London

Richard Hunt. A Rare Silver Plated six piece matching tea and coffee service. Measurements :- Tray width 20", height 1 1/4", Teapot width handle to spout 9 1/2", height 5 1/2" Spirit kettle width at base 6", height 11" Coffee pot handle...

Antique pair of earrings featuring Whitby Jet with contrasting shiny black glass tops. They have gold tone hooks. Measuring diameter 1.6 cm / .6 inch. This beautiful pair of Whitby...

Antique Victorian Nat Mills Silver Vinaigrette Dated 1842 Birmingham This vinaigrette is in pristine condition and a fine example of the best maker of vinaigrettes, snuff boxes and c...

An early to mid-Victorian mahogany and satinwood top single drawer pedestal occasional table. A brass edge to the satinwood top and a brass pull handle with a floral backplate to the...

This is a striking plate with the popular "Staffordshire" moulding, a deep maroon rim with bold beige and white foliage, and a large hand painted yellow and purple pansy in the centr...

This is a wonderful and highly decorative antique Victorian ormolu mounted coromandel four piece desk set by the renowned London maker of luxury items, Betjemann & Sons, cira 1860 in...

A Lovely Edo Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase in style of early Namikawa Yasuyuki works. Worked in gold wire and decorated in various coloured enam...

This is a stunning pair of antique French amboyna and ebonised card tables, circa 1860 in date. The tables are made from striking and rare ambo...

A mid-nineteenth century crackleware porcelain vase of good scale, with caramel, white and celadon glazes and applied and incised faux bronze decoration throughout. Circa 1860 China...

A mid-19th century Chippendale style mahogany Gainsborough chair having serpentine-topped upholstered back and floral carved set-back arms abo...

Antique Russian Neillo Enamel Kiddish Cup Dated 1845 Heavy quality russian silver kiddish cup, made by Alexander Nordert Gotovski in St Petersburg with the assay master's mark of And...

The height of these mirrors is 2 meters and 37 centimeters - they are enormous and fabulous! Not quite a pair, but very impressive and attributed to Gillow's of Lancaster by Sotheby...

An excellent late 19th Century French Animalier bronze group of a setter and pointer trying to flush out a pheasant with excellent rich brown patina and very fine hand chased surfac...

This is a fabulous antique English silver-plated and engraved glass table centre comport, dated with the registration lozenge for 10th September 1...

Antique Victorian Silver Childs Knife Fork & Spoon Set 1860 Hilliard & Thomason Lovely to have this christening set in its original leather case, lined wit...

2 ¾ inch refractor telescope by François Can, 81 Quai de l'Hôpital, Lyon. Circa 1835. Mounted on a cast iron stand with adjustable height, folding tripod feet, and castors. 2 ¾ inc...

An outstandingly rare mid-19th century royal Siam diamond cluster ring, made by the royal goldsmiths of the court of Bangkok. This is an extremely fine example of the jewellery commissioned and subsequently bestowed by the Kings of Siam, principally to be worn by participants in royal and aristocratic life-cycle ceremonies in the courts of Bangkok. In the mid-19th century, King Mongkut (Rama IV) of Siam also commissioned the courtly jewellers to create a number of faithful replicas of these ceremonial jewels to be offered as gifts to diplomatic families, important visitors and to Heads of State across the world when re-establishing diplomatic relationships. One such example (which is remarkably similar to the present ring) resides in the museum of the Château de Fontainebleau (item F1518C) where it was given as a gift from King Mongkut to Napoléon-III on the important ambassadorial visit of 1861 (see photos for a side by side comparison). Ceremonial Use: During the 19th century, many rings were made every year by the royal jewellers for ceremonial use. Examples of these lavish cluster rings being worn for these life-cycle ceremonies can be seen on old photos and paintings of the Royal Tonsure Ceremony, also known as ‘the cutting of the top-knot’ ceremony, which marked the transition from childhood into adulthood for all of the (many!) sons and daughters of the Siam royal family. The huge expansion in the number of royals in 19th century Siam stemmed from Kings Mongkut (Rama IV) and Chulalongkorn (Rama V) being highly polygamous. They had a joint total of 124 wives and 159 royal children, each requiring their own ceremonial regalia and princely jewels. As a result, Bangkok became home to some incredibly skilled goldsmiths in this period. The Tonsure ceremony was performed by the King, and lasted three days and three nights. All of the royal children would be dressed in the most splendid costumes and adorned with a vast amount of jewels on several parts of the body. Their costumes and jewels differed according to their title and rank. Diamonds for instance, would be bestowed to the highest ranking noble children. The royal children were allowed to keep their regalia and jewels as a present on entering adulthood to indicate their social status among society. Over the years, these royal jewels have been dispersed across the many noble families, with currently only a few important pieces remaining in the royal collection. Today, the number of royals in Thailand is contracting as the country follows the Chinese nobility system whereby with each generation the noble rank of a family decreases by one ranking so that eventually the majority of descendants will lose their noble status completely. This loss of royal privilege, coupled with the dilution of wealth has meant that items such as this ring become available on the open market. Following the end of the absolute monarchy in Thailand in 1932, many members of the royal family relocated to Europe and as a consequence, princely Thai items can occasionally be found in the European art market. Gift Exchange: In Siam culture, great importance is placed on the ancestral process of gift-exchange. During the reign of King Mongkut, close relationships with some powerful countries were cultivated in order to hold the balance of power and to save Siam from being colonised. The King used gift-exchange to establish diplomatic relations with other heads of state around the world, as well as with other kings, princes and sultans closer to home. He sent troupes of ambassadors to England (1857) and France (1861) with seemingly endless amounts of trunks filled with lavish gifts in order to dazzle the heads of state with the extraordinary quality and variety of Siam craftsmanship. These gifts consisted of faithful replicas of the Royal Regalia and objects belonging to the King himself; items and jewellery worn by him on his Tonsure ceremony and on his coronation day. Enormous time and effort was required by the Siam court to assemble these numerous gifts, as they emanated from the very same royal goldsmiths and courtly craftsman who had made the original ceremonial items. The most famous of these ceremonies took place at the Chateau de Fontainebleau in 1861. The painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme that immortalised the event prominently features the most spectacular of these gifts. Among the 150 gifts presented to Napoléon-III by the Siam ambassadors were two diamond-set rings, both of which are on display in the Musée du Chateau de Fontainebleau (item no. F1518C and F1519C). One of these rings is a rose cut diamond cluster and bears a striking resemblance to the ring we are offering. According to Bruley (2011), this ring, presented to Napoleon-III, was a faithful replica of the ring worn by King Mongkut on his own coronation day in 1851, which now resides in the Pavilion of Royal Regalia in Thailand. The Ring: From whichever angle the present ring is viewed, it is a masterpiece of design and a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Siam royal goldsmiths. The bezel head is composed of two layers, the uppermost, containing the large triangle shaped table-cut diamond, is riveted to the main body of the ring. The second layer of the cluster is set with a further eight rose cut diamonds and this section allows for small rotation, typical of Siam jewellery...

A wonderful pair of seascape paintings of fishing boats attributed to William Mcalpine (British 19th century) titled 'Beached Fishing Vessels' and 'Sh...

This is an exceptional and rare antique English silver plated spoon warmer, bearing Victorian Diamond Registration Marks for 24th November 1868. At a time when the kitchens were ...

A superbly carved and highly decorative small fine quality Italian Florentine giltwood mirror, mid 19th Century in date. This rectangular mirror consists of a superbly carved gilt...

A good sized Gilt Empire antique mirror with applied decorative motif gilt work on a rectangular frame, lambs tongue design inner slip. Mirror in good condition. Original boarded bac...

Italian mid-nineteenth century bronze bust of Lucius Verus, circa 1860-1870, on circular waisted socle. Lucius Verus ruled Rome alongside Marcus Aureli...

Antique William 1V Silver Christening Mug Dated 1831 Maker Henry Wilkinson & Co Beautifully handmade with acanthus leaf work and frilled base. The interior has lovely gilding.

A W N Pugin, probably made by Gillows of Lancaster for the House of Lords London. A Gothic Revival oak armchair with carved rosettes to the headrest, and each side of the arms, and u...

We are very pleased to be able to offer this rare antique French walnut and marquetry inlaid Bonheur du Jour, or Ladies Writing Desk, for sale. Our experts have dated it to around 1...

A large beautiful Victorian silver plated sugar caster made by William Batt & Sons Ltd, circa 1860 in date. It features typical baluster form and is embossed with lavish decorati...

This is a handsome Antique ormolu mounted wood and Gonçalo Alves marquetry vitrine in the Louis XV transitional style, circa 1860 in date. The vitrine features decorative floral ma...

This is a stunning set of 8 reticulated plates made by Copeland in 1848. Each plate is decorated with a unique sublimely painted flower arrangement by the artist Greatbatch. We have a second set of 8 of these plates available, as well as a few separate ones; please see separate listings. The Copeland factory was the third iteration of the famous Spode factory, after the "Copeland & Garrett" period which transitioned into the "Copeland" period in about 1833. The Spode/Copeland factory was one of the most prominent potteries right from the start of English porcelain production in the late 1700s to the demise of the industry in the 1960s and ultimate closure in the early 21st Century. In fact it was the founder Josiah Spode who was responsible for the recipe for bone china that made English china production so successful in the two centuries to come. Throughout all the changes, their items have always remained of exceptionally high quality and many of the designs have become iconic. These plates were potted in fine white bone china, the rims meticulously reticulated in the "Gothic" shape. Reticulation was very time consuming and difficult, and just this detail would have made these plates expensive. The sublimely painted flower arrangements in the centre were done by Greatbatch, one of the well-known floral artists working for Copeland. Greatbatch was active between 1845 and 1860, and worked together with his brother R. Greatbatch, who was a talented gilder. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. These plates would have belonged to a sublimely expensive dessert service. They are all stamped with the small blue Copeland mark with interlocking C's, and painted in red with the pattern number 7913, dating it at the year 1848. Documentation: A plate of this service is shown on page 80 of Steven Smith's "Spode & Copeland: Over Two Hundred Years of Fine China and Porcelain...

Made circa 1860, this stylish, Victorian, Antique Silver Plate Tea Urn, features a pierced stand, and an integral hot iron holder to keep water h...

A Victorian blue enamel, diamond, ruby and gold snake bangle, with two, entwined silver snakes, set with rose-cut diamonds, in grain settings, with cabochon-cut ruby eyes, in rub ove...

A charming pair of French Louis XV style bronze wall sconces. This delightful set features two-arm sconces, each adorned with candle holders resembling blooming flowers.  Inspired b...

This is a rather stunning pair of one-handled low comports with pierced rims, a warm grey ground with elaborate gilt foliage, three very fine flower reserves each, and a large mounta...

This is a beautiful antique French bois de Violette, ormolu and Sevres porcelain mounted dressing table circa 1860 in date. It has been masterfully crafted from beautiful Bois de V...

A Victorian framed print of "Balance of Sail" by Day and Son, lithographers to the Queen. The bottom of the print is inscribed: LONDON. PUBL...

A Mid 19th century Georgian style Dog grate, in polished steel and wrought iron. The deeply engraved and cut fret of Storks, scrolls and beaded edge. Engraved side wings of ribbon ti...

On offer is a stunning pair of potpourri vases with covers made by H&R Daniel in about 1840. The vases are in the Rococo Revival style, and have a deep maroon ground and reserves wit...

Antique French Sapphire and Diamond Brooch in silver backed gold, showcasing 9 carats of Old cut Diamonds and a 20ct No Heat Sugarloaf Ceylon Sapphire. Made in France, Mid 19th Century.

Charles Cooper Henderson (English, 1803-1877) Windsor Mail Coach Oil on canvas With chalk inscriptions verso Property of a gentleman From the collection of Peter Roe Dimensions: (F...

Decorative French faience plate. Circa 1860 H 32cm x W 32cm x D 5.5cm

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1869 by George Unite, this charming, Antique, Victorian Sterling Silver Pepper Shaker, is modelled to resemble a Knights helmet. The pepper pot measures 2...

A large and impressive Gothic Revival fire grate in wrought iron with brick fire back. The front supports swept out on splayed feet with curved elongated uprights with dragons heads ...

This is a superb antique Victorian ormolu mounted burr walnut and wood floral marquetry inlaid credenza, circa 1860 in date. The shaped top above a pair of panel doors inlaid with f...

This is a beautiful and decorative antique Italian watercolour titled "Contadino Di Sabina" and dating from the mid 19th century. The th...

Made circa 1830 by Roberts, Smith & Co. , this attractive, Antique, William IV period Old Sheffield Plate Meat Dish & Cover, features a pumpkin shaped cover with flat chased detailin...

A large 19th century obelisk in a buff terracotta, with its original plinth. The surface of the obelisk has developed a beautiful patina, and it would make the most perfect garden ce...

A large bronze classical Roman figure of Mercury, after Giambologna (1529 1608), holding the caduceus & wearing his winged helmet, standing on one foot above the mask of Boreus, the ...

To see our many other views of Oxford and Cambridge, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller". John Anderson Bell (1809-1865) King’s College Cambridge Chapel Interior Signed and indistinctly dated Watercolour c. 1840 53x39cm Bell was born in Glasgow; his father was James Bell, advocate and his sister Jane...

Victorian pink topaz and diamond cluster ring. Centrally set with a cushion shape old cut natural unenhanced pink topaz in an open back ...

Watercolour with touches of bodycolour on buff paper, signed lower middle and inscribed and dated '1839' lower left Image size: 8 1/2 x 12 1/4 inches (22 x 31 cm) Acid free mount and period style gilt frame This original watercolour by Roberts depicts the temple at Baalbek with the ruined palace behind, seen from the opposite bank of a brook, where a group of figures are seated and kneeling around a table, with an arched bridge nearby. David Roberts was the first professional British artist to travel independently to the Middle East in 1838. He was the first British artist to draw the ruins of Ancient Egypt and Roberts produced a series of finished watercolours, including the painting, which he had worked up from sketches made during his tour. Like many British artists he used the familiar visual language of European landscapes to capture the unfamiliar scenery. By using architectural motifs to provide structure to compositions like this he is able to present a dramatic scene of classical grandeur, illuminated by sunlight complemented by a large area of shade in the foreground. The dramatic scene is enhanced by the three groups of figures, which convey the sense of scale. The figures also give the picture richer, darker and redder tones that contrast with the sandy colours of the architecture. This painting uses a lot of the essential ingredients that make up a picturesque scene: distant mountains, classical ruins and figures for human interest and to convey motion. Robert's Trip to Baalbek David Roberts visited Baalbek near the end of his travels around Egypt and the Middle East. Roberts and his party rode to the site of Baalbek on 2nd May in a heavy-rain storm. He was miserable, totally drenched and feverish. But the sight of the ancient Roman settlement rallied him. Despite his physical debilitation, 'I was... so much struck with the magnificence of the temple, that I could not resist visiting and examining it'. The storm then continued through the night, pummelling the traveller's tents. In the morning, Roberts felt extremely ill and sought the help of a Greek priest, who found him dry shelter in a cowshed. For the first time on his gruelling journey, Roberts devoted the whole day to bed rest. On May 4th, regaining some strength, Roberts explored the site. With obscure origins connected with the god Baal, the city of Baalbek had grown to importance in Hellenistic times, when it was known as Heliopolis ('The City of the Sun'). In the first century B.C. the Romans had established a cult of the Heliopolitan Jupiter there, and both Josephus Flavius...

A truly magnificent antique flame mahogany architectural biedermeier secretaire abattant, circa 1840 in date. The top section with a...

This is a superb quality antique French malachite, bronze and ormolu mantel clock dating from Circa 1850 in date. It features Louis XVI seated on an ormolu throne chair whilst reading a book. The clockmakers name is inscribed on the backplate. It is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is original. The movement bearing the serial number 29, made and signed by Japy Fils 1849. It has an early French silk suspension...

A rare 19th century princely gold cluster ring made in Siam (Thailand), circa 1860.This gorgeous ruby and diamond ring was intricately crafted in high-karat gold, by the goldsmiths of the royal Siam court in the 19th century. It is a fine example of the lavish adornment worn by participants in royal and aristocratic life-cycle ceremonies in the courts of Bangkok. Aside from ceremonial use, they were also occasionally given as gifts to important visitors or other aristocratic families. There was a huge expansion in the number of royals in 19th century Siam which stemmed from Kings Mongkut (Rama IV) and Chulalongkorn (Rama V) being highly polygamous. They had a joint total of 124 wives and 159 royal children, each requiring their own ceremonial regalia and princely jewels. As a result, Bangkok became home to some incredibly skilled goldsmiths in this period and the sheer number of jewellery required has meant that today princely jewels like this one can very occasionally be found in the open market, particularly in Europe following the relocation of the Thai royal family to Switzerland and France in the 1930’s and 1940’s. The ring features a row of cabochon rubies horizontally aligned, surrounded by a sea of rose cut diamonds. All of the stones are in rubover settings within a web of hexagonal honeycomb frames. The band is decorated with pierced and deeply chased scrollwork motifs, typical of Siam jewellery...

A very well carved alabaster bust of a young Mid 19th century child, with crochet shawl and holding a basket. Italian signed to rear by the artist. In good condition images are a tru...

This is a beautiful plate with a warm grey and beige border of flowing acanthus leaves and pebble design with elaborate gilt, and a beautiful pink flower in the centre. Pattern: 810...

A magnificent Antique Early Victorian Silver Soup Tureen standing on four impressive scroll feet and with a pair of ornate scroll handles on the sides. The Body of the Tureen has an ...

This is a stunning set of 8 reticulated plates made by Copeland in 1848. Each plate is decorated with a unique sublimely painted flower arrangement by the artist Greatbatch. We have a second set of 8 of these plates available, as well as a few separate ones; please see separate listings. The Copeland factory was the third iteration of the famous Spode factory, after the "Copeland & Garrett" period which transitioned into the "Copeland" period in about 1833. The Spode/Copeland factory was one of the most prominent potteries right from the start of English porcelain production in the late 1700s to the demise of the industry in the 1960s and ultimate closure in the early 21st Century. In fact it was the founder Josiah Spode who was responsible for the recipe for bone china that made English china production so successful in the two centuries to come. Throughout all the changes, their items have always remained of exceptionally high quality and many of the designs have become iconic. These plates were potted in fine white bone china, the rims meticulously reticulated in the "Gothic" shape. Reticulation was very time consuming and difficult, and just this detail would have made these plates expensive. The sublimely painted flower arrangements in the centre were done by Greatbatch, one of the well-known floral artists working for Copeland. Greatbatch was active between 1845 and 1860, and worked together with his brother R. Greatbatch, who was a talented gilder. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. These plates would have belonged to a sublimely expensive dessert service. They are all stamped with the small blue Copeland mark with interlocking C's, and painted in red with the pattern number 7913, dating it at the year 1848. Documentation: A plate of this service is shown on page 80 of Steven Smith's "Spode & Copeland: Over Two Hundred Years of Fine China and Porcelain...

This is a truly spectacular antique Italian giltwood framed mirror, circa 1860 in date. Measures: 78 x 56cm. The bevelled rectangula...

This is an exquisite and rare antique pair of English silver plated on copper entree dishes stamped Walker & Hall Sheffield Plate Old Style, and dated Circa 1860. The dishes are of rectangular shaped form with gaddrooned and acanthus leaf borders with detachable handles. In excellent condition, these wonderful entree dishes are ready to grace your dining table. A truly exquisite pair that would make a fine addition to any antique collection. Condition: In excellent condition with clear makers marks and no dings, dents or signs of repair. Please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 18 cm x Width 33 cm x Depth 27 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 7 inches x Width 1 foot, 1 inch x Depth 11 inches Walker & Hall the business was established in Sheffield in 1845 by George Walker who become an assistant of Dr John Wright. Dr John Wright had conducted important experiments on electroplating, Walker secured the royalty of electroplating for Sheffield. The business was joined by Henry Hall and became in 1853 Walker & Hall. The factory was at Howard Street, Sheffield, while showrooms were opened in 45 Holborn Viaduct, London. Branches were opened in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, Hull, Bristol, Melbourne and Adelaide (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa). Walker & Hall was converted into a limited liability company in 1920 under the style Walker & Hall Ltd and combined in 1963 under the British Silverware...

An impressive late 19th century French bronze study of a majestic bull with standing in a proud stance exhibiting excellent hand chased surface detail and fine rich brown patina. Rai...

Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted mahogany, gonzalo alves and marquetry. A Secretaire a abatt...