ANTIQUE RUSSIAN 3 PORCELAIN CUP SAUCER HP SAF 3 antique Russian porcelain demitasse coffee cans / cups and saucers with handpainted Russian peasant scenes. Made in the Safronov factoroy, near Moscow circa 1830. <P><P>
Saucers are approx 5 inches in diameter and 1 1/8 inches high. Cups are a little over 2 1/2 inches in diameter (excluding handle) and2 1/2 inches high. <P><P>
Saucers are deep enough to be used as bowls - possibly because 180 years ago people did use saucers as bowls. They are simply white porcelain with gold rims and a gold flower in the center. <P>
The cups are simple cylinders in shape. 2 have scrolling handles and one has an ear-shaped handle. Bottom and top rims + handles are gilded. Tops also gilded inside the cups. The outside of each cup is hand painted with a wonderful vignette of Russian peasants in a surrounding forest. Each scene is full of amazing action: in one a couple of youths are wrestling each other; in one a woman trudges along a path, one child hanging onto her arm, already weighed down by a basket full of produce, on her back, an enormous basket with a very big toddler sitting and lording it over the world. The 3rd cup depicts a woman in a marvellous costume being grabbed by a man in brown jacket and breeches with a big grey hat. Both wear wonderfully painted stockings, falling down over their shoes. The woman might be slapping the man for his uninvited advances. <P>
The book Russian Porcelains by Marvin Cross (page 257) claims that the Safronov factory produced pieces of the best quality - clearly these are good examples. THe porcelain itself is fine and white, with smoothe texture. The painting is outstanding. Each scene would be marvellous as a picture on the wall and all the more charming for the way they are executed. One gets a definate feel for Russian History with these scenes of "the simple life". <P><P>
The pieces are marked underneath with the blue underglaze Russian S (looks like a C with thickened edges). Inscribed squiggles / illegible writing can also be made out on most pieces. <P><P>
Condition is very good. Besides a small amount of wear to the gilding, there are no chips/cracks/damage/restoration of any sort. THere is a tiny scratch on the paint on the man in brown who is bothering the woman - see 'photos for magnified pictures.<P><P>
The Safronov factory opened in 1830 and closed early 1840's.  

ANTIQUE CERAMIC CIGAR JEWELRY BOX BIBLE FIGUR Antique ceramic cigar or jewellery box, sarcophagus, with Biblical figural scenes. Made in Italy. Believed to date to early 1900's (1900 - 1930).<P><P>
From an extremely prestigious estate: William Nelson Camp, owner of Florida Power, vast real estate and phosphate mines and good friend of the richest of the rich

and powerful. <P><P>
Measures 7 1/2 inches accross box and 7 3/4 inches long including the extended base. 4 1/2 inches wide (front to back) and 5 1/8 inches front to back including the

extended base. Approx 5 inches high, including the finial. <P><P>
Heavy ceramic with moulded decoration. Rectangular shape. Lid with shaped finial. Moulded decoration with strong Bible themes: One side (front) is a scene depicting

the Garden of Eden with a Human (Adam) in the center and a variety of animals and trees around him. The opposite side shows a figure on a raised dais / throne and a

number of other people and animals below. I think this is King Solomon at his court. One of the sides shows another scene with human and animals and a variety of

trees. The 4th side shows a number of ships. The buildings in the background of the other scenes, like the ships, don't quite fit into the Bibilical theme, but we

can put them down to Artistic License. The lid, with a variety of floral and foliate moulded decoration, also features angels and birds flitting around what might be

a Holy image. The 4 immitation pillars on the rounded corners add to the feel of a sarcophagus. <P><P>
The inside has been gilded and the lid is rough, as though intended to be used to strike matches, which may confirm it's use as a tobacco humidor.<P><P>
No identifying factory marks.<P><P>
Very good condition. No chips/cracks/damage/restoration.  

ANTIQUE GOUDA POTTERY BOWL CHARGER SUPERB HP Antique Zuidholland Plazuid pottery bowl / charger, made in the Netherlands (Holland), in the town of Gouda. The mark is that of a 19 -20th century Dutch ceramic

factory at Gouda. <P><P>
Measures 10 3/4 inches in diameter; height is 1 3/4 inches. <P><P>
Round, fairly shallow bowl, suitable for holding fruit. Outstanding handpainting over entire ceramic surface. A sprigg of flowers and buds in shades of blue with

yellow, gold and brown centers and outlines. Delicate, curly foliage in lilac. Background of upper half of bowl is paler lilac on cream in a tight, scrolling

pattern. The lower half has a background that looks like cells of earth in very rich golds and browns. The colours are not flat, but composite - ie consisting of

layers of paint over each other. The effects are astonishingly beautiful. Narrow bands of ochre, brown and green surround the rim. <P><P>
A pair of holes in the rim underneath are original to the manufacture and intended to hold the wire (which is present) for hanging the bowl. <P><P>
The bowl is marked at the back in handwritten green: a house; J v S in a rectangle; PLAZUID; O; Gouda; Holland; 1165/25. This mark is to be found in the book on

European Pottery marks by Penkala, page 267. However, they do not say much more about the factory. <P><P>
Condition is very good. No chips/cracks/damage/restoration of any sort to be found.  

VINTAGE DUTCH FIGURAL RARE NODDER OPEN SALT Vintage porcelain figural nodder / open salt. Comes from a large antique glass and porcelain collection. Exact date and origin are unknown, but probably European. <P><P>
Measures 9 1/2 inches high. <P><P>
Made of fine porcelain glazed in white, green and pale blue-grey, with a few golden-yellow highlights. Rare form of a Dutch farm girl, holding a basket in each hand. The baskets might be intended to hold salt. <P>
THe figure 'nods' in two ways: The base and legs form a kind of tapering pedestal on which the torso of the body rests. She can thus sway from side to side from the neck. Her head, balanced on the neck also sways from side to side- usually in the opposite direction to that of the body. <P><P>
No marks to be found.
Generally good condition. There are two tiny unglazed rectangles on her back, which we can't explain.  

ROYAL COPENHAGEN FIGURINE LADYBIRD / BUG MINT Limited Edition porcelain figurine of a ladybird / bug fairy elf child, made by Royal Copenhagen, Denmark. <P><P>
Measures 6 1/2 inches high.<P><P>
Stands on a heart shaped white base. Bright red boots with pom poms on the back. Blue tucked in trousers/tights and bright yellow top with bright red cape

with red dots. Blond hair under bug cap and amazingly fine porcelain feelers. Pretty facial features.
Marked underneath with blue and green Royal Copenhagen mark and number 044. Mint condition. No chips/cracks/damage of any sort.  

SIGNED DUTCH DELFT CANARY IN CAGE PLAQUE 19C Signed handpained polychrome Dutch Delft plaque in the form of a canary in a cage. Made Holland 19th century. <br>
Height: 10 inches. Width: 10 inches.<br>
Ceramic plaque in the form of a birdcage. Cleverly painted to make 2 dimentions look like 3. A polychrome coloured birdcage with scrolling rococco decoration and a faux drawer pull. Colours are blue, green, yellow and red. Yellow and red flowers. Yellow and brown / aubergine coloured canary singing as it swings on a perch. Outside rim of the plaque is painted the same brown/aubergine colour. <br>
Small holes (original to the manufacture) in the top of the plaque so that it can be hung on the wall. Tremendous aesthetic appeal.
Blue underglaze signature on the back. <br>
Condition is very good with a few small spots of glaze loss on the outside rim that do not impact the plaque.  

WIEN ART DECO FIGURAL BOY & GIRL CANDLESTICKS Pair of Art Deco figural candlesticks. Boy and Girl figurine, each holding a pair of candleholders in their hands. Made Vienna, Austria early 20th century (1920-30's).
Vienna Werkstadt.<br>
9inches high to top of holder in boy's right hand.<br>
Beautifully designed Art Deco figurines. Peasant youths. Smiling faces with chubby cheeks glazed like peaches. Incised eyes and brows. Lovely moulding to mouths and noses and hair and slightly stylised, slightly naturalistic modelling of bodies and headwear. Exxaggerated feet. Wonderful colouring to the glazes - dark forest green (looks almost black), shades of red, pale green, blue and purple. <br>
Each figure has incised maker's mark HBE over WIEN, done to look like a house.
Some kiln crackling to the glaze (only) underneath the girl figure, original to the piece (see 'photos), but no damage.  

DUTCH DELFT BLUE WHITE SIGNED 1750 TOBY JUG Exceptional Toby jug character in blue and white Delft. Almost certainly made in the Netherlands. Signed TSL and dated 1750.<br>
approx 10 1/4inches high.<br>
Sits on round base. Boots, rolled/cuffed pants, a waist jacket under his coat and a nifty little tie over buttoned shirt. In one hand he holds a sack or bag of money, while another is tucked under his right boot. Clearly a man of means. The surface is magnificently painted with flowers. Fabulous detail. The face is marvellous as well - from the sideburns to the detail of lips and ears. <br>
Underneath, the piece is signed TSL and dated 1750. <br>
Condition can only be considered very good considering the age of the piece. There are a number of places (clearly shown in the 'photos), where the glaze has been worn off the porous ceramic, but there are no actual chips/cracks/restorations.  

ROYAL COPENHAGEN DUTCH FARM BOY PULLING COW Royal Copenhagen figure Boy With Calf. Signed.
Designed by Chr. Thomsen in 1906 and measures 17 X 16cm.
Figure of a Dutch farm boy, wearing big wooden clogs and a brown cap, pulling a stubborn calf by a rope. Fabulous detail from the winding rope to the muscles of the cow. Beautiful features of faces and contra of forces.
Marked underneath with Royal Copenhagen Denmark underglaze mark, Model number 772 and artist initials NRY.
MINT condition. Retail price $550.- in 2001. No longer in production.  

ROYAL COPENHAGEN FIGURE OF BOY CARVING A STIC Royal Copenhagen figure of a boy carving a stick. Modelled by Chr. Thomsen in 1908.
Measures 7 1/4inches high.
Young boy in shorts, classic tones of blue clothes and hat, whittles away at a stick. A rope tied around his shoulder is hung with fishing utensils.
Marked underneath with ROYAL COPENHAGEN DENMARK 905 mark.
MINT condition. No damage of any sort.