Vajilla Fina
4 Tiffany Sterling Onslow Master Salt spoons
4 Tiffany Sterling Onslow Salt spoons 3" long with no damage or significantwear, selling the 4 shown. Designed for Sir Arthur Onslow, five-time Speaker of the House of Commons (1726-1761). This "Scroll & Pistol" cutlery is designed for traditional or contemporary settings. This pattern was formerly made by C. J. Vander of London and has been made my many companies since.
$285.00
c1890 Amberina Art Glass spooner
c1890 Amberina Art Glass spooner. 4.5" tall with no damage, receipt from last purchased included.Amberina glass, blended colour glass in which the lower part, a yellowish amber, merges into a ruby-red colour higher in the vessel. It was patented in 1883 for the New England Glass Company at East Cambridge, Mass., and was produced extensively there and by the successor company, the Libbey Glass Company at Toledo, Ohio, into the 1890s. The base metal was an amber glass containing some gold, and the tinges were developed by applied reheating. The glass was sometimes blown in molds. A wide range of table and ornamental wares, with diamond or ogival designs, or swirled ribbing, were produced by the New England Glass Company, and amberina glass was also produced at New Bedford, Mass., under the name rose amber.isshelf
$165.00
c1920 Joseph Colclough Minton Hand painted dinner plate set (5)
c1920 Joseph Colclough Minton Hand painted dinner plate set (5). Selling the (5)<br>9 1/8" dinner plates in extremely clean condition with no damage or detectable<br>wear from the first quarter of the 20th century. These are extremely high<br>quality plates with scalloped borders, thick gold. No wear to gilding, no<br>utensil marks, no crazing, no chips, no cracks.<br><br>They are all in the same condition as the one shown individually just with<br>slight variations in painting as they are hand painted.<br>isshelf
$575.00
Miniature Dutch Sterling Tea Caddy Form Trinket box i
Miniature Dutch Sterling Tea Caddy Form Trinket box. Tests sterling with dutch sterling hallmarks 1.25" tall x 2" wide with no damage.
$125.00
c1825 Ornate British sterling Berry serving spoon
c1825 Ornate British sterling serving spoon. 9" long London hallmarks for 1825, ornate gold gilt repousse bowl, rocker engraved top. No issues. 59.7 grams.silverdrawer
$195.00
10" Antique Dresden hand painted Dresden reticulated plate
10" Antique Dresden hand painted Dresden reticulated plate. No cracks, chips, or restorations, no detectable wear.isshelf
$110.00
4 Gorham Medici Sterling Pastry Forks Ice Cream/Salad (Multiple Available
These are 6 7/16" long x 1 1/8" wide bowl. They're in near mint condition.<br>They've most likely never been used, just a few light scratches from stacking in<br>the Chest. Selling the 4 Sporks shown with another lot of 4 Available by<br>changing the qty to 2. So Qty 2 will get you 8 of these.<br>silverdrawer
$425.00
Miniature Dutch Sterling Tea Caddy Form Trinket box v
Miniature Dutch Sterling Tea Caddy Form Trinket box. Tests sterling with dutch sterling hallmarks 1 7/8" tall x 1.5" wide with no damage.
$125.00
Antique Meissen Onion Milk pitcher
Antique Meissen Onion Milk pitcher 5 5/8" tall x 6 7/8" handle to spout, larger than anything I would ever call a creamer but smaller than what I would call a water pitcher or even juice pitcher. One bruise with tiny chip on footrim, no other damage or issues.tw22
$75.00
c1880's Gorham Fontainebleau Sugar spoon F monogram
c1880's Gorham Fontainebleau Sugar spoon F monogram. 6 1/8" long 1.5" wide bowl<br>with no damage, some expected wear.<br>silverdrawer
$80.00
Minton Colclough Artist Signed hand painted floral center heavy gold dinner plat
Minton Colclough Artist Signed hand painted floral center heavy gold dinner plate. Nice antique plate from the first quarter of the 20th century with no damage or significant wear. 10.5" wide, no crazing or detectable wear to gilding.isshelf
$145.00
9.5" Michael Wainwright/Sandra Baccus Amalfi Salad plate set
9.5" Michael Wainwright/Sandra Baccus Amalfi Salad plate set. Selling the exact4 plates shown all with no wear or damage. I'm not totally sure if this is the Turquoise Amalfi or a different color designed exclusively for Sandra Baccus whom was a very important collector of African American art among many other things, she donated her multi-million dollar collection after her death in 2012.All Michael Wainwright pieces are finished with real 24K gold and real platinum. These plates are heavy and beautiful. They measure 12.5" in diameter. Many of Wainwrights designs evolved out of studies in Italy, his love of nature, his appreciation of fine art. Because he comes from the Studio ceramic art world, he creates wabi-sabi (the art of imperfection)handmade details in every piece. Inspirations of late, include the Japanese technique of Kintsugi, (Mezza Collection) and artists such as Gustav Klimt, (Vienna Collection) among others. Wainwright created his first collection of tableware in 1991, the same year he founded his company. He initially sold his wares at street fairs and craft markets, but it wasn't long before he was discovered by high-end retailers. By 1995 Wainwright's collections were being sold in national and independent luxury goods stores across the country. Today, Michael Wainwright Inc. has evolved from a one-man operation to a well-established presence in the luxury goods marketplace. His designs can be found in such luxe stores as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales , as well as smaller fine home stores and boutiques. Wainwright is the sole designer of every piece in his collections. Regardless of material, almost all his work is finished with 24k gold or platinum, and all designed in his Great Barrington, MA studio.
$325.00
c1900 American Brilliant Period Cut Glass candelabra
c1900 American Brilliant Period Cut Glass candelabra. Amazing piece with no<br>significant issues, no damage to glass, no identifying marks found. 21.25" tall<br>approx 13.5" wide x 12" tall to top of glass from base. To me it seems obviously<br>American though I didn't research the maker, whatever it is it's rare and super<br>special. Fresh from a 4 million dollar home, likely an early American mansion<br>before that. The mounts aren't marked, no wear to plating but I'm assuming<br>silver plate. Removable original bobeches and top insert for up to 5 lites.<br>isshelf
$950.00
Royal Doulton Hand Painted Raised Gold Dinner Plate Set (6) with pink borders
Royal Doulton Hand Painted Raised Gold Dinner Plate Set (6) with pink borders.<br>Selling the 6 plates shown with no damage or detectable wear. No cracks, chips,<br>crazing, utensil marks, gold wear, or other issues. 10.25" wide. Best of the<br>best, all with gilt footrims which most China companies reserved for the best<br>they had to offer. Retailed by Bailey Banks and Biddle.<br><br>isshelf.
$785.00
Antique Hand Painted High Relief Dresden Service plate
Antique Hand Painted High Relief Dresden Service plate. Amazing plate with no<br>damage or detectable wear, over 100 years old. 10 1/8"<br>tw270
$195.00
c1830 Ridgway? 1245 British Hand painted dinner plates pair
c1830 Ridgway? 1245 British Hand painted dinner plates pair. I didn't have time<br>to research these but I'm 100% sure they are from the first half of the 19th<br>century with no damage, significant wear, or restorations. 9.25" wide. Selling<br>both
$295.00
Hand Painted Hochst Porcelain Coffee Set in box
Hand Painted Hochst Porcelain Coffee Set in box. Amazing set from the last half<br>of the 20th century 100% hand painted each piece signed by the artist. The<br>quality of this set compares with any of the worlds top porcelain manufacturers<br>and while Hochst isn't as prolific and sold in as many stores as Meissen,<br>Herend, Royal Copenhagen, etc it's just as good and a set like this would cost a<br>few grand if available today. It's mint I believe never been out of the box,<br>it's from a several million dollar home that was the couples' second home,<br>rarely visited. It's a demitasse coffee set 4 3/8" wide saucers cups 2 13/16"<br>wide without handles. It's complete and comes with 8 saucers, 6 cups, creamer,<br>sugar, and coffeepot. I'm guess it's 30-40 years old and there is minor<br>degradation to the foam interior of the box and some soiling to the box. there's<br>a different scene on each piece.<br><br>History of Hochst porcelain<br><br>The factory at Höchst was founded in 1746 and was supported by the Elector of<br>Mainz. They at first only produced faience but later (around 1753) mainly<br>porcelain was produced. The mark used was the wheel mark and later the wheel<br>mark with the electoral crown above it. Melchior was the most famous of the<br>figurine designers who worked for Hochst. After a fairly short existence, as was<br>the case with most of the makers of porcelain in the 18th century, Hochst’s<br>factory was closed in 1796. Nearly two centuries later, a modern factory was<br>opened in 1947. While the second factory closed in 1964. A third one followed in<br>1965 and is still around
$650.00
c1890 French Tressemann & Vogt Raised Gold Limoges Dinner plate set
c1890 French Tressemann & Vogt Raised Gold Limoges Dinner plate set. Selling theset of 6 shown one with very shallow chip to edge, shown bottom plate in the second pic, a few with minor wear to gilding, on rims. None with cracks or restorations, no loss to surface raised decoration or any surface scratches, an amazing set that was in the top of it's class 125 or so years ago, hand painted, they quit making things of this quality a long time ago. 9" wide. isshelf
$475.00
Art deco Mexican Sterling Tea Strainer
Art deco Mexican Sterling Tea Strainer. No damage or issues. 4 7/8" long x 2.75" wide. 28.2 grams Gilt interiorsilverdrawer
$95.00
1994 Arthur Court Easter Bunny Decorative charger 12 5/8"
1994 Arthur Court Easter Bunny Decorative charger 12 5/8". No surface wear, I'm unsure of metal content, it has a dark patina like silver and would polish if that is your preference.isshelf
$55.00
1936 Texas Centennial Universal Pottery Pitchers and Charger
1936 Texas Centennial Universal Pottery Pitchers and Charger. Amazing to find three of these pieces together so well preserved. No chips, cracks restorations, or other detectable issues. Charger is 12 5/8" diagonal. Selling the pieces shown, both size pitchers with lids and charger.isshelf
$475.00
c1840 Orientalist Transferware Arabic Scenes Adams Palestine soup plate and w
c1840 Orientalist Transferware Arabic Scenes Adams Palestine soup plate and win Medina dinner plate. Selling both 10.75" wide, the soup is impressed Adams. Neither with any cracks, chips, or restorations, the brown dinner plate has some crazing and light stains on the reverse side.isshelf
$135.00
14.75" Chinese Kangxi (1661-1722) Famille Verte charger
14.75" Chinese Kangxi (1661-1722) Famille Verte charger. 14.75" wide x 3" deep, small chips and glaze frits all around rim and some on footrim. One tight and stable hairline really only visible on reverse side shown at bottom of last pic by the label. No large cracks or restorations. Stable and displays very well.
$1,250.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Green with gold Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Green with gold accents 9.75" wide with<br>no cracks, chips, restorations, or wear to gilding/enamel.<br>isshelf
$275.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Yellow with gold Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate yellow with gold Accents 9.75" wide with<br>no cracks, chips, restorations, or wear to gilding/enamel.<br>isshelf
$275.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Green Demitasse Espresso cup and saucer (multiple avai
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Green Demitasse Espresso cup and saucer (multiple available). Selling one Coffee/Demitasse cup and saucer with multiple available. All first quality with no scratches through marks, no chips, no cracks, and very clean to perfect gold. If you want more than one just change the qty please. Saucers 4.25" wide, cups 2 5/8" wide at the rim without handle x 2" tall.osshelf
$175.00
Mackenzie Childs Morning Glory Egg cup
Mackenzie Childs Morning Glory Egg cup. 5 7/8" wide with no cracks, chips, or restorations.blkcrates
$110.00
18.25" Meiji Period Kutani Charger with Japanese Bathhouse Scene
18.25" Meiji Period Kutani Charger with Japanese Bathhouse Scene. Nice large charger with unusual decor from the last half of the 19th century with no damage, expected wear to gilding on rim. Selling this charger, estate fresh. There was another with the same decor almost identical with only the slightest variations due to being hand painted. If you change the qty to 2 you'll get both.isshelf
$575.00
6 Antique Shiebler American Sterling demitasse spoons
6 Antique Shiebler American Sterling demitasse spoons. 4" long, 63.8 grams with no issues. Each with monogram on back.George W. Shiebler was the owner of a prominent American silversmithing firm that operated from the late 1800s through the early 20th century. He built his business by acquiring the factories and equipment of other silver-producing companies. While his firm made some innovative jewelry designs during its time in business, the core focus was sterling silver flatware.George W. Shiebler - HistoryGeorge W. Shiebler incorporated his silversmithing business, George W. Shiebler Company, in New York in 1892. He was president, and his brother William F. Shiebler served as treasurer. “The firm’s history dates back to the acquisition of Jahne, Smith & Company in which George Shiebler was a salesman and the partnership Hodenpyl, Tunison & Shiebler circa 1874,” according to author Fred Rezazadeh in his book Collectible Silver Jewelry.Shiebler expanded his business by acquiring several other companies, including Coles & Reynolds and Morgan Morgans Jr., along with the silver dies of many other related businesses. While showrooms remained in Manhattan, the company factory was relocated to Brooklyn in the 1890s. In addition to copious amounts of flatware, the firm made other types of sterling silver goods like tableware, jewelry, and accessories.The jewelry produced by this firm largely featured classical themes. As noted on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website, an article in Jewelers’ Circular and Horological Review compared his pieces featuring imitations of ancient coins to artifacts “unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum.” Some of these pieces feature both Shiebler and Tiffany & Co. marks. However, adornment was not the primary work of George W. Shiebler Company, and other goods were produced in far greater quantities.By 1910, Shiebler’s business was dissolved. Most of the remaining inventory was scrapped for its value by new owners. Shiebler was then employed by Gorham until he died in 1920.anderas
$245.00
Royal Doulton Hand Painted Dinner Plate Set (12)
Royal Doulton Hand Painted Dinner Plate Set (12) Selling the set, wonderful dark<br>blue underglaze with gold and multicolor floral enamels. These are all hand<br>decorated possibly over a transfer. 10.25" wide with no cracks, chips, crazing,<br>restorations, wear to gilding, or utensil marks. These are likely close to 100<br>years old and have basically just been displayed. These would have been top<br>level plates in their day retailed through a Jewelry store or very high end<br>shop. These days quality anywhere close to this would be over 1k a plate.<br>Selling the set of 12 shown all examined closely with no surprises, all looking<br>like the ones shown varying slightly due to being hand decorated.<br>isshelf.
$1,395.00
c1850 British Armorial Sterling Tea caddy spoon by Henry John Lias
c1850 British Armorial Sterling Tea caddy spoon by Henry John Lias. 3 3/8" long<br>21.7 grams with no issues.<br>trinketdrawer
$345.00
Sterling Jockey Cap Tea Caddy Spoon
Sterling Jockey Cap Tea Caddy Spoon. Vintage Sheffield sterling Jockey cap form tea caddy spoon from the 1980's. 2 1/16" long 11 grams with no issues.trinketdrawer
$115.00
c1810 Coalport Kakiemon style Banded Hedge Chinoiserie Hand painted dinner plate
c1810 Coalport Kakiemon style Banded Hedge Chinoiserie Hand painted dinner<br>plate. British, really wonderful and over 200 years old with no cracks, chips,<br>or restorations. 9 5/8" wide, some expected wear to gilding and enamel as shown.<br>tw148
$450.00
Vintage Meissen Embossed Green flowers Dinner and Salad plates
Vintage Meissen Embossed Green flowers Dinner and Salad plates. I'm not totally<br>sure of the production dates of this pattern or if there is even a real name for<br>it but it's great, it's Meissen, top quality hand painted. Selling both plates<br>shown with no chips, utensil marks, gold wear or cracks. 10" and 8" These are in<br>like new condition and would retail for about $1500 if they were available<br>today, which I don't think they are.<br>tw148
$375.00
c1905 R Blackington Art Nouveau American Sterling Serving fork
c1905 R Blackington Art Nouveau American Sterling Serving fork 8" long x 2.5"<br>wide in near mint conditon with no issues. 56.5 grams.<br><br>R. BLACKINTON & CO - North Attleboro, MA<br>Founded in 1862 by Walter Balou, Thomas S. Mann and Roswell Blackinton. Sold in<br>1967 to Wells Inc. Managed and owned for many years by members of Ballou and<br>Blackington families. Manufacturer of sterling silver and gold novelties. In the<br>1930s the company was in some way linked to H.R. Morss & Co., Inc. operating at<br>the same address, 244 Broad, Attleboro, and with the same management.<br>tw255
$155.00
Wakely & Wheeler 1910 London British Sterling Serving spoon
Wakely & Wheeler 1910 London British Sterling Serving spoon. Large incredible and heavy 8 3/8" long 77 grams, top quality marked and tested sterling with no issues.tw255
$210.00
c1880 Japanese Imari Charger 12.5"
c1880 Japanese Imari Charger 12.5" . No cracks, chips, or restorations. imshelf
$155.00
c1900 Dresden Porcelain Bouillon Cup and Saucers set
c1900 Dresden Porcelain Bouillon Cup and Saucers set. 100% hand painted. Selling<br>the exact 8 pieces shown in the pics with no cracks, chips, or restorations and<br>near mint to mint gold. Bowls are 3 7/8" x 1.75" and saucers are 5 1/8" wide.<br>It's rare enough to find one of these much less a set in this condition.<br>isshelf
$385.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Pink with gold Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Pink with gold accents 9.75" wide with no<br>cracks, chips, restorations, slight wear to gilding in center medallion.<br>isshelf
$275.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Black with Red dot Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Black with red dot accents 9.75" wide<br>with no cracks, chips, restorations, or wear to gilding/enamel.<br>isshelf
$275.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Lilac with gold Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Lilac with gold accents 9.75" wide with<br>no cracks, chips, restorations, slight wear to gilding in center medallion.<br>isshelf
$275.00
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Blue with Red Accents 9.75"
Meissen Rich Court Dragon Dinner Plate Blue with Red Accents 9.75" wide with no<br>cracks, chips, restorations, or wear to gilding/enamel.<br>isshelf
$345.00
Meissen Rose Pink Chamberstick and Carl Thieme Dresden Trinket dish
Meissen Rose Pink Chamberstick and Carl Thieme Dresden Trinket dish. Selling<br>both pieces with no damage for one price. Meissen has two lines through mark but<br>I can find no flaws. Chamberstick is 2.5" tall, leaf is 4". Both hand painted,<br>high quality.<br>B61
$145.00
Antique Royal Vienna Style Hand Painted 2 handled cup
Antique Royal Vienna Style Hand Painted 2 handled cup. 100% hand decorated with<br>no cracks, chips, restorations, or significant wear. 3 1/8" tall x 2 7/8" wide<br>without handles 4.75" wide with handles.<br>TW254
$325.00
Antique American Sterling Tea Ball infuser
Antique American Sterling Tea Ball infuser. Fantastic piece with no issues. Top snaps shut tightly to hold tea, forms a tight seal. 5.75" long, American sterling hallmark that I recognize and don't have time to puzzle over, no issues.
$225.00
6 Meissen Rose Tea Cups and Saucers (No Trim)
6 Meissen Rose Tea Cups and Saucers (No Trim). Selling the six cups and saucersshown. Cups 2.75" tall x 3 7/8" wide at rim, saucers 6" wide. Two saucers with very tiny flakes on outside rim, one on sharp point shown in last pic, and other close to small rose bud shown in next to last pic, other than that no cracks, chips, utensil marks, or noticeable flaws, they do have two lines through the mark designating it as a second I believe but I can find no issues or flaws. All hand painted with precision. isshelf
$365.00
Nymphenburg Hand Painted Bon Bon Dish Set
Nymphenburg Hand Painted Bon Bon Dish Set. Selling the three shallow bowls One 8.5" x 6", two 6.25" x 4.25". No cracks, chips, restorations, or detectable wear.TW211
$185.00
9 Meissen Rose Plates (No Trim)
9 Meissen Rose Plates (No Trim). Selling two 8 3/8" plates and Seven 7 5/8"plates shown. All with no cracks, chips, utensil marks, or noticeable flaws, they do have two lines through the mark designating it as a second I believe but I can find no issues or flaws. All hand painted with precision. isshelf
$295.00
c1845 Sterling Tea caddy spoon George Unite Birmingham
c1845 Sterling Tea caddy spoon George Unite Birmingham3 7/8" long 8.2 grams with no issues. trinketdrawer
$235.00
Large Portuguese Majolica Palissy Ware Crab Charger
Large Portuguese Majolica Palissy Ware Crab Charger. Great piece from the first<br>half of the 20th century with no cracks or restorations, a very small amount of<br>loss under very close inspection Actually I only see two small spots, one close<br>to the rim past the white rock in the direction the crab is facing and another<br>tiny spot on the green leaf next to the shells. 13" wide 4 pounds 2 ounces.<br>tw162
$425.00
Nymphenburg Hand Painted Porcelain Candy Box with fruit finial
Nymphenburg Hand Painted Porcelain Candy Box with fruit finial. Great piece from about the mid 20th century 7.25" handle to handle x 5.25" tall with no damage or restorations.tw166
$155.00
Mackenzie Childs Platter shakers and bone dish
Mackenzie Childs Platter shakers and bone dish. Selling the lot shown all in perfect condition with no scratches, crazing, cracks, or chips. Platter is 10.75" wide, shakers are 5.25" tall, bone dish is 6.75" wide. blkcrates
$185.00
c1880 French Bronze Mounted Green Marble candelabra
c1880 French Bronze Mounted Green Marble candelabra. 10 1/8" tall x 8.75" wide,a nice antique diminutive candelabra with no issues. isshelf
$265.00
Art Deco George Erickson Sterling Cocktail Pitcher spoon
Art Deco George Erickson Sterling Cocktail Pitcher spoon. 12.5" long with 1 5/8"wide bowl. Super clean it's seen little to no use, no damage. Hammered pattern on back of spoon, extremely high quality handmade piece. 86 grams. I can find no other examples of this pattern This is a handmade piece and all Erickson's other flatware is plain, looking at it closely I believe this exterior pattern is all hand stamped or engraved as it has that natural flow with very slight irregularities. tw255
$275.00
Wallace grand baroque sterling gravy ladle and cold meat fork
Wallace Grand Baroque Sterling Gravy Ladle and Cold Meat fork. Selling both vintage pieces in very clean condition with no issues and little wear.<br>The Fork is 8 1/8" long, ladle 6 5/8" long with 2.5" wide bowl 167 grams total.<br>tw255
$240.00
9 7/8" Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Sedum Acre "Mossy Stonecrop" Soup Bowl
Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Sedum Acre "Mossy Stonecrop" Soup Bowl 9 13/16"<br>wide x 2" deep. Just a tad over 9.75" but smaller than 9 7/8". Vintage piece in<br>like new condition very closely examined with no cracks, chips, nicks on rim,<br>wear to gilding, utensil marks, or restorations. Selling the exact bowl show,<br>hand painted. I don't believe this bowl or even this size of bowl is currently<br>available for any price but you can buy an 8.25" soup bowl new for a little over<br>3k on special order.<br><br>Flora Danica: The Amazing Story of the World’s Most Expensive Dinnerware<br>February 28, 2017 / Decorate, Entertain, Gift Ideas, Registry<br>War. Diplomacy. Royal backstabbing. A Russian Empress who loved art and beauty.<br>All that went into the making of the world’s most expensive dinnerware, Flora<br>Danica by Royal Copenhagen.<br><br>Our story begins with Catherine the Great of Russia. In 1788, she was at the<br>height of her power and prestige, having come to power 26 years earlier by<br>deposing her husband in a coup. The formerly impoverished German princess was<br>now the absolute ruler of the largest empire in the world, and she followed up<br>one stunning achievement with another: Expanded Russia into the Black Sea and<br>Crimea. Made Russia a major European power. Annexed Alaska. Reformed the<br>government. Ushered in the Enlightenment. Check, check, check.<br><br>Catherine awed her contemporaries. Voltaire compared her to the Biblical Queen<br>Semiramis of Babylon. Madame Vigée Le Brun, former court painter to Queen Marie<br>Antoinette and no stranger to royalty, wrote that “…with her head held high, her<br>eagle-like stare and a countenance accustomed to command, all this gave her such<br>an air of majesty that to me she might have been Queen of the World…”<br><br>She was also the ideal Enlightenment ruler: Patron of the arts. Friend of the<br>leading philosophers and thinkers. Champion of knowledge and learning, for women<br>as well as men. The magnificent collections of St. Petersburg’s Hermitage<br>Museum, a must see on any tour of Russia, actually began as her personal art<br>collection.<br><br>In 1788, Catherine the Great was at war with the Ottoman Turks a second time.<br>Her cousin, King Gustav III of Sweden, decided to take advantage of the<br>situation and attack Russia in the back. To deter him, Russia had signed a<br>treaty with Denmark 15 years earlier. But when the war started, the Danes didn’t<br>move. They had problems of their own: their King Christian VII was insane, his<br>wife Queen Caroline Matilda had an affair, her lover Doctor Johann Friedrich<br>Streunsee fathered one of her children, the King’s mother ordered him executed<br>and the Queen banished, then had herself and the King’s elder son rule as<br>regent. But we digress.<br><br>The Russians demanded that the Danes honor their obligations. When the Danes<br>finally showed up, they came up with a smaller force than originally promised. A<br>few months later, when the war ended, the Danes felt mightily embarrassed. It<br>was also not a good idea to get Catherine the Great and Russia on your bad side.<br>But how do you make amends with the absolute ruler of the world’s greatest<br>empire?<br><br>They must’ve thought long and hard about this one and figured out three things:<br><br>First, Catherine was a well-known lover of the arts. She bought thousands of<br>paintings from all the major European artists of the day. She also commissioned<br>porcelain, metalwork, glasswork, and books, and she even wrote comedies,<br>fiction, and memoirs herself.<br><br>Second, she was also a known patron of the French Encyclopedists, a group of<br>philosophers including Voltaire, Diderot, and d’Alembert who set out to gather<br>all the world’s knowledge into one grand Encyclopedie so that it could be<br>available universally.<br><br>Finally, and this was key: They knew that the Russians had been after fine<br>porcelain for over 70 years. True hard paste porcelain was very precious in 18th<br>century Europe. Much whiter and stronger than stoneware, it was exclusively used<br>by the royalty and aristocracy, and all the major royal families of Europe had<br>set up their own porcelain factories in towns like Sevres, Limoges, and Meissen.<br>Catherine the Great loved porcelain so much, she turned the Russian porcelain<br>factory in St. Petersburg into the “Imperial Porcelain Manufactory” and placed<br>massive orders for her and her family’s private use.<br><br>And so the Danes came up with an idea: Let’s create the world’s finest<br>collection of porcelain which is also an encyclopedia of art. But it had to be<br>so amazing that Catherine the Great would (hopefully) forgive their failure to<br>help Russia during the war. They trusted the task to the Danish royal porcelain<br>factory, Royal Copenhagen, and its chief artist Johann Christoph Bayer:<br><br>They commissioned a dinnerware collection of 1,802 pieces. They used the finest<br>porcelain they could manufacture and then rimmed them in gold in a lace-like<br>detail — just to be sure it was nice enough. Other pieces featured delicate<br>flower buds that were carved out by hand:<br><br>Then, 3,000 flora and fauna from the Flora Danica botanical encyclopedia of 1761<br>would be individually hand-painted on the dinnerware pieces:<br><br><br>With this much decoration, the porcelain pieces are “overglazed,” which means<br>they are decorated after being glaze-fired in the brightening kiln to produce<br>the wide range of colors and the richness of detail. Then they are fired once<br>more at about 850°C or 1,562 °F after they are painted, to allow the paints to<br>melt and fuse with the fired glaze. Immediately after firing the gold<br>decorations look matte and dull. Their characteristic gold sheen appears only<br>after vigorous polishing with glass brushes or sand:<br><br>The result was something so magnificent, they could be used for state banquets<br>or just displayed as works of art in Catherine’s great palace in St. Petersburg:<br><br>This multi-year project was probably intended as a gift for the 40th anniversary<br>of Catherine the Great’s reign in 1802. But in 1796, Catherine suddenly died of<br>a stroke. Her death caused chaos in Europe. Her son and successor, Paul, hated<br>her and wanted to undo everything she started. He even dug up the remains of her<br>dead husband, Peter III, for an elaborate state funeral before burying him with<br>her — condemning her to spend eternity with the man she deposed and killed.<br><br>The Danes got the hint. They weren’t giving Paul the fine porcelain intended for<br>his mother — he might’ve just smashed it to spite her! But they must’ve been so<br>pleased with how this collection was coming along, their regent Prince Frederick<br>VI, ruling Denmark in his father’s name, continued its production and even<br>ordered some more, expanding it to 100 place settings.<br><br>In 1802, the production was finally finished. By now Paul was also gone: the<br>Russians finally decided he was too crazy and poisoned him, replacing him with<br>his 24-year-old son Alexander I (of War and Peace fame.) But the Danes weren’t<br>giving him their prized porcelain. The first Flora Danica dinnerware service was<br>delivered to the Danish Royal Palace, where Frederick VI used it to celebrate<br>the birthday of his father King Christian VII in 1803, probably at their<br>splendid Rococo-style Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen:<br><br>It must’ve been a very nice thing to do for his father, who suffered<br>schizophrenia, was forced by his mother to divorce his tragically adulterous<br>Queen, and had been sidelined for over 30 years already. And Flora Danica<br>continues to be used by the Danish Royal Family for special occasions to this<br>day.<br><br>Today, Flora Danica is regarded as one of the most original and inspired<br>examples of from the golden age of porcelain. It has also been collected by<br>today’s royalty: Oprah, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, and various members of<br>the Kennedy family. Royal Copenhagen continues to make it by special order from<br>its factory in Denmark — the last porcelain dinnerware made in Denmark.<br>tw211
$1,650.00
c1890 Chicago Wendell Sterling Boxed 12pc Demitasse spoon set Retailed by S Hyma
c1890 Chicago Wendell Sterling Boxed Demitasse set Retailed by S Hyman & Co.From the rarely observed firm of WENDELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY - Chicago, IL Founded by Charles Wendell in 1850 c. Became Wendell Mfg Co in 1885. In late 1890s acquired some flatware patterns and dies of Mauser Mfg Co. Active in New York with retail or wholesale outlet under the name Wendell & Co. This company closed right around 1900.Selling the set shown in this amazing silk lined Velvet covered box. The spoons are 4" long with 3/4" wide bowls and weight 7-8 grams each. Box is 12 3/8" wide. Spoons and box are immaculate. Selling the 12 spoons in the box, as good as it gets. It even has a spring lid that automatically pops up when the functional catch is disengaged. These are small spoons for coffee/tea, stuff like that. tw187
$385.00
c1900 830 Silver Twist stem Brite cut handles Boxed Teaspoon set
c1900 830 Silver Twist stem Brite cut handles Boxed Teaspoon set. Well over 100year old set in original wooden satin lined box. Extremely clean lightly used conditon. 74.5 grams silver weight. b70
$235.00
1998 John Ransmeier North Carolina Pottery Huge Heavy Studio Pottery Platter
1998 John Ransmeier North Carolina Pottery Huge Heavy Studio Pottery Platter.<br>Very heavy, strong, durable, high fired platter. This thing would take a chunk<br>out of a sidewalk if dropped on it I'm sure. It's a real monster, a real work of<br>art. Both Simple yet complex at the same time. 21" x 16" x 3.5" deep, a<br>functional work of art in mint condition with no damage or wear whatsoever. John<br>used a variety of clays I believe. This is a very strong Stoneware clay(not red<br>clay) fired at a high temperature and salt glazed, therefore very durable and<br>heavy.<br><br>John Ransmeier<br>John grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. His interest in clay began in high<br>school. After a visit to the Penland School of Crafts, a bit of research and<br>some ingenuity, he built his first kick wheel in 1970. From books, he taught<br>himself how to throw clay and make pots.<br><br>During an apprenticeship with Gene Bunker, John worked in porcelain and<br>concentrated in glaze reduction. After a year of study at the Kansas City Art<br>Institute, he established a studio in the Highwater Crafts Center in Asheville,<br>NC and co-founded Biltmore Clay Company. He went on to study with potters Seth<br>Duberstein of New Paltz, New York and Paul Chaleff of Pine Plains, New York.<br><br>After working as a studio potter in production porcelain, John studied for two<br>years at The University of North Carolina at Asheville and then received his BFA<br>from Alfred University in Alfred, New York in 1990. He spent some time doing<br>graduate work at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and then moved to<br>Santa Fe, New Mexico where he established a working studio for the next four<br>years.<br><br>After returning to North Carolina in 1994, John built a wood fire kiln and<br>established a studio in Weaverville, North Carolina where he lives and works<br>today. His work has spanned a wide spectrum of processes, clay bodies, glazes<br>and style. John continues to travel across the country exhibiting in fine craft<br>shows and selling his work in galleries and museums in the southeast.<br><br>John Ransmeier Pottery, Weaverville NC<br><br>All work is assembled from slab, wheel-thrown, pressed and coil elements. Pieces<br>are then high fired in a reducing atmosphere using biofuel.<br><br>Making pots is about evolution. As long as I feel my work is progressing,I don't<br>worry. Not long ago,I tried to maintain control over surfaces and glazes.In<br>reaction to that,I have gravitated toward a looser way of making pieces using<br>glazes that I could't control even if I tried.Perhaps reduction firing, with its<br>own tendency toward variation has nudged me in this direction.I am always<br>looking for ways to allow my work to progress. There is a saying, "At the point<br>of origin, lie the most possibilities. "My goal is to keep enough freedom in my<br>work to allow those possibilities to take form.
$450.00
Antique Japanese Meiji Imari Square Charger
Antique Japanese Meiji Imari Square Charger. Last half of 19th century, some<br>wear to enamel 14 5/8" diagonal with no chips, cracks, or restorations.
$295.00
