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postcards

'Avant!......apres'

ca. 1902

This object is a printed picture postcard titled 'Avant!.....aprés', produced around 1902 and attributed as probably German. Executed as a lithograph using printing ink on card, the postcard measures approximately 9 cm in height by 14 cm in width. The recto of the postcard depicts three sequential narrative scenes.…

postcards

'Honni soit qui mal y pense'

ca. 1910

This collectible object is an erotic postcard produced circa 1910 in France by an unknown maker. Printed on card as a lithograph, the postcard measures approximately 9 cm in height by 14 cm in width. The illustration depicts an optical illusion featuring a woman emerging from a broken egg, with a small winged Cupid…

badges insignia

"Please offer me a seat" badge and card

2017

This circular pin-back badge, accompanied by a card and an information pamphlet, was designed in-house and manufactured by Transport for London (TfL) in 2017. The badge measures 5.5 cm in diameter and is fitted with a safety pin fastening on the reverse. The associated card measures 5.4 cm high by 8.5 cm long, and t…

posters

"Poster for the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906"

"Poster for the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906" is held by Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin. Museum description: Käthe Kollwitz: "Poster for the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906", poster with lettering, 1906 lithograph. The museum record gives measurements sheet dimensions (height): 71.1 cm, sheet dimens…

posters

"Poster of the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906"

"Poster of the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906" is held by Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin. Museum description: Käthe Kollwitz: "Poster of the German Home Work Exhibition Berlin 1906", pictorial motif of the poster - without the lettering, 1906 Lithograph. The museum record gives measurements Sheet dimensions (…

playing cards

10 of Tethers, from The Cloisters Playing Cards, South Netherlandish, ca. 1475–80

ca. 1475–80

10 of Tethers, from The Cloisters Playing Cards, South Netherlandish, ca. 1475–80 is an object recorded by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, dated ca. 1475–80. The museum record gives material recorded as Paper (four layers of pasteboard) with pen and ink, opaque paint, glazes, and applied silver and gold; measurement…

badges insignia

12th-century gold annular love-token brooch with posy

circa 12th century

This is a 12th-century annular brooch, an early form of jewelry that functioned as both a fastener and a sentimental love-token. Crafted from gold, the object is defined by a flat circular hoop that integrates a hinged, tapered pin designed for securing clothing. The brooch features an inscribed surface, marked in r…

thimbles

14ct gold thimble set with turquoise cabochons

This collectible thimble is crafted from approximately 14-carat gold and features a distinctive incised texture across its surface. The base of the thimble is adorned with a decorative band set with a continuous row of round turquoise cabochons. The object measures 2.1 centimeters in height and has a total weight of…

snuff boxes

14k gold and malachite hinged snuff box

20th Century

This 20th-century snuff box is constructed from 14k gold and features inlaid malachite panels. The rectangular, hinged container is defined by a decorative architectural gold strap-work frame that segments the vibrant green malachite surfaces. The item displays an engraving on the side, highlighting the meticulous m…

thimbles

14k Gold Thimble by Simons Bros, Size 9

This collectible thimble is crafted from 14k gold and produced by the American manufacturer Simons Bros. It is marked as a size 9 and has an approximate weight of 4.45 grams. The object features a traditional dimpled dome designed for protective finger coverage during sewing tasks. The lower portion of the thimble i…

thimbles

14kt yellow gold thimble and French gilt brass thimble box by Jacques Taury

19th/20th Century

This listing comprises a set consisting of a size 8 thimble crafted from 14kt yellow gold and a decorative French gilt brass thimble box. The thimble is marked with the 14K gold purity stamp and the Birmingham Assay Office mark, measuring approximately 5/8 inches in height with a 3/4 inch diameter. It is presented w…

bookbindings

1548 Roman chestnut morocco gilt bookbinding by Niccolò Franzese

1548

This example represents a 16th-century contemporary Roman bookbinding, specifically commissioned for the 1548 edition of Leo I's Epistolae decretales ac familiares, printed in Cologne. The binding is crafted from chestnut morocco leather, finished with sophisticated gilt tooling. Measuring 160 x 109 mm, the covers a…

keys locks

16th-17th Century European iron door lock plate

ca. 16th to 17th century CE

This antique European door plate fitting, originating from the 16th to 17th century, is crafted from iron and features an integrated locking mechanism. The plate is distinguished by its elaborate openwork edges, which are designed with decorative, elegant scrolls. The surface is embellished with fine etched tulip mo…

snuff boxes

1779 English sterling silver oval snuff box with engine-turned decoration, engraved D. Cobb

1779

This 1779 oval snuff box, crafted in London, features intricate engine-turning and fine silver craftsmanship. It is of a graceful, elongated oval form, with a lid surface embellished by engine-turned patterns, a surrounding laurel border, and elaborate scrollwork. The center of the lid showcases an oval medallion fe…

fans

1779-90, souvenir fan leaf from the Bay of Naples; ivory sticks were possibly carved in England

1779-1790

Fan with carved and pierced ivory sticks, set with glass pastes and a paper leaf. It depicts Italian views and inscriptions including the Grotta del Cane (Cave of Dogs), a view of Pozzuoli and the bridge of Caligula and Vesuvius erupting on the night of 8 August 1779. The reverse shows a framed view of a cottage a…

spoons

17th Century English Sterling Silver Apostle Spoon

17th century

This early English apostle spoon is crafted from sterling silver and dates to the 17th century. The spoon is of a typical historical form, featuring a slender, straight stem that leads to a shaped terminal. The terminal is decorated with a small cast figure representing an apostle, though the specific attributes of…

keys locks

17th Century European wrought-iron architectural door lock

17th Century

This large, hand-forged wrought-iron architectural door lock originates from 17th-century Europe, likely Northern or Central. The piece demonstrates substantial, robust construction characteristic of the post-medieval period, designed for use on prominent structures such as monasteries, guild halls, manor houses, or…

spoons

17th century silver apostle spoon attributed to Robert Wade Jnr

1630s-40s

This 17th-century apostle spoon is attributed to the maker Robert Wade Jnr of Taunton, dating to the 1630s-1640s. The spoon features a distinctive silver bowl and a straight stem, terminating in a gilt-finished apostle figure, identified as potentially St. James the Greater, depicted holding a pilgrim's staff. The a…

snuff boxes

1848 Zachary Taylor papier-mache presidential campaign snuff box

c. 1848

This 1848 Zachary Taylor presidential campaign snuff box is an example of early American political merchandising. The piece measures 3.25 inches in diameter and is constructed from papier-mache, a popular material for decorative boxes during the first half of the nineteenth century. It features a jet-black lacquered…

snuff boxes

18CT GOLD AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX

early 19th Century

A 19TH CENTURY 18CT GOLD AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX AFTER RAPHAEL, HANAU, C. 1810 Antique early 19th Century German 18 carat gold and enamel snuff box, of rectangular form with rounded corners, featuring a hinged cover framed by chased foliate borders on a deep blue guilloché enamel ground. On the lid, applied a gold fram…

snuff boxes

18k Gold and Enamel Snuff Box

C. 1790

At its centre is an enamel plaque portraying a picturesque countryside hunting scene: to the left, a woman on horseback accompanied by dogs running through a forested landscape; in the foreground, a leaping deer; in the middle distance, a church-like building; and to the right, a gentleman also on horseback. The pla…

snuff boxes

18k Yellow Gold and Sapphire Bombe Snuff Box

20th Century

This 20th-century snuff box is crafted in 18k yellow gold in a distinctive bombe form. The exterior of the box is elaborately chased with intricate foliage and geometric motifs, demonstrating refined metalwork. The lid is prominently decorated with a central cartouche accented by sapphires, which provide a decorativ…

fans

18th Century French Folding Fan Signed With History

18th Century

18th Century French Folding Fan Signed With History. 11.25” Height x 22.25” Length when fully opened. Primary side has three vignettes of transfer image of cherubs and opposite side has architectural element with four panels having French script. Primary side has five panels above center cherub with French script. A…

fans

18th Century French Neoclassical Vellum and Ivory Hand Fan

ca. 18th century CE

This 18th-century French Neoclassical hand fan represents the artistry and fashion of a period when such items were essential accessories. The fan features a folding vellum leaf delicately hand-painted with an elaborate Classical scene, interpreted as an episode from Homer's Odyssey, depicting Athena addressing a qu…

fans

18th Century French Rococo painted vellum and ivory hand fan

18th century CE

This 18th-century French Rococo period hand fan exemplifies the artistry associated with the first golden age of fans in Europe. The fan leaf is crafted from vellum, featuring an intricate hand-painted gouache scene depicting five elegantly dressed nobles in a dreamlike, pastoral countryside setting. The composition…

buttons

18th century hairwork picture button with fishing scene

18th century

The design, executed on a translucent mica background, depicts three men fishing on a bridge set against an architectural backdrop. The image is composed using fine strands of human hair, a process noted for its exceptional tediousness and technical complexity, with additional hair clumps used to build up the textur…

buttons

18th Century Marine Scene Enamel Button

18th century

This 18th-century button features a finely hand-painted enamel marine scene, characterized by a smooth, glass-like finish achieved through meticulous hand polishing. The painted design depicts a landscape incorporating figures, architecture, and water elements, set against a delicate pink-hued background. The enamel…

snuff bottles

18th Century six-color overlay bubble-suffused glass 'Goldfish' snuff bottle

18th Century

This exceptional snuff bottle, dating to the 18th century, features a complex 'bubble-suffused' (feixue) ground, where dense, tiny bubbles within the semi-translucent glass create an effect reminiscent of fallen snow or frost. The body is decorated with an intricate overlay of six-color glass—green, yellow, purple,…

snuff bottles

18th Century white jade pebble-form snuff bottle

18th century

This snuff bottle is fashioned from white jade in a natural pebble form, characteristic of 18th-century lapidary art. The stone exhibits a smooth, whitish tone throughout, accented with subtle, faint russet patches that add visual texture to its surface. The entire vessel is finished with an attractive soft matte po…

snuff bottles

18th-century brown glass double-gourd snuff bottle

18th Century

This snuff bottle, dating to the 18th century, is crafted from translucent brown glass with a deep, subtle luster. The vessel is designed in the traditional double-gourd form, a shape highly regarded in Chinese culture for its auspicious symbolism; the word for gourd sounds similar to 'fortune and rank' (fulu), and…

bookbindings

18th-century Dutch VOC Delft chamber notebook with silver mounts

18th-century

This 18th-century notebook, bound in black chagrin (sealskin), was produced for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) Delft chamber as a high-end business gift. Measuring 13 x 8 cm, the binding features elaborate silver ornaments in relief on both boards, including a central plaque depicting a three-masted ship (an Eas…

fans

18th-century French Neoclassical ivory and vellum hand fan

18th century CE

This 18th-century French Neoclassical hand fan is a sophisticated example of the era's decorative arts. The fan features a construction of ivory sticks and a vellum leaf, accented by a red glass pivot. The vellum leaf is meticulously hand-painted with an elaborate Classical scene, potentially depicting Athena addres…

fans

18th-century French Rococo silk and whale ivory folding fan

second half of the 18th century CE

This 18th-century French folding fan from the Rococo period is a fine example of luxury personal accessories of the era. The fan features a delicate silk leaf, which is meticulously embellished with elaborate embroidery, sparkling sequins, and applied gilding. It is hand-painted with a central romantic vignette depi…

snuff bottles

18th-century Suzhou white jade snuff bottle with 'Wang Xizhi and geese' motif

18th Century

This fine Suzhou-style white jade snuff bottle dates to the 18th century and is crafted from material noted for its delicate, translucent white quality, with areas of natural golden-yellow skin preserved on the surface. The vessel features a straight mouth, sloping shoulders, a flattened globular body, and an oval,…

tobacco boxes

18th-century tobacco box (Palatinate Library)

Museum, 18th century tobacco box, Unknown photographer is held by Palatinate Library. Museum description: The terms of use of the Pfalzbibliothek Kaiserslautern apply. (Note). The museum record gives place associated: Kaiserslautern ((location)); maker recorded: Unbekannter Fotograf (photographer).

playing cards

1901 Pan-American Exposition souvenir playing cards

1901

This is a complete deck of 52 playing cards plus a joker, issued as a souvenir of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York. The deck is housed in its original red cardboard box, which features gold-tone embossed lettering detailing the official title and the manufacturer's information, including th…

postcards

1904 Buffalo Bill Cody signed 'Rapid' real photo postcard

September 30, 1904

This is a vintage 1904 black and white 'Rapid' real photo postcard featuring a portrait of William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. The image is marked with the printed text 'Col. Cody. (Buffalo Bill.)' at the center and was produced by the Rapid Photo Co. in London. The postcard is hand-signed in ink by Cody…

postcards

1908 J. A. Topf & Söhne industrial advertising postcard for chimney cowl

1908

This original vintage industrial advertising postcard, issued by the German engineering firm J. A. Topf & Söhne based in Erfurt, documents the company's early 20th-century technical achievements. The front features a monochrome photographic print of a record-breaking 11-meter-tall revolving chimney cowl, manufacture…

posters

1910 Original Vintage Film Poster for 'Ein Tag in der Opium-Höhle'

1910

This original vintage lithographic film poster promotes the silent film 'Ein Tag in der Opium-Höhle' ('A Day in the Opium Den'), created around 1910. The poster serves as a striking example of early 20th-century cinema advertising, characterized by sensational and theatrical imagery designed to captivate audiences w…

postcards

1915 WWI German RPPC Photo Postcard: IRON CROSS Chaplain

August 1, 1915

The Photograph: A Portrait of Courage and Faith The gelatin silver print presents a stunningly clear, full-length portrait of a chaplain standing before a rustic log structure, typical of the Eastern Front. His uniform is a fascinating study in itself. His status as a non-combatant is clearly marked by the Red Cross…

postcards

1935 Government Postcard signed by Sam Breadon

1935

This collectible item is an authentic United States Government postcard featuring a handwritten autograph by Samuel Wilson Breadon, an American professional baseball executive known for his long tenure as president and principal owner of the St. Louis Cardinals between 1920 and 1947. The postcard is postmarked 1935…

postcards

1936 German RPPC Postcard: FLIEGENDER HAMBURGER Train

October 9, 1936

The Legend on Rails: The 'Fliegender Hamburger' The front of this high-quality RPPC features a stunning photograph of the legendary DRG Class SVT 877, the "Flying Hamburger." When it entered service in 1933, this streamlined, diesel-electric marvel became the fastest scheduled train service in the world, covering th…

spoons

1937 Coronation sterling silver teaspoon and set of six Manor silver hallmark demitasse spoons

1937

This collection includes a commemorative sterling silver teaspoon issued for the 1937 Coronation, housed in its own fitted box. The spoon features specific maker's marks including 'R & D', the Sheffield city mark, the rampant lion sterling mark, and the date letter 't'. Accompanying this is a set of six sterling sil…

badges insignia

1938 German Winterhilfswerk (WHW) and Deutscher Schützenverband Stick Pin

1938

This original German donation stick pin was issued during the 1938 Winterhilfswerk (WHW) campaign in partnership with the Deutscher Schützenverband (German Shooting Association). The item is a shield-shaped badge crafted from stamped metal with a bronze or copper finish. Its design features the insignia of the Germa…

playing cards

1939 New York World's Fair souvenir playing cards

1939

This collection consists of 40 souvenir playing cards commemorating the 1939 New York World's Fair, themed 'The World of Tomorrow.' The cards are presented in a framed display. Each individual card features a distinct photographic view of various fair buildings and landmarks located throughout New York City. The rev…

posters

1945 "Conflict" One-Sheet Film Poster

1945

This vintage one-sheet film poster promotes the 1945 film noir "Conflict," a psychological thriller directed by Curtis Bernhardt. The poster features a striking graphic design with prominent portrait headshots of the film's lead actors: Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, and Sydney Greenstreet. The artwork is accompanie…

cameras

1950 Rolleiflex K4A 3.5 twin lens reflex camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar lens

1950

This vintage 1950 Rolleiflex K4A 3.5 is a classic Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera, representing an important era of post-war German optical engineering. Constructed by Franke & Heidecke in Braunschweig, this model is part of the Rolleiflex Standard series and features the advanced 'Automat' film advance system for eff…

cameras

1951 LEICA IIIF RANGEFINDER

1951

The IIIF series introduced features that would bring Leicas into the ultimate echelon of photographic capability- a broad range of shutter speeds, removable lenses using the M39 screw format, and a flash synchronization port with delay settings. This camera comes with its leather case, lens, and a Leica lens cap. fe…