Berkshires

The antique country iron twin size headboard has a wonderfully, natural distressed look with just enough paint remaining to add interest and character. We have cleaned it up and ha...

Stately and impressive white washed 18th century Dutch linen press perfect as dining room china cupboard, entertainment center, bar or ...

A newly re-painted vintage French Provincial style queen size headboard for the special bedroom in your house. Painted a grey with a hint of blue and a...

Premonville and Dewavrin slim and lightweight, long black coat featuring a mandarin collar and slit-panel skirt starting mid thigh. Bound slit detailing a...

The antique Asian stool has a square top and a balanced form with timeless rustic appeal. Beautifully worn from a century of use, the aged wood pat...

The antique Corinthian corner capital is made of veined marble painted white. One corner is cut away so that the capital can protrudes from the corn...

Flattering mahogany mink hat featuring a broad, upturned brim and a round crown. The brim is stiffened to hold it shapeand edge can be unrolled for a straighter brim. Lined in black ...

Appearing in several versions on the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection runway with silk oversized long bell sleeves (see our photos of the gold and white versions beginn...

Robert Goosens, the French Chanel-favorite haute-couture parurier who enjoyed reinterpreting ancient and antique styles of jewelry with rock crystal and faux stones, also collaborated with Madame Alix Gres as one of our photos documents. Relevant to this statement necklace, the Parisian theatrical-costume designer, who founded the French fashion-house Maison Gres, commissioned Goosens to make spiral-wire adornments for her couture gowns. This handmade hammered brass wire choker necklace with five dropped entremblant pendants is decorated with unique colorful beads and wrapped wire. The piece dates between 1969-1971 based on similar unsigned spiraled-wire metal jewelry without goldsmithing marks in the museum collection of TheMet, which acquired the necklace that we photographed from Maison Givenchy founder Hubert de Givenchy, who was one of most supportive fans of Gres. Like the legendary sculptural clothing designs of Madame Gres, this necklace was inspired by Greco-Roman costumes, while its sculpted shapes by Goosens reference her signature curvilinear fabric techniques that earned her the sobriquet of "the master of the wrapped and draped dress". Goosens (1927-2016), nicknamed Monsieur Bijou, also made jewelry inspired by other periods of antiquity to compliment the couture clothing of Coco Chanel, Cristobal Balenciaga, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent. After Goosens collaborated with Gres, he revisited golden spiral designs with Saint Laurent. Similar to the free-flowing fabric manipulated in Gres gowns, this hand-shaped necklace that we photographed in sunlight is a study in motion that drapes across a curvy cleavage. Adding drama to this necklace below its wire choker, the top teetering-wire pendant is a twisted and hammered horizontal double spiral, which is a Hellenistic symbol of life and transformation suggesting the breasts of a goddess of fertility and motherhood. Yet distinctly Goosens, 18 hand-cut and hand-dyed "ancient-Roman-blue" rock-crystal beads are wire-strung to weight a second tier of two separate vertical double-spiral pendants. On each, a wrapped-wire tube divides the blue beads. Between these vertical pendants in two tiers, the central vertical pendants each feature a one-of-a-kind multicolor bead (yellow/blue/red/black/white) in two lengths with abstract organic patterns recalling ancient Italian glasswork. Four more blue beads bracket these larger colorful beads. An additional 10 blue beads and 5 wire tubes decorate the bottom looped wire pendant, as well as the bottom of the wire choker. Like the hammered-wire jewelry designs of modern artist Alexander Calder, the creative complex construction of this necklace surprisingly required no metalsmith techniques, such as soldering or casting, just great skill with a jewelry pliers and hammer. For a bigger picture of couture clothing by Madame Gres during the decade beginning in 1969, she notably designed many museum-collected one-color silk-taffeta draped long gowns with empire waists and simple high collars or geometric cut-outs. Remarkably, the focal points for some of these unique dresses were at the wrists, from where long pouf sleeves voluminously droop around the hands to nearly the floor like two enormous long-petaled flowers. If paired with this equally downward-focused and balanced necklace from this same period, its bold Greco-Roman elements would have pulled a viewer's gaze of the dress from floor to face. Although there is no significant provenance for this necklace, hammered brass and tinted rock crystal were among the few materials repeatedly associated with Goosens from 1969-71. For example, in his overlapping interior-decor collections based on themes of waterlilies or foliage, Goosens hammered gilt brass wire and sheets (see our final closeup photo) to represent plant parts or he wired rock-crystal beads to appear as tiny fruits. While the two multicolor glass or resin beads in this necklace are atypical, the combination of blue, yellow and red is a palette that the designer used for other pieces of rock-crystal jewelry and he created many kinds of multicolor faux stones with glass or resin paste, such as faux Tibetan turquoise including black and white. According to journalism based on interviews with Goosens, he often acquired unusual stones and glass for inspiration during his extensive travels exploring museum-collected antiquities. Since Maison Goosens was acquired in 2005 by Maison Chanel, it opened the Parisian showroom Galerie Goosens and associated shops to sell many kinds of reproductions and reimagined works by the founder, which fortunately does not suit the completely handmade elements of this necklace. So this couture piece remains one-of-a-kind. If desiring a vintage haute-couture original by Robert Goosens, we recommend perusing the Maison Goosens website so that a reproduction with a contemporary signature is not mistakenly purchased. Madame Gres (1903-1993) was born Germaine Emelie Krebs, but initially identified her fashion designs with the pseudonym Alix and later Alix Barton...

"Smoke" is a suite of hand painted silkscreen prints on plastic. Each is signed and numbered by the artist, Jane Dickson. Jane Dickson has been exhibiting her paintings, drawings an...

Donna Karan crochet lace dress crafted of metallic gold yarn that skims the body and features a deep V neckline front and back, flutter cap sleeves slit down the center, and handkerc...

Evening clutch of microbeads featuring a black background with an integrated floral in center and lattice design around the edges. Intricate, pierced gold tone frame embellished with...

A rare wrought iron coffee table with a nested stone top by Gilbert Poillerat, circa 1940. The wrought iron base has beautifully over accentuated scrolling legs and a tapering that a...

From the Art Deco period, this signed French couture set of yellow-gold pave-crystal brooch and earrings is marked in the manner of one-off costume jewelry commissioned...

In a rare scissor cut dating to the 1500s, this centuries-old prong-set hogback rock-crystal pendant produces a fascinating play of refractions in low light. With its rectangular nar...

Black faux astrakhan coat that features a detachable cape. The fitted, princess-style body is single breasted and fastens with 8 black stone and silver...

While contracted since 1953 as an independent craftsman to create one-of-a-kind costume jewelry for French Masion De Gorce, Parisian goldsmith Robert Goosens (1927-2016) was initially commissioned there to craft for Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel one-of-a-kind Byzantine-style long decorative-chain necklaces with unique sculptural gilt-metal or faux-pearl charms, which would be layered to accessorize her couture clothing for herself and clients. As the commissions from the fashion designer for his work mounted, by the following year Goosens began working directly for Chanel at a mobile workshop--continuing to create unsigned couture pieces while establishing Maison Goosens. Although Chanel began signing most of the jewelry by the late 1950s, the exception until Chanel's death was most often the long chain necklaces with simpler clasps that were among a multi-chain set designed by Goosens. Suggesting that this is the case for our unsigned gold-gilt barrel-clasped sautoir, the cast foliate prongs that cap its pendant are strikingly similar to the cast lobed-leaf prongs of the textural pair of faux-pearl button earrings and a capped-faux-pearl pendant earring that are published in a close-up photo (see our snapshot) in Jewelry By Chanel, the book written by Patrick Mauries. The caption (adjacent page 97) dates those likewise unsigned Chanel pieces to 1954-1971 when only Goosens would have executed them with his lost-wax casting. A lost-wax-cast sautoir pendant with similar foliate prongs signed Chanel with three stars (couture) was auctioned by Christie's in 2000 among "A Group of Five Gilt Metal and Simulated Gemstone Necklaces, Chanel" in which one piece of the lot was unsigned. The house noted in its catalogue that the pendant necklace had been published earlier that year in the Editions Plume book (page 28), Bijoux de Haute Couture: Collection Robert Goossens by Gilles Plazy and Chantal Bizot. Also characteristic of Robert Goosens for Chanel...

This Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers by John Stuart Inc of New York and Grand Rapids has been newly painted and restored. This piece features lacquered white paint with three pul...

Painted glossy black, the moderne chest of drawers has a three-sectioned drawer at the top and three deep drawers below. The side boards of each drawer are...

This early Miriam Haskell lacquered shell and brass-and-wood-decorated clip brooch was created by Frank Hess, her first designer since 1926. The circa 1930 brooch features three seas...

The vintage neoclassical dressing table, vanity, desk or night table has gilt detailing, fluted legs, brass pulls and curved stretchers. Dr...

Bob Gruen met John Lennon in 1971, shortly after he moved to New York. For the next 9 years, Bob worked as John’s personal photographer and captured a wide variety of moments in John...

A pair of smart Louis XVI style nightstands or bedside end tables with gilded decorative accents. The stands each have two drawer with brass...

This set of 10 hand blown crystal champagne flutes are an unsual rich amethyst overlay cut to clear. The "thumbprint" clear cut ovals surround the body with an easy to hold and gorge...

Beyond belief! This set is museum worthy, exhibiting some of the finest workmanship Minton produced. The centerpiece features an exquisite pierced tall basket lifted up by 3 tall Par...

This 20th-Century Art-Nouveau style 18-karat white-gold-plated highly textural pendant features a prong-set abalone that is carved into seemingly overlapping flower petals in lustrou...

An elegant French envelope game table. By opening the four hinged triangular sections the small end table in the neoclassical style becomes a square game or card table with black lea...

A Fine example of a Classic 1930s French Art Deco wrought iron foyer coat rack or hall tree is wonderfully decorated with geometric and circular iron w...

Thierry Mugler 1980s suit in brown wool gabardine features a belted jacket with silver metal stars dangling from the patch pockets and interesting inverted V detail near armhole. Dro...

Encrusted with enameled turbo shells shaped like miniature mollusks and mixed with iridescent crystals, this elaborately ornamented and intricately textured unsigned pair of yellow g...

A very handsome and strong English Elizabethan Tudor style carved wood coffee table with bold baluster legs. Very sturdy and in excellent condition ready to use and enjoy. Search te...

Judy Hornby Couture voided silk bias-cut evening dress with deep cowl neck neck and layered hem, both layers trimmed with pearls. Long sleeves with gathered shoulders and pointed wri...

Ornate "S" scroll Italian Florentine giltwood hand carved wall bracket.

It's always time to entertain! This is one of the most elegant and versatile patterns imaginable in a Classic and rare Minton cobalt blue pattern wi...

Odette Barsa was primarily renowned for her exquisite lingerie, produced from the 1930s-1970s, and this vibrant red print ensemble may have been originall...

Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...

The 19th century charming and rustic rocking horse now mounted on two straight boards is made of handcrafted wood pieces cleverly assembled, and has a leather saddle, reins and stirrups. A great addition for those who collect Early American country antiques...

This is an incredible Baccarat cobalt cut to clear complete service for 12. All handblown crystal overlaid in cobalt blue and cut in the most complex a...

Wonderfully rustic pine cupboard. Can be used for linen, kitchen or where ever extra storage is needed. Three compartments at the top. Center door opens down. Lower part with 2 large...

Handmade in England in 2004 by recent-Louvre-museum-exhibited British Duro Olowu for the debut of his eponymous brand, this mixed-print silk kimono sleeve empire-waist mini dress fea...

This large set of 16 signed Lalique crystal plates in the "Muguet" in French and the translation of "Lily of the Valley" pattern evokes the taste of Spring! Mother's Day to be exact ...

Slightly distressed French Provincial paneled doors for a cabinet this striking pair of doors wear their age with grace, and would bring c...

Elegant and rustic at the same time, this custom made wrought iron garden dining table base can be used indoors or outdoors, porch or patio. Both top and base can be made to your spe...

Arguable the most significant design in the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection--since our versatile garment debuted in different colors on the runway and was worn by the British designer to take her fashion-show bow--this pink-printed dark-grey silk-blend zip-front bubble-shaped mini dress with white-satin stripes and pink piping was a favorite of the show's Vogue critic and her father Beatles co-founder Paul McCarthy. Vogue wrote: "Her hippest new idea came in the form of puffy satin bombers--she transformed one, a fusion of sport and chinoiserie print, into an off-the-shoulder bubble dress. McCartney is so into the glam-bomber idea, in fact, that she bounded onto the runway wearing a black version herself." The garment's voluminous batwing sleeves with stretch-cotton ribbed neckline and hem, plus custom golden-charm two-way zipper, enable it to have different necklines and lengths, so that it can also be styled as a bomber jacket. Notably, the versatile piece that is subtly printed with mock-Beatles lyrics seems to have been the first tribute fashion-design that McCartney created to reference her father. Prior, she had credited her stylish mother Linda for instilling her with a love of fashion and inspiration for her initial namesake collections, which followed her first commercial collections with Phoebe Philo for Chloe. For background, when McCartney was a young girl in 1978, the mock-rock band The Rutles parodied a Beatles song, which was recorded by EMI as "Ging, Gang, Goolie". Given its lyrics, the chinoiserie-style dragon motifs were substituted by McCartney with bird skeletons...

These couture Roger Vivier Paris platform stilettos with a heel height of four-and-a-half inches feature dark-chocolate brown fine Italian leather and leopard-print animal hair with ...

"Smoke" is a suite of hand painted silkscreen prints on plastic. Each is signed and numbered by the artist, Jane Dickson. Jane Dickson has been exhibiting her paintings, drawings an...

Tall and elegant, this pair of hand blown crystal candlesticks were made by Moser in the late 19th century. They are panel cut with intaglio cutting on the base and candle-cups as we...

A large collection of exotic seashells arranged and displayed in three cylindrical glass containers. A wonderful decorative interest in any room or take individual shells or a groupi...

A unique piece from renowned coat and suit manufacturer Lilli Ann, this vest is extravagantly and boldly decorated with large multicolored paillettes in geometric shapes that echo th...

This is a beautiful and luxurious natural, muskrat mink fur, king size blanket. Soft pelts with rich, neutral and inviting coloration, are accented with black backing. This is perfec...

PAN AM has a long history in Cey’s studio, first created as a painting within his Trusted Brands collection and then reimagined as a suite of hand-collaged monoprints in different co...

The antique hand-carved wood console or hall table is in the Venetian Rococo style. The color of the legs and frame is light brown and the top is painted faux marble in shades of bro...

Grosse brooch from 1968 composed of an open network of gold tone crownlike elements, each point terminating in a textured drop, and each circular groupin...

Seldom Seen pair of George Sellers plaster serpent lamps, each with urn form body and coiled snake in black. George Sellers is a classically-trained artist who studied sculpture in I...

With distinct handmade glass by French Maison Gripoix for a faux amethyst 25mm domed open-back oval cabochon poured into a forged wire ring topped with a serrated-bezel setting, this...

Restored 3 strand Paul Frankl style 6 piece rattan living room seating set consisting of 3 separated seat sofa, arm club chair with matching ottoman, side table, 2 tier corner table...

One of Minton's most popular patterns is named "Porcelain Ball” which features a large diameter plate bordered by a gold and white floral decoratio...

In the style of Paolo Buffa, this 1950;s butterfly wing back chair has been restored and newly upholstered in a neutral linen fabric. Beautifully carved wood swag motif accents the front of the chair leading down to gracefully outward curved tapered...

Made in Italy in the 1990s in garnet thick stretch wool for a soft tight fit that remarkably drapes, Romeo Gigli designed this off-shoulder pullover knit top like a long-sleeve blous...

All featuring white cat's eyes, the 21 gray 3mm ball-cut moonstones of this necklace are beaded symmetrically on this antique choker between stations of shiny 14-karat yellow gold fi...