Tag: Gold

Silver locomotives. A new centerpiece or to dress up the mantlepiece. Also a presentation railroad carriage in sterling silver running on its own track made in 1860 that I just found over on 1st Dibs.


Parcel-gilt silver filigree locomotive form spice box with rose-gilt caps, the front with later Hebrew inscription with a dedication to a synagogue, presumably the one it was given to in Bucharest. 1850-1900. Not sure where it was made but it was given to a synagogue in Bucharest, Romania. From the style and ornamentation it looks like it was made in Eastern Europe, not Britain.  Judaica. Image @ 2024 Sothebys. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-halpern-judaica-collection-tradition-and-treasure-part-i/a-parcel-gilt-silver-filigree-locomotive-form
Silver gilt novelty steam engine pulling an open car. Victorian. English. marked London 1889. Alfred Benson and Henry Hugh Webb, makers. Image  © 2016 Seidenberg Antiques. Fair use license. https://www.seidenbergantiques.com/shop/objects-d-art/english/rare-victorian-silver-gilt-novelty-locomotive.html

Sterling silver locomotive Christmas tree ornament. ca. 1970s. American. Gorham, maker. © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2024
Fair use license. https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/dining-entertaining/sterling-silver/sterling-silver-christmas-tree-locomotive-ornament-gorham/id-f_820765/?crlt.pid=camp.uMYGBFXO5fHb&epik=dj0yJnU9Nks0aVlHVy02T0xjQXFYcEpmTUwyWV9Hb1FNX2hiTEsmcD0wJm49Y0lhZG1ISGY3UWgzSkI1SWxHanFEZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1hvOWZ3
Sterling silver presentation railway carriage/centerpiece sitting on a bespoke oak wood presentation plinth, ornamented with a wooden railway track, realistically modelled with rails, fasteners, and railroad ties. The body of the carriage having a rectangular form with an elevated hallmarked gallery border, realistically modeled in the form of the carriage’s struts and graces. Either side of this gallery features an exceptional contemporary engraved coat of arms, one pertains to the Borough of Morpeth / County Northumberland and features the Latin motto Inter sylvas et flumina habitans – Living among woods and streams. The other coat of arms pertains to the Trevelyan family; it incorporates the crest of two arms in armor embowed, the hands supporting a bezant, thereon a parrot statant, all above the Old English motto Tyme tryeth troth – Time tests faith. The ends feature cast sterling silver buffer stops flanking the contemporary engraved initials ‘RW‘ to one end, and ‘JT‘ to the other. The surface of the body bears the contemporary engraved inscription Presented to Pauline Lady Trevelyan on the Occasion of opening the first section of the Wansbeck Railway, April 21 1862. The railway carriage is supported by a hallmarked sterling silver chassis framework, complete with the wheelset including functional wheels and ornamental axle boxes bearing the numeral ‘7’. 1860-1862. Made in London England by Edward and John Barnard. Maker’s marks: hallmarks to the chassis. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2024. Fair use license. https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/desk-accessories/more-desk-accessories/antique-victorian-sterling-silver-presentation-railway-carriage-centerpiece/id-f_26282692/


Cassolettes to jazz up your New Years Eve buffet table. None of that boring IKEA stuff.

P Pair of urn form enamel cassolettes, painted on a dark blue ground with red and gilt urns trailing flowers and formal borders, with the covers reversing to sconces, hung with chains. ca. 1780. English. Image © 2021 Sothebys. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-collection-of-mr-and-mrs-peter-a-pfaffenroth-american-furniture-silver-and-decorative-arts/pair-of-english-enamel-cassolettes-circa-1780
A fine pair of antique English neoclassical porcelain and doré bronze mounted two handled Cassolettes. Each having a pair of ram’sPair of Neoclassical porcelain and doré bronze mounted two handled cassolettes. Each cassolette having a pair of ram’s heads terminating and connecting each handle to the body, all resting on a double tier stepped pedestal base. ca. early 1800s. English. Attributed to Mathew Boulton (1728-1809). Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2021. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/vases-vessels/vases/fine-pair-of-antique-english-porcelain-ormolu-cassolettes-att-matthew-boulton/id-f_3239423/
Pair of tall ormolu mounted malachite cassolettes. Each cassolette having a large malachite bowl, supporting a fluted ormolu cover, topped with a berry finial with the berry finial detailing mirrored vertically below with a berry drop finial mounted to the base of the bowl. The bowls being held in place upon triform supports with bearded, elfin masks leading to cabriole legs that terminate in hoof feet, The center of the support with a scrolling and twisting snake, which features lifelike stippling to create the effect of scales. Both cassolettes are mounted on triform plinths of malachite and are set upon ormolu toupie feet. Late 19th c. Neoclassical. French. Maker not given. Image © 2021 Mayfair Gallery Limited. Fair use license. via https://www.mayfairgallery.com/pair-french-ormolu-mounted-malachite-cassolettes



Church silver and gold for Christmas Eve, and of the most spectacular kind. Some actual Gothic and some Gothic Revival, but all with more whistles and bells than most.

Chalice. 1608 with later restorations.
Chalice. 1608 with later restorations. Westphalian (German). Gold, enamel and jewels. Probably made by Otto Meier (active 1604–21). In the public domain. via https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193477?pos=50&rpp=30&pg=2&ft=chalice

Wanamaker cross. First used in 1922.
Wanamaker cross. First used in 1922. Processional cross. Ivory, silver gilt and diamond. Walter Stoye, designer. Barkentin & Krall, maker. Collection of Westminster Abbey, London. Image © Westminster Abbey. via https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/worship-at-the-abbey/processional-crosses/

Chalice and paten. ca. 1867-1873.
Chalice and paten. ca. 1867-1873. Barkentin and Krall, maker. Silver, parcel gilt, semi-precious stones and pearls. In the public domain in the United States as the makers have been dead over 70 years. via https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2018/03/chalice-by-barkentin-and-krall.html

Saint Bernard chalice. 1390's. German. Gold.
Saint Bernard chalice. 1390’s. German. Gold. Maker not known. In the public domain. via https://www.scross.co.za/2017/07/why-the-chalice/

Chalice. 1856-1857.
Chalice. 1856-1857. Silver with gilding set with semi-precious stones. William Butterfield, designer. John Kent, maker. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London. via http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78077/chalice-william-butterfield/