Pair Neoclassical Silver Water Pitchers by Gorham

Our pair of elegant silver-gilt ewers are attributed to the Austrian maker, Johann Georg Hann of Vienna, circa 1780-1800. Heights: 17 7/8 and 22 1/2 in; 45 a...

Our 19th century bronze bust of a lovely neoclassical female with diadem crown, known as Buste de Femme au Diadème, by Eugene Aizelin (French, 1821-1902) was cast by Barbedienne of P...

Our antique Grand Tour bronze hydria water jar after the original Greek design, circa 5th century BC, has a verdigris green patina and is finely cast with a winged laughing mask and ...

Our wonderful snuff box features a finely carved agate relief depicting Bacchus and Cupid, scrolling foliate motifs and roundels against a matte ground, and cover with blue enamel bo...

Our sterling silver goblets in the form of the clown, Petrushka, by the Russian artist, Mihail Chemiakin (1943- ) each measure 10 1/2 in (26.7 cm) by 4 in (10.1 cm) and are in excell...

Our important parcel-gilt and patinated silver and glass-mounted vase and matching oil lamp were designed by Paul Legrand (1840-1910) and crafted by the silversmith, Charles Glachant, for Boucheron of Paris, circa 1878-1880. 21 in tall and 16.5 in wide (53.4 by 41.9 cm). 28.56 lbs, 457 oz, 14,210 g. Provenance: presented to or purchased by Jean-Baptiste Pezon (1827-1897); acquired by a European private collector, perhaps on the death of Jean-Baptiste Pezon in 1897, by descent; acquired by YM Antiques, 2017. This double walled vase has an amphora form, with body and foot with silver, gilt and patinated and stylized flowers, anthemions and sprays of cherries against an etched and matted ground pierced to reveal a gilt inner wall. The upper body is detachable via a slip-lock, and mounted on both sides with arched panels formed of hexagonal beveled glass tiles. One glass panel applied with bacchic infants taunting a rearing goat and the other side with infants feeding grapes to a lioness under a looming bust of a satyr. The patinated and gilt upswung loop bifurcated handles are mounted with fully modeled figures of Pan bearing a syrinx and thyrsus and a draped maenad playing two flutes, both above roaring lion heads, the rim inset with a slip-lock detachable gilt bowl etched with masks of various representations of Bacchus spaced by ribbons and trophies and with scrolling fruiting vines. The base of interior with detachable base metal drip pan to accommodate the removable oil lamp designed to illuminate the glass tiles from within. The lamp is raised on four hoof feet, the upturned ends cast underneath with masks and with detachable cover mounted with two infant satyrs and flanked by gilt loop handles. The bacchic themed design featuring cartouches depicting infants taunting a goat and lion, plus prominent lion masks at the handles, certainly appealed to Boucheron's customer, Jean-Baptiste Pezon (1827-1897), who is believed to have commissioned the piece. Pezon was the celebrated lion tamer and headliner of the Grande Menagerie whose profession brought him great fame and fortune in Paris. Born a shepherd boy in Lozere, he is said to have left his home at the age of seventeen in the company of a wolf he had captured and trained years earlier. He headed to Paris and by the age of twenty-one purchased his first lion who he named Brutus. The animal is said to have inspired the Lion of Belfort, the monumental red standstone sculpture by Frederic Bartholdi erected in Belfort in 1880. Toulouse-Lautrec was among his admirers and friends, visiting Pezon's Great Lozerian Menagerie to sketch animals. A large bronze sculpture of Pezon atop a female lion adorns the Pezon family tomb in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, as seen in our image here. The vase and detachable bowl are marked on the underside with the silversmith's mark of Charles Glachant. The underside and upper rim of the lower body is engraved "Fic Boucheron Paris". The lamp is marked on underside and flange of cover for Glachant. Boucheron archives indicate the vase was inspired by the amphora vases created by the Greek potter, Nikosthenes, 550-510 BC. The Nikosthenic amphora vases are a form of Attic vase recognized for their angular amphora form with broad flat handles. Potted of bright orange-red clay, they were decorated with plant and animal motifs within distinct friezes, with the most significant defining feature being the black figure painting, often highlighted with white accents. In this vase Legrand re-imagines the striking contrast of the black figures against a warm ground through the use of patina and gilding. His inventive use of piercing and double-wall construction create additional levels of texture and depth throughout the body. The same combination of ornamentation was employed in a ewer designed by Legrand in 1880 in the Islamic taste. (See lot 77 of Christie's sale in New York on October 22, 2009.) Edmé Bouchardon (1698-1762), royal sculptor to Louis XV, may have provided Legrand with inspiration for the vase's iconography. The panel featuring bacchic infants taunting a rearing goat is very similar to a bas relief representation of Winter designed by Bouchardon for the Fontaine des Quarte-Saisons on rue de Grenelle, Paris. Bouchardon debuted his plaster model for the bas relief in 1741, and the fountain was completed in 1745. The Boucheron firm, founded by the celebrated jeweler, Frédéric Boucheron...

Plymouth sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1909. Tapering and paneled ovoid body, reeded helmet mouth, capped scroll bracket handle, and stepped oval foo...

Oval shaped with delicate etching around the top and middle of the pitcher. Notice the elegant shape of the handle and the indentations throughout the body. This piece is sure to cat...

Beautifully crafted antique American sterling silver water jug in the Aesthetic style, with a frosted surface decorated with the most delicate hand-eng...

Gorham sterling silver pitcher or jug.

Traditional Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Dominick & Haff in New York, ca 1920. Tapering and faceted bowl on round and stepped foot. High-looping capped and scroll...

A magnificent ewer with exquisite repousse silver work depicting generous campagna vases overflowing with flowers, set on scrolled foliate bases. The rim decoration featuring a lined ribbon motif adorned with wreaths. Front design with a large oval laurel leaf border medallion topped with a depiction of a beautiful maiden flanked by wide foliate forms and Belle Epoque scrolls. Very good condition commensurate with age, a few tiny unobtrusive surface dings- please see detail photographs. Museum quality work of art, a spectacular vessel for all forms of libations. Makes an outstanding centerpiece, wedding / anniversary gift. 32.8 troy ounces. Marks: Sterling, Gorham Manufacturing Co. late 19th century hallmarks, letter M for the year 1880. Measures: diameter: 10 inches handle to spout, 6.5 inches body. height: 9.25 iinches. The Gorham Manufacturing Co. along with Tiffany & Co. are considered the two most influential American silver makers of the 19th century. Gorham pieces were the choice of a number of United States presidents: Ulysses S. Grant comissioned the spectacular Century Vase, Mary Todd...