A pair of German silver and ivory knight figures
Mark of Neresheimer, Hanau, with English import marks for Berthold Muller, London, 1905
Each standing and holding a sheild decorated with heraldry, ivory faces, identical reticulated octagonal plinths.
Heights: 10 3/4in and 9in.
(31 oz. 18 dwts., gross)
SILVER ART NOUVEAU FIGURAL DAY CANECa. 1890-Large silver crook handle modeled in very fine detail with the head of a knight with armor helmet above a chain-mail shirt, well figured calamander shaft and a long horn ferrule. This cane is obviously hand crafted with passion in the fully developed Art Nouveau style and made by the culture for the culture. It belongs to a very desirable small series of cane handles attributed to Lucien Galliard and tentatively identified as an idealized portrait of Richard the Lionheart or Richard Coeur de Lion. Art Nouveau canes of this quality are quite rare and this one is in superb condition. H. 4 ½” x 3”, O.L. 37” Richard Coeur de Lion, (born September 8, 1157, Oxford, England-died April 6, 1199, Châlus, duchy of Aquitaine), duke of Aquitaine (from 1168) and of Poitiers (from 1172) and king of England, duke of Normandy, and count of Anjou (1189-99). His knightly manner and his prowess in the Third Crusade (1189-92) made him a popular king in his own time as well as the hero of countless romantic legends. He has been viewed less kindly by more recent historians and scholars. Lucien Gaillard was the son and grandson of Parisian jewelers, as well as the brother of the noted Art Nouveau furniture designer Eugène Gaillard. After Lucien took over the family firm in 1892, the emphasis switched to metalworking. Around the turn of the century, with the encouragement of his friend René Lalique, Gaillard turned back to jewelry. His designs, like many by Lalique, incorporated unusual materials such as horn and ivory combined with more traditional precious stones, gold and enamel. Galliard won a prize for his jewelry at the 1889 Universal Exposition and was a judge at the 1893 Universal Exposition in Chicago. In 1902 he was made a knight of the French Legion d’Honneur. Calamander or coromandel is a valuable wood from Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It is a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus, one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name "calamander" comes from the local Sinhalese name, kalu-medhiriya, which means dark chamber, referring to the characteristic ebony black wood. It is used in furniture, luthiery and for high grade canes and walking sticks. Calamander has been logged to extinction over the last two to three hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in calamander is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source.
PR HANAU STERLING SILVER FIGURES - QUEEN & KNIGHT Pair of Finely Crafted German Silver Standing Figures, with carved ivory faces, by B. Neresheimer & Sohne, Hanau, imported to the UK by Berthold Muller, with 1911 date letter; the knight depicted in chain mail, holding a shield and sword; the queen with crown and holding a scepter; both atop a pierced octagonal plinths with stamped hallmarks and maker's marks, 8 1/2" and 9 1/2" high; 27.07 ozt tw. Both with round wooden stands and glass dome tops, each: 11 1/2" high, 7" diam. Good condition.
PAIR OF SILVER PLATE KNIGHT FIGURES. European, 20th century. Silver plate knights with weapons and shields, faux ivory faces, and standing upon pedestals with coats of arms. Damage. 12"h.
A PAIR OF NUREMBURG SILVER MODELS of knights, each in a full suit of armour, late 19th/early 20th Century, the figures having carved, probably ivory faces, each in an enclosed helmet, with pierced bases and hardwood stands, Nuremburg and 925 marks, 9 1/4" high
TEN FIGURAL SILVER, IVORY OR HARDSTONE SEALS; Carved ivory stag hunt on sterling mount, Sheffield, 1898, 9 1/4"; Admiral"s bust, carved ivory with silver mounts; Two carved ivory clenched fists; Knight in armor on Sardonyx; Silver figure of Punch; Silver owl; 900 silver Jena/Weimar mile marker with salamanders; Tapered square column; Cherub mask
Condition Report:
German vermeil silver and ivory lady and knight figures circa 1900, probably Hanau
lady with ivory bust and hands wearing long flowing gown and plumed hat, knight with ivory face in armor and helmet carrying sword and shield; marked: 800 and what appear to be partial French import marks.
H10 1/4", and 35.1oz (2pcs)
Provenance: Property deaccessioned from the Centennial Museum at the University of Texas at El Paso to benefit the Museum Collections Fund. (Accession #69.26.108 and 69.26.110)
Condition: Woman with hairline that extends from right cheek to bust; both figures with wear to gilding, otherwise in good condition.
Assortment of bar accessories and curios 1) Maryland armorial medallion, Medallic Art Co.,1976, 5 ozt. .999 fine silver; 2) R. Williams reticulated silver toothbrush holder with a Victorian bone toothbrush; 3) Ivory figural bottle spout carved as a squatting boy; 4) Silver bottle stopper modeled as a standing knight, London import hallmarks for 1902-03; 5) American repousse silver and ivory stopper, early 20th Century; 6) Silver-plated signet, late 19th Century, modeled as an amorous faun and maiden; 7) Silver cocktail spoon with ivory tip carved as a skull; and 8) Ice Pick with painted resin tip modeled as a skull.
Pair of German Silver and Ivory Figures of Knights
B. Neresheimer & Sons, Hanau, Circa 1900
Each with movable face guards. Each impressed on back of foot rim with crescent and crown, 800, maker's mark and GERMANY. Each lacquered; one with dent to foot rim.
Height of each: 16 in (40.6 cm)
Total gross weight: 90.8 oz
Some shrinkage to one of the faces; some discoloration to lacquer.
Silver Art Nouveau Figural Day Cane: Ca. 1890-Large silver crook handle modeled in very fine detail with the head of a knight with armor helmet above a chain-mail shirt, well figured calamander shaft and a long horn ferrule. This cane is obviously hand crafted with passion in the fully developed Art Nouveau style and made by the culture for the culture. It belongs to a very desirable small series of cane handles attributed to Lucien Galliard and tentatively identified as an idealized portrait of Richard the Lionheart or Richard Coeur de Lion. Art Nouveau canes of this quality are quite rare and this one is in superb condition. H. 4 ½” x 3”, O. L. 37” Richard Coeur de Lion, (born September 8, 1157, Oxford, England-died April 6, 1199, Châlus, duchy of Aquitaine), duke of Aquitaine (from 1168) and of Poitiers (from 1172) and king of England, duke of Normandy, and count of Anjou (1189-99). His knightly manner and his prowess in the Third Crusade (1189-92) made him a popular king in his own time as well as the hero of countless romantic legends. He has been viewed less kindly by more recent historians and scholars. Lucien Gaillard was the son and grandson of Parisian jewelers, as well as the brother of the noted Art Nouveau furniture designer Eugène Gaillard. After Lucien took over the family firm in 1892, the emphasis switched to metalworking. Around the turn of the century, with the encouragement of his friend René Lalique, Gaillard turned back to jewelry. His designs, like many by Lalique, incorporated unusual materials such as horn and ivory combined with more traditional precious stones, gold and enamel. Galliard won a prize for his jewelry at the 1889 Universal Exposition and was a judge at the 1893 Universal Exposition in Chicago. In 1902 he was made a knight of the French Legion d’Honneur. Calamander or coromandel is a valuable wood from Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It is a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus, one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name "calamander" comes from the local Sinhalese name, kalu-medhiriya, which means dark chamber, referring to the characteristic ebony black wood. It is used in furniture, luthiery and for high grade canes and walking sticks. Calamander has been logged to extinction over the last two to three hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in calamander is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source.