Catalog (971)

A true tour de force of the use of pastes in buttons. This fine example is of large size at 1 1/4", and features a sprig of flowers in a circlet mounted on cobalt glass. Visible beneath the glass is guillochet worked metal. The back of the button is either silver or a base metal.

In excellent condition with no issues. Any whiteness or flecks in the photo are either light reflection or dust.

Provenance: Private purchase from the Speights Button Collection.

PLEASE NOTE: We collected buttons...

A rare crusie lamp with hanger, dating from the 1st quarter of the 19th century or earlier. The bowls of these lamps were filled with fish oil or mutton fat with wicks of peeled rushes. Crusie lamps were the precursors to Betty lamps and were generally made of iron or tin. To find one made of brass, and with its original hanger, is extremely uncommon.

The condition of the lamp and hanger is quite good, with normal evidence of wear. There is a 1/2" by 3/16" piece broken out of the very end of ...

A nice Bow patty pan of tapered form with a ridged lip. Painted in a bright blue with flowers and leaves, the exterior with three twig motifs.

Excellent condition, with no problems. 3 7/8" diameter at the top, 2 3/16" at the foot. 1 5/16" in height.

A Bow porcelain creamer featuring three oriental figures. There is a small bruise on the inside of the spout, some kiln roughness to the rim, and the body has rubbing in the white undecorated areas. The height is 3".

A beautiful and very early 18th century bizarre silk fragment, from a chausable of the period. Vegetal and flower motifs in polychrome silk, silver and gold thread on a salmon ground, the entire piece mounted on cotton. Excellent overall condition, with some expected oxidation of the metallic threads. The panel itself is 28" in length, and 9 3/4" at its widest. The mounted size is 30 1/4" by 11 1/4".

Note: Bizarre silks are a style of figured silk fabrics popular in Europe in the late 17th a...

A fine transfer printed dark blue and white Staffordshire plate in the "Birds and Fruit" pattern. Attributed to John Hall & Sons, Burslem, England.

The central scene features two birds amidst a panoply of fruit, including pears, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, etc. The cavetto and wide rim has a border of flowers and foliage.

The color of this platter is a deep, clear blue, with no blurriness, and with the desired ripple glaze. Condition is excellent, with no cracks, restoration, ...

Another wonderful offering of Vauxhall porcelain, this one a tea bowl and saucer, finely potted and painted in the highly desirable "sticky blue". The scene on both pieces features a pagoda and houses in the background, with a large rock in the foreground.

The condition is excellent, looking factory fresh, with no chips, cracks, paint loss, staining, restoration, etc. Any apparent shadows, white areas, streaks, or other issues are only due to photographic flaws and are not present when vie...

A beautiful and unusually decorated porcelain teacup and saucer. This piece, made by one of the Staffordshire manufactories, features birds on the saucer and the cup interior, along with wonderfully painted morning glories, roses, and other flowers. Simply a charming item in superb condition, with no apparent wear.

A fine and unusual French lame silk shawl. Black shawls are considerably more common than the cream and silver of this example. Multicolored flowers at the corners and a silver medallion in the center combine in this striking design, which is enhanced by the silk ombre fringe on all sides.

The shawl is in excellent condition, with no holes, tears, stains, or missing fringe. There are some creases which can be removed with care. The size is 48" on all sides, with 18" fringes.

A charming petit point on silk purse, done in the tiniest of stitches, and showing a different scene on each side. On the front is a young woman feeding a chicken, the other side showing a swan in a lake with a fountain and castle in the distance. Both sides have a line of flowers surrounding the scenes, the whole against a pale gray lavender background. The gold colored frame is enhanced with interrupted sections of silver.

Displaying vibrant colors, the purse is in excellent condition, with ...

A beautiful set of three emerald green roemers with cup bowls, applied prunts of the stem, and folded feet and polished pontils. Condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks, or restoration. The height of each is 4 7/16", with a bowl diameter of 2 1/2" and a foot diameter of 3".

NOTE: The price given is for the set of 3, but each can be purchased separately.

A deep amethyst finger bowl with its matching undertray, rarely found, and in perfect condition; polished pontils

Bowl diameter, 4 1/2", bowl height 3", plate diameter 6"

A beautiful and vibrant chausable set from the mid 18th century, comprised of the chausable, the maniple, the chalice cover, and mat. The deep, rich purple damask of the material is set off by the intricate embroidered orphrey on the chausable and maniple. Even the cover and mat, made of the same damask, have embroidered crosses on them, and are bordered with metallic thread. Overall condition is very good, with some scattered splits and stains.

A tea cup, coffee cup, and saucer in Chamberlains Worcester pattern #153, gorgeously painted with roses and elaborate gilding. The bottom, of the saucer has an unusual gilded "P." mark.

The saucer has a 5 1/2" diameter, one cup is 2 1/2" tall with a rim diameter of 2 3/4" and a foot diameter of 2". The second cup is 2 5/8" tall with a rim diameter of 3 3/8" and a foot diameter of 2 1/4". Condition is excellent with no repairs or cracks. Some very minor tiny gilt losses. White areas in the pho...

A beautifully executed miniature portrait painting by Andrew Plimer, done on natural organic material. The sitter, an attractive woman with strong features, short curly chestnut hair, and gray eyes, is simply dressed in a white gown, and is shown against a beautiful blue sky and white cloud background. As is often the case with Plimer's miniatures at this period, it is somewhat idealized, and the strong nose and elongated neck are typical.

The miniature is in excellent condition, with no pr...

A fine American miniature portrait of a young woman with sausage curls, wearing a lace cap and fichu, with a black dress with black dots. The watercolor painting is done on natural wafer, and enclosed in a period cast bronze foliate case with a glazed aperture on the reverse.

The miniature has no chips, cracks, or bowing. The painting slipped slightly in its case when I scanned it, but this is easily adjusted. Sight size is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8", while the case size is 2 3/4" by 2 1/4".

A finely painted miniature portrait, watercolor on natural wafer, of an attractive young woman. She is wearing a black dress, a white and pink fichu with a brooch, and a lace collar.Original case with a glazed aperture on the reverse. This fine example was part of the well-known sale of the Paul and Barbara Carpenter collection.

The sight size is 2 3/8" by 2".Aside from a small chip to the edge of the cover glass, the condition of the painting and case is excellent, with no issues. The white f...

A wonderful and special Worcester Barr Flight Barr campana vase with snake handles, beautifully painted with a scene marked on the base as "Ruins of Bayham Abbey Church." The reverse of the scene with a salmon ground and having detailed urn and foliage gilding. The rim of the body proper and the top of the supporting column with faux pearls. The bottom also inscribed with "Barr Flight & Barr Worcester Manufac' to Their Majesties."

The vase is 6" tall and 6" wide across the handles. Conditi...