M.S. Rau

Cameo Glass Polar Bear Vase Émile Gallé Circa 1927 This towering Art Nouveau vase stands as one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic gla...

Sterling Silver Coffee Pot Paul Revere Circa 1775 This phenomenal and incredibly rare silver coffee pot by the legendary patriot Paul Revere is one of only six armorial coffee pots crafted before the Revolutionary War, and one of only three still in private hands. The other two are housed in the collections of the Worcester Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, making this coffee pot an extraordinary treasure. In terms of maker, quality and provenance, this coffee pot is the most significant American silver object available today. The coffee pot bears the hallmarks of Revere's exquisite craftsmanship at every turn. Revere was not only the preeminent silversmith in America—he was the only silversmith in the colonies capable of crafting a finished product from the silver ingot to a finished engraved treasure, all by himself. Perfectly balanced and adorned with such fine Rococo detailing as a fluted scroll spout rising from a shell and a flower spray cartouche, this coffee pot epitomizes Revere's unmatched talent. The pot also notably features Revere’s stamped maker’s mark and the original scratch weight of 40.1 troy ounces on the bottom of the pot. The average silver object made by the famed American would have weighed approximately five troy ounces, and his grand serving spoons averaged approximately two ounces each—making this coffee pot one of Revere's most magnificent and monumental masterpieces. Within the central cartouche, the monogram "MSS" appears, belonging to the prominent Dr. Micajah Sawyer (1737-1815). A distinguished Harvard graduate, Sawyer was well-known as the "celebrated physician of Newburyport." Such an extraordinary object would have been a precious family heirloom, and this coffee pot remained in the Sawyer family until 1980, when it was sold to another American private collection, where it has remained until now. It was also prominently displayed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for more than 30 years, from the 1980s until 2014. Born in 1734 to a Huguenot silversmith, Paul Revere's patriotism and his contribution to the American decorative arts are of inestimable value. He was immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, which tells of how he heroically rode through the countryside warning of the approaching British troops at the beginning of the American Revolution. This legendary event, along with his extraordinary work as a silversmith, has ensured a timeless legacy for Revere. In 1768, on the eve of the American Revolution, Revere crafted the “Sons of Liberty Bowl,” now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Both before and after serving his country during the Revolution, Revere was at the forefront of American silver, producing elegant bowls, sauceboats and creamers. By far, his most important works are coffee pots, of which only 15 are listed in his records books, making this coffee pot the ultimate piece of Revere's legacy. Maker's mark "Revere" stamped near the top of the handle 12 1/4" high x 10" wide x 5" deep 42 ounces Provenance: Micajah and Sibyl Sawyer, Newburyport Descended in the family until sold Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, April 30—May 3, 1980, lot 184 Private Collection, United States M.S. Rau, New Orleans Literature: Patricia E. Kane, Colonial Massachusetts...

This exquisite hand-painted English satinwood parlor table features a beautifully refined design and is embellished with delicate floral and classical motifs—hallmarks of the Edwardi...

Cameo Glass Elephant Vase Émile Gallé Circa 1925 This monumental Art Nouveau vase is one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic glassmaking firm. Showcasing Gallé’s mast...

Silver Wine Funnel Hester Bateman Hallmarked London, 1784 Featuring her signature beaded edging and refined style, this George III silver wine funnel was crafted by the “Queen of th...

Silver and Lacquer Sake Set Unno Shomin Meiji period, late 19th century This extraordinary sake set exemplifies the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship, created by the esteemed Unno ...

This intricately detailed 19th-century bracket clock from famed English firm J.C. Jennens & Sons is monumental in size, likely made for one of the great world exhibitions or perhaps to put in the firm's own store window. The eight-day timepiece has a triple fusee...

This outstanding Swiss cylinder music box was crafted by the prestigious firm of Le Coultre Freres of Geneva. The highly intricate movement plays a selection of twelve popular tunes ...

Set of 8 Silver-Gilt Bowls Tiffany & Co. 1907-1947 This elegant set of eight silver gilt bowls by Tiffany & Co. is a testament to the famed company's timeless artistry and lasting c...

Royal Rouge Griotte Marble Athenienne After Pierre Gouthière Late 19th Century This monumental pair of Napoleon III gilt bronze-mounted Royal Rouge Griotte athenienne perfume vases ...

This exquisite vase belongs to Loetz's prestigious Papillon collection and is identified as the 7724 form. Renowned for its captivating color palette, this piece showcases a striking...

Silver Basket Peter Archambo Hallmarked London, 1740 This stunning George II silver basket is a remarkable example of the artistry and craftsm...

Wooden Mantel Clock Vincenti et Cie Late 19th century The mechanism is marked "Vincenti et Cie, Médaille d'Argent 1855, Made in France." Vincenti et Cie, established in 1823 by Jean Vincenti in Montbéliard, was revitalized by Albert Roux in 1829, who expanded and innovated the company. Under Roux's leadership, the firm continued its Montbéliard operations and opened a store in Paris in 1850 on Rue d'Anjou in the Marais. The company earned a silver medal (Médaille d'Argent) at the 1855 Exposition Universelle, for which this clock bears the mark "Médaille d'Argent, 1855," symbolizing its excellent craftsmanship. The clock dial is marked Bailey, Banks & Biddle for the oldest nationwide jeweler in America, originally founded in 1832 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company is one of America's most prestigious retailers, known for creating the updated and final version of the Great Seal of the United States as well as the first 40,000 Purple Heart medals...

Pair of Terrestrial and Celestial Globes G & T London 20th Century This extraordinary pair of 32-inch terrestrial and celestial globes, crafted by G & T London, pays homage to the m...

Blue John Table Circa 1840 This extraordinary table is among the finest examples of rare Blue John plateaus in a single continuous slab. Elevated by a monumental mahogany base adorn...

Pembroke Table Thomas Chippendale Circa 1780 This highly significant Pembroke table is a rare example of Thomas Chippendale's exceptional craftsmanship, showcasing his legacy's unpa...

Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...

Luxurious doré bronze cradles the finest Baccarat crystal in this beautiful French Second Empire compote centerpiece. This magnificent vessel reflects the elaborate Louis XV style th...

Sterling Silver Wine Coasters Hester Bateman Hallmarked London, 1793 This exquisite pair of George III period sterling silver wine coasters is the work of the legendary Hester Batem...

A marvelous objet d'art is this exquisite Louis XVI-era étui. Crafted entirely of green and yellow gold, this stunning octagonal vessel bears an exceptional, engraved Neoclassical de...

Silverplate Wine Trolley Christofle Circa 1873 This magnificent late 19th-century silver-plated wine trolley was expertly crafted by Christofle, the esteemed French firm renowned fo...

Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...

This exceptional micromosaic snuff box represents the heights of this ancient art form. Depicting four doves sitting atop a bronze dish, the inse...

Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...

Swiss Enamel and Gold Telescope Circa 1820 This extraordinary telescope exemplifies a rare union of 19th-century Swiss scientific innovation and artis...

Silver Gilt Salver Elkington & Co. Hallmarked Birmingham, 1889 Remarkable provenance, breathtaking artistry and exceptional rarity make this majestic silver gilt salver by Elkington...

This splendid Empire gilt bronze French mantel clock, signed on the dial by bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and watchmaker Louis Moinet, features an exquisitely detailed scene of Ve...

Glass Table Lamp Pierre d'Avesn Circa 1930 This rare and captivating Art Deco table lamp by Pierre d'Avesn epitomizes the refined elegance of the era. Fashioned in frosted and molde...

Exemplary of Art Nouveau elegance, the sensuous female form is the focus of this Viennese bronze by Austrian sculptor Carl Kauba (1865 - 1922). The intricately detailed bronze captures the supple form of an exotic Nubian dancer in a true representation of the era’s predominant aesthetic. Both classical and evocative, the nude figure is adorned by an array of bronze jewelry, including a stunning golden belt with chained pendants. Set upon a marble base, she is a stunning example of the erotic bronzes popular at the turn of the century. Born in 1865 to a shoemaker, the Vienna-born Kauba became a well-known early 20th-century sculptor of Native Americans and other western figures. A pupil of Carl Waschmann and Stefan Schwartz in Austria, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and traveled widely in the American West, sketching and modeling, after spending two years in Paris. He is also noted for his "Naughties" - a collection of mechanical push button sculptures...

Crafted by the celebrated French glassmaker René Lalique, this exquisite Danaides vase is one of the master artisan's most unique and beautiful designs. Molded from polished opalesce...

There is more to this exceptional George IV Davenport desk than meets the eye. Attributed to famed cabinetmaker Gillows of Lancaster and London and crafted of luxurious rosewood, the...

Tiffany & Co.’s beloved Chrysanthemum pattern is showcased in this rare and exceptional teacup service created for royalty. Bearing the coronet of a European baron, this set contains...

For samurai warriors, the functionality of their armor was as vital as its striking beauty—both elements held equal importance. This orange-laced armor is one of the rarest and most stunning complete Edo-period samurai suits ever crafted, designed for a military leader to convey the gravity of his power and warrior spirit at a single glance. This particularly rare armor...

This exquisite Tetsusabiji Uchidashi Gomai Dou Gusoku (Five-Plate Russet Iron Embossed Cuirass Armor), crafted in the 18th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Edo-period samurai arm...

This exceptional two-handled serving bowl by Tiffany & Co. commemorates the marriage of Elizabeth Beirne McFarland and Randolph Barksdale, a prominent Virginia family, on May 26, 185...

Abstracted foliage swirls to form this Lalique vase in the Acanthes design, first designed by René Lalique on February 28, 1927. Inspired by the timeless natural motif, this vase emb...

This exceptional English stick barometer is a classic example of these intriguing meteorological instruments. Crafted by the esteemed Worthington & All...

An important pair of Old Paris platinum-ground and gilt-trimmed porcelain vases with classical figures on each of the panels. Excellent condition. Circa 1...

A pair of putti holding symbols of the harvest adorn this Meissen porcelain figural group entitled Fall. Part of the company's Seasons series, these charming characters rest upon a r...

Set of 6 Silver-Gilt Bowls Tiffany & Co. 1907-1947 This set of silver-gilt Chrysanthemum oval bowls by Tiffany & Co. serve as a grand addition to any fine dining affair. The gilding...

This extraordinary pair of silver gilt tazze was crafted by the famed partnership of Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith. The tazze are exemplary of the superior work produced by Scott an...

This exceptionally rare set of sixteen Sèvres portrait medallions captures the illustrious history of one of the world’s most powerful monarchies—the French Crown. Exquisitely crafte...

Silver-Gilt Tea Table Maison Aucoc Circa 1904 The turn of the century was the golden age of the great international exhibitions, the venues at which artisans from across the globe w...

This elegant and monumental Art Deco coffee and tea service was crafted by Crichton of London, one of the finest silversmiths of the early 20th century. This rare service is still in...

A lovely Limoges enamel vase featuring a handsome gentleman in richly appointed period costume. Excellent condition. Circa 1900.

Emperor Napoleon III's Silver-Gilt Library Lamp Alexis Falize Circa 1865 This extraordinary silver-gilt library lamp was custom-made for Emperor Napoleon III by the renowned jeweler...

Odysseus and Theseus French Empire Mantel Clock André Antoine Ravrio Circa 1800 This monumental Empire mantel clock by André Antoine Ravrio, whose case is crafted entirely of gilded...

Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...

This elegant hand-chased sterling silver bowl by Tiffany & Co. is crafted in the extraordinary Japanese style that earned widespread praise ...

This resplendent French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock features an extraordinarily detailed scene of a singing troubadour with his lyre along a rocky river bank. Accompanied by a wi...

Exquisitely crafted of bronze ormolu, these rare twin candelabra exhibit the Neoclassical grandeur of the Louis XVI style. Two brushed-bronze putti holding spears support the five-li...

This rare and significant cameo glass vase exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of George Woodall, a master artist celebrated for his outstanding skill in cameo carving. The amp...

This extraordinary First Edition Wedgwood rendering of the legendary Portland Vase is one of the rarest masterpieces of Josiah Wedgwood, the most important ceramics manufacturer of the 18th century. A tour de force of ceramic art, the Portland Vase First Editions are regarded as one of the greatest ceramic accomplishments of the 18th century, and they are a testament to the superior skill of Josiah Wedgwood, his extraordinary ambition and his tireless dedication to perfection. One of the very few First Editions still in private hands, this exceptional Wedgwood Portland Vase is one of the most important works of ceramics on the market. The story of Wedgwood and the Portland Vase is legendary. The original Portland Vase is the ancient world's most famous decorative arts masterpiece—a cameo glass vase dating to circa 25 CE with a frieze representing the myth of Peleus and Thetis, initially thought to be carved from stone. When it was first rediscovered around 1582, it captivated the world with its opaque white cameo figures over its rich blue background. After the vase was excavated it was owned by Cardinal Barberini, whose family later sold it to the Duke of Hamilton who eventually sold it to the Duchess of Portland, from whom the famed vase now takes its name. The famed British sculptor John Flaxman was likely the first to have brought the vase to Wedgwood’s attention. In a letter dated February 5, 1784, he wrote: “I wish you may soon come to town to see William Hamilton’s vase, it is the finest production of Art that has been brought to England and seems to be the very apex of perfection to which you are endeavouring to bring your bisque and jasper…” Indeed, the Portland Vase is a masterpiece of cameo-cutting, with a stunning frieze of opaque white cameo glass over its translucent deep blue form. Its beauty and translucence would inspire Wedgwood to undertake his years-long endeavor to precisely replicate the original in porcelain. Upon closer examination, Wedgwood realized the vase was not made of stone or earthenware, but of cameo glass—a technique so advanced it remains the masterpiece of cameo-cutting. Today, the vase is housed in the British Museum, where it is the second most viewed antiquity, only after the Rosetta Stone. It then took Wedgwood several painstaking years to craft his unparalleled copy of the vase, during which he perfected the jasperware technique that would become his crowning achievement. To this day, the renowned porcelain firm regards the vase as its most momentous triumph, so much so that the vessel’s silhouette is incorporated into the Wedgwood logo. The four years it took Wedgwood to complete his vase were not without tribulations. From the start, Wedgwood encountered numerous problems with his copies, from cracking and blistering to the difficulty of replicating the translucent effects of the original. The first acceptable copy was produced in October 1789 and sent to Wedgwood’s physician and friend Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Wedgwood presented another copy to Queen Charlotte in May 1790 and afterward organized a private exhibition of the vase at the Portland House in London. The viewing proved so popular that Wedgwood was forced to restrict the show to 1,900 visitors. Much of London wished to see Wedgwood’s greatest major achievement. Perhaps the highest praise of Wedgwood’s copy came from the famed artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the founder of the British Royal Academy: “I can venture to declare it a correct and faithful imitation, both in regard to the general effect, and the most minute detail of the part.” Over the next few years, Wedgwood's oven records listed 43 First Edition copies of the Portland Vase produced between 1791 and 1796, 11 of which were broken during the firing process. In all, it is believed around 30 First Edition vases were completed, though an unknown number of these were somewhat damaged—one of these imperfect examples is currently held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The perfect examples such as ours have found their way into the most important museum collections in the world. The British Museum (London), Art Institute of Chicago, Birmingham Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, UK), among others, all hold one of these highly coveted vases in their collections. In terms of technical achievement, the First Edition Portland Vases...

Beautifully crafted and endlessly charming, this exceptionally rare silverplate teapot by the prestigious firm of Christofle & Cie. takes the form of a stylized wild hare. It was designed by Emile Reiber, a highly regarded architect, designer and Prix de Rome winner who joined Christofle as head of the workshop of composition and drawing in 1865. The design is after a Meiji-period Japanese bronze from the famed collection of Henri Cernuschi, an Italian banker and savvy collector of the arts of the Far East. Japonism was rising quickly in popularity in France around the time this teapot was created. Japan had opened borders and started trade with Europe in the 1860s, inspiring new ideas among European designers and artists like Reiber as they saw the arts of Japan firsthand for the first time. Cernuschi exhibited his collection at the Palais de l'Industrie at the Orientalist Exhibition in 1873-74, where Reiber spent weeks sketching the bronze artifacts — drawings he then translated into luxurious silverplate objects for Christofle. Based in Paris, Christofle & Cie. has been manufacturing high-quality luxury items since 1830. Christofle silver has graced the tables of European and Asian nobility for decades, and it is the tableware of choice on such luxury transportation as the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Innovative and revolutionary, the Christofle name is synonymous with elegance and style. An identical Christofle teapot...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

This extremely rare and important set of four Meissen ewers represents the Four Elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Impressive in both size and artistry, they are among the most fa...

This remarkable art glass Lava style vase is a part of Loetz’s Phaenomen Genre 377, the remarkable collection unveiled at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900. The Crete color variatio...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

This set of two carved mahogany chairs was crafted by the inimitable and famed Thomas Chippendale. The yellow upholstered seats complement the deep mahogany beautifully, creating an ...

Henry Dasson used grey granite from the famed Aswan quarries in Egypt to craft this pair of rare and important urns. Aswan was the location from which ancient Egyptian builders quarried the rare granite used...