Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (314)

The longest watch chain we have ever come across, this authentic Sterling Victorian slinky watch chain has an unusual link. Victorian watch chains were worn by women, as well as men, to hang a watch, which would snap into the end of a long chain and tuck into a pocket or a belt at the waist. (This is why original watch chains were always very long. Shorter watch chains are part of a larger chain that has been cut down to make 2 or 3 necklaces)...

Fanciful Victorian silver collar with a silver locket embellished with two-color gold. The necklace and locket are adorned with geometric arch motifs and engravings. The necklace measures 16 1/2" long and 3/4" wide and the locket measures 1 5/8" long and is hallmarked 1881.

Our C1780 muff chain has an unusual link in the shape of bows. These hand forged bow links continue all around the chain. Georgian muff chains were worn by women who would attach a muff to the chain to conveniently keep their hands warm and the chain was designed to allow the muff to fall at just the right place. This is why original muff chains were always long (shorter chains were generally part of a larger muff chain that has been cut down to make 2 or 3 necklaces)...

C.1860 18ct Pietra-Dura Flower Brooch Antique 18K Gold Pietra Dura Brooch, Italy C.1875. Oval shape brooch with fine pietra dura floral green, robins egg blue inlay colors,and white and gold flowers as accents. 18K surround gold mount with 8 gold X's soldered symmetrically around the gold border.

The Art Deco era ushered in a wave of exotic forms, of which our lizard ring is a superb example. Our 14K ring with an intricately carved reptile planted between 3 gemstones, a larger diamond on one side and a sapphire and smaller diamond on the other, is centered on historicism (as was the Art Deco period); reptiles date from ancient Rome and were a symbol of wedded bliss. The ring is sturdy and solid with its thick band, substantial face and firmly set gemstones...

Wonderfully painted enamel ring depicting the love between Cupid and Psyche, the universal symbol of everlasting love. The ancient Greeks viewed the butterfly as a symbol of the immortality of the soul. The painting on the enamel ring shows the goddess Psyche, which means "soul" or "spirit", in the form of the butterfly, being chased by Cupid. The ring is 18K, circa 1910, size 6.5 and can be sized.

The term "pique" comes from the French word "piquer" (to prick) and describes a method of inlaying gold or silver onto tortoiseshell. The craft was discovered and perfected in the 17th century by the French Huguenots. The Huguenots later taught the craft to English jewelry artisans. These classical pique earrings with their Greek key design, are a perfect example of the sophistication, polish, depth and natural beauty of pique jewelry...

We love this Antique 15k diamond, sapphire, ruby & pearl ring, circa 1910, for its strong combination of shapes and colors as well as its dynamic symmetry. The ring sits on the diagonal, in contrast to the more common linear arrangement. Studded with old mine cut diamonds, a sapphire and a ruby, the pearl provides balance to the strong color and rough texture of the gemstones...

Striking Victorian banded agate earrings set in 15K gold. The brown and black tones make them wearable with any color. The earrings measure 1" in diameter and date to 1890.

Our marquis shaped 18K ring, carved in the shape of the pointed oval and emblematic of the gothic arch, has twelve old-cut rubies and a central cabochon opal accented with rose diamonds. The ring is a "marquis within a marquis" in the way the rubies form the outside border of another border of gold trim, which forms a marquis shape that encloses the cabochon opal and accent diamonds...

Royal Worcester porcelain scent bottle decorated in the style of Japanese Satsuma. The design features a Geisha and a fish on one side and a lady with a fan on the other. The silver CAP is stamped with the hallmarks for Birmingham, England, 1891. The pieces measures: 2 1/4" high by 1 7/8" wide by 1/2" deep. View

Delightful Victorian "imari" pattern scent bottle with a gilded silver cap which is stamped with the hallmarks for London 1888. The bottle is 2" wide, 2 3/8" hight and 1/2" deep.

Unusual Victorian porcelain scent bottle in the shape of a clam shell. The silver lid is stamped with the hallmarks of Sanders and Shepherd and the date letter for 1889. The bottle is 2" high by 1 1/2" wide and 1 1/4" at its deepest.

Original eighteenth century Chelsea Seal in the form of a grotesque figure of a black masked man with 3 cornered ("tri-corn") hat. The tri-cornered hat was a popular hat worn in the 18th century by both aristocracy and commoners, as it was designed to better reveal one's highly fashionable wig. Our male figure is in black breeches, standing on a white base with the motto "Tou jour gay" ("always happy")...

This Chelsea "gold anchor" period porcelain seal of a lady has a motto and a hardstone seal. It dates to 1759-1768. We have a collection of these early Chelsea "toys". You can check our web site for others.

Condition: excellent

Lowestoft soft-paste teabowl and saucer in the Schoolhouse pattern.

c. 1780. Saucer: 4 3/4" diameter. Cup: 3"diameter x 1 3/4" Height. Condition: excellent

Fantastic Whitby jet earrings in the form of concentric circles, a classic geometric shape that we love. The material is made of Whitby Jet, a form of fossilized coal that came from the coal mines of Whitby England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jet was especially popular during Victorian times because it was acceptable as a form of mourning jewelry...