19th Century Paperweights

Count Gleichen’s Russian shell paperweight, the tooth shaped fragment of a Russian armament shell set above another of rectangular form both raised on a silver mount on an ebonized rectangular plinth, applied with a plaque reading ‘Two fragments of a Russian shell fired at Mr Fred Burne assist.t paymaster and Mr Henry Crave St John midshipman of H.M.S. Cumberland in Aug.t 1854 from Tsee Fort Bonarsund whilst conveying refreshments to the English camp – for their messmate – H.S.H. Prince Victor of Hohenlohe Midshipman landed with the Naval Brigade in 1854’. With a framed caricature of Count Gleichen inscribed Vanity Fair, London, July 5, 1884. Vice Admiral H.S.H Count Gleichen – the Queen’s Nephew.Russian and English, 1854. The print has the following biography on the reverse and on the mount ‘His Serene Highness Prince Victor …. of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, is better known in England as Count Gleichen and as the Queen’s nephew. Born fifty years ago, he was sent to school at Dresden; but at the age of fourteen he conceived ideas not to be bounded within the confines of the small life of a German principality. So he ran away from school to go to sea, and his aunt the Queen of England, being informed of the fact, proposed to her sister to let her adventurous nephew become naturalised as an Englishman and enter the English Navy. This was accordingly done, and Prince Victor, as he was then called, was appointed to the Powerful on the Mediterranean Station, in 1848. He served in the Crimean War and in the operations in China he proved a popular officer and a good sailor-man, and was three times wounded in battle. In 1861 he married the daughter of Admiral Sir George Seymour, sister of the fifth Marquis of Hertford on which occasion it was that he put down his title of Prince and took up for future use that of Count. He became, in due course a Vice-Admiral, and in the meantime he also became a sculptor. It is in the latter art that he now mainly busies himself, and he has created many pleasing busts of his royal relatives and some works of greater pretensions than family portraits. An Alfred the Great, a Beaconsfield, and a Prince Imperial...

Signed illegibly original red marble base. Dimensions: H: 8.25” x W: 3.25” x D: 4.25” Base diameter: 2.75” This beautiful and delicate desktop dark chocolate-brown patinated br...

19th century pair of hand painted wooden finials in the shape of a vase with handles.

An 1880s English, Victorian very heavy brass clip for papers and objects. A true collectors piece. Can be hung or laid flat.

French gilt bronze bassinet, circa 1875.  On marble base.

This exquisite cast bronze sprung hinged letter/document clip from France circa 1880 is a stunning example of functional artistry. Crafted in the form of a crane's head, it embodies ...

Collection Of Antique Iron Coin Banks, Very Decorative. Priced Per Bank.

This 19th century weight originally used its heft domestically to protect a child. A simple yet ingenious concept, the stone anchored the baby’s swaddling cloth to the bed so the chi...

An Antique French Cane Paperweight, 1851 Additional information: Date : 1851 Origin : France, probably Baccarat Features : Four rows of concentric canes around an 1851 date cane Mar...

A collection of table ornaments, cut crystal gilt bronze 19th and 20th century, priced per item. Height of tallest 20 1/4 inches.

A most charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Royale marble small scale statue/paperweight, signed F. Costa. The statue is raised by an oval Rouge Royale base wi...