{"title":"Antique Curiosities","description":"From practical to purely decorative, life is boring without a few curiosities.","products":[{"product_id":"edward-i-farmer-sterling-silver-matchbox-holder-with-jadeite-plaque","title":"Edward I. Farmer Sterling Silver Matchbox Holder with Jadeite Plaque","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fine sterling silver and jadeite jade matchbox cover\/holder, by Edward I. Farmer of New York. The front of this piece features a carved piece of jadeite jade which has been set into an engraved sterling silver mount. The piece appears to have remnants of a gilt wash, which Farmer often applied to his sterling pieces. A beautiful and practical piece from the Art Deco era which is in exceptional condition for its age.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward I. Farmer was a prominent American art dealer, antique trader and creator of luxury objects. He operated his own business 'Edward I. Farmer Inc.' for 29 years before his death in 1942. German in origin, Farmer travelled widely in his youth and collected antiquities especially those of oriental origin, which were often later crafted into prized objects at his studio in New York. He worked out of the Carlyle Hotel at one point and has been described as an 'art and antique dealer and collector of Chinese jades and porcelains'. Farmer would regularly turn elaborate and carved semi precious stones into works of art by making them into boxes, inkwells, push buttons and other desk accessories. Farmer mostly worked with sterling silver, however there are examples in 18 karat gold which are exceedingly rare. Often regarded to be in the taste of 'Cartier', Farmer was highly regarded and created incredible, one of a kind objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSigned to underside 'Edward I. Farmer' along with 'N.Y.' and 'Sterling'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures - 6.25cm x 3.75cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight - 51.5 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":20475596865606,"sku":"SC0114","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/products\/Edward_F_Box_3.png?v=1594100716"},{"product_id":"porcelain-owl-scent-bottle","title":"Ceramic Owl Scent Bottle","description":"\u003cp\u003eA small Chinese export ceramic scent bottle depicting an owl clutching a snake with hand-painted enamels in yellow, orange, grey, and green. There is some loss to gilt around the rim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e9cm H\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":29395827294278,"sku":"CU0144","price":600.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/files\/Owl-Snuff-01.jpg?v=1718589935"},{"product_id":"tortoiseshell-snuff-box","title":"Tortoiseshell Snuff Box","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 19th century tortoiseshell snuff box with painted township scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures - 8cm L\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31746546335815,"sku":"AC0096","price":2100.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/products\/Snuff_1_5169e550-c8b7-4120-b509-008c8078a5af.png?v=1594172092"},{"product_id":"scottish-rams-horn-snuff-mull","title":"Scottish Rams Horn Snuff Mull","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Scottish rams horn 'snuff mull' with silver mounts and inscribed plate, 'P. McLean'. The piece has been crafted in Scotland and dates to the early 19th century. The inside features a former inventory paper label from a private collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures - 8cm L\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32634195443783,"sku":"CU0331","price":900.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/products\/SnuffMull1.png?v=1603430054"},{"product_id":"dreyfouss-clock-clip","title":"Art Nouveau Edouard Henry Dreyfous Desk Clip","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis exceedingly unusual desk accessory is an ornate 'paper clip' by the noted maker, Dreyfous. The clip is crafted from gilt sterling silver and features a large slab of polished amazonite along with a tiny enamelled clock to the centre top. There is a silver swag which encases the French phrase 'A Toute Heure Bonheur' which translates to 'Happiness at Any Time', perhaps a nod to the small enamelled clock housed in the clip. There are small marcasites in the floral detailing around the clock and the top of the clip, and the rear side of the piece is beautifully hand pierced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQueen Alexandra and Queen Mary of England were both frequent customers of Edouard Henry Dreyfous, purchasing a range of works from his London locations. Aside from his main shop in London, Dreyfous also held premises in Paris and New York. There are three wonderful noted examples of works by Dreyfous in the Royal Collection, two of which are exceptionally good pieces with a similar quality of work to Faberge. One of these pieces is a enamelled and jewelled egg which was a gift to Queen Mary from her children at Christmas in 1927. Dreyfous was the holder of an English Royal Warrant during the early 20th Century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the piece was cleaned by our jeweller we had the watch mechanism refitted into the mount and sealed shut, however have not attempted to have the mechanism serviced to be in working order and is now purely decorative. To the ornate elements of the clip there were small marcasites set into the silver, however several of these have unfortunately been lost to time, leaving only a handful still mounted in the piece. The clip retains its original retailing box which has to the lid of the silk lining 'SPECIAL MAKER TO THE KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND' along with '582 FIFTH AVENUE PARIS AND LONDON' which could indicate this particular piece was retailed at their New York location. The clip is in fair antique condition, and has definitely been used, with wear to the gilding and mild abrasion to the silver, commensurate with age. This clip is likely one of a kind by an exceedingly desirable maker and is a truly special antique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarked - 'E.DREYFOUS' engraved to inside of the clip\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures - 9cm W x 10cm H\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal weight of piece - 151 grams (excluding box)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50592675529013,"sku":"SC1960","price":2850.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/files\/Paper-Clip-01.jpg?v=1739749231"},{"product_id":"18th-century-pressed-horn-box-with-arms-of-sir-francis-drake","title":"18th Century Horn Snuff Box with Arms of Sir Francis Drake","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemarkably this is not the first time we have had one of these 18th century snuff boxes with the arms of Sir Francis Drake. Our first we sourced in 2022 and it sold quickly to a collector, so we are delighted to have found a second. Crafted from pressed horn, these are usually attributed to John Obrisset (active 1705-1728) who was known for crafting cameo like portraits molded into tortoiseshell and horn. This particular example does not feature his surname or his moniker 'OB', however due to the design and the shape of the horn it is possible that the mold missed the small edge area it was to be impressed upon. The majority of these snuff boxes date to circa 1710, with another example being held in the British Museum and another having passed through Christie's. The box is in very good order for an object from the early 18th century with minor wear and imperfections commensurate with age and use. A delightful object for a gentleman's desk or a great addition to a collection of precious boxes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarked - unmarked for maker, however attributed to John Obrisset\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures - 10.5cm L x 8cm W x 2.5cm H\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal weight of piece - 94 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Antique Guild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52046438302005,"sku":"CU0180","price":2250.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0048\/3042\/9254\/files\/Horn-Tobacco-Box-1.jpg?v=1765329184"}],"url":"https:\/\/theantiqueguild.com.au\/collections\/antique-curiosities.oembed","provider":"The Antique Guild","version":"1.0","type":"link"}