Antiques Considered - December 12, 2012
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- Published on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 12:10
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This breakfront belongs to a family from Illinois that settled in the Northern Neck many years ago. They think the piece has been in the family for several generations, but do not know when they acquired it. It is walnut, with the original finish and glass. The overall condition is excellent.
Antiques Considered - December 5, 2012
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- Published on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 15:05
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A lady in Washington received this art glass vase from an employer many years ago. The family who previously owned it was wealthy, and wanted to give the recipient a nice present. It is in perfect condition, and on the bottom bears the signature of Gallé.
Antiques Considered - Nov. 28, 2012
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- Published on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 13:57
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These three French wedding cups were part of a larger collection that the wife of an American diplomat put together while serving abroad. The one is inscribed, ”Amite”, and one of the others is etched but not inscribed. The third is plain. The gilding on the stem of one is not original, but has been applied to cover the repairs from when the piece had been broken.
French wedding cups are becoming increasingly difficult to find. They represent a tradition of the nineteenth century when a bride and groom and their wedding guests all drank from the same cup as a symbol of the gathering’s support for the newly married couple. “Amite’” translates as friendship, signifying the unity of the community in wishing the newlyweds a happy future.
The “Amite’” cup is the most valuable. Like the others it dates from the early to mid-nineteenth century, and appears to be in pristine condition. It is worth $200. The plain cup, also in excellent condition is worth $100. The repaired one, despite its fine design, is worth $25. Damaged items without a provenance of origin or ownership are hard sells, especially in a case such as this one where the repairs are quite obvious.
The tradition of the cups is a part of French history, making them collectible for both history buffs and glass collectors. All of these pieces reflect the taste and culture of the Restoration through the July Monarchy, that is from the return to the throne of Louis XVIII in 1814 through the reign of his brother, Charles X (1824-1830) and that of Louis Philippe (1830-1848). The latter was the “Citizen King”, and his reign was known as the Liberal Monarchy because he presented himself as a reformer.
The style of the cups and the etching on the two reflect that period, and the three are interesting testaments of the period.
Happy Antiquing!
Antiques Considered - Nov. 21, 2012
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- Published on Wednesday, 21 November 2012 13:00
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A lady in the Northern Neck inherited this alabaster urn many years ago. It is 16 inches tall, and has a lid that is inverted in this picture. The owner keeps it that way as the lid has been broken in several places, as has the neck, which has been restored and painted to match the color of the alabaster, thereby covering up the restoration. She thinks that the urn is
Antiques Considered - Nov. 14, 2012
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- Published on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 14:23
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A New York family now living in the Northern Neck has owned this pair of French chests for almost a century. The grandmother, long deceased, purchased them in Paris in the 1920s. They are walnut with Louis XVI legs. The dovetailing of the drawers is deep, and the overall condition of the pieces is excellent. The finish and the hardware are original. The backs are unfinished.
