Early 1900s More Objets d Art and Vertu

Fox Essex glass scent bottle designed by Tiffany & Co. An exceptional very rare piece, created during the Edwardian period at the Tiffany Studios, back in he 1905. This fabulous scent bottle has been carved from translucent rock quartz and mount with an oversized Essex glass reverse carved piece depicting the enameled three dimensional head of a fox. Both parts are mounted with hinged round frames crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats with high polished finish. Fitted with a push opening button, an invisible hinges and an interior gold screw lid. The head of the fox is magnificent, very well carved with realistic details and exceptionally painted. Weight: 137.50 Grams, (88.14 Dwt). Measurements: 34 mm by 40 mm by 80 mm (1.34 x 1.57 x 3.15 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the gold and signed, "TIFFANY & CO.". The gold parts has been independently tested using state of the art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as over 18k gold .770/.999 assay. Essex Glass Essex crystal pieces are formed from a rock crystal cabochon (polished domes of rock crystal with a flat base), an image or motif is then reverse carved into the flat base, and then painted, to give them impression of a three dimensional object or image encapsulated in the cabochon when viewed from above. Production of a reverse crystal intaglio begins with the mining and cutting of fine rock crystal from Brazil or Madagascar. A well-formed cabochon is the key to a beautifully made reverse intaglio and the tedious process of hand polishing it to perfection had to be completed before the design work could begin. A watercolor rendering of the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and diamond dust mixture was used along with up to 250 scribing tools to carve the design into the interior of the crystal “…the deeper the carving the more pronounced trompe l’oeil effect.” Once the carving was established the painting process began with extremely fine brushes and paint working in reverse to create incredibly detailed images. This process of carving into the back of the cabochon is sometimes referred to as reverse intaglio, not be to mistaken with intaglio, which is designed to be viewed from the same side on which it is carved, unlike Essex crystal. Particularly when the image is of something which is itself small in reality, such as an insect, they can be very convincing when created by skilled craftsman. Thomas Cook was believed to be responsible for introducing them to Britain from the continent in the 1860s, and there were initially sold by Hancock’s in London. During the same period the artist William Essex, was a great favourite of Queen Victoria, and known for his enamel painting and miniatures. It would seem that the public put two and two together and came up with five, in that they believed these exquisite miniature painted jewels could only have been created by such a celebrated talent as Essex, and the name stuck despite him having nothing to do with their creation. Interestingly, William Bishop...

Art Nouveau French Griffin 18k yellow gold diamond stickpin, circa 1905. 5/8” long by 5/8” plus wide. 2.7 grams

Arts & Crafts enamel, copper and brass box, circa 1900. The box of four turned rivet bracket brass cornices, the paneled copper body with stylised arts a...

Rare Art Nouveau Silver double Photograph Frame Birmingham 1905 Mappin & Webb. The double frame depicting art nouveau foliate design decoration. Fully hallmarked for Birmingham 1905 ...

Antique Silver card or cigarette Case, Birmingham 1900 George Unite. The front and reverse with engine turned foliate design and stippled background, vacant cartouche to front. Hallm...

Large Art Nouveau Secessionist pewter photograph frame, WMF, circa 1906.The frame of stylised jugendstil form, the bottom section of pierced gothic like panels, the upper section wit...

Arts and Crafts Art Nouveau Jugendstil Enamel, Copper and Brass Box, C.1900. The box on four turned bracket brass splay petal supports, the paneled copper and brass rivet body with s...

Circa 1900 - 1920 Vienna Bronze Figure with Cold Paint Enamel of 2 Pug Dogs, measuring 1 5/8 inches in length and 1 1/4 inches in height. Nicely detailed, very minor hard to see surf...

A Turn-of-the-Century diamond and platinum Kokosnik tiara, the seven old European-cut diamonds graduating from the centre, suspended within openwork trellis design set with old-Europ...

A necessity during the Victorian Era, hat pins not only balanced precarious hats atop piles of hair but also moonlighted as weapons against overzealous gentlemen. Though teetering ha...

A necessity during the Victorian Era, hat pins not only balanced precarious hats atop piles of hair but also moonlighted as weapons against overzealous gentlemen. Though teetering ha...

A necessity during the Victorian Era, hat pins not only balanced precarious hats atop piles of hair but also moonlighted as weapons against overzealous gentlemen. Though teetering hats are no longer de rigeur, glorious century-plus-old pins such as these can be pierced through modern hats as statement accessories or even arranged in the hair like chopsticks. This extraordinary example features a 6mm cultured pearl clutched in a gold Art Nouveau talon to create a practical—yet statement-making—accessory. 6 ¼” hat pin with silver stem; 6mm cultured pearl finial...