M.S. Rau Furniture

This silverplate tea set, striking in its simplicity, is the work of celebrated designer Christopher Dresser. Dresser first displayed his designs a...

These Napoleon III French urns exemplify the elaborate revival styles that dominated the Second Empire. The baluster-form fluorspar vases are adorned b...

This elegant Italian pedestal is hewn from a striking piece of Rouge de France marble. Quarried only in France, Rouge de France marble has been hotly sought-after since ancient times...

This important George III tazza is attributed to famed Scottish-Swedish architect Sir William Chambers. The magnificent piece features a base carved from statuary marble in the shape of a stylized dolphin, which relates to Chambers' extraordinary 18th-century architectural designs. A marvel of beauty and craftsmanship, the tazza is also inset with specimens of Derbyshire Blue John in both the plinth and bowl. Blue John is one of the most in-demand decorative stones in the world, and its inclusion in this piece elevates the tazza to a true Georgian masterpiece. Due to its popularity, the largest veins of Blue John had disappeared by the early 19th century, and only a small amount of the stone remains today. Because of its scarcity, most examples of Blue John furniture feature only small inset veneers. By contrast, this rare tazza features not one, but two substantial specimens of the stone. It represents some of the last ornamental wares created of such grand size and proportion, though other smaller examples still grace the stately British estates of Chatsworth, Hardwick, Kedleston and Haddon, among others. Not only does this tazza boast a highly rare material, but it was also designed by one of the most important architects and designers of the Georgian era. Sir William Chambers was a Scottish-Swedish architect based in London who was active during the reigns of Kings George II and George III. Celebrated for his combination of English Palladianism...

A special silver coin commemorating the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth is inset into the base of this limited edition glass goblet. Crafted...

Wonderfully charming and boasting a high level of detail, this bronze walrus also serves as an inkwell. The incredible artistry of Viennese bronze work i...

This handsome Regency library desk is crafted of rich mahogany and features the straightforward design prevalent in England during the early 19th ...

This fascinating George III silver tray is a work of skillful English artistry, intricately chased and engraved it represents a prestigious commemorative gift for service. The tray rests on 4 bracket feet with oval handles and a delightful gadrooned border. The tray is distinguished by a spectacular engraved inscription of unmatched quality that bears a presentation inscription. The inscription is surrounded by a laurel wreath border with arms, two coat of arms and flags, two of which bear the monograms for King George III and George Spencer...

This incredibly rare pair of Louis XV-period giltwood mirrored girandoles capture the grandeur, grace and opulence of the Rococo movement in the decorative arts. Each opulent mirror is exquisitely framed with voluminous flourishes of naturalistic motifs exemplary of the Louis XV era’s organic, deliberately asymmetrical stylings. Holding four candles each, these outstanding mirrored girandoles would have decoratively flanked a room of the period elegantly, illuminating the giltwood lustrously and providing ambient light reflected in the mirrored glass. Mirrors have long played an integral role in decorative design, often serving as focal points of a room. Dating back to the 13th century, the first French looking glasses were very small, yet enormously precious. Because these early mirrors...

Comprised of a platter and serving bowl, this incredibly intricate salad set was crafted in the desirable Delphos pattern by the Libbey Glass Company. Stunning fields of diamonds are cut with immense precision, making this pattern one of the most dazzling American Brilliant Period cut glass patterns ever created. A banana bowl adorned in the Delphos pattern is featured in Rarities in American Cut Glass by Herbert Wiener and Freda Lipkowitz on page 19. The bowl and platter bear the Libbey acid-etched mark. The Libbey Glass Company was the foremost and most respected producer of the best cut glass of the Brilliant Period. From its very inception, the Libbey Glass Company assumed and maintained a prominent position, considered second to none in the production of premium American glass. The company was founded in 1818 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was known as the New England Glass Company. In 1878, William L. Libbey leased the company, changing the name to the New England Glassworks, LLC, Libbey and Sons, Proprietors. His son, Edward Drummond Libbey, took over the operation in 1883 and, in 1888, he closed the Massachusetts factory and moved to Toledo, Ohio, renaming the company the Libbey Glass Company. Libbey became the largest cut glass factory in the world during the Brilliant Period (1878-1915). The company's incredible exhibit at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair propelled Libbey's world-wide reputation. They brought 130 of their most skilled craftsmen to blow and cut glass, awing spectators by demonstrating the complicated and precise process of transforming raw molten glass into dazzling works of art. Today, examples of Libbey cut glass...

This luxurious and rare table clock is the essence of Art Deco style. Retailed at the renowned J. E. Caldwell & Co., this exceptional timepiece is comprised of a French clock movement...

An extraordinary and rare coin-operated Regina Sublima upright music box crafted by the Regina music box company, one of the most recognized music bo...

Form and function converge in this exceptional Louis XV-style bureau plat graced with eight elegant Sèvres Porcelain plaques. Framing these delightful, hand painted floral and fowl-themed plaques is a network of exquisite gilt bronze. Supporting the leather-topped table are graceful cabriole legs, a hallmark of fine Louis XV taste, that are crowned by gilt bronze caryatids and terminate in gilt bronze mounts. What makes this desk even more stunning is the inclusion of three concealed drawers that are opened only by the spring-loaded secret release mechanisms located underneath. The first porcelain mounted furnishings appeared sometime in the mid-18th century in the shops of the foremost Parisian art dealers. These furnishings successfully, and quite beautifully, married renowned Sèvres Porcelain with fine furniture to create a new segment of the decorative arts that appealed greatly to the aristocracy, especially women. The Duchesse de Mazarin, Comtesse du Barry, Marie-Antoinette and the Grand Duchess Maria...

A triumph of ingenuity and craftsmanship, this Swiss cipher machine is a fabulous example of mechanical precision. Cipher machines are used to encrypt a...

This Louis-Philippe-period month-going longcase regulator clock is an exceptional example of French clockmaking, and its complicated mechanism marks several different aspects of passing time. Crafted by Deshays à Paris, the timepiece displays sleek silvered steel dials that indicate the time, date, month, equation of time...

This superlative silver inkwell was presented to Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, the United Kingdom’s Minister of Labour, on the occasion of the opening of the Salford Bridge in Birmingha...

This beautiful Meissen Porcelain figure entitled Summer and Fall is part of the company's beloved Seasons series. The putti rest upon a rocaille-formed base holding representations o...

This magnificent silver-gilt Portland vase was crafted by the pioneering silversmithing firm of Elkington & Co. The iconic classical scenes are chased up...

Created to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this engraved glass tyg is a beautiful celebration of this historic event. Held at Westminster Abb...

This exceptionally rare Ulúa marble bowl displays the lustrous white glow of the stone vessels that are native to the Ulúa river valley region of Honduras. With its alluring fluid flow of relief carvings around the entirety of its form, it exemplifies the remarkable ability of the ancient craftsmen. Ulúa artisans used simple stone tools to create magnificent marble bowls...

The extraordinary beauty and superior craftsmanship of 17th century German clockmaking is on full display in this exceptionally rare horizontal tabletop timepiece dating to 1650 Augsburg. Created by Johannes Buschman the Younger, the eminent Buschman family of clockmakers are lauded for designing some of the finest timepieces to ever be created in the South German town of Augsburg during the late Renaissance and early Modern periods. A finely moulded ebony and turtleshell casing veneered in a mottled red hue holds the clock’s fusée and chain movement with verge escapement and balance with hogs-bristle regulation. A silver figure of Minerva, Roman goddess of war and wisdom, centers the Roman numeral-engraved chapter ring, indicating the time by pointing to the hour with an authoritative military staff as the sun rotates below her feet to indicate the minute. The incredible design is finished by a gilded backplate intricately pierced and engraved with a floral motif and the signature of Johannes Buschman. Clocks are one of the greatest and most important inventions of the Renaissance period, improving steadily into the Age of Discovery. Embodying a renewed interest in science, the arts and humanism, the first mechanical timepieces began appearing in the 14th century and were large, weight-driven devices placed in the turrets of public buildings that struck the hour and lacked hands and faces. This clock was created during the first period of household clocks, when spring-driven movements made it possible to create smaller and more complex mechanisms. Such creations, however, were a luxury accessible only to the wealthy upper classes. Affluent patrons placed pressure upon artisans to create more elaborate and ornate clocks...

Pairs of adorable children adorn these charming potpourri pots attributed to famed French porcelain maker Jacob Petit, one of the finest porcelain artis...

This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket. Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes...

An outstanding set of Chippendale-style dining chairs, created from designs by Thomas Chippendale, one of history's most celebrated artisans. A testimony to the incredible workmanshi...

Measuring over 30 feet in length, this tremendous and highly versatile English dining table is the greatest. It has the ability to transform to a multitude of sizes to fit any occasi...

A wonderful English coromandel travel case, or necessaire de voyage, boasts toiletries adorned with Victorian silver, cut crystal, and mother-of-p...

Trimmed in elegant yellow gold is this polished English agate snuff box. Distinguished by the dynamic patterning of the agate, the exquisite vessel i...

This amazing footbath was created for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was part of the toilet service to be used during his exile on St. Helena. Just before shipm...

This elegant desk clock by Cartier features a soft blue guilloché enamel and gold frame. With Roman numerals marking the hours, the dial's radiant guilloché pattern is well-complemented by hands studded with fine white diamonds. An outstanding example of 1920s design, this remarkable timepiece comes with its original red leather case, excellent condition. The Cartier tradition...

An exceptionally rare objet d'art, this opulent and incredibly rare French miniature clock is crafted of solid 18-karat gold and jade. Crafted by Parisian jeweler Paul Frey and retailed by Gompers, this handcrafted masterpiece is exemplary of the Art Nouveau aesthetic, boasting exquisite gold mounts hand-cast with unmistakable Gothic elements, including gargoyles and grotesque figures, accentuated by intricate foliate motifs. The resplendent, rich green jade column provides the perfect contrast; gracefully twisting in an elegant display of beauty and craftsmanship. The vast majority of such luxurious objects were composed of gilt bronze, making 18K gold specimen...

The exquisite art of pietre dure is at its absolute finest in this spectacular pair of Russian ormolu and malachite plinths. True works of art of the Restauration period, these plinths each feature a matching pietre dure mosaic crafted of the finest stones, all chosen to create a sense of depth and dimensionality in the final work. Depicting an onyx vase with tulips, roses, daffodils, magnolia and other flowers, these pietre dure panels are among the finest examples of this ancient art we have seen. The pietre dure is complemented by malachite panels of the highest quality, exhibiting exceptional depth through its extraordinary cellular structure. Malachite is one of Russia’s most precious stones, and its presence in these plinths indicates commission and ownership by an individual of considerable status. Mounted in an excellent stepped ormolu base, these plinths originally served as bases for vases or candelabra. The overall execution and appearance of these plinths is very characteristic of the taste associated with the immensely wealthy collector Nicolas Demidoff. As early as 1806, Demidoff had commissioned the Parisian goldsmith Henri August to supply a guéridon; in 1819, he ordered famed French bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire to supply mounts for a massive malachite vase (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), as well as a console table with legs in the form of Nike. Other commissions included a table given as a gift to Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Florence, now in the Pitti Palace. Demidoff eventually settled in Florence in 1822 and became Russian minister to the Tuscan Court. Elevated to the rank of Count of San Donato by the Grand Duke, he built a magnificent villa at San Donato on the site of lands formerly owned by the Medici. The villa was later inherited by Anatole, his son, Prince of San Donato, and there are records which confirm transactions he had with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. The 19th century proved to be the golden age of Russian malachite. The stone became a sign of prestige and a token of wealth, so much so that Russian papers of the time wrote: "To afford having a big piece wrought in malachite is synonymous to owning diamonds." Year after year the Russian (Romanov) treasury paid increasingly unreasonable prices to hoard the best malachite, much of which went into Romanov palaces and extravagant objets d'art. The Hermitage Museum possesses a collection of over two hundred examples of this “palatial” malachite...

Exquisite craftsmanship in wood is coupled with the elegance of Wedgwood in this remarkable side table. Highly similar to one of French cabinetmaker Francois Linke's most enquired-after designs at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, this outstanding piece features bronze gilding, which complements the luminous Ceylon satinwood. A beautiful white marble top harmonizes wonderfully with Wedgwood jasperware...

Exceptional in both size and artistry, this cameo art glass vase is the work of the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, one of the most highly regarded names in French glassmaking....

A work of exceptional detail, this magnificent Viennese clock takes the art form of enameling to new heights. The elaborately fashioned timepiece rests atop the head of a soldier, who stands on a pedestal populated by sphinxes. Exceptional details encase the entire piece, from the rooster finial to the gem-studded base. A hand-painted portrait of the heroic soldier on the reverse completes this stunning piece. Particularly popular during the 19th century, Viennese enamels...

This exceptionally rare circular expanding dining table was designed by Robert Jupe and crafted by the English cabinetmakers Johnstone & Jeanes, successors to Johnstone, Jupe & Co. One of only a handful known from the firm, this table illustrates the Victorian era's quest to combine technical innovation with superb and beautiful craftsmanship. Complete with its original leaves, the table’s circular top is formed from eight separate segments. When the top is rotated, an ingenious swivel mechanism causes the sections to diverge, allowing a set of small or large leaves to be inserted for an adjustable increase in size. The design for the table was patented by Robert Jupe in 1835, who had envisioned “an improved expanding table so constructed that the sections composing its surface may be caused to diverge from a common center and that the spaces caused thereby may be filled up by inserting leaves or filling pieces.” The first of these fascinating tables were created between 1835 and 1840 during his partnership with John Johnstone and their firm of Johnstone, Jupe & Co. in London. Jupe left the company in 1840, after which the firm changed its name due to a new partnership and became Johnstone & Jeanes. The firm would eventually achieve international fame for its remarkable designs, exhibiting a "circular table made on the expanding principle" like this one at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Jupe was not alone in his fascination with combining the technical merits of engineering and mechanics with the more artful pursuit of cabinet making. The first half of the 19th century saw a prolific increase in the popularity of applying new ideas to furniture principles, which allowed furniture to serve many purposes. The resulting “patent” furniture...

Crafted of Venetian glass, this exceptional perfume bottle displays an elaborate, marbled pattern of reds, yellows, blues and golds. Late 19th century Measures: 3/4" wide x 3/4...

An important antique silverplate charger created by Elkington & Co., based on a sculpture by French artist Morel Ladeuil. Cast by one of the most significant and highly respected English silver firms in history, the classically-designed repoussé form displays an intimate scene of a lady being dressed by her attendants. Surrounded by a border of Greek anthemions and supported its elm and mahogany solid wood frame, this plaque is a tour-de-force of silver plate artistry. Elkington & Co. patented the first commercial electroplating process and held Royal Warrants for Queen Victoria, King Edward VI...

This charming musical jewelry and sewing box is a work of sublime artistry. Almost certainly German or Austrian in origin and crafted of deep, ebonized...

The perfect complement to a fine dining affair, this George III-period rolling dessert stand is crafted of desirable Sheffield silver plate. In this modified version of an epergne, this centerpiece features an urn-form basket encircled by pierced circular dishes supported on four arms that radiate from the center. In between are ten glass dessert cups...

This outstanding crystal and doré bronze chandelier crafted by Baccarat is truly a splendid sight to behold. Of monumental size and opulent design, it bears all the hallmarks of that company’s exceptional style. This stunning 24-light piece is composed of Hundreds of beautifully designed, oversized, luminous prisms and beads of hand wood-polished crystal hang from scrolling branches of doré bronze. A large ball pendant and a central crystal column provide a sense of weight and substance to this ethereal design. The French House of Baccarat has been internationally recognized for its magnificent glass creations for over 200 years. During the mid-19th century, their chandeliers and tableware were favoured greatly by European royalty, including Louis XVIII, Charles X, Louis Phillipe, Emperor Napoleon III, Czar Nicholas II...

This extraordinary crystal inkwell from the renowned Baccarat is a piece of exquisite charm and grace. Featuring a doré bronze mermaid languishing upon the crest of a rolling wave, i...

This superb mechanical desk by famed French ebeniste Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley is both an artistic and engineering achievement. A Parisian ca...

A marvelously carved chinoiserie motif adorns the lid of this incredible 19th-century French tabatière or snuff box. The charming scene is intricately crafted in the form of a boating figure who holds aloft an umbrella formed of yellow gold, while the box itself is crafted from attractive brown hardstone mounted with stunning yellow gold "waves." Enchanting and beautifully executed, the rare snuff box is an incredible example of the creative artistry of these delightful boxes, as well as the highly popular chinoiserie style. Inhaling snuff, or snuffing, as it is also called, was a popular social ritual among the European elite from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Over these 300 years, master artisans created and designed elegant snuff boxes using...

The fine art of wine-making is brought to life by this rare French wine corker. Beautifully crafted of wrought iron, this corker is specifically des...

This incredible Grand Tour inkwell relic takes the form of the ancient Tomb of the Scipios, a family of Roman war heroes and generals. Beautifully carved ent...

This monumental English mahogany sideboard captures the luxury of the Regency era in grand style. Crafted in the neoclassical taste, the sideboard evokes the stately forms of ancient...

The grandeur of Regency design meets superb workmanship in this cast ormolu epergne. Three imposing sphinxes support each corner, reflecting the fascination with Egyptian antiquity...

Leafy pendants adorn this fine cameo glass bowl by Daum, known for their singular pieces of art glass of the utmost quality. Daum has remained an impo...

This resplendent tobacco jar by Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia features a beautiful sterling silver lid atop a body of elegant cut-to-clear glass. The lid is adorned with a wonderful Rococo repoussé decoration which contrasts beautifully with the green and cranberry cut glass...

This highly important secrétaire-cabinet was crafted for and specially ordered by King George I for the British Ambassador to Russia. From its craftsmanship and materials to its exceptional artistry, it is a work of royal and historic significance that exudes power in each and every detail. The broken pediment at its apex features the simplified royal coat of arms bearing the king’s crown, while the interior is adorned by portraits of the British Royal Family. Placed within the ambassador’s St. Petersburg home, this entirely unique piece of furniture would have been a potent reminder of England's grandeur and political importance. Relations between England and Russia during this period were at an all-time high. Peter the Great had traveled to England in 1698 as part of his widely known “Grand Embassy” tour, wherein he attempted to gain foreign support against the Ottoman Empire. He spent a period of nearly four months there, meeting with King William III and his court on numerous occasions. Noted academic Arthur MacGregor wrote concerning the impact of the trip, “For two decades following Peter's visit, British influence in Russia reached a peak. It manifested itself in social custom, in craft practice and in ships and naval organization... it reached a significant sector of the population before relations cooled once again and the two nations pulled back from this era of unprecedented cordiality.” First and foremost, however, it is a reminder of British might and influence. By the reign of King George I, England had come into its own as a world power. Unique in its design, this cabinet is a reflection of the country’s might. It is crafted from the highest-quality solid walnut and burr walnut adorned by gilded lock plates and engraved hinges. The presence of ormolu at its apex and lining the doors was a rarity for this period, and its addition makes manifest the importance of the design. The outer doors open to reveal multiple interiors, including fifteen separate drawers around a central cupboard; the cupboard doors each bear mezzotint portraits of George I and his father, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover. An etching after the portrait of George I dating to circa 1716 is in London’s Royal Academy. A second, inner pair of doors are adorned by mezzotints of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Queen Caroline and George II), which are both after portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller dated 1716 in the Royal Collection. A final portrait is revealed on the very interior of the cabinet, where a mezzotint of Frederick, Anne, Amelia and Caroline, children of the Prince of Wales, resides. An etching (circa 1715-1720) after this portrait can be found in the National Portrait Gallery (London). Apart from its abundance of royal portraiture, the cabinet features stunning painted decoration, including floral designs as well as clouds, birds and trees in a bucolic motif reminiscent of Eden. Its lower portion is a study in both form and function, featuring a fitted secrétaire-drawer above three additional drawers for storage. The cabinet appears in The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture by R. Edwards from 1964, a text that is regarded as the bible of British furniture design. Edwards describes it as a “writing cabinet...given by George I to the British Ambassador at the Russian court.” The cabinet was likely made for the 18th-century German diplomat and writer Friedrich Christian Weber, who represented English interests at the Russian court from 1714 until 1719. Although Weber’s tenure as ambassador was relatively short, while in St. Petersburg, he authored his account entitled Das veraenderte Russland (The Present State of Russia), which was published in three volumes in 1721, 1739 and 1740. It may, however, also have been made for George Douglas, 2nd Earl of Dumbarton, who served as ambassador alongside Weber in 1716. Diplomatic relations ceased between the two countries in 1721. In 1928, the cabinet appeared for sale at the International Exhibition of Antiques & Works of Art in Olympia. It had previously been in the collection of the Woltner family of Bordeaux, the celebrated vintners who owned the estate Château Laville Haut-Brion and produced wine of the same name. According to the family, Monsieur Woltner was given the cabinet as a gift from an aunt who lived in Russia for many years. After leaving the Woltner collection, the cabinet was acquired by William Berry...

Crafted by Wedgwood, this exquisite and rare assembled coffee cup and saucer set are comprised of the firm’s famous pale “Wedgwood blue” jasperwar...

An outstanding pair of sterling silver candlesticks by English silversmith Alexander Johnston. Reflecting the mid-18th century Georgian taste for the Rococo style, these candlesticks feature deeply chased decoration, from shells and palms to acanthus and rosettes, as well as an engraved armorial on each pedestal. Their exuberant yet balanced design is characteristic of the sophisticated style brought to England by French Huguenot silversmiths in the 1700s. Alexander Johnston first entered his mark in 1747 and work such as his, as well as that of artists like the celebrated Paul de Lamerie, indicated the adoption of French forms in all of the decorative arts, from furniture to textiles, hailing the dramatic shift from the more restrained classical manner. Excellent condition. Hallmarked London, 1751 10 ¾” high Reference: English goldsmiths and their marks, 2nd ed., 1921, Sir Charles James Jackson.

This rare and exceptional William IV bowl is the work of preeminent Georgian silversmith Paul Storr. Crafted of luxurious gilt silver, the bowl exhibits all the hallmarks of Storr’s celebrated style, from the textured panels and applied decorations to the ruffled scallop shells and acanthus adorning its matching, fitted underplate. Paul Storr was a master at redefining and perfecting Georgian, Regency and William IV silver. His works have remained the most desirable with collectors for generations, and many have been given as prizes in refined competitions. Elegant and sumptuous, this bowl was later awarded as First Prize in a backgammon tournament in 1972. Paul Storr was a master at redefining and perfecting Georgian, Regency and William IV silver. Although he created items of great extravagance, some of his most captivating designs exhibited his restrained yet refined sensibilities. His works have remained the most desirable with collectors for generations and many have been given as prizes in refined competitions. Later presentation inscription “Clermont Club Grand International Backgammon Tournament April 1972 First Prize” Hallmarked London, 1836 on bowl and stand; stand numbered 435 Bowl: 8 ¼” diameter x 3 3/8” high Stand: 10” diameter 38.2 troy ounces The Clermont Club, located on London’s aristocratic Berkeley Square in Mayfair, is one of the most exclusive gaming clubs in the world. The club is housed in the only surviving town house designed by renowned Georgian architect William Kent, and the architecture and interiors make it one of the most elegant clubs in existence. The list of the club's original members included the cream of the British aristocracy...

This amazing and extremely rare Bavarian Biedermeier-period pharmacy balance stand would have been at home at any apothecary’s shop during the mid-19th century. Crafted of walnut with bold giltwood accents, this stand holds eight separate sets of balances with brass beams and pointers, and weighing pans made of Horn, brass and porcelain. The balances measure out varying sizes; the largest is capable of measuring up to 500 grams, while smallest weighs up to 5 grams. Such balances would have been essential tools in the practice of compounding, or creating customized medications to suit a specific patient's needs. The delicate porcelain scales even indicate what they were used to weigh: one set is marked “Jodoform,” or iodoform, a disinfectant and antiseptic once used to treat wounds, and the other is marked “Venena,” which is Latin for “poisons.” Each scale also exhibits stamps indicating that they have been tested for accuracy. It is extremely rare to find such a large array of scales, especially those in such wonderful condition, in one collection. This intriguing piece is a must for any medical antiques enthusiast. The units of measurement in which apothecaries worked were often minute: grains, scruples, drams and ounces. As they were typically used to measure very small amounts of ingredients, apothecary and analytical balances...

Considered the first step into the world of modern photocopying, the copying machine was among the first widely used devices to successfully produce an ex...

Two little fawns attempt to keep warm by brazier fire in this enchanting pair of French Louis XVI chenets, or fireplace andirons. Crafted of stunning...

This rare and stunning vitrine was crafted by the illustrious French ébéniste François Linke. A master of the Louis XVI style, Linke was renowned for his highly original designs t...

Uniquely designed in the form of a gift box tied with ribbon, this engaging silver tea caddy was created by the prominent silversmith Frederick Elking...

This handsome library table is a remarkable example of the English furnishings that represented wealthy Victorian tastes. The piece is attributed to Holland & Sons, a firm regarded as one of the most important cabinetmakers of the era. Crafted of rich mahogany with gilt brass mounts and a tooled leather writing surface, this table characterizes the superb craftsmanship of Holland & Sons and exudes Victorian elegance. The well-known British cabinetmaking firm of Holland & Sons was considered the top of their class in their day. Found in 1803 by William Holland...

This bras en l'air, or "arms in the air," French mantel clock demonstrates the neoclassical luxury of the Second Empire style. The focal point of the clock is a large doré bronze mai...