Arval Argenti Valenza Natural Specimens

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver hip flask, an addition to our wine and drinks related silverware collection. This exceptional antique George V sterling silver hip flask has a plain rectangular rounded form. This impressive flask has a subtly curved form proffering a comfortable fit in the majority of pockets. The surface of the flask is plain and unembellished. This impressive antique flask is fitted with a plain domed hallmarked hinged cover with bayonet fitting. This George V flask retains the original full hallmarked detachable push fit drinking cup which features the original gilt interior, this drinking vessel is a large example for its type. This flask has been tested and is water tight and ready for use. To ensure the flask remains water tight, the cork should be moist and therefore fully expanded to provide an effective seal. There are two recommended methods to ensure the cork does not dry out and shrink: Method one: Keep fluid in the flask at all times, and keep the flask on its side to ensure the cork remains wet. Method two: Fill the flask to the brim with fluid and close. Leave it like this overnight, or 24 hours if possible, before use. Condition This antique hip flask...

Flower centrepiece is a precious decorative object realized in the 20th century. A very elegant silver centrepiece in the shape of a flower Supported by three small feet under ...

Oval centrepiece is a precious decorative object realized by Italian Manufacture in the mid-20th century. A very elegant silver oval centrepiece with wavy decorated edges. Very...

Pair of 800 silver pheasants. Gold vermeil. European (probably Austria).   

A remarkable Victorian style handcrafted chiseled sterling silver epergne by Italian silversmith Argenteria Auge from Milan. The entire epergne is beautifully embellished with flower...

Silver vintage centerpiece is a precious decorative object realized in the 20th century. A very elegant silver circular centerpiece with emboss...

Embossed and engraved silver plaque La Madonna del lago (The Madonna of the Lake) Probably Milan, post 1824 Brass frame It measures 16.14 in x 13.85 in (41 x 35.2 cm) and it weighs 10.357 pounds (4.698 g): silver 1.31 pounds (598 g) + brass 9.03 pounds (4.100 g) State of conservation: some abrasions on the bottom. The frame is old, but not original. The plaque is made up of a sheet of embossed and engraved silver, and held in a solid brass frame. It depicts the “Madonna del lago” – “Madonna of the Lake” - (the Madonna with Child and San Giovannino) by Marco d'Oggiono (Oggiono, 1474 circa - Milan, 1524 circa), while changing only the background landscape. Almost certainly the subject reproduced in the plaque was taken from a famous engraving by Giuseppe Longhi (Monza, 1766 - Milan, 1831), one of the greatest engravers of his era. The silver is unmarked, probably because originally the Madonna was due to be exposed in a church: sometimes precious metals destined for worship and liturgical use would be exempted from payment and were, therefore, not marked. It is very likely that the plaque was made in Milan because in this city in 1824 the engraving by Giuseppe Longhi was made and printed. In addition, in Milan, the alleged lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci in his Milanese period (1482-1500) would be produced; this is the painting from which Marco d'Oggiono took his version. The painting Marco d?Oggiono was one of Leonardo da Vinci's most brilliant students and collaborators (D. Sedini, Marco d’Oggiono, tradizione e rinnovamento in Lombardia tra Quattrocento e Cinquecento, Roma 1989, pp. 151-153, n. 56; p. 225, n. 124, with previous bibliography). His style reflects in every way that of the Tuscan Maestro, so much so that he was the one who executed some copies of da Vinci's paintings. The execution of the “Madonna del Lago” probably draws inspiration from a lost painting by the Maestro, created while he was living in Milan (1482-1500). There are many similarities with other works by Leonardo such as the “Vergine delle rocce” or the “Vergine con il Bambino e San Giovannino, Sant’Anna e l’Agnello”. The painting, from which the drawing and then the famous engraving were taken, is found today at the M&G Museum of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where it came to rest after the sale of the Harrington Collection in London in 1917. The work appears in the inventories of the collection of Napoleon and Joséphine Bonaparte at the castle of Malmaison, before 1809. The Malmaison building was born and developed in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 18th century it belonged to Jacques-Jean Le Coulteux du Molay, a wealthy banker. Later, during the Directory, Joséphine Bonaparte de Beauharnais bought it on April 21st, 1799, but settled at the castle definitively only after her husband separated from her in 1809. She remained there until 1814, the year of her death. When Joséphine died, the estate passed to her son Eugène de Beauharnais, who moved to Munich with his whole family in 1815, bringing with him the collection of paintings he inherited from his mother. Eugène died in 1824 and his wife Augusta of Bavaria (von Bayern), unable to keep it, in 1828 sold the Malmaison to the Swedish banker Jonas-Philip Hagerman. It is likely that in this period Augusta also sold part of the paintings inherited from her husband, including the “Madonna del Lago”. This painting then came into the possession of Leicester Stanhope, fifth Earl of Harrington (1784 - 1862) and then was passed down to his descendants. In 1917, at the death of Charles, eighth Earl of Harrington, his brother Dudley inherited the title and properties and he put up a part of his collections for sale. Among these, precisely, the painting by Marco d'Oggiono was to be found. On the occasion of that auction the painting was presented as a work by Cesare da Sesto, by virtue of a handwritten note by the Countess of Harrington on the back of the table. However, already in 1857, the German critic Gustav Waagen had identified Marco d'Oggiono as the author of the painting, then exhibited in the dining room of Harrington House in London (Treasures of Art in Great Britain, in 4 volumes, London, 1854 and 1857). The engraving Giuseppe Longhi was one of the most renowned engravers in Italy between the end of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century. In 1824 Giuseppe Longhi, based on a design by Paolo Caronni, made a famous engraving of the painting of Marco d?Oggiono. The activity of Longhi was then at the peak of his notoriety, enough to earn him very substantial commissions; it is not risky to suppose that some of his successful engravings were also reproduced using other means: in our case in silver. (A. Crespi, a cura di, Giuseppe Longhi 1766–1831 e Raffaello Morghen...

A Silver Modern Dreidel made in the 20th Century. This Silver modern Dreidel is uncommonly made. The sides of the dreidel are square and it has the Hebrew letters Nun, Gimmel, Hey, and Shin prominently displayed but that's where the commonality stops. The top handle is long and cylindrical and the bottom point where the dreidel spins is very similar. We have seen this design on some bone dreidels. The top is slightly tilted upwards and has designs that resemble spherical beads encircled by filigree which are common on some Israeli Kiddush goblets. Even the letters which are the smae as most dreidels yet have unique designs. The Gimmel is crowned with an eight-branch Menorah, the Nun is placed within an oil pourer...

Antique early-20th Century solid silver collapsible travel cup. Compact in size with a tapered body made from five pieces, fits perfectly into a pocket trav...

This Mid-20th Century Moroccan Silver Hamsa is an artifact that carries deep cultural and symbolic significance and reflects the skilled craftsmanship typ...

Silver vintage centerpiece is a precious decorative object realized in the 20th century. A very elegant silver circular centerpiece with emboss...

Gorgeous sterling silver two handled serving tray. Splendid work of the great Italian silversmiths. The wonderful hand-made work makes the edges of this object look like a lace. M...