Balinese Silver Bangle with Elephant Heads, 1980s
Price: £45
Balinese Silver Bangle with a typical rope twist design terminating in two elephant heads with raised trunks. One terminal with a small circular pad marked 925 (the nine is very feint and can only be seen with a loop). Style and form of decoration suggest a circa date in the 1980s.
Porcelain Mug : Buckingham Palace 1997
Price: £10
A bone china mug, slightly flaring at the rim and base and with a modelled loop handle, richly decorated in gilt with swags and floral wreaths, the front marked ‘Buckingham Palace’ and the reverse ‘1997’, the base with a circular floral wreath surrounding a crown and the wording ‘Buckingham Palace’ ‘1997’. This mug is one of a series produced from 1993 to 2010 for sale in the Royal Collection souvenir shops. Each year was given a different design and all were dated. The manufacturer is unkown. The design and decoration of the ‘1997’ model seems particularly pleasing.
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.
Powder Compact, British Empire Exhibition (1924-1925), dated 1925
Price: £45
The success of the Franco-British Exhibition held at the White City, London, in 1908 stimulated plans for an exhibition to showcase the arts, scientific achievements and commerce of the British Empire itself, the largest in the world at the time. Arrangements began to be made in 1913 with the exhibition to be held at the same venue but were put on hold by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. However, at the end of this in 1918, the project was revived culminating in the opening of the ‘British Empire Exhibition’ on the 23rd April 1924, this time at the Wembley stadium where the Cup Final had been held for the first time in 1923 when the building was completed. Planned to close on the 1st September, the exhibition enjoyed such popularity that it reopened in 1925 for a second season. Over the two years it received 27,102,498 visitors.
Souvenirs and medals were produced, amongst which were silver plated powder compacts as here. The round container for the powder has a hinged lid revealing the powder well below, originally fitted with a mauve ribbon tasseled powder puff, and a mirror above. On the surface of the lid, which has a tab for lifting, is a stylised brass lion, a symbol of the British Empire, vitreous enameled in black, red and blue with the wording ‘British Empire Exhibition 1925 ’ There is a short rounded handle and the back has an engraved mark ‘Rd [registered] 689177’ for the patent number. While many were doubtless made (and there is another version with a more slender handle, with a ring at the end, and the background colourings of the lettering reversed) few of these compacts seem to have survived making this a desirable addition to a collection of British memorabilia.
Angel skin coral twisted five strand necklace, c1970
Price: £125
This is quite an unusual necklace comprising five strands of small coral beads that are twisted together. It has a matching clasp that is set with a coral stone. The beads are angel skin coral which comes from mainly Japan and Taiwan. The clasp is gold tone. The beads are most likely colour enhanced due to the uniformity. This is very common but it does effect the value somewhat.
Murano White Glass Vase of abstract organic form, 1960s
Price: £55
A white glass vase of abstract organic form with wavy edge sides and openwork panels, the edges finished in clear glass, the interior with a slightly blue finish at the bottom and the base clear glass and flat. While there is no direct comparison, very similar pieces were made by the well known Murano factory in Venice and some of them carry its name on an affixed paper label. Murano experimented with many abstract organic shapes and, as with other pieces, dating here seems to be to the mid twentieth century. This piece certainly has a feel of the 1960s and given the complexity of the design, it is remarkable that it has survived unscathed.
Two Wedgwood Glass paperweights designed by Ronald Stennett-Wilson, late C20th
Price: £40
These are two Wedgwood Glass paperweights both of rounded conical form, one clear glass with small bubbles and one clear glass with speckled green large bubbles, a design understandably known as ‘topiary’. Both have acid etched marks to the base which can be read ‘Wedgwood’ ‘England’ although the mark on the first is off centre and indistinct (see image 5); this is compensated for by the attached paper label which also reads ‘Wedgwood’ ‘England’. Both were designed by Ronald Stennett-Wilson, one of the most prominent UK glass designers, who set up the firm King’s Lynn Glass in 1967. Before that he had worked for Swedish glass manufacturers and the influence of their styles can be seen in his own work. The clear glass example could be felt to recall Kosta Boda. King’s Lynn Glass was taken over by Wedgwood in 1969 and their name marked on its production thereafter, although there was apparently a slight delay in the delivery of the machine which was used to apply the marks, meaning that the very first ‘Wedgwood’ pieces are hard to identify. Stenett-Wilson remained as Managing Director and chief designer for Wedgwood’s newly acquired firm until his retirement in 1980. Many of the staff at King’s Lynn Glass when it started had worked in Sweden or Europe and they began to train local workers who followed, no doubt, the styles and techniques of their teachers. After Stennett-Wilson’s retirement, the firm was subject to various acquisitions and mergers, finally being sold to Caithness Glass in 1988 with the factory closing in 1992. These two pieces, then, are an excellent example of the Swedish inspired designs made by Wedgwood Glass in its early years. Both decorative and practical they can appeal to a specialist or non specialist alike.
Very unusual banded carnelian panel bracelet
Price: £45
This is a very striking bracelet comprising six large banded carnelian panels interspersed with carnelian beads on typical stretch elastic. This is especially beautiful because the stones have natural inclusions. The origin of this bracelet is not clear. Could be Scottish or possibly Chinese.
Large brass portrait bust of Ramses II
Price: £45
This is an amusing portrait bust cast in brass with slender profile form depicting Ramses II, (Ramesses/Rameses II) the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt c1303BC - 1213BC and one of the most famous rulers of the country of whom the statues and images surviving have become iconic. He is depicted here wearing a typical bird beak helmet and a heavy metal shawl collar. The composition reflects 'Egyptian Revival ' pieces of the early twentieth century but the dating here is rather later.
Chinese Famille Rose Snuff Bottle and Stopper, early C20th
Price: £45
A Chinese porcelain snuff bottle and stopper, the cylindrical body with a stepped shoulder, a short concave neck and a modelled rim, decorated in Famille Rose enamels with a bird sitting on a branch of flowering peony, a two character signature to the reverse, the glazed base with an artemisia leaf in iron red, the cap form stopper with an unglazed wand. While the decoration recalls eighteenth century export wares the paste of the foot and the style of painting indicates a rather later dating here, probably to the beginning of the twentieth century. But the design is attractive and deserves its artist’s signature, which cannot be identified, and the piece has survived in excellent condition.
Vintage Chinese Cloisonne Bead Necklace, mid C20th
Price: £75
Cloisonne enamelling, a technique in which glass derived enamels are set on a metal ground and separated with fine wire divisions (the ‘cloisons’), is normally associated with solid forms such as vases and dishes but is employed here to create a series of thirty six similarly sized multicoloured beads in which irregularly shaped green, pink and red panels are separated by fine gold wire and laid on a gilt metal ground. These are linked with knotted cord and joined at the end by a gilt metal clasp and hook with embossed decoration of birds on a branch. The skill of the craftsmanship is obvious and produces a piece of decorative opulence. The work is Chinese and similar pieces are dated to the 1960s which seems reasonable here.
Georgian silver and coque de perle brooch c1830
Price: £95
This is a wonderful good sized silver brooch set with a large coque de perle surrounded by vivid pink paste stones. It is marked 800 which indicates it is continental or European which was common in the Georgian era.
Ceramic and Bronze figure of a Blue Tit, Albany Worcester, late C20th
Price: £55
A superbly modelled polychrome ceramic figure of a Blue Tit hanging from a gnarled twig well worked in bronze, the base stamped 'Albany England'. Albany Worcester was launched in 1973 by David Palmer, Bill Nichols & David Lovegrove, who all previously worked at the Royal Worcester Porcelain factory. Their pieces, distinguished for their quality and detail, rapidly became popular and Harrods and the Queen's jeweller Asprey became customers. Sales grew to be global and some of their china and bronze pieces were even reputed to have been bought as wedding presents for the Prince and Princess of Wales. But the firm, which had just two full-time employees at the end, started to decline in the late 1980s and sales figures fell even further when the factory, which was then based in Lowesmoor, suffered a serious fire in 1995. There was something of a revival after this but fashions had changed and it proved to be short lived with the company closing in 2005. This piece is truly a sculpture in miniature and well deserves the protective dome in which it now stands. A reminiscence of a past era, perhaps, but surely deserving of a place in a contemporary interior.
Art Glass Vase probably designed by Joanna Jellinek for IKEA, Swedish early C21st
Price: £35
An art glass vase of ovoid form, the encased white glass body with a ‘sommerso’ base, blue streaks dripping from the top and scattered irregularly shaped ovoid black ‘pebbles’. Similar designs can be found on pieces from Orrefors, Sweden, Tarnowiec, Poland and Italla, Finland, as well as from some of the Italian glasswork studios. But the closest parallel is with vases designed for Ikea around twenty five years ago by Joanna Jellinek who joined the firm in 2002. These striking designs are collectors’ items now and this is a particularly attractive example.
Cruet set in the form of three Friar Tuck Monks on a Tray, Hummel, West Germany, 1960s
Price: £55
The portly figures of ‘Friar Tuck’ Monks seen here are perhaps rather appropriate for a set intended for the serving of condiments : salt, pepper and mustard. The three similar figures are amusingly modelled with benign expressions, the smaller ones pierced at the top for salt and pepper with plastic stoppers underneath and the larger in two parts, here complete with the original spoon. This set comes from the ‘Hummel’ range produced by the German ceramic manufacturers Goebel. Founded in 1871, the company began to enjoy enormous popularity in the 1930s when Franz Goebel, grandson of the founder, began an association with a Benedictine nun Berta Hummel who later took the name sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. Hummel had produced a range of postcard drawings of figures which Franz Goebel realised he could turn into porcelain figurines. Production started in 1935 and was immediately successful. Sister Hummel died in 1947 but the association with her covent continued and figures in her distinctive style were produced for many years thereafter. Dating is established by the format of the mark, which went through many variations. Here we see a ‘V’ with a bee within at the top and the wording W.Germany. The German word ‘hummel’ means ‘bee’ and the ‘V’ stands for ‘Verkaufsgesellschat’ or ‘Distribution Company’. This bee has sharp angular wings set parallel to the tips of the ‘V’ which was the format used between 1960 and 1972. In addition all ‘Hummel’ pieces were marked with the model number which can be seen clearly here on the base of the mustard pot, ‘S 183’. For some, the Hummel figurine might be an acquired taste but few can fail to admire the whimsy here and this set would add spice, so to speak, any dinner table conversation.
Victorian Grand Tour Wedding Cake glass necklace
Price: £125
These glass beads are very unusual due to their age and condition. It is a perfectly graduated set of 25 beads with original brass findings. These beads are gold in colour decorated with detailed floral and scroll work. The stations are interspersed with amber glass spacer beads.
Art Deco Scottish moss agate ring
Price: £35
This is a very striking ring that is mounted with a very unusual Scottish agate stone that has both red and green inclusions. Mounted in an architectural Art Deco setting. Marked 925
Mintons Coronation Plate, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth 1937, boxed
Price: £25
This was a rather deluxe souvenir amongst the many produced to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on May 12th 1937. It was made by the famous porcelain manufacturers Mintons, who specialised in high quality pieces, particularly dinner services. The plate shows many distinctive features of their work with fine quality enamelling and gilding (see images 5 and 4). Marked with an inscription on the reverse beneath the Mintons trademark, this plate was number ‘89’ of a limited edition of 1000. It comes complete with its original presentation box which unusually has the coat of arms of Oman (see image 10) stamped in gilt on the underside of the lid implying that it might have been a gift to the Omani royal family at the time.
Pewter and brass box and cover in the form of a Mallard Duck, Gatco, Hong Kong, 1960s
Price: £25
This is a novelty box and cover, possibly for pills or more likely trinkets made from pewter and brass in the form of a mallard duck. The details are simply but amusingly modelled with an effective contrast of the two metals used. The base, in common with other examples of this model, has an engraved mark comprising a reversed ‘3’ below an ‘8’. Other examples carry a gold ground paper label which reads ‘Made in Hong Kong’ and this is sometimes found elsewhere on brass items which also have a label for the firm ‘Gatco’, implying that this was the manufacturer here (see image 11). These amusing boxes were made in Hong Kong in the 1960s and retain their charm today.
Chinese Crackleware Ginger Jar decorated with Warriors circa 1900
Price: £25
A Chinese Crackle glaze Ginger Jar of typical rounded ovoid form with a short neck, the beige ground with a feint and minute craquelure glaze and decorated in polychrome enamels with a continuous scene of a warrior on horseback with attendants, the shoulder and base with incised matt brown glaze bands intended to imitate bronze, the base with an apocryphal four character mark within a brown glaze square. Paste of the foot and style of decoration, in particular the rather coarsely decorated ‘bronze’ bands, suggest a circa date at the beginning of the twentieth century.
'Crackleware' glazed pieces, usually with 'bronzed’ bands, were a staple output of the Chinese potteries from the mid nineteenth century onwards and were produced in a wide variety of mainly vase shape forms, both in polychrome and blue and white and intended as decorative pieces for the Victorian rooms of the West. As with other ceramic types, the quality deteriorated and this piece is typical of the late productions with a more modest level of craftsmanship but still retaining a naif charm. As with many ginger jars, this one lacks its original domed cover which would have been decorated to match.
Egyptian cuff bracelet c1970
Price: £65
This is a very detailed Egyptian silver cuff bracelet that depicts many of the Egyptian hieroglyphic symbols such as the Anke, Scarab, Cartouche and Pyramid. These symbols are raised with the background being oxidized. It is unmarked, although Egyptian hallmarks can be very small and well hidden. It tests as silver.
Mexican silver dolphin bracelet, c1980
Price: £55
This is a lovely bracelet that depicts dolphins frolicking. It is quite a heavy bracelet that has an intergrated clasp. It is made in Mexico although it does not appear to be made by a Taxco silver maker. The mark is partly illegible to it is difficult to pin down. It is marked 925.
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.
Three Chinese Canton Enamel Dishes, Nineteenth Century
Price: £45
Three Chinese Canton Enamel Dishes, all with very similar designs with a central lotus flower in famille rose enamels on a coloured enamel ground (green, turquoise and pink respectively) with lotus flowers and stylised scrolling foliage, the edges with repeating ju'i form lappets, the rims bound in copper and a copper foot to the base, the undersides in off white enamel. The style of decoration suggests a nineteenth rather than eighteenth century date of manufacture (compare the dish in the following lot 7) but the quality is good and while not a set as such the three pieces complement one another well.
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.
Egyptian table decoration depicting a Pharoah and Attendant, c1940
Price: £45
This is a Egyptian souvenir table decoration depicting aPharoah and attendant. The sun is radiating down to indicate his divine rule. It is made from bovine buffalo bone, a material commonly used for Egyptian decorative objects.
Unusual pear shape art glass vase, possibly Scandinavian, C20th
Price: £25
An unusual art glass vase of a broad pear shape, the very narrow neck with ridged rounded decoration matching the top rim, the interior with an abstract leaf shape object at the base, the glass cloudy and with small flecks. There are no clear parallels for this piece, although it loosely resembles designs by Ingeborg Lundin for Orrefors, Sweden, (see image 9) which perhaps suggests a Scandinavian origin although this is far from certain. Elements of the decoration are clearly organic but the precise function of this vase remains something of a mystery.
Chinese Cantonese style Vase decorated butterflies, late C20th
Price: £150
This is a vase of typical Chinese nineteenth century baluster form with a broad ovoid body narrowing to a near cylindrical neck which flares out towards the galleried rim at the top; each side has two applied and modelled confronting fo dogs. The decoration employs the ‘Famille Rose’ palette with vividly represented flying butterflies amidst flowering peony and lotus; the kylins are finished in iron red and the galleried rim has a band of repeating key pattern. All of this points to the nineteenth century but the brushwork and general appearance of the deccoration indicate a much later date of manufacture, probably late C20th, and the finish of the foot, with its ‘baked in’ imitation dirt, is wholly consistent with this. The fo dogs too are much more sketchily modelled than their older counterparts. But this is a pastiche with great charm and much above the average quality of late C20th work. Even when making copies, the Chinese could sometimes try quite hard!
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.
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.
Amber statement necklace with round drops c1960
Price: £50
This is a really fun necklace comprising stations of large flat amber round beads that are honey coloured. They are strung as stations on brass fittings.
Art Deco glass bead necklace
Price: £20
This is a simple and elegant necklace comprising clear and green glass beads
Unusual 1950s puka shell and coral necklace
Price: £20
This is a beautiful necklace comprising numerous graduating polished puka shell stations interspersed with coral beads.
Pair of reticulated edge floral decorated Dishes, Schumann Bavaria, Germany 1920s
Price: £45
A pair of porcelain dishes of oval form with reticulated or openwork borders and handles to each end, delicately decorated with polychrome floral sprays and the edges gilt, the reverse with a blue printed mark ‘BAVARIA’ above a heraldic shield with a lion and ‘SCHUMANN’ below. This factory was founded in 1881 by Christian Heinrich Schumann and a businessman Franz Ferdinand Riess. Named ‘Porzellanfabrik Schumann & Riess’ it was located in Arzberg, Bavaria, Germany. Christian Schumann died in 1884 and the firm was then run by three further generations of the Schumann family until it was sold in 1990 after which production ceased four years later. The format of the mark here indicates a dating between 1918 and 1929. The quality of both the porcelain and its decoration speaks for itself and Schumann’s productions were more than a match for those of its more famous contemporary competitors.
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.
Pair of Brass Wall Plaques of Jousting Knights, Peerage Brass, mid C20th
Price: £45
This is a decorative pair of wall plaques with two brass jousting knights on horseback in mirror image on a black background with a simulated wood grain effect. The decoration is in cast metal and the square metal sheet continues to the back where it is folded over at the edges on top of the hardboard backing. While there are no markings beyond ‘Made in England’ on the hanging loops, these pieces were, in fact manufactured by ‘Peerage Brass’ who produced many quality brass decorative items from 1946 onwards. There is one group where they are joined by a larger rectangular plaque with similar mediaeval inspired decoration and which has a label reading “Peerage” ‘Brassware at its Best’ ‘Regd’ ‘Needs no Cleaning’ ‘England’ (see image 7). Peerage Brass was the successor to ‘Pearson-Page’, manufacturers of high quality brass and copper reproductions who enjoyed considerable commercial success before the Second World War. The trade name ‘Peerage’ was first adopted in 1946 and this pair of plaques would have been produced in the years thereafter.
Pair of Japanese Arita small Dishes circa 1880
Price: £40
A pair of small dishes of typical shallow saucer form decorated in underglaze blue with polychrome enamels, the centre with a roundel of a chrysanthemum flower with black petals which is surrounded by four irregularly shaped panels, two also with chrysanthemum and two with trailing willow, all with black leaves, alternating with abstract organic designs incorporating ‘ju’i’ lappets, the reverse plain with two concentric circles in underglaze blue next to the foot rim.
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 with slightly coarser decoration than usual were probably made for the domestic market. The paste of the foot implies a dating to the Meiji era (1868 - 1912) probably around 1880.
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.
Two Ceramic Jugs with Erotic Decoration, continental perhaps German, circa 1900
Price: £25
Two ceramic jugs, the first of near globular form with a narrow concave neck and a flaring rim with a simple loop handle to the shoulder, blue glazed with a biscuit design to the reverse of a cherub kissing a man, the unglazed base with incised numbers '186 [??] 2' and the second of a slender ovoid urn shape with a wavy edge rim and a modelled loop handle to the shoulder, green glazed with traces of gilding, much worn off, and with a biscuit design to the reverse of a man seated with something in his hand which could be interpreted as a flower or just possibly the male member.
These pieces represent something of a puzzle. Seen the right way round (with the handle on the right) they are plain and the decoration only reveals itself on the reverse. This suggests a playful intent to conceal which, when combined with the subject matter, suggests something a bit ‘naughty’ which could confirm the second interpretation of what the seated man is holding! The paste, and general style of the pieces, looks continental and a German origin might be a good guess, but no more than that. The blue glazed jug has an impressed mark to the base ‘186 [plus an unidentifiable number]’ which might be the date but is more likely the pattern number; a dating of around 1900 for both seems reasonable - certainly there is an ‘old’ look to the pieces. There are one or two similar examples but little in the way of firm information. One for a collector to puzzle out!
Royal Doulton bottle form Vase decorated with flowering lotus, early 20th Century
Price: £75
A Doulton Vase of bottle form the compressed globular body with a short shaped flaring foot, the slender neck slightly tapering towards the top flaring rim, the moulded decoration comprising four lotus flowers on a dark blue ground, the neck glazed in mottled aubergine and the top interior with a matching blue glaze. The unglazed base in biscuit brown and with a stamped mark reading 'Royal Doulton England' below a crown and a lion, an impressed pattern number 8054 and with stamped initials 'h' 'd' for the artist E Violet Hayward and a scratch mark.
The Doulton pottery originally had its first factory in Lambeth, London. Set up in 1815 by John Doulton, who is rumoured to have spent his life savings of £100 in starting the business, the firm concentrated on making pipes and utilitarian works. But in the 1880s the Company moved to Staffordshire and began making fine bone china tableware and decorative items. The pottery was located in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent and has manufactured high quality ceramics and porcelains ever since, receiving a Royal Warrant in 1901.
This piece is typical of the glazed pottery pieces made in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A muted palette of colours was used and a variety of forms created with many artists taking a hand in the decoration. Most of the pieces are signed, as here. The pattern number indicates a date after 1894, but the Royal Warrant mark means a dating in the early 1900s. Perhaps a timing in the Edwardian era (1901-1910) is the most likely.
This vase is an excellent example of the creative designs which Doulton produced. As often, there is a slight Oriental influence but the style and design are unmistakeable.
Daum Crystal Glass Swallowtail Bowl, signed Daum-France circa 1960
Price: £150
A fine quality crystal glass bowl manufactured by Daum in the 'Swallowtail' form with a typical elongated design rising at each end from a narrow hollowed out base and terminating in a stylised beak at one end and a stylised double edged tail at the other, the abstract form intending to represent the bird.
Vases in this form were produced by the well known French maker Daum in the 1950s and the 1960s. The sizes and designs can vary with some examples measuring up to two feet and intended as table ornaments. This piece is rather smaller and perhaps more elegant. The crystal glass is of extremely high quality and reflects the light in a very attractive way. The weight is good and the glass itself is thickly blown and expertly formed, The flat base shows signs of bevelled edging at the exterior and one of the sides bears the typical etched Daum mark with 'Daum' and 'France' separated by a device comprising an upright line with two crosses.
The more petite size and the quality of the manufacture and design make this a most appealing example of Daum's work at its best. Dating can be assumed to be around 1960 if not slightly before. A desirable piece indeed for collectors of twentieth century art glass.
Taxco suite of necklace and earrings, malachite and onyx stations, 1990s
Price: £250
This is a quite rare suite of necklace and earrings that come from the Taxco region of Mexico. Both comprise stations of malachite and onyx that go all the way around each piece. The stations are each individually hinged which gives these pieces a fluidity and quality that only comes from the Taxco workshops. Both have the typical box clasp and are marked 'TN-57' 'Mexico' '925'. The TN number indicates the workshop although there is no definitive list regarding the numbers attached and an exact provenance cannot be determined.
Figure of a Seated Huntsman, Zsolnay Pecs, 1970s
Price: £55
This is a finely modelled porcelain figure of a seated huntsman, dressed in flowing white robes, black boots and a grey hat with a colourful cloak at his back, he holds a flute in his hand while beside him is his stick and an accompanying dog looking expectantly at his master. The base is glazed with two concentric oval foot rims, within the smaller of which can be seen a slightly indistinct stamped mark, a green urn like shape with the lettering ‘PECS’ ‘6’, alongside a green script signature.
The mark is for the well known ceramics manufacturer Zsolnay, based in Pecs, Hungary. Founded by Miklos Zsolnay in 1853, the firm gained a worldwide reputation in the late nineteenth century exhibiting at international fairs and exhibitions. Production declined after the first world war and the factory was bombed during the second. Revived under communism in 1948, the firm started to produce utilitarian pieces under the name ‘Pécs Porcelain Factory’ but gradually their traditional wares were revived and the Zsolnay name was restored in 1982.
This figure is one of the products of Zsolnay’s late renaissance but dating to the 1970s, as indicated by the form of the mark, it still carries only the Pecs brand name. But the quality typical of Zsolnay is emphatically there with fine quality porcelain and careful modelling and decoration all combining to produce a most decorative and attractive composition.
Coral, amethyst and lapis earrings c1990
Price: £65
These are a striking pair of earrings that have a lot of detail. There are large cabachons of coral with pear shaped amethysts and small lapis cabochons. This is set in a leaves and foliage deisgn. They are marked 925. They appear to be Indian in origin. The coral is most likely colour enhanced to give it that vivid colour.
Chinese Mandarin Pattern Spoon Tray, Qianlong period circa 1760
Price: £280
A Chinese Spoon Tray of typical form with lobed hexagonal sides and a flat unglazed base, decorated in 'famille rose' enamels to the centre with a court figure scene depicting a male courtier sitting on a low table surrounded by ladies and a child (the term 'mandarin' derives from the name of the male court officials who are so often seen in the scenes decorated in this style), the border with small vignette panels in puce and orange enamel depicting landscape scenes and flowers on a gilt stylised floral ground, the exterior plain.
This piece comes from an original tea service which would have comprised a wide variety of objects decorated in the same pattern to include a teapot, cover and stand, a caddy and cover, a sugar bowl, a cream jug and cover, bowls and saucers and so forth. The form can be seen (along with a matching teapot stand) at Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain pl 149. Dating is to the middle of the Qianlong period (1736-1795) around 1760. The quality of the decoration speaks for itself and this piece has survived intact with very little wear to the decoration.
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.
Wave shape glass Vase, probably Murano, second half C20th
Price: £95
This is a dramatically modelled sculptural vase representing a cresting wave, the variegated blue glass with minute bubbles imitating water and blending into clear glass imitating the foam atop. It stands on an irregularly circular base, similarly finished. There are similar wave shape glass sculptures made by British artists such as Alison Vincent or David Wight but this piece resembles more closely the marine inspired designs made at Murano, Italy, in the later part of the twentieth century, some of which are attributed to Cristiano Toso. The maker here must remain anonymous but has created a dynamic piece which successfully recreates the sense of an ocean swell.
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.
1950s Regency style needlepoint kit bag
Price: £75
This is a lovely needlepoint bag with a floral motif on a cream coloured ground. It has gold hardware in the Regency style and a chain handle. It is lined with taffeta and is in immaculate condition. These bags were quite popular in the 1950s as they were a kit. The purchaser would do the embroidery work at home and then send it off to the manufacturer and they would make the bag. These bags are now becoming quite difficult to find and this is an excellent example of the type.
Pair of Navajo Kingman turquiose earrings, signed, 1970s
Price: £65
This pair of earrings boasts 10 large cabachons of Kingman turquoise. The Kingman mine located in Arizona, is the last commercial turquoise mine in the US. It is known for its intense colour and unique matrix. These earring where produced by a Navajo silver maker. They are signed MJ which indicates the specific workshop. Marked Sterling for 925 silver.
Pewter and brass box and cover in the form of a Mallard Duck, Gatco, Hong Kong, 1960s
Price: £25
This is a novelty box and cover, possibly for pills or more likely trinkets made from pewter and brass in the form of a mallard duck. The details are simply but amusingly modelled with an effective contrast of the two metals used. The base, in common with other examples of this model, has an engraved mark comprising a reversed ‘3’ below an ‘8’. Other examples carry a gold ground paper label which reads ‘Made in Hong Kong’ and this is sometimes found elsewhere on brass items which also have a label for the firm ‘Gatco’, implying that this was the manufacturer here (see image 11). These amusing boxes were made in Hong Kong in the 1960s and retain their charm today.
Aesthetic Movement locket on chain c1880
Price: £125
This is an amazing locket that is a perfect example of the Aesthetic Movement in Britian. This was aligned with Arts and Crafts but the Aesthetic designs featured classical and Japanese designs that were considered more opulent and elegant than the over the top designs of the Victorian period. It was a response to the mass consumerism that was taking over Britian during this time. This locket is marked with full English marks. It is paired with a belcher chain of a similar age.
Stunning rope and tassel necklace, signed, c1990
Price: £45
This is a very striking necklace with twisted rope motif ending in two large tassel drops. It has a signature monogram that we cannot seem to find so perhaps you will know! :) This might be quite a find.
Long Art Nouveau necklace with multiple drops c1930
Price: £75
This is a very elegant long necklace that has central pendant suspended from a web of glass beads with two corresponding plaques on the sides. It has brass and glass elements with no clasp as it is an over the head design.
Art Deco style Vase signed E.Radford, mid C20th
Price: £75
A ceramic vase with a bulbous body rising to a broad straight neck with a slightly flaring rim, the ground in a cream colour glaze with a light craquelure overpainted with a ‘streamer’ pattern with brown, yellow and green streaks, the interior glazed brown and the base with a printed script mark ‘E.Radford’ ‘England’ ‘Hand painted’ and the impressed numbers ‘1266’.
There were, in fact, two craftsmen working in the C20th British pottery industry with the name Edward Radford, father and son. Radford senior worked for Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian Pottery in Manchester from 1903 until his retirement in 1936, acting as their main thrower. Radford junior joined his Father in 1905, but the First World War intervened, in which he won a Military Cross for his actions at Passchendaele in 1917 and afterwards he settled in Stoke on Trent, the heart of Britain’s pottery industry. An association developed with H.J.Wood’s Alexandra Pottery in Burslem who produced a range of wares bearing his name in the 1930s, although Radford himself may have acted as more a salesman than the designer. Production continued after the war and even after Radford’s retirement in 1948. The form of mark used here implies the later dating but may have been used earlier. The impressed figures indicate model number. Even if this vase is post war, the style is emphatically that of pre war Art Deco period with the simple lines of the form accompanied by semi abstract decoration vaguely reminiscent of Clarice Cliff combining to produce a piece of timeless attraction.
Stunning suite of necklace and bracelet by Hobe 1950s,
Price: £350
This is a beautiful set of necklace and earrings be Hobe, one of the most collected makers around. It comprised a large statement necklace with three strands of large glass bead stations in amber and black glass with gold tone fittings. One of the most striking parts of both the necklace and bracelet is the corresponding clasp on each that is a large black stone surrounded by the amber glass stones that perfectly complement the piece. This also means that it can be work with hair up or hair that is in a shorter style. The bracelet has the same elements as the necklace. Both are marked Hobe. It is worth noting that these are in pristine condition which makes them all the more rare. All the findings are original.
Hobe was founded in 1887 by the French goldsmith Jacques Hobe as makers of fine jewellery. The costume jewellery division, Hobe Cie, was added 40 years later by his son, William Hobe, who brought the firm to America in 1927 and was commissioned by Flo Ziegfeld to design and manufacture jewellery for his Ziegfeld Follies costumes. By repute this is the origin of the expression costume jewellery. Production continued from the 1930s to the 1990s and the form of mark here suggests a more later dating within their range.
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.
Chinese cloisonné hinged Bangle, C20th
Price: £45
A Chinese cloisonné bangle of typical circular form when closed, hinged to allow it to open and revealing the clasp opposite, the decoration in the cloisonné technique of polychrome glass derived enamels set in wire outlines (the so called ‘cloisons’ from the French word), the brick red ground set with stylised floral plum blossom sprays in enamels and clouds in a wire design. The style of work here suggests an early twentieth century dating and the hinged clasp was doubtless intended to assist the wearer as it could still do today.
Georgian small wood Spice Cabinet with six drawers, early C19th
Price: £75
A small mahogany wood cabinet, the front door with globular bead detail and hinged to the right opening to reveal five drawers, four smaller and one larger. Cabinets such as these, which are always hinged to the right are often described as spice cabinets but could also have been used as an apothecary case or even for storing tea. The accessories on this cabinet appear to be original and the format of the front handle and the rectangular beaded frame suggest late Georgian rather than Victorian workmanship and other similar cabinets are dated to that period or even before, making this a safe assumption here. The size of this piece is both charming and practical and it survives in excellent condition with just a few scratches to the sides making it an interesting addition to a collection of early nineteenth century furniture.
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.
Celtic Style Pewter Brooch in the form of a Panthers Head, C20th
Price: £10
A pewter brooch in the form of a Panther's head, the mouth holding a horseshoe like ring inset with diamante stones, the design in a Celtic style and perhaps intended to represent a door knocker. There are no markings to this piece and its origin and dating are difficult to determine. Perhaps it can be seen to relate to Arts and Crafts pieces of the early C20th and manufacture in the South West of England (compare the Celtic Style brooch, Lot 13 in this sale) is perhaps a possibility.
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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.
Rectangular Footed Green Onyx Box and Cover, G.S.E. Ottone Garantito, 1960s
Price: £45
A box and cover of rectangular form constructed from joined sections of light green veined onyx, the base and lid gilt metal mounted with four small claw feet, markings on the bottom and side ‘G.S.E. Ottone Garantito’ (‘guaranteed brass’). 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. The mark confirms an Italian origin and a mid twentieth century dating seems likely.
A green glass paperweight, Tweedsmuir Glass, Chris Dodds, late C20th
Price: £25
A green glass paperweight, stoutly blown with a clear glass bubble above a green rock like formation with small bubbles perhaps intended to represent some form of marine surface, of round shallow form, a paper label to the base reading 'Tweedsmuir Glass' 'Handmade in Scotland' with a printed signature 'Chris Dodds'. Tweedsmuir is a village in the Scottish borders and Chris Doddds set up a factory there in 1993. Before that time he worked for Selkirk Glass and afterwards at Heron Glass in Cumbria. By 2008 he was reported to be in poor health and not working any more. He seems to have concentrated on pieces with a naturalistic style, as here. This paperweight is heavy and therefore practical; it also handles well.
It is sold with a matching contemporary illuminated stand which enhance the decorative effect considerably and provides a modest light display installation for the home (see image 6).
A set of three Millefiori Glass Paperweights, possibly Italian Murano, late C20th
Price: £75
A set of three glass paperweights of rounded dome form decorated with a multitude of closely packed flower heads in yellow and red on a dark green ground in the 'millefiori' or 'thousand flower' pattern, the all over design extending right to the base which is slightly concave with traces of the blowing technique. While similar to pieces made by the Murano Glass factory in Italy a clear provenance for these examples cannot be securely given. Dating is probably towards the end of the twentieth century but this does not diminish the decorative appeal. The decoration on each is very similar but not absolutely identical which reflects the hand blowing techniques.
This set is sold with matching contemporary illuminated stands which enhance the decorative effect considerably and provide a modest light display installation for the home (see illustrations 5 and 6).
Taxco Mayan Sundial earrings, c1980
Price: £25
This is a lovely and delicate pair of stud earrings that depict a Mayan sundial, They are marked Mexico 925.
Pair of fine quality Japanese Bronze Vases decorated birds, circa 1880
Price: £220
A pair of Japanese bronze vases of angular baluster form with stepped bases, a concave neck and a stepped flaring rim, the necks with applied cast handles in the form of cranes and the front and reverse with raised cast decoration of birds amidst plants and flowers. Vases in bronze, usually with applied cast decoration and elaborate handles, were a staple production of Japanese metalware manufacturers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, essentially for export to the West. Some of the pieces attained nearly art studio status but many were fairly routine and some rather hastily produced with poor materials. These vases are well above average with good quality bronze in an attractive patina cast in an imaginative and pleasing shape. The applied decoration is well defined with good detailing and the ornate handles effectively offset the clean lines of the shape. Attractive ornaments in their time this pair of vases would be an elegant enhancement for a contemporary interior.
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 Needlepoint Picture of a lady dressed in a crinoline, framed, probably 1930s
Price: £25
Like the previous lot this embroidery picture employs 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 (2), (3) and (4). We have another garden composition, this time a lady dressed in a crinoline gathering flowers and standing on a paved terrace (note the weeds between the paving stones!) with roses and hollyhocks. There are other similar examples of this scene which are thought to be from the prewar era and the slight foxing of the canvas and the form of the frame itself are consistent with this.
Stumpwork embroidery picture of a Young Couple dancing, C20th
Price: £25
An embroidery panel of a young couple dancing in a stylised garden scene. Each wears European, possibly Swiss, dress, the young man with a short sleeved embroidered jacket and a broad brimmed hat, the young lady with flowing skirts and a bonnet tied with a blue ribbon. Some of the work is heavily stitched to produce a ‘3D’ effect, notably the bonnet ribbons and the plant leaves, which is a feature of the so called ‘stumpwork’ technique, found elsewhere on a floral panel in this auction. The general style is slightly abstract and has very much a mid century feel suggesting a dating to the 1950s and the frame could well be contemporary with this. The result is a decorative composition of great charm.
Lapis and Lemon quartz torque necklace, modern
Price: £95
This is a very sleek necklace with a geometric pendant on a torque necklace. The pendant has a half moon shaped Lapis Lazuli stone and a fancy cut five sided lemon quartz stone. This is a very elegant and balanced piece. Both pendant and necklace are marked 925.
Art Deco style Amber Glass Rocket Vase, probably Czech Rosice 1930s
Price: £45
An Amber Glass Vase of fluted form, the slender body flaring from the base to form a wide shaped rim and supported by three modelled feet resembling rocket fins. The style of this vase is obvious and it seems to have been made during the period whose ethos it matches. The manufacturing technique is that of pressed glass in which molten glass was pressed into a mould with a plunger and many factories were producing similar pieces from the 1920s to the 1940s. These rocket form vases are generally held to be Czech and made during the 1930s. They resemble pieces made by the 'Rosice' factory which started production in 1920 and continued under various owners, with occasional periods of closure, until 1996. A 'heyday' period was under the proprietorship of Vaclav Hrdina from 1928 to 1931 and Hrdina was known to have promoted the manufacture of pressed glass pieces of which this design is likely to have been one. The colour is excellent and the quality of work perhaps superior to some of the pieces being made in England at that time.
Unique 40 strand micro coral bead necklace, India 1910
Price: £150
This is a totally unique necklace comprising forty strands of perfectly worked coral beads to create a dense bib effect. It has a clasp that is a hammered Edward VII British India copper coin that dates from circa 1910. This necklace ends in woven panels.
Taxco Silver and Copper Bracelet, c1940
Price: £55
This is a striking bracelet comprising Mexican or Mayan iconographic designs in silver and copper work surrounded by crushed turquoise, lapis and other stones and with Greek Key pattern borders. It is marked 'Hecho en Mexico', '925', and with an Eagle stamp '3' and an illegible maker's mark.
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!
Art Deco lapis and marcasite earrings c1930
Price: £65
These are a pair of pure Art Deco earrings. They are very architectural like a skyscraper. They feature silver set with marcasite and large lapis stones. They are marked A935.
Studio Pottery Bowl with Yukishino style glaze, signed M Lazenbury, C20th
Price: £35
A studio pottery circular bowl, the walls incurving towards the top and base, the exterior glazed in cream with comb line markings with highlights in grisaille and brown splash glazes, the interior predominantly glazed in brown and the base unglazed, showing the stoneware body with pronounced potting rings within the foot and an incised signature ‘M.Lazenbury’. For the time being the potter of this piece can only be identified by the name inscribed but he or she was clearly an accomplished artist since the pleasing form combined with glaze effects which take after Japanese ‘Yukishino’ wares in which a natural, soft white or cream-colored glaze is combined with, earthy brown and green speckles and tones. The splash glaze effects are an addition to this but are fully in the tradition of the work of other rather better known artists making this bowl a pleasing addition to a collection of studio ceramics which reflect Japanese taste.
Chinese Plate No 9 from the series Beauties of the Red Mansion, Jingdezhen, 1988
Price: £35
This is the ninth plate from the series ‘Beauties of the Red Mansion’ comprising twelve plates in all, produced by ‘Imperial Jingdezhen Porcelain’ and titled ‘Beauties of the Red Mansion’. The plates were designed by the master artisan Zhao Huimin and depict characters from the famous Chinese romance novel ‘The Dream of the Red Chamber’ or ‘The Story of the Stone’ written by Cao Xueqin during the Qing Dynasty. Each plate depicts one of the court lady characters which appear in the work (Pao-chai, Yuan-chun, Hsi-feng, Hsi-chun, Mao-yu, Ying-chun, Tai-yu, Li-wan, Ko-ching, Hsiang-yun, Tan-chun, Chiao-chieh), all renowned not only for their physical beauty but also for their complex personalities and roles in the narrative of the novel. The ninth plate depicts Ko-Ching, the wife of a cousin of Pao-Yu, the hero of the novel, and much loved both by him and his Mother. Unfortunately, she becomes ill and dies, much mourned by her family. The plate has an elaborate inscription on the back along with the factory name and the date of production, 1988. While the work is detailed it is not hand done but seems to have been produced by some form of printing process. The ‘micro dot’ detail of this can be seen in some of the images. The plate comes with its original box and descriptive leaflet which gives extensive background detail and a translation of the inscription on the reverse. These are not always found, making this an interesting collector’s item.
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.
An Arts and Crafts small Brass Tray, English early twentieth century
Price: £95
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: £95
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
Globular art glass Vase with trailing swirls, signed and dated 1994
Price: £45
An art glass vase of compressed globular form with a short concave neck and a flaring flat rim, the base flat with a pontil mark to the centre and an etched signature, perhaps to be read as ‘St Cl’, with the date ‘1994’, the clear glass body decorated in greys, blues and browns with trailing swirls and dashes and dots, perhaps intended to represent stylised fish and pebbles in flowing water. There is clearly considerable skill in the manufacture of this piece which was hand blown as indicated by the pontil mark underneath but the signature is unclear and the work without an exact parallel.
Indian silver plate Cheroot Case, engraved scenes Taj Mahal, early C20th
Price: £35
A silver plated slender rectangular case, hinged to one side with a small clasp fitting opposite, which opens to reveal two shallow tray compartments with cloth ‘retainers’, the lid and base both engraved with elaborate near identical designs, a roundel depicting the Taj Mahal to the centre flanked by two confronting peacocks on an intricate stylised floral ground, the scene enclosed within a geometric pattern and foliate border. The work here is typical of that produced by Indian metalworkers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries intended both for the home colonial and the export market. The quality of their craftsmanship stands out and they have chosen here a ‘classic’ design with India’s most famous building accompanied by two peacocks who are doubtless intended to recall the famous ‘Peacock Throne’ which was commissioned in 1628 by Shah Jahan before the Taj Mahal itself in 1632, but which reputedly cost twice as much. Peacocks are also to be seen in the gardens of the Taj Mahal and the two are often represented together in Indian art. The length of this case suggests that it was intended for the Cheroot, a form of Indian cigar, which was much longer than a standard cigarette. Probably, then, this particular item was made with the home market in mind but it can certainly enjoy a wider appeal today.
Art Deco Guilloché Copper Ash Tray and matching Cigarette Holder, boxed, c1930
Price: £35
This matching set comes from an era when the cigarette was seen as an elegant accessory rather than a danger to health. The ash tray and the end of the cigarette holder are made from copper, burnished to two contrasting colours in respect of the tray, decorated in the guilloché technique whereby precise and intricate patterns are engraved onto the surface using a machine. Here a wavy line design was applied to the centre of the tray and the end of the cigarette holder and contrasted with stylised floral sprays at the border created by the repoussé technique in which the metal was hammered from the reverse to create a design in low relief. The mouthpiece of the cigarette holder, formed from celluloid, is deliberately plain. The set comes in an original blue leather fitted box and the combination here is found much less often than the ash trays themselves.
Murano bullicante glass swan dish, second half C20th
Price: £25
A glass dish in the form of a stylised swan, the heart shape body hollowed out in the centre, the two ‘wings’ with a small lip opening at the rear, the front with a clear glass curved neck and head, a black streak to the interior and the crest and beak modelled, the almost circular base flat, the deep purple glass with trapped bubbles in the ‘bullicante’ effect. ‘Bullicante’ is the Italian word for ‘boiling’ and the process for creating small bubbles encased in the glass surface so named was developed and perfected at Murano during the 1930’s by Archimede Seguso. But its use continued and this swan dish, which bears all the hallmarks of Murano work, probably dates to the 1960s or 1970s. Most likely intended as a trinket dish or possibly an ash tray, it can also be enjoyed as miniature sculpture in itself.
Ewenny Pottery Beaker, signed, late C20th
Price: £25
A studio pottery beaker of broad flaring form with a stepped base, channelled at the top, the interior glazed with pronounced potting rings and the base also glazed with an incised script mark ‘Ewenny Pottery’, the main body coloured in mottled grey/green and the interior and base in mottled brown.
There has been a pottery at the small Welsh town of Ewenny since 1610, the area around being, at the time, a fertile source of clay. In the early 1800s Evan Jenkins married Mary, the daughter of then owner John Morgan, and this began a period of ownership by the Jenkins family which continues today, the studio and shop being run by Alun Jenkins and his daughter Caitlin, who is the eighth generation member of the business. Their mark can be seen at ‘British Studio Potters’ Marks’ by Eric Yates-Owen and Robert Fournier (2nd edition 2005 p157). Production has tended to concentrate on modest utilitarian items, hand potted and finished with the distinctive glazes for which the studio is known which involve dipping the pot in one glaze adding another with the splash technique and firing the item so that the two glazes fuse. The effects seen on this beaker are typical of their work as is also the clear evidence of hand throwing. Ewenny pieces are made and sold today, but the current catalogue does not list items exactly similar to this, so a late twentieth century dating is the most likely.
Souvenir White House Enamel Box and Cover
Price: £15
A box and cover of ovoid form, the blue enamel ground with raised cloisonne enamel style decoration depicting the White House with the US flag atop, trees to the left and right and a profusion of stars which are repeated on the base with a single star on the interior. Doubtless to be found in the White House gift shops but available here without the need for a trip to Washington!
Lovely large brooch by Thomas L Mott c1940
Price: £25
This is a large brooch with a very detailed enameled plaque depicting a Louis XV style scene of lovers in a landscape. It is signed on reverse TLM for Thomas L Mott Company, famous for their range of charm brooches made from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Georgian neck brooch c1820
Price: £85
This is a very unusual brooch meant to be warn at the neck. It comprises white metal and brass elements. It has a hanging garland that moves and then there are three chains attached. It has a typical Regency design. It has been restored so the pin and clasp are not original. Nor are the chains original although they compliment the brooch so well this most likely is an authentic restoration back to its original state.
Taxco bracelet with abalone panels c1950
Price: £85
This is an older Taxco bracelet comprising joined silver panels set with abalone stones. The stones are shaped into ovals or squares designed as Aztec masks. It is marked Hecho en Mexico, Taxco. It is not marked but is 950 silver and dates to the mid C20th.
Japanese Arita Square Dish, Cheng Hua mark, circa 1880
Price: £55
A fine quality Japanese porcelain dish of square shape with chamfered corners and a wavy edge rim, the central well slightly sunk and the sides curving slightly upwards, the reverse with an unglazed circular foot rim, decorated to the front in underglaze blue with a typical landscape scene of a rocky outcrop with pavilions next to a lake in the foreground with mountains in the background, the border with alternating swastika and stylised flower head panels, the reverse with scrolling karakusa and a four character mark to the centre reading ‘Chenghua Nian Zhi’ or ‘Made in the Chenghua period’. Pieces like this decorated in underglaze blue were made in the potteries at Arita for export to the West in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This dish is an excellent example of the type, well painted and potted, with the rather unusually shaped edge rim. The Japanese artists sometimes optimistically marked their pieces as from the Chinese Cheng Hua period (1465–1487), a modest piece of whimsy intended to deceive nobody. The paste of the foot here indicates a circa date firmly in the nineteenth century, certainly to around 1880 and perhaps slightly before.
Zoisite pendant on necklace with zoisite beads, modern
Price: £75
This is a very unique and beautiful necklace that centres around a modernist pendant that has two large ruby zoisite stones. The square stone is a true work of art that only nature can create. The pendant is strung together with zoisite roundel beads and silver beads. There is a round box clasp. It is marked 925.
Ruby Zoisite, or Anyolite, is a natural combination of green zoisite and red ruby, primarily sourced from Tanzania. This pendant is most likely from Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. This necklace has been constructed using different elements. It has recently been strung on steel wire with a new silver clasp.
An Unusual Pair of Bradawl Form Sewing Tools, probably Persian C20th
Price: £45
The indented twisting to the ‘blades’ of these pieces suggests a device for making a hole, similar to a gimlet used in woodworking. The size and delicacy of these pieces, though, suggests use with a less robust material, perhaps leather. The handles are elaborately decorated with a raised gilt metal design of bamboo with a bird on a silver metal ground with ‘punched’ decoration reminiscent of Chinese Tang Silver work. An Eastern origin is clear but it is hard to determine the exact provenance. China seems less likely but there are similarities here to Japanese, Indian and Persian work, the latter perhaps being the most likely. Probably early to mid C20th and quite possibly part of a set of sewing tools, so perhaps something for collectors in this field.
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.
Art Deco necklace with blue paste stones 1930s
Price: £45
This is a very elegant and simple necklace where the central stone is the star. It has blue glass bead stations ending in a large round pendant and briolette drop. It has a barrel clasp. The mount is gilt brass.
Liberty Dollar 1922 mounted as a pendant on necklace
Price: £35
This is a very interesting piece of ephemera that can be worn. It is a Liberty silver dollar encased in a filigree design. It has been "married" to a torque necklace so it really stands out at the neckline. You definitively won't see many of these around town! :)
Incredible Taxco collar necklace c1960
Price: £250
This is a very rare example of Taxco silver. it boasts 150 grams of silver that has been formed as a ribbon like collar ending in two modernist plaques with pebble formations. It is marked Sterling 925 Mexico
Set of five small landscape paintings attributed to Charles Boyland Turner, C20th
Price: £110
While ‘antique’ in appearance, both in respect of the frames and the style of the paintings themselves, this set of small landscape compositions most likely date to the mid to late years of the twentieth century. As the inscriptions on the backs indicate, all five display Norfolk scenes and are attributed to the artist Charles Boyland Turner. Charles Turner seems to have painted many Norfolk landscape scenes and his pictures sometimes appear at auction. The style is always similar, traditional and with a nineteenth century ‘feel’, but Charles Turner worked in acrylic rather than oil paint, a much more modern medium, and was the author of a book on the subject, ‘Painting Miniatures in Acrylics’, published in 1990 whose cover displays an image very similar to these. Accordingly, while little is known about him, his work is relatively recent which is not to say that it is without its attraction. The five scenes depicted here are extremely pleasing. Many, but not all, of his pieces are signed but these are not, perhaps because of the size, and we have to take the labelling on trust. The close similarity with signed works, though, gives little reason to doubt the attribution.
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.
