shawl, papier mâché, wood carving, carpet weaving, and jewel making, which is most likely the place where this tray was made, probably in the 1920s. It is a superb example of the type with exquisite detail in the decoration and a strikingly attractive use of colour.
Watercolour by Elisabeth Castle, Kent Landscape Scene, framed, late C20th
Price: £45
An original watercolour painting by the British artist Elizabeth Castle (1930 to 2011, according to the inscription on the reverse). Although a resident of outer London, Castle seems to have concentrated on Kentish landscape scenes and the composition of this picture, with oast houses and slightly abstract trees, is typical of her work. With a fairly muted palette of colours her paintings are always easy to the eye and a restful addition to an interior. Her work seems not to be signed but was always equipped with a printed label as here headed ‘Original paintings by Elizabeth Castle’ followed by her address and telephone number. (The format of the telephone number, used in London up until 1990 gives some idea of the date of the picture.) The gilt wood frame complements the painting well and both combine to produce a relaxing decorative accessory.
Two small metal perfume Flasks and Stoppers, 1920s
Price: £35
Two small metal flasks, the first in brass of rounded rectangular form with a ball shape stopper, the surface plain, and the second in copper of ovoid form again with a ball shape stopper and also a loose ring handle, the surface with beaten decoration of a repeating design of small circles. The shapes of both of these are usually described as perfume bottles which makes sense here where the stoppers are both screw top. The copper example was perhaps intended for attachment to a belt and the size of either would have made them suitable travelling accessories. Dating is probably to the 1920s and the beaten decoration of the second is a feature of pieces made under the influence of the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement which flourished in Britain from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century.
Two Chinese Fans, painting on silk, 1960s
Price: £15
Two fans of circular form with bamboo effect handles, the silk panels edged with stitching and delicately painted, one with a landscape scene, signed, and the other with a bird seated on a branch of flowering lotus. These fans seem to have been made in China for export in the mid twentieth century as part of the many handicrafts items which were sent to Europe for sale. Each of the scenes depicted here has an attraction of its own and both are a modest reflection of contemporary Chinese painting. It is sometimes suggested that these might be 'wedding fans' but that may be apocryphal.
Novelty Perfume Bottle with Grecian Scenes, late C20th
Price: £15
A ceramic perfume bottle the compressed bulbous body fitted with a high domed cover and a separate ‘dipper’ finial, the rich blue glaze brightly decorated with polychrome and gilt figures in a pseudo classical style reclining and conversing, the interior with traces of perfume cream. The Greek manufacturers of perfumes seem sometimes to have turned to the Classical era as inspiration for the decoration on the vessels containing their products. Similar bottles can be found with packaging labelled ‘Anapal by Anastasios’. The designs are pastiche in the extreme but the effect is opulent and no doubt reflects the luxury of the contents inside!
Chinese pumpkin shape Teapot with cream craquelure glaze circa 1900
Price: £55
This is an unusual Chinese teapot of ‘pumpkin’ form with a typically lobed body but of extremely compressed proportions, with a short spout, a shallow fitted lid and flattened loop handle in the form of a stylised dragon. It is clearly ‘archaistic’ in style and the cream craquelure glaze recalls pieces from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and even before, particularly the so called ‘guan ware’, but while earlier lobed pieces can be found, particularly shallow bowls, there do not seem to be any precedents for this form of teapot and there are no parallels amongst later pieces either. The paste of the foot and the general style of the glaze certainly indicate a dating to around 1900 and just possibly slightly before. A piece, then, for a curious collector who might perhaps be lucky enough to make further discoveries about its origin.
Opera length mille fiore station necklace and earrings c1950 and later
Price: £45
This is a striking and very long necklace comprising stations of mille fiore glass beads and red and black glass beads with paste stones in between. It is very elegant and detailed. It is meant to wrap around the neck and then hang down to the waist although it could be also wrapped around the neck a few times. It is paired with complementary earrings that have black glass and paste stones. The necklace is not silver and most likely would have had gilding in its time. The earrings still have a gold tone. The necklace dates to the 1950s and the earrings are later, most likely 1970s.
Japanese Arita shallow Bowl circa 1880
Price: £55
A Japanese Arita porcelain bowl of shallow form with straight sides turning in towards the foot, decorated in polychrome enamels with a central scene of two panels, one square with a fabric derived ‘brocade’ design and one rectangular with a landscape scene including waves, mountains, the setting moon and cranes, both with tassels underneath, the outside edge with stylised floral panels, lotus and chrysanthemum, and the base with a band of repeating geometric design in underglaze blue.
The town of Arita in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū island, was a major centre for the production of porcelains in Japan. Best known for blue and white pieces it also produced polychrome wares as well, including the familiar Imari colourings. While similar to Imari, the wider palette of colours used here is usually termed ‘Arita’ and this bowl employs not only the colourings but also many of the decorative elements found in these wares. The angular form, though, is unusual. Dating is to the Meiji era (1868-1912) probably around 1880.
Experimental Bowl for glazes marked TESTS and signed JD
Price: £25
An unevenly potted bowl of irregular round form the straight sides narrowing to the base, the exterior covered with a selection of glazes and patterns principally in blues, greens and browns on a cream ground, the interior and base also glazed cream, the word ‘TESTS’ written on the exterior and the interior and the centre of the interior and the base with incised initials ‘JD’. This is a curiosity piece showing the artist, who cannot be identified, experimenting with various glaze effects and colours. While intended as nothing more, it has a naif charm of its own and is a reminder, perhaps, that artistic effects do not necessarily occur without practice runs first. Secure dating is nearly impossible and perhaps not essential for a ‘trial piece’ such as this.
Rectangular Box and Cover, Basanite Jasper, C20th
Price: £95
A rectangular box and cover constructed from joined slabs of basanite Jasper, both parts with the rims metal mounted and joined by a hinge at the rear, the base with four short feet. The material here is a form of Jasper, a naturally formed rock which can appear in a variety of colours and patterns. One of these is ‘picture jasper’ where the outline of scenes or images can be seen on the polished surface and another ‘basanite jasper’ known for its black streaked tones. Both of these can be seen here, particularly the apparently mountainous design of the lid and the two side panels, front and back. Jasper is found in a wide variety of locations, including Russia but it is not possible to determine the origin here. Dating is equally uncertain, but the piece has a strong ‘Art Deco’ look with its clean lines and simple geometric feet and this may well point to the timing of its manufacture. Colour and form, though, combine to produce a striking decorative item well suited to the most contemporary interior.
Novelty ceramic celery Vase, Price Kensington, 1960s
Price: £25
A novelty ceramic vase with two mask heads, the eyebrows and moustache formed as leaves, with the wording ‘CELERY’ above, the base with transfer marks ‘PRICE KENSINGTON’ within a wreath above ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’ and the pattern number ‘3644’ written at the side.
Price & Kensington was the trademark for Price & Kensington Potteries Ltd which was formed in 1962 by the amalgamation of Price Bros. (Burslem) Ltd and Kensington Pottery Ltd which were both subsidiaries of Arthur Wood & Son (Longport) Ltd. From 1962 to 2003 Price & Kensington produced large quantities of domestic wares alongside novelties and souvenirs, but in 2003 their parent company went into administration and their brand name was eventually sold to Rayware Limited which continued to use it, eventually moving the manufacture abroad, mainly to China.
This celery vase was one of the most popular and distinctive pieces which Price & Kensington produced and examples are enthusiastically collected today.
Chinese Mandarin Pattern Saucer circa 1780
Price: £55
A saucer of typical form, shallow with raised sides and an unglazed foot rim to the reverse, decorated in bright ‘Famille Rose’ enamels with a scene of court figures, two gentleman presenting a lady accompanied by a child with a book, in a stylised garden terrace with a lake and a pavilion in the distance, the border with repeating stylised leaves and diaper work.
This is a typical example of the ‘Mandarin’ pattern produced by the Chinese in the late eighteenth century for export to the West where it enjoyed great popularity. The name derives from the male court figures, mandarins, who form such an important component of the designs. The scenes are carefully composed with much charm and rendered in a wide variety of coloured enamels with much emphasis on deep pink (‘Famille Rose’) and iron red. A wide variety of wares were produced in the pattern including vases, bowls, dinner services and tea sets, as here, where there would have been a set of bowls and saucers along with matching serving items. The charm and quality of this piece speaks for itself and presents an excellent and collectible example of this opulent pattern from the eighteenth century.
Japanese Arita Dish circa 1880
Price: £45
A Japanese Arita circular dish, stoutly potted and with a lightly scalloped rim, decorated in underglaze blue with the addition of green, blue and brick red enamels all highlighted in gold, the central roundel with a basket of flowers surrounded by three large panels with a duck, rocks and flowers, interspersed with arrow head panels with stylised flowers and separated by three smaller geometric shape panels again with stylised flowers, the reverse with three pairs of two of the eight ‘precious objects’ (cash, double lozenge) in underglaze blue.
The town of Arita in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū island was a major cente for the production of porcelains in Japan. Best known for blue and white pieces it also produced polychrome wares as well, including the familiar imari colourings. While similar to Imari, the wider palette of colours used here is usually termed ‘Arita’ and the decorative appeal of the style is clear. This plate probably comes from an original set of five and its quality is much above average. Dating is to the Meiji era (1868 - 1912) probably around 1880.
Unique Butler & Wilson Neoclassical Tiara 1980s
Price: £195
This is a very unusual piece of vintage Butler & Wilson from the 1980s. It is at the very least quite unique and it is possibly bespoke. It it extremely ornate and beautifully made with mounted festoons, putti and swans. It is finished with a large crown which is quintessential B & W. It is set with faux pearls. There are faux pearls that encircle the swans necks and hanging faux teardrop pearls along the edge. All this is built on a stiff mesh frame. It bears the Butler & Wilson mark.
As most people who love costume jewellery know, Butler & Wilson have been and are a powerhouse British brand that have been designing costume jewellery since the 1970s. Pieces like this one are quite collectable due to their age and design. There are many collectors around the world that collect both vintage and new pieces. This one is for you!
Poole Pottery Studio Bowl with splash glazes, 1960s
Price: £45
A shallow bowl of flattened near inverted conical form, the surface decorated with light green splash glazes on dark green splash glaze ground surrounding a central speckled gilt glaze disc, the reverse plain with a dark cream glaze and underglaze blue marks to the centre of the foot ‘POOLE’ ‘STUDIO’ ‘england’ separated by a dolphin and a line respectively.
Both the form and some of the glaze effects here reflect much earlier Chinese ceramic pieces which is fully consistent with the ‘studio pottery’ style of this piece. Poole Pottery established an art pottery studio within their factory in 1958 which, following the Scandinavian model, produced high quality studio ceramics alongside designs for new ranges until 1966 when they were replaced by the new Delphis, Atlantis and Aegean pottery lines which began production a year later. Dating here is therefore fairly precise and this bowl is an excellent example of ‘studio’ wares produced which could often equal the work of other independent studio potteries.
Vintage floral decorated Sugar Bowl and Cream Jug, probably Bohemian mid C20th
Price: £25
This is a matching duo from an original tea service comprising a sugar bowl and cover and a cream jug. Both are elaborately formed with fluted bodies and rococo style handles and are decorated with vertical bands with floral blooms on green and yellow grounds. They are clearly continental and the style of decoration suggests porcelain made in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. These pieces are known for their quality and the use of traditional techniques, often featuring hand-painted decoration, as here. Dating is probably to the 1950s with the intention to recreate and imitate earlier European styles.
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.
Marionette Puppet of a Dancing Lady or Princess, probably Burmese late C20th
Price: £45
This is a puppet figure of a lady dancer wearing an elaborately decorated robe, intricately decorated with sequins, stitching and bead work, her hands and head white with detailing in red and blue, her feet with gilt boots and her head with an elaborate gilt helmet. Multiple gilt strings are suspended from a double bar handle piece requiring no small amount of skill from the puppet master operating the figure.
The style of the dress suggests Burmese work and very similar fabric decoration can be seen in the cloth wall hangings also included in this sale. Burma has a tradition of marionette puppetry (marionettes are a specific form of puppet where the figure is controlled by strings or rods) which dates back to the late eighteenth century and is still popular today with visitors to the country, now called Myanmar. Termed ‘Yoke thé’, the Burmese marionette tradition allowed political commentary under the guise of of an entertainment display. The standard ‘troupe’ comprised twenty seven characters, both animal and human, and this lady figure is probably the ‘princess’ (‘Minthami’). She is a fine example of the genre and probably dates to the 1990s when General Khin Nyunt of the ruling junta lent official support to marionette actors and troupes in an attempt to revive a tradition which had fallen somewhat into decline.
Silver metal Perfume Bottle Necklace, probably Indian early C20th
Price: £55
A silver metal perfume bottle and attached stopper, the body spherical with a short cylindrical neck, the whole elaborately cast with bead work below and repeating fleur de lis above underneath repeating raised bosses, the neck with rope twist work and the stopper with beading. The stopper is attached by a short chain and the bottle itself has two lugs which attach it to the necklace chain. Many of the motifs here suggest Indian work, probably from the 1920s and made for the local market.
Necklace and earrings constructed with English silver watch fobs c1920-1950
Price: £225
This is a fascinating suite of a necklace and earrings that have been made using hallmarked silver men's watch fobs from the early to mid twentieth century, seven in all. They are mainly for winning competitions, one for tap dancing in 1945 and the others for various sports and events. The largest central fob is from a men's society similar to the masonic lodges. It has its coat of arms on the front and is dated 1922. The necklace is a vintage belcher chain of approximately the same age as the fobs. All in all, bit of history to adorn the neck!
Fun lot of two Indian silver elephant brooches c1930
Price: £45
These are are two very different yet similar brooches depicting elephants. One is quite realistic with much detail such as skin, face and ears. The other is a typical Indian stylised design that is also quite detailed. Both are made in the typical repousse style. They have been "married" as they look so good together! :)
French enamel egyptian revival bracelet c1900
Price: £125
This is a very delicate bracelet comprisng stations with enamel work that depict Egyptian iconography. This was most liklely a souvenir from the Paris Worlds Fair in 1900 where Egypt featured prominently.
Fine Quality Japanese Plate decorated Carp, signed, early C20th
Price: £25
A fine quality Japanese porcelain plate with a lightly scalloped edge, decorated to the centre with two carp swimming amidst reeds within an elaborate border of stylised floral sprays in blue between cloud form segments in brown and gilt, the reverse with a three character script mark. Unfortunately, the artist cannot be identified from his signature but there are elements here in common with various of the Japanese potteries producing pieces for export in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including those at Kutani and Seto along with the ubiquitous output from Noritake. But the craftsmanship here is not in doubt and the representation of the two carp, symbols to the Japanese of good fortune and friendship, highly skilful. The style of painting and the paste of the foot suggests a dating to the early twentieth century, probably to the Taisho period (1912-1924).
Shorter and Sons Green glazed Fish Service, 1950s/1960s
Price: £75
A part service, green glazed, all the pieces formed in the shape of fish and comprising a large serving plate, four dinner plates, salt and pepper pots on a stand and a sauce boat and stand, nearly all the pieces marked underneath ‘Shorter and Son Ltd’ ‘Stoke on Trent’ ‘England’.
The firm which later became Shorter and Son was first set up by Arthur Shorter in 1878 with a partner James Boulton in Stoke on Trent. Their products were solidly in the main-stream of Victorian taste - majolica wares of all types predominated. Time saw another generation join the firm and various amalgamations took place. One of the sons, Colley Shorter, developed a close association with Clarice Cliff whom he eventually married. Her designs, while concentrated on the wares signed with her name, also fed in to the productions of Shorter and Sons and the range of their wares expanded considerably in the 1920s and 1930s.
‘Fish Ware’, as it became known was introduced in the late 1920s and rapidly became one of their best selling lines. Initially production was confined to flat ware and in 1935 a part service was acquired by the Duchess of York, later to become Queen Elizabeth. The range expanded and the design of the gravy boat and stand, introduced in 1936 (and included in the present selection), was attributed to Cliff herself. There were further additions and the late 1950s saw the addition of salt and pepper pots on a wavy tray (also included in the present selection). This service, then, probably dates to around 1960 a little before the firm was effectively taken over by Crown Devon in 1964 and the eventual loss of the identity of its wares. The popularity of the line is easily understood and our present selection is an excellent memento of the design.
Figure of a Young Girl Praying, Continental, probably mid C20th
Price: £55
This is an elegant figure of a young woman at prayer, her slender body carefully modelled with upraised elongated hands and expressive detail to the face and enshrouded, niche like, in a robe green tinted on the inside and brown on the exterior, the base with an oval opening and impressed numbers ‘825’ and a stamped number ‘31’. There are no obvious parallels to this piece which has some resemblance to Goldscheider compositions but a completely different finish to the foot and none of the Goldscheider markings. And while there are some similarities it also looks later with more of a mid century feel. Italian work comes to mind, but there is no proof of this. Perhaps we are intended to see the Virgin Mary here although the young lady seems a bit too youthful for a secure identification. Whoever she is, she has been rendered with skill and charm and well deserves her admirers today.
Victorian papier-mâché Tray with brass handle, English second half C19th
Price: £75
This is an excellent example of the papier-mâché serving trays which were made in England in the mid to late nineteenth century. The papier-mâché technique, which employs pieces of pulped paper and binding agents which can be shaped to form a variety of objects, sometimes with the addition of some form of backing, dated back over two thousand years and was first used in China. It enjoyed a wide appeal and was taken up enthusiastically by Victorian craftsmen who produce a range of highly decorative objects in the medium, one of which was the swing handled serving tray. Here, the black ground is covered with colourful painted decoration, a central spray of flowers within a stylised gilt floral border inlaid with mother of pearl. The brass swing handle has floral terminals with twisting ribbon decoration and a central leaf and berry spray and the reverse is plain. As a result of the technique, papier-mâché pieces are easily subject to damage and wear to the decoration but neither is the case here making this an attractive and desirable item of decoration.
Large Peking glass brooch c1940
Price: £55
This is a very dramatic brooch that features a very intricate copper setting set with a very large Peking glass stone. The setting has a blackened effect that is somehow Victorian and modern at the same time. Another find for vintage collectors.
