Royal Doulton Toby Jugs

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 Toby Jugs, or character mugs, are an interesting type of collectible with a rich history in England that dates back to the 18th century. The inspiration for the Toby Jug likely hails from an old tavern song called "Brown Jug" which commemorates the life and death of the Staffordshire gent Toby Philpot, known for his drinking prowess (probably based on the real life story of a Yorkshire man called Henry Elwes who was said to have drunk 2,000 gallons of ale). The song was popularized in 1761 when it was published with an accompanying illustration that became the basis for the traditional Toby jug figure: a round old gentleman holding a tankard of beer and thoroughly enjoying himself. Some of the earlier jugs (like the one pictured below) might have been used to carry beer to the table. This type of jug has a lid, disguised as Toby's tricorn hat. This sort of archetypal drinking gentleman mug is known as an Ordinary Toby.

In the early 20th century, designers at Royal Doulton conceived of the possibility of reviving the old Staffordshire Toby jug: a tradition popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The company expanded on the Staffordshire jugs by creating a series of character jugs based on English legend, history, literature, modern personalities, and music. These jugs were produced as a modern take on an old art form and included figures that would be most appealing to the up and coming generations.

Vintage Toby jugs from Royal Doulton encompass a wide range of themes and motifs: Biblical characters (e.g. Noah), mythological characters (e.g. Neptune, Merlin, Santa Claus), figures from folklore (e.g. Robin Hood, Toby Philpot himself) or literature (e.g. Tony Weller from the Pickwick Papers, Robinson Crusoe, Rip Van Winkle, Falstaff), or historical figures and archetypes (e.g. Queen Victoria, Captain Henry Morgan, North American Indian, the Night Watchman, the Guardsman, the Lawyer, the Fireman, the Lumberjack, etc).

The jugs tend to depict wonderfully evocative personalities with richly textured faces full of character. The faces range from kindly and avuncular (in the case of Santa Claus here) to weather-beaten and perhaps a little tipsy (as with our Lobster Man).

A large single-owner collection of vintage Toby jugs (character jugs) by Royal Doulton can be found here.

Or check out our store for more unusual vintage collectibles.

Antique Italian Micromosaics - A Grand Tour Souvenir

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Micromosaic (or micro mosaic) jewelry has a long and storied past. Micromosaics are created with extremely small tesserae, or mosaic pieces of glass. Historically, micromosaics date as far back as the ancient Byzantine and Roman empires. Byzantine micromosaics were especially fine, with tesserae as small as those found in the finest quality micromosaics of the 19th and 20th centuries. Byzantine mosaics are very rare and were almost all religious icons. The best known Byzantine micromosaic, depicting the Twelve Great Feasts of the Greek Orthodox Church, is located in the Bargello in Florence.

Micromosaics reached the height of their popularity during the mid 19th century. During this time period, anyone who was anyone would take a Grand Tour through Europe, inevitably spending an extended period in Italy. Rome became the center of production for micromosaic pieces which were then sold to the Grand Tour visitors. The souvenir micromosaics took many forms: jewelry, snuffboxes and trinket boxes, small panels to be set in furniture, paperweights, and small framed art pieces. Micromosaic jewelry quickly became extremely popular as the Grand Tour souvenir of choice.

Many pieces made for the tourist trade were standard Italian landscape scenes and were of nice but average quality. Usually, the pieces would depict such landmarks as the Colosseum or St Peter's Basilica, or ancient motifs like Pliny's doves and were a nice souvenir for the average visitor. However, certain jewelers in Italy concentrated on elevating the micromosaic to a glorious work of art.

This 19th century micro mosaic depicting Cupid (or Eros) in a chariot pulled by lions is signed Barberi, and is one of the most beautiful we've seen in a while. The mosaic itself is finely detailed and is surrounded by a Classical frame in 18k gold. The finest micromosaics used very small tesserare in a subtle color range to create delicately detailed scenes; the depth and realism of a  fine antique micromosaic is quite marvelous.

Examine this antique Italian micromosaic brooch in greater detail.

Edwardian Elegance - Turn of the Century Jewelry

The continuing popularity of Downton Abbey, the runaway hit chronicling the lives and loves of an aristocratic English family in the early 20th century, has inspired renewed interest in the style of the period.The Edwardian era stretched from c1890-1915.

This seed pearl and natural ruby sautoir (or tassel) necklace is a beautiful example of turn of the century jewelry that might have been worn by Lady Cora or Lady Mary at Downton Abbey, particularly in the early Edwardian period. A sautoir is a necklace that is a long single strand, in this case fabulously constructed from a cascade of delicate seed pearls, without a clasp or closure. This type of necklace gained popularity at the close of the 19th century in response to the lengthening silhouette of women's fashion during the Edwardian age. The sautoir was a striking accompaniment to the elongated, columnar dresses, whether worn loose down the back, or looped around the neck like a scarf. This necklace is set with an abundance of natural rubies which complement the dramatic seed pearl ropes and tassels quite nicely. The natural beauty of the pearls and gemstones is more common in earlier Edwardian pieces, before the aristocracy's love affair with platinum and diamonds really took over.

This particular necklace is a fine, earlier example. As the Art Deco movement gained popularity in the 1920s, sautoir necklaces began to reflect the design principles of the movement with bold geometric pendants set with diamonds.

Edwardian jewelry was often delicate and light, constructed in platinum over yellow gold. The brooch above, an Edwardian sapphire platinum and 14k gold filigree brooch is a classic example of the type. Platinum and diamond were the most popular combinations in jewelry of the time; sapphires were considered a striking and desirable contrast to platinum as well. Later Edwardian jewelry was typically a monochromatic palette of sparkling colorless diamonds against platinum. The transitional pieces from the Edwardian to Art Deco period of jewelry design can be quite beautiful.

Explore antique Edwardian jewelry in our store.

Or visit us online for other jewelry, antiques, and rare objects.

Celebrate Mardi Gras with Vintage Bar Style

It's time for Mardi Gras! Today is Fat Tuesday, our last hurrah before Lent. The Carnival season is culminating tonight and we're celebrating appropriately. We're always excited to bring out the glamorous vintage and antique barware to help us celebrate in style.

For your next cocktail party or get-together, consider mixing and matching vintage with antique for a boldly unique hosting style. We're combining a vintage set of oversized whisky tumblers with an antique cut glass decanter for a particularly eye-catching effect.

The crystal and chrome tumblers have a sleek look that straddles Mid Century Modern and Art Deco. The set of eight tumblers come with a caddy, which makes it a breeze to serve cocktails for a crowd. And for those who don't like cocktails, a nip of Scotch from a cut crystal decanter (with an antique decanter label, of course) is an elegant sufficiency.

If you're more of a traditionalist, consider the classic mint julep cup. The mint julep is a traditional cocktail with its roots firmly planted in the South. Antique American coin silver mint julep cups date back to the 19th century and should be accompanied by specialized long sterling silver straw-spoons for a truly unique and authentic experience.

The set above is a modern take on the classic mint julep cup from the noted Kentucky firm Wakefield-Scearce. The set of twelve mint julep cups are beautiful examples of a traditional yet timeless design.  

Layering antique and vintage objects with modern pieces is a great way to bring a fresh and individual personality to your home. There are so many amazing options for antique and vintage barware, tumblers, glasses, goblets, shakers, and other cocktail accessories.

Check out our store for more ideas to style your next cocktail party with fine vintage and antique barware.

Happy President's Day

Did you know that today's federal holiday is technically the celebration of George Washington's birthday? The holiday first expanded to include the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Today, the popular term of President's Day is used almost exclusively because the holiday has expanded to honor all of America's past presidents.

George Washington was born February 11, 1731 in Virginia. He held the office of the First President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Washington was widely hailed as the Father of the Nation, even in his own lifetime. He was a wildly popular figure in his day, playing a key role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and presiding over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution.

Washington's enduring legacy has taken many forms; stately portraits of the president adorn our currency and stamps, and monuments to his figure are found all over America. But in addition to the dignified images of the Founding Father, we also have such wonderful commemorative items as the vintage cast iron trivet above. The trivet was probably crafted in the 1930s to celebrate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. The trivet would have been a prized addition to a home celebrating the birth of the nation. Today, its naive charm is a wonderful piece of history.

See more about this George Washington commemorative cast iron trivet here.

Find more unusual pieces of historical memorabilia in our store.

TSAS - The Silver Art Shop of Chicago

This antique bracelet and necklace suite is a beautiful example of the Arts & Crafts jewelry tradition of Chicago. While East Coast practitioners in the Arts & Crafts movement seemed to primarily focus on more medieval and colonial visual sources for furniture and silver, the Chicago silversmiths and artisans looked more to nature itself for inspiration. There were several important Chicago names, most notably the Kalo Shop, Randahl, Lebolt & Co, Jarvie, and many others.

One of the hallmarks you will often see for early 20th century Chicago Arts & Crafts jewelry is "TSAS", for The Silver Art Shop. The company was founded by Edmund Boker and Ernest Gould, two Hungarian silversmiths with a background working in a Budapest factory creating objects for the royal families of Europe. Boker moonlighted at Lebolt & Co, their future competitor, to help bankroll the new venture. Boker and Gould first named their new enterprise The Chicago Art Silver Shop, but streamlined the name in 1918.

The hallmark is a monogrammed TSAS in a sleek Arts & Crafts font.The design and repousse work was done by Edmund Boker, while Ernest Gould created the larger pieces. Many of the pieces from the Silver Art Shop tend to incorporate an Art Nouveau influence. This suite is directly inspired by nature with delicate floral motifs in strong contrast to hand hammered sterling silver surfaces and large gemstones.

In 1934, business slowed to such an extent that the Shop closed its retail doors to focus on wholesale jewelry. The Silver Art Shop changed its name to the Art Metal Studios.

Learn more about this Arts & Crafts TSAS necklace and bracelet suite here.

Find more fine antique and vintage jewelry in our store.

The Unusual Story of An Imari Style Urn

Today we put the spotlight on an antique porcelain urn whose seemingly straightforward (and quite beautiful) appearance belies an unusual background.

In the 19th century, English manufacturers were realizing the great untapped European market for Japanese Imari porcelain. Japan had been largely closed to the Western world for years, limiting its foreign trade strictly through Dutch and Chinese traders. Japanese goods were admired for their beauty and prized for their scarcity. 19th century English manufacturers capitalized on this and subsequently set to making fine quality reproductions of traditional Japanese Imari porcelain wares.

This monumental urn is a beautiful example of the English reproductions of Japanese designs. The urn is influenced by the vibrant Imari-type patterns, with bold colors and ornate figural handles depicting dragons and fish. The transfer print decorations are finely detailed and vividly colored using classic Imari motifs. The base exhibits an underglaze transferprint English Royal Arms mark with rampant lion and unicorn. This variation of the mark was used in England as early as 1837.


This mysterious hallmark is where the story of this urn becomes so interesting. The lion and unicorn hallmark would seem to indicate this urn was one of those 19th century English reproductions. Notably absent from the mark, however, is any indication of the specific potter, potter location, or pattern name. As English pottery was always marked for maker, it is a near certainty that this urn is a later copy of the types of Imari porcelain crafted in England. Considering the high glaze and style, it is most likely that this urn is actually an early 20th century Japanese copy of the English imitations of the original Japanese Imari decorated porcelain.

This is a wonderful work of decorative art displaying a fine degree of craftsmanship. The convoluted background of the piece - an antique copy of an antique imitation of traditional Japanese design - makes it a fascinating piece of design history.

Learn more about this Japanese English Imari design ironstone china urn here.

Visit our store for more fine quality antique porcelain pieces.

The Guild of Handicraft & Superb Enamel Decoration

This turn of the century box is a beautiful example of decorative art from the British Arts & Crafts movement.

The Arts & Crafts movement was inspired largely by the writings of John Ruskin and the ethos of the artist William Morris. The British Arts & Crafts movement encompassed a wide range of social and artistic beliefs. Its supporters believed that art should be available to everyone of every walk of life. As William Morris said, “…I do not want art for a few; any more than education for a few; or freedom for a few…” The movement began as a reaction against machine production, and searched for a new aesthetic design that embraced simplicity and high quality materials.

Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) was a primary figure in the entrepreneurial side of the Arts & Crafts movement. He founded the Guild of Handicraft in the 1890s which employed numerous craftsman and artisans to create jewelry, enamels, furniture, and ironwork, as well as other pieces of “handicraft”.
Charles Fleetwood Varley joined the Guild of Handicraft in the 1890s and quickly gained fame specifically for his sophisticated creations in enamel. When the Guild dissolved in 1907, Varley found success in marketing his richly detailed enamels at the noted retailer Liberty & Co, where they became much sought after.

This box is a striking example of Varley’s painterly approach to enamelwork. The round panel depicts a peaceful, lightly wooded landscape at sunset. The vibrant autumnal colors are used to a particularly evocative effect. The round box itself is crafted in hand hammered sterling silver, date marked for 1903, placing it within Varley’s time with the Guild of Handicraft. The box is signed in the enamel by Varley, as pictured.

Learn more about this amazing Guild of Handicraft enameled silver box here.

Find other antique enamel and sterling silver works of art in our store.