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C19th Carved Meerschaum Pipe Bowl
A fine and detailed example of a seafaring merchant with feathered cap & hoop earrings
Meershaum, also known as Sepiolite or Sea Foam is a mineral that does not burn and floats in water. When softened by the sea it can be easily carved and dried when it will become hard and shiny when polished with bone-ash. This makes it a very popular material for pipe making and when smoked takes on a fabulous discoloured patina, often transforming a piece to a rich yellow, gold or reddish hue often fixed to an amber mouthpiece
Measures 5 inches long
85.00
Late Edwardian Bridal Couronne
Made of multiple wire hoops wrapped in a chatruese coloured silk and decorated with wax buds and flowers, this French couronne, or halo, is a timeless piece of bridal headwear
The art of wax used to make these buds and flowers were often described as 'orange blossom' and represented fertility, chatsity and innocence becoming fashionable after Queen Victoria wore real orange blossoms in her hair in 1840. The wax substitutes where orange blossom was scarce, became a tradition right through to the mid-20th century and were as simple or as elaborate to the brides taste
a few minimal losses
75.00
Hand-drawn 'Happy Families'
Two sets of family cards, illustrating The Confectioners and The Sweeps in pen and coloured ink
These whimsical caricatures are great fun items of social history based upon the very popular card game devised by John Jacques Jr, published before the Great Exhibition of 1851
Difficult to date but the style and materials used are most likely from the early half of the 1900's
18.00 per card
Antique c19th Skull Cap
A delicate red and silver small cap embellished with metallic thread & tiny sequins, folded edging & wide embroidered boarder. The cap is a fine printed linen gauze with green silk lining
Most probably worn by someone of high status in the palaces of royalty said to be bought back from mid 19th century India in a tin trunk and this is the remainder of the entire ensemble
80.00
Late c19th Carousel Rabbit by Gustave Bayol
Hand-carved and painted polychrome wooden static rabbit from the Gustave Bayol Carousel Company (active 1887-circa 1914), Angers, France.
This handsome bunny is a prototype model in leaping position with exposed pink paw pads sporting a turquoise blue & gilded saddle with gold bells, studs & signature bow around his neck
Mounted on a rectangular bevelled base with golden post
Gustave Bayol (French 1859-1931) was considered the foremost carousel maker in France and was renowned for his fanciful carvings of animals.
Circa 1890
Height to ear tips 65 cms
Length 70 cms
Width 17cms
1800
C19th Wax Doll
An extraordinary example of a reinforced wax doll in ruched full length champagne silk dress and shoes. Her eyes are glass & she has real blond hair. She has some evidence of age related cracking with minor losses and comes with a Victorian glass dome to keep her safe. This doll is all original and dates from 1870-1890, most probably from Germany
A 'reinforced' doll has a thin layer of wax poured into a mold, then the interior is filled with plaster as opposed to a poured wax doll which has a thicker outer layer of wax and left hollow
Over the years the layers contract with changes of temperature. This causes the cracking to the surface which shows her age x
265 inc dome
Oak Table by Tom Whittaker, c1965
A beautiful Arts & Crafts sideboard created by the highly regarded woodsmanThomas Whittaker of Littlebeck, also known as Gnomeman.
Designed out of oak with the unmistakeable scooped or 'adzed' surface so synonymous with the Yorkshire studios of Robert Thompson, who he studied under in the 1960's. Instead of the signature carved mouse, a little gnome is recessed into one of the legs.
This is a piece of quality craftmanship from the period and becoming increasingly
scarce
Condition is good with some light wear to the surface
Measuring 106 cms x 38 cms, 77cms high
565
Collection of C19th Ex Voto from Siena
Originating from the Milagros of Mexico, these silver offerings are called Ex Voto from the latin 'ex voto suscepto' meaning
'from the vow made'
These examples are made from thin repousse tin, coated in 800 silver and are a variation of many forms offered to hang in a church or shrine to give thanks for a miracle received. The miracle could be anything from the gift of a child to the saving of a limb and the public gifting of these items affirms a vow absolut to the church.
All are quite large measuring upto 10.5 inches
Priced individually as follows:
Large Hand SOLD
Boy Child SOLD
Large Leg 80
Lady in Dress 60
Medium Leg 70
Man w/ Sash 60
WW1 'Fumsup'
A scarce lucky pendant charm from world war one, given to the soldiers to bring good luck and safety.
The tiny wooden head with glass eyes sits above a well rubbed gold metal body with moving arms and thumbs pointing skyward. The little chest has the words 'Fumsup' impressed into it and a registration number on the back, the feet are winged.
An emotive reminder of hope
Measures just 2 cms high, inc jump ring
130
Georgian Coral Bead Cuffs
Most probably for a child's confirmation in mid 1800's. Small coral beads threaded on expanding wire circles and sold as a pair
a few minor losses
115
Art Nouveau 'Bun' Cap
An exceptional ladies cap that would be pinnned to the back of the head to hold a large 'bun' of hair, dating to around 1910
The silk embroidery is of superb quality in golds, greens and cerise with silver thread throughout. This covers the crown of the cap over a linen form with a wide gathered black silk border
Condition is good with a minimal amount of rubbing to the edge of the silk boarder
75
C19th Painted Fruits
A fabulous collection of realistic carved and hand-painted alabaster/marble figs & peaches of antique quality from Italy
Each one weighs between 250g to 500g
Figs (4) 55 each
Peaches (2) 60 each
Arts & Crafts Silver Spoon by A.E Jones
A hand-forged small teaspoon with a Ruskin blue cabochon set into the pierced circular finial
The cradled oval bowl is gently planished and has good clear makers marks to the back for 1908
125
Antique Ivory Silk Bridal Slippers
Silken slippers made from white and natural leather uppers with bow detail and milk glass stud button
Stamped 63 D to the underside, some silk shattering to the sides
Circa 1920
125
Velvet Sporting Cap
A crested brown velvet cap with the motto 'Nil Sine Labore" embroidered on the front which translates to "Nothing without Effort" from Baines School of Lancashire, founded in 1717 by James Baines
There is a large original gold silk tassel and the pleated lining is intact, no label present
Size seven and a quarter, good condition and no splits or fraying
75
French Boudoir Doll
An auburn beauty doll with a cascade of ruffles in ruched organza and a velvet off the shoulder bodice. Original in her entirity & good condition with all her fingers and toes, so often broken
.
Some minor surface wear circa 1920
290
Grandma and Gentleman from The Grecon Toy Company
We have to thank Miss Margarete Cohn, a Jewish German spinster, born in 1894 for creating the Grecon Doll.
She took the name from her shortened first name Grete and her surname Cohn to start a little shop in Prager Strasse, Berlin after attending an Arts & Crafts college
When she brought her craft to Britain in 1936, after fleeing from the Nazis, by 1940 she had registered and resumed production to eventually sell her dolls in Harrods and Hamleys of London. By the 1980's and beyond, she was exporting her little people all over the world
'Connie' made it to 96 and died in Sussex. Her last doll was hand-made by her when she was 92
The dolls are made of wire frames and cast lead feet. This frame is then padded with cotton waste and bound with thread or wool to give it form. This is then clothed in felt or fabric clothing and facial features are hand-painted
Grecon Grandma still has her little trademark label stitched to her skirt and both dolls are in fairly good condition with a few small holes
£85 the pair
Silver C19th Lucky Charm Amulet
An antique collection of silver hollow charms each depicting a fruit or item that brings good fortune. Collectively these were referred to as a 'Penca de Balangandan' which roughly translates as 'a bouquet of sounds' Originally from Bahia and associated with the slave trade
This has 8 charms (including a wooden figa or clenched fist) on a hinged amulet and hangs from a detachable long double linked chain but can also be worn as a brooch
155
Mother Goose The Old Nursery Rhymes illustrated by A. Rackham
A rare first edition of Mother Goose with nursery rhymes and verse chosen & illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Published by William Heinemann, London
Circa 1913.
Born in Lambeth, London on September 19, 1867, Arthur Rackham was a prolific artist from a young age. Sneaking pencils into his bed to draw under the covers, he eventually resorted to drawing on his pillow case when paper was taken from him. Largely influenced by Aubrey Beardsley, George Cruikshank, Randolph Caldecott, and Richard Doyle during the beginning and height of his career, Rackham’s whimsical style remained unique and set him apart from contemporaries and competitors.
Linen bound with twelve tissue guards over coloured pen, ink and water colour illustrations in exceptional detail. Also black and white illustrations throughout 160 pages
Good condition with minor foxing & wear to the cover edges, binding good
8.25 x 7.5 inches
£ POA
Folkart Miniature Straw House
Rare and perfectly formed house of card and split straw in the form of a country house with pitched roof porch & good detailing
Made by soldiers of war and this one probably USA
Un-signed except for 33 written on the papered underside with minor loss to the back wall
Measures 9 x 8 cms
58
Treacle Glazed Piggy Bank
C19th piggy bank with single penny slot and no trapdoor with great expression and good colour
Very slight wobble
48
Tumbling Early C19th Grodnertal Dolls
A scare pair of cajoined wooden dolls from Nuremberg, Germany. Hand-painted and hinged with twisted wire, these two beautiful folkart boy & girl can be put into many playful positions, back to front, upside down or facing each other. Charming faces and traditional dress, the girl still retains a fragment of red fabric as a skirt and both really are very sweet
Measures approx 5.5 inches high when standing
155
Late c18th Vue d'Optique
A scarce pair of Vue d'Optique. These are old etchings which are hand painted & perforated or cut out to view through a optical lens called a Zograscope to capture a 3D effect.
These artworks became very popular as a glimpse into the New World of European cities without having to travel.
The first is of Porte St Denis on the outskirts of Paris and the second is Roma Palais de Papes in Italy. Both have torn margins and surface wear so a little sympathetic restoration is required and sold with two plain cut-out back papers to each image
Measuring 40 x 30 cms
65 (Paris scene sold)
Antique Grodnertal Dolls
A trio of large wooden carved folkart dolls/marionettes from Germany, circa 1900's. Each one has her original printed cotton dress and the signature rosy cheeks and pointy nose. Each are turned and finished by hand with wooden moving joints
Measuring approx 29cms long
Good condition with some surface wear and the lathe marks showing at the top of the heads
95
(front one only)
Bronze Billiard Pocket Covers
A scarce set of four large billiard pocket corner covers cast in bronze with great patina and presence.
These wonderful French examples are decorated in high relief with typical Art Nouveau maiden surrounded by acanthus leaves at the centre of each piece
Hinged inside to take the weight of a ball when droppped into the pocket, forcing the front to open so as to retrieve the ball
Heafty weight of 800 g a piece, approx 20 cms high, 12 cms across the curved width
Good condition, one needs some gentle re-alignment
sold
Early c19th Devotional Plaque
Lovely example of a Meershaum/white clay carved Angel Gabriel with un-usual gilded wings and sealed with bitumen under convex glass
7cms high x 4cms wide x 1.5 cms deep
sold
Pulcinella
A lovely and rare example of a bisque porcelain circus clown, jointed with small wires.
He's dressed with a faded blue ruff, pointed hat and red buttons with puffed out pantaloons and a cheery face of blushed cheeks
In great condition and measures approx 6 cms high
Sold
Early C20th Marotte
A lovely example of a marotte head, or wig-makers display stand, made of papier mache and hand-painted with rosebud lips and blue eyes
In good order with no dents or flaky paint and clothed in the most beautiful yellow silk bridal bonnet, sold separately
measures 25 cms x 13cms
sold
