Portuguese Colonial Coconut Shell Scoop

A naïve coconut shell “bugbear” powder flask carved as a fish with an open mouth surrounded by scales above a man hunting with a rifle and dogs, the underside plain, circa 1805. “Bugbear” coconut...

Each cistern is in the form of a fluted vase on a rectangular pedestal. The lead-lined vases have brass handles, removable lids with pineapple finials and taps. The crossbanded pedestals have cupboard doors enclosing slatted shelves for warming plates in one and a lead-lined slops drawers, a tambour fronted shelf and a cellaret in the other. Susan Stuart, 'Gillow of Lancaster and London', 2008 vol 1 p308-315 illustrates many pedestal urns including the drawings for Workington Hall, Cumbria, dated 1788. PLates 342 and 343 show pedestals with a similar arrangement of shelves and drawers. Thomas Sheraton explained the functions of dining room pedestals in his 'Drawing Book' of 1793: 'IN spacious dining rooms the sideboards are often made without drawers of any sort, having simply a rail, a little ornament...

A naïve rounded coconut shell “bugbear” powder flask with silver mounts, carved with a native face at the end and three ovals showing an officer, a gentleman and his lady, circa 1805...

A sailor’s carved coconut Bugbear powder flask. This carved coconut is carved with two ovals, one showing a military panoply with standards, bayonets, swords and bugles all above a ...

A William IV Colonial padouk five-foot round table, the solid circular top with a pierced frieze of paired volute scrolls, with blind fretwork and e...

This chest on chest is of rectangular form in two sections. The upper section has twelve similar drawers in four registers and carrying handles on the sides. The base has a pair of frieze drawers above a single deep drawer, disguised as a pair, with four handles and flanked by carved Nagini whose monopodia scroll supports are raised on blocks to form the feet. The whole piece is decorated with an overall pattern of interlaced stars and circles embellished with ebony and ivory dots and is applied with brass handles and lock escutcheons. Goanese, circa 1800. This contador blends the traditional form of Western...

This intriguing sterling silver cup features the shell of a coconut mounted into exquisite silver. A sublime example of elegant Georgian design, the cup features delicate scalloped edging as its singular motif. It is extraordinary to find such a beautiful example of this lost art, exhibiting a rare combination of classical beauty and exotic charm. The use of rare and exotic materials such as the coconut became popular across Europe during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that these unique materials from distant lands possessed mystical powers. It was held that they could detect, and even deter, the effects of poison and as such were employed as drinking vessels, often mounted with ornate embellishments of silver. As more trade routes opened up during the 16th century, materials such as the coconut became more widely available, though still only afforded to the wealthy minority in Europe and England. And, while they eventually lost their appeal for their magical powers, coconuts proved an ideal material for cups and pots and retained their popularity as such. Very similar silver-mounted coconut cups...

A fine and impressive antique English sterling silver mounted coconut cup; an addition to our diverse silverware collection. This impressive antique sterling silver mounted coconut cup has a circular rounded form onto a circular pedestal foot. The upper portion of this antique coconut cup...

A fine and impressive antique Victorian sterling silver mounted coconut cup, an addition to our diverse Victorian silverware collection. This impressive antique Victorian sterling silver mounted coconut cup has a circular rounded form onto a circular pedestal foot. The upper portion of the cup is encircled with an impressive, applied hallmarked provincial Scottish sterling silver border to the rim accented with a plain applied moulded border. The plain coconut vessel surmounts a fine and impressive knopped pedestal and circular foot, encircled with bright cut engraved interlacing pendant drop style decoration. The interior of this antique coconut cup...

Similar to Moriageware or Satsumaware, this platter features intricate designs which are raised or incised into the piece giving it a soft textured feel. The design is reminiscent of...

William Gale American sterling silver crumb scoop slice, circa 1860. Beautiful engine turned and foliate engraved with spiral stem to shaped handle. Monogr...

19th century Victorian silver plate spoon warmers in the shape of nautilus shells resting on a bed of sea rocks ending with an ornate shell d...