M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES

The Small & Jewel-Like

"It must be noted that in all ages, while the public has been fascinated by the large, the imposing,
the grandiose, more often than not the connoisseur has delighted in the miniature, the jewel-like,
and the exquisite". The Science of Connoisseurship

(Home Page: www.mfordcreech.com)

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 Accessories / Ceramics / Early Asian / Fine Art / Furniture / Glassware / Silver

In The Company of "Small Cups"

Click For 'A Catalog Featuring A Few Small British Drinking Cups, c1690-1774'

One of the earliest records of tumbler cups is that of Samuel Pepys, on October 24, 1664.
He cites an odd alternate name - "cocking cups".
At that time, in the north-west of England,
these small cups were sometimes given as prizes given in cockfighting contests.

The earliest silver known tumbler cups still in existence date to 1671, at All Souls Oxford.
These early small, plain drinking cups were first popular at 17th century colleges,
(as Oxford) and intended to be emptied in a single draught.

Three Early Silver Tumbler Cups, c1690-1731 (Left to Right) :

George I Silver 'Tumbler Cup', James Goodwin, London, 1723

Early George II Silver 'Tumbler Cup', William Allen I (likely), London, 1731 (SOLD)

James II / William & Mary Small Silver 'Tumbler Cup', Roger Strickland, London, c1690

"Tot cups" are small drinking vessels, sometimes with a single handle, or handleless, in beaker form. 

They are usually footed and dram size (about two inches). 

Tot cups are said to be predecessors of the later Georgian “stirrup cups” -

so popular in both silver and ceramic from the mid-18th century forward. 

Tot cups, like stirrup cups, were likely handed to riders before or after a hunt,

 and meant to be drunk without putting the vessel down.

Early silver tot cups of any form are scarce, if not rare.

Three Early Georgian Silver Tot Cups (Left to Right) :

Scarce Early George II Silver "Tot Cup", Thomas Parr II, London, 1730

Scarce Early George II Silver 'Tot Cup', William Paradise, London, 1732

Scarce George I Silver 'Tot Cup', 1724, Scratch-Initialled 'AP 1723' (SOLD)

Elizabeth I / James I Silver Bodkin

Unmarked, England, c1600-1620

The tapering stem with an elongated hole for ribbons,
as well as a small round hole for threads at the wider end,
the top half also having rudimentary scratched engraving to each side;
remains of initials "M C" to the center of one side

5.4" Long / 0.4 oz

SOLD

Charles II Silver Child's Trefid Spoon

Steven Venables Junior, London, 1684

Of good gauge silver for the period,
the oval bowl with a raised rat-tail joined to flat shaft and trefid terminal,
the terminal reverse with scratch initials 'F*N'
5-5/8" Long /.7 oz.

Yongzheng Famille Rose & Black-Ground Moulded Teapot, Cover & Stand

China,1722-35 

The moulded teapot and stand with black-ground lotus petals on a famille rose ground,
with spout moulded and painted as overlapping lotus petals,
the base centering a moulded concave open lotus blossom,
centering over a moulded convex blossom on the moulded stand;
the cover of also of lotus form; the turquoise loop handle moulded a lotus stem
Teapot, 4.75" High / 6.5" Wide Spout to Handle / 6" Wide, The Stand
SOLD

Rare George I Glass Taperstick
England, c1720

A rare and early example, intended for heating sealing wax for letters,
the heavy walled bowl over a 'tapering baluster' stem,
applied terraced folded foot and rough pontil
the foot verso with an old collector's pen inscribed label
4.25" High / The Foot, 2" Diameter / 2.2 oz.

SOLD

George II Engraved Pan-Topped 'Mercury Twist' Wine Glass
England, c1750 

The pan-topped bowl having an engraved floral border to the rim,
each side with a 4- and 6-petalled flowers and fern-like foliage (possibly a Scottish rose),
the straight stem with a single series air twist and a pair of corkscrews or "mercury twists",
slightly domed conical foot, snapped pontil
6.25" High

Scarce George II Honeycomb-Moulded Footed Glass Bowl

England, c1730

The heavy circular blown glass bowl moulded all over

with honeycomb decoration above a short stem

and high domed and honeycomb-moulded folded foot with snapped pontil

3.5" High / 6.5" Diameter / 17.9 oz.

SOLD

Although many today think of 'honeycomb moulded' glass as being of the late 18th and 19th centuries,

'pattern-moulded' glass vessels have existed from the Roman era, including their prized 'honeycomb moulded' bowls.

Mould-blown patterned glass, including 'honeycomb', was continued by 15th-17th century Venetians,

particularly as cups and tazzae.

The 'honeycomb' pattern is also known in 17th century England,

a version of which led to George Ravenscroft's 'nipt diamond waies' glasswares,

in which vertical ribs (or applied threads) were 'nipped' into diamond shaped with pincer

Fine First Period Worcester Sir Joshua Reynolds Scalloped Deep Plate
England, c1770-2
Inspired by 17th century Japanese Kakiemon palette and design,
depicting a colorful long-tailed pheasant perched on a turquoise hollow rock
sided by a blue branch issuing turquoise leaves and flowers,
within a "wet blue" lobed ground,
with quite fine gilding of leaf sprays alternating with trellis diapering
8.5" Diameter

The connection between this pattern and Sir Joshua Reynolds is unclear,
although tradition holds that a set of the pattern belonged to
the well known British 18th century painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Pair George III Silver Clustered-Column Candlesticks

William Cafe, London, 1768
with Jacobite Interest :

for the Dukes of Gordon, from Letterfourie House (by Robert Adam)

A truly impressive design reflecting 17th century Huguenot design,
the standards with five banded columns below cast upright acanthus sconces
and removable French gadrooned sconces,
each cast cinquefoil base with acanthus decoration within a gadrooned border
and an oval boss with engraved Gordon crest and motto:

'A Hart's Head Couped ppr.', and Motto : 'Dum Sisto Vigilo'

12" High / The Foot, 6.25" Wide

George I Engraved Silver Snuff Box, Classical Scene

England, Unmarked, c1720-1725

The very heavy gauge silver box of usual early 18th century oval form
and with reeded base, sides and cover,
the lift-off lid nicely engraved with six draped figures and accompanied by a dog,

2-5/8" Long / 2.3 oz.

Victorian Silver Hunting Horn Vinaigrette & Scent Flask
Sampson Mordan & Co., London, 1872
The curved silver hunting horn with a hinged cover
set with a gilt George III token within a stylized anthemion type border,
opening to a gilt interior with hinged pierced floral and foliate grill,
the small end of the horn with screw top opening to a scent flask,
the exterior with attached suspensory chain, a small loop to the detaching scent lid
3" Long / 1.2 oz.

Costa Scena : A Cruise Along the Southern Coast of Kent
A Cased Strip Panorama, An Aquatint
"Dedicated to His Most Gracious Majesty George IV"
The Scenes Taken from Nature By Robert Havell Jr., Published London, 1823
Consisting of seven conjoined sheets unrolling to depict (from moving viewpoints)
the departure of George IV on his momentous State visit to Scotland, 23 August 1822,

aboard the 'Royal George'.
3 Inches High x 18.25 Feet Long

SOLD

Royal Interest :

George III Large Silver-Gilt Onslow Straining or Sifting Ladle,

Crested for Son of George III (Prince) Unmarked, c1775

The unusually large ladle of heavy gauge silver, for sifting or straining,
in the Onslow pattern, with a cast overscrolled terminal
and deep round finely foliate-pierced engraved bowl,
the terminal verso bearing a Royal crest beneath the scroll :
A lion statant gardant or, about the neck a label of three points,
resting on an Imperial crown
within the Order of the Garter, 'HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE',
beneath the Imperial Crown.
7.75" Long / Bowl Width, 3" / 2.8 oz.

SOLD

Rare Pair of French Faience Polychrome Seated Lions

Probably Luneville, c1800

Whimsically painted in shades of black, gray and violets, with black-lined yellow manes,
each face with cobalt blue eyes, and showing teeth and tongue picked out in reds,
the ears laid back and pierced

18" Long x 14" High

Rare George II Silver Saucer-Form Domed Wine Taster
Joseph Sanders, London, 1738,

In the "Bordeaux" circular saucer form,
having a flared rim and high domed central section, the dome rising above the sides;
fully marked to the outer side;
this form considered by some to be the "only true ear;y English silver wine taster".
4" Diameter / 3.2 oz.

Three Fine Silver-Mounted Bottle Stoppers : Left to Right :

Fine Victorian Cast Silver Heraldic Bottle Stopper, Murray, Dukes of Atholl (or Athole) and the Earls of Dunmore (Hennell) SOLD

Good George IV Silver Bottle Neck Ring and Silver-Mounted Bottle Stopper (Samuel Jackson) SOLD

Victorian Cast Silver Heraldic Bottle Stopper Bouchier, Earls of Essex and Ewe, & Barons of Bouchier (William Hunter) SOLD

George II Glass Sweetmeat Dish, c1750,

filled with candied citrus and cranberries,

having a dentelated rim and oversewn foot

Shown with

 A William and Mary Silver Sucket Fork

Adam King, London, 1691 (The Fork Sold)

Fine William IV Silver Military Thread Basting Spoon

Paul Storr, London, 1835

Crested for the family of Astley

Of heavy gauge silver, as expected with Storr wares,

the rare 'Military' variant of 'Old English Thread',
having a strong threaded 'pip' at the terminal

12.5" Long / 6.1 oz

Pair of George III Facet-Cut Glass Candlesticks

England, c1770

Of fine quality, flat-cutting and weight,
the faceted sconces with dentelated drip rims over faceted nozzles over an annulated knop,
the diamond-faceted stems raised high domed feet with flat scalloped rims,
rough pontil scar to each verso
10.5" High, The Foot, 6" Wide / 52.4 oz Total Weight (4 lbs. 4.4 oz.)

George II Airtwist Cordial Glass
England, c1750

A quite heavy glass, having a round funnel bowl with fluted lower half,
over a long stem with multiple threads
around a central thick flattened "mercury" thread encircled by a further single thread,
raised on a conical foot with snapped pontil
6.5" High

Pair Brass &Sheet Brass Column Culstered Candlesticks

Netherlands, c1675

Showing Huguenot influence and cluster column design,
each having a square decorated socket over a medially-knopped fluted stem,
the drip-tray embossed with baskets of flowers and corner tulips,
over a cast square base also embossed with corner tulips centering dolphins and scrolls;
raised on four shaped feet, constructed in 3 parts
7 .75" High / 41.10 oz.

SOLD

Cylindrical 'BEAKERS' date back at least 6000 years - abundant in Biblical times.
These simple tapering vessels, traditionally for alcohol, came into Britain about 2500 BC.
There was even a western European Neolithic culture named "Beaker Folk".
British silver beakers are usually made in three parts :
the sides from a sheet which is hammered into the round, then seamed vertically; 
the base and foot wire applied separately - construction varying little through time.

However, silver beakers are comparatively rare from Queen Anne period :

Queen Anne Britannia Silver Beaker
William Gibson, London, 1702
Of heavy gauge silver in the Charles II form, the tapering circular body with
a part-fluted lower section below a rope-work border sided by punched decoration

3” High  /  3.8 oz.

George III Silver Beaker

Aaron Lestourgen, London, 1774

Of tapering cylindrical form, with gilt interior;

Crested for the family of Kirkby of Northwest England :

Willliam Comber Kirkby (Lancashire and Surrey), or his son William Kirkby (Co. Middlesex)

3.25" High / 4.8 oz.

SOLD

George III Silver Beaker

Charles Wright, London 1775

With arms for an unmarried daughter of the Browne family, Suffolk and Essex.

(likely either Anna Marie Browne or Charlotte Browne of Suffolk, prior to marriage)

3” High / 2.8 oz.

SOLD

William & Mary Silver Tot Cup
Ralph Leeke (Leake), London, 1695

The small girdled cup cup bearing the marriage arms of a Continental Marquis;
marked verso : within a shield, RL a trefoil below, and a lion passant

2-3/8" High / 3 oz. 

Tot cups are small drinking vessels, sometimes with a single handle, or handleless, in beaker form.
They are usually footed and dram size (about two inches).
Tot cups are said to be predecessors of the later Georgian "stirrup cups" -
so popular in both silver and ceramic from the mid-18th century forward.
Tot cups, like stirrup cups, were likely handed to riders before or after a hunt,
and meant to be drunk without putting the vessel down.

SOLD 

Exhibited: New York : Empire City. Grand Central Art Galleries, New York, 

bearing affixed paper label verso

Boldly painted in directional impasto manner, this small figurative image depicts life in Central Park

in the early 20th century.  The strength of the work is exactly what Ms. Bernstein was so well known for :

"rapid, fluid brushwork, innovative color play, and fresh approach";

"plein-air landscape painting with startling color contrasts and bright accents of light".

The combination of energetic contrasts of light, line, freedom and precision in the work are completely

arresting, as well as the simple examination of life and activities in a more romanticized era gone by -

executed with passion but without sentimentality. 

Ms. Bernstein lived to be 111 years old.  A member of the Ash Can School as early as 1910,

she continued to produce "vibrant canvases" for 8 more decades.

We are pleased to offer this exceptional "vibrant canvas".

SOLD

Pair 18th Century Silver Neoclassical Tapersticks

Sheffield England, or possibly Continental

Unmarked to the silver, bird in flight in the nozzle interior; tests as silver

7.5" High

Rare & Fine Pair of South Staffordshire Enamel on Copper Tapersticks

With exquisite and detailed en camaieu puce
classical vignettes of figures in landscapes with castle towers

6.5" High

George III Silver Scissor-Form Wax Jack

S. C. Young & Co., Sheffield, 1815

Of finest quality, marked to body and snuffer

Crested : a greyhound's head, couped & collared (Fairbairn's 61.2)

George III Fruitwood Tea Caddy, in the form of a Pear

Or large size, retaining the original Key

England, c1790-1810

6" High

SOLD

George III Fruitwood Apple-Form Tea Caddy

Of large size, with steel eschucheon

England, c1790-1810

4.5" High

SOLD

Perhaps there is no better symbol for the English Yuletide "wassailing of fruit trees" than the turned fruitwood tea caddy. 

Introduced in the late 18th century, these fruit-forms are today probably the most sought-after of all caddies. 

There is conjecture that these caddies were made in imitation of the early 18th century Chinese pears and aubergines. 

English (and German) examples were predominately apples and pears;
however cantaloupes, aubergines, and even strawberries and pineapples have been found. 
Unlike the Chinese caddies, which had contrasting woods and screw-on lids,

the European models were simply polished or varnished, having loosely fitted hinged lids that were lifted by means of a stalk

- many of with have been broken or lost.  The interiors were lined with foil, now softly disintegrated through years of use.

Such is their popularity that many imitations are still made today,.

However these caddies date from the late 18th or early 19th century English Georgian period.

GEORGE III SILVER KITCHEN

NUTMEG GRATER, Royal Interest

Thomas Phipps, James Phipps II Edward Robinson II, London, 1812; Royal Coronet over AF

Most likely for Prince Augustus Frederick,

Duke of Sussex

Of heavy gauge, the mounted curved blue steel body sided by gadrooned uprights and a shell and foliate

handle, the lower end hinged and monogrammed

with a coronet above conjoined initials "AF";

fully marked on body and lid.

4-5/8” High / 3.8 Oz.

 SOLD

Trefid spoons are the first form of the modern spoon, the earliest trefid being recorded in 1662.  They became more common in the 1670’s, only being made until c1700.  During the 17th century, even the wealthy usually possessed only one silver spoon, and would carry it about on the person when traveling.  This set of three spoons was assembled in the late 18th or early 19th century, and bears the crest of the collector.  Francis Archbold and John Cory both shown to be working concurrently at the "signe of the Golden Cupp" -

Cory from 1697-1722, and Archbold c1700.