Silver and Glass Spice Dish or Bowl, 19th Century

Spice rack. Silver. DE CASTRO, Damian. SANCHEZ SOTO, Juan. Spain, Córdoba, second half of the 18th century. With contrast markings. Silver spice rack in its color with a frustoco...

Without hallmarks. With property initials. Container known as catavinos (wine cup) or tembladera with two curved flat handles decorated with simplified plant elements, and a line of...

A magnificent, fine and impressive pair of antique German silver and cut glass claret jugs; an addition to our wine and drinks related silverware collection. These magnificent antique German silver and glass claret jugs have a moon flask shaped form. The cylindrical necks are encircled with embossed knops, each ornamented with scrolling decoration on a matt background. The upper bead decorated knop of each jug is surmounted with an impressive boat shaped collar, incorporating a flared lip and fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover. The covers are further ornamented with embossed decoration to the domed portions, displayed within plain paralleling arabesque shaped borders, accented with impressive single scrolling leaf decorated thumbpieces. Each cover is surmounted with an exceptional finial featuring fluted and scroll decoration surmounted with swept leaf designs incorporating a ball terminal. The glass bodies of these antique claret jugs are embellished with fine and impressive, large cut glass floral motifs accented with a textured background to each incurve. Each glass vessel is enveloped with an impressive 800 standard silver surround incorporating a strapwork bordered cartouche to either side; one displays the contemporary engraved initials 'TSE' and the other bears the German inscription '1855, 18 Marz, 1880'. The silver surrounds to the jugs are embellished with impressive embossed scenes depicting a nude nymph style character pouring liquid from a bottle into a large chalice, all bordered with interlacing scrolling leaf designs emanating from the upper and lower portions. These magnificent jugs are fitted with an exceptional, fine and impressive silver ribbed, scrolling handles enveloped with plain handpieces and embellished with further strapwork decoration and incorporating a scrolling leaf decorated thumbpieces. Each jug is supported by an impressive circular spreading foot encircled with an embossed scrolling leaf ornamentation, matching the style of the knop to the neck. The subdued matte finish to the 800 standard silver bodies of these impressive jugs are accented with gilt ornamentation to the paralleling borders, enhanced with simplistic bright cut engraved decoration. The interior of the cover and lipped collar retain the original gilt interior. Condition These antique glass claret jugs are an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition in keeping with age. The glass body of each jug is in perfect condition. The German silver 800 standard mark struck to the rim of each foot are all very clear. Dimensions Length from back of handle to lip 15.5cm/6.1". Diameter of body 14.5cm/5.7". Width of body 8.5cm/3.3". Height to top of finial 36.5cm/14.4". Maker: Unmarked. Origin: Germany, Europe. Date: circa 1880. Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of these examples of antique German silverware.

This is a superb quality antique Italian Pietra Dura mounted, gilt brass and alabaster table-centre comport dish, dating from the late 19th century. With striking pierced Neo-Gothic chased brass mounts this splendid alabaster dish is set with six highly decorative pietra dura roundels depicting various floral decoration. It is raised on a sturdy circular brass base. It is a sumptuous piece which will make a great statement in any special room. Condition: In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 8 x width 29 x depth 29 Dimensions in inches: Height 3.1 x width 11.4 x depth 11.4 Pietra Dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade. The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian. But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)" The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying colored marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...." Giovanni Montelatici...