Catalogue
Scrimshaw powder horn, circa 1830, engraved 'James Wilson' 'Color Serg't' 'of the Grenadier Company' '29th Reg't', ornately engraved all over with floral emblems, a large bird with 'The Wandra' above, a lady holding a rose with 'Forget Me Not' above, (440mm long). Very fine with a few losses, scarce.
Estimate $1,200
Passed in
Scrimshaw powder horn, circa 1833, engraved near the point 'New South Wales 1833', cross-hatched design below, fitted with a brass spout and mounted with brass lion mask suspension loops, (390mm long). Very fine with minor losses, a rare early example.
Estimate $1,200
Passed in
Scrimshaw powder horn, circa 1840, ornately engraved to one side with a fashionable lady holding a songbird, floral basket above, garlands around, mounted with brass loops for suspension, plugged with a timber cover with painted star decoration, (350mm long). Extremely fine with high quality engraving.
Estimate $1,200
Passed in
Scrimshaw powder horn, circa 1851, deeply engraved to one side 'Rule Britannia', a sailor in uniform holding a British ensign, 'Souvenir' 'Memento Mori' 'Tempus Fugit' 'November 1851' 'Mr Donell', beneath a large British warship under sail, (400mm long), suspended for mounting. Extremely fine with very high quality engraving, scarce.
Estimate $2,000
Passed in
India, ivory bracelet with four elephants and flora carved on the outside; long boat in phoenix form with three rowers (Chinese?). Very fine. (2)
Estimate $100
SOLD $60
Silver bracelet, India or Afghanistan, early 20th century, silver wire covered with alternating silver beads and decorated cylinders, clasp intact, (150mm long). Extremely fine.
Estimate $100
Passed in
Tibet, silver scroll weights (230x22mm) (2); Chinese, silver zodiac ingot (90x50mm). Extremely fine. (3).
Estimate $90
SOLD $80
Burma, standard weights of the Burmese kings, Beast series, opium weights, period D issued 19th century, weights of 157.12, 79.37, 75.81, 16.04, 15.01, 8.57, 6.75, 4.29, 4.08 g, all on square bases all are of the Hantha bird, corresponding to ten, five, one (2), half, three eighths and quarter (2) kyats, (Robinson and Shaw, The Coins and Banknotes of Burma, Chapter 5, cf.pp.31-4 [figure 12, 13], cf.Gear [Pl.29 and 53-4], cf.M.2831, cf.2841); together with four in tin/lead metal, 67.52, 79.04, 81.38 and 166.48 g, these are the lead pieces made to make cast wax models from, (see p.33 Robinson and Shaw). Fine - extremely fine, lead models are rare. (13)
Estimate $150
SOLD $250
Burma, standard weights of the Burmese kings, Beast series, opium weights, period D issued 19th century, weights of 300, 163.68 (illustrated), 76.86, 32.03, 32.75, 16.89, 8.13 g, all on square bases several are of the Hantha bird and Ziwazo bird (illustrated), corresponding to twenty, ten, five, two (2), one and half kyats, (Robinson and Shaw, The Coins and Banknotes of Burma, Chapter 5, cf.pp.31-4 [figure 12, 13], cf.Gear [Pl.29 and 53-4], cf.M.2831, cf.2841). Very fine - extremely fine, some scarce. (7)
Estimate $150
SOLD $110
Chinese "Opium" Scales, these are also a type of steelyard scales, described below, pan diameter 35mm, as stored with a wooden box in the shape of a fish or vioin, lot includes a weight for counterbalance; another similar 47mm diameter pan of similar shape and style. Finec -very fine and both rare being intact. (2)
Estimate $150
SOLD $100
Primitive Money, an interesting group including manillas (2) from West Africa, Atoni type (p.211 Opitz); partial coiled manilla (p.215 Opitz); boars tusks (2) claimed to be from Solomon Islands (p.87 Opitz); shark teeth (5) attached to a silver type chain; a small early stage tusk of a boar with metal end cover; South East Asia, necklace with hand woven rings, attached are twelve (12) India silver rupees of various dates 1840-1944 all are attached with silver ring support to the necklace together with a ornate 58mm square plaque with scroll decorations (illustrated). Very fine, mostly scarce. (lot)
Estimate $200
SOLD $300
Primitive money, Africa, anklet money or baoule, a large cast semi circular raised central rim with decoration on both faces, internally it is hollow and is used as money, external diameter 8.5 cm., overall height 3.7 cm, internal diameter 4.5-5 cm, weight 430 g; (Opitz p.276-277 for similar illustrations); a bracelet with incised lines on the outer rim, 7.4cm diameter and a cast bronze rind with attached man on horse, total height 6.3cm, the last two possibly from Benin. Very fine and very scarce. (3)
Estimate $100
Passed in
Primitive money, Nigeria, Congo and West Africa (Ivory Coast), manillas, anklets and collars, as circular bars with twisted outer circles, ornate nearly complete round rings, making up manillas etc., 60-65mm diameter. This extraordinary group of eight were recovered from the wreck of the English Schooner 'Douro' sunk off the Isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom on April 5, 1882 and recovered in 1995, (Opitz p.209-213, cf.Quiggin Plate 1 No.2, 5 etc). Very fine. (8)
Estimate $300
Passed in
Primitive money, Nigeria, Congo and West Africa (Ivory Coast), manillas, anklets and collars, as circular bars with twisted outer circles, ornate complete round rings, making up legbands etc., 60-65mm diameter. This extraordinary pair were recovered from the wreck of the English Schooner 'Douro' sunk of the Isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom on April 5, 1882 and recovered in 1995, (Opitz p.201, cf.Quiggin Plate 1 No.2, 5 etc). Very fine. (2)
Estimate $100
Passed in
Africa or maybe South America, manilla-like bronze/brass bracelets and large rings, possibly used as primitive money, includes similar examples to Opitz book, Timor silver bracelet (p.287, 286 illust.), these like normal bracelets but with protrusions from the outer edge, weight 330 grams diam 135mm (illustrated); another 300 grams, 125mm diam; another almost joined ends 320 grams, diam 123mm; another similar ornamental edges of various designs weight 160 grams diam 75mm.; brass/bronze rings (3, 2 need conservation) all with intricate design on the whole surface, each 72mm diam. weights vary from 220-260 grams. Very fine. (7)
Estimate $200
SOLD $120
Africa or maybe South America, manilla-like bronze/brass bracelets and large rings, possibly used as primitive money, includes similar examples to Opitz Nigeria Bidda Tribe (p.277, 281 illust.), weight 640 grams diam 125mm (illustrated); another 295 grams, 110mm diam; another similar with edge grooving sloped to the right, weight 275 grams, 120mm.; brass/bronze rings (5) one with edge grooving each about 90mm diameter, weights vary from 80-235 grams. Very fine. (8)
Estimate $200
Passed in
Jewellery, tribal pieces, Cameroon, 20th century, brass and copper trade necklace, beaded with copper bells and strands; India, base silver necklace of beaded form; Middle East, base silver finger ring of conical form; Africa, silver finger ring of double triangular form with incised design. Very fine. (4)
Estimate $80
SOLD $50
South East Asia, primitive money, as an inscribed silver bracelet 73mm diameter, 8mm thick, 12mm wide in middle opening at ends to 18mm, (205 g), inscribed edge ornamentation lines, cross hatching etc. Very fine and rare.
Estimate $150
SOLD $110
Malaysia, primitive tin conical ingot cast for use as money, probably Malacca or Pahang Sultanate, from the 13th to 19th century, in the shape of half a large ball, (1670 g), 94mm diameter and 45mm high, this version is quite uncommon, (cf.Mitchiner 3069-3071). Very fine and very scarce for an ingot this large.
Estimate $100
SOLD $100
Malaysia, Pahang, round hat or mound shaped tin ingot 36mm (59.48g), plain without markings, c17th century. Fine.
Estimate $50
Passed in
Primitive money, cowrie shell necklace from New Guinea and Melanasia, a large string mocrame necklace with several hundred cowrie shells attached with at least eight bunches of cowrie shell added as an appendage, together with several hundred loose cowrie shells cut with tops removed. Fine - very fine. (lot)
Estimate $150
SOLD $90
Primitive money, Melanesia - New Guinea, tufi macrame traditional seashell (necklace) or neck apparel (as a mask) with attachments of two boar tusks, 14 sea shells, two cowrie shells as eyes, beads supporting sea shells and woven fabric to complete the arrangement. Very fine, rare.
Estimate $150
SOLD $170
Vintage small forest axe tomahawk, c1800s, head with impressed stamp 'F/500', of the style of Gransfors British trade axe tomahawk, with vintage timber flat handle (63cm long and 3.8cm wide). Very fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $70
Vintage small forest axe tomahawk, c1800s, of the style of Gransfors British trade axe tomahawk, with vintage timber flat handle (45cm long and 3cm wide), with crude hole near end for carrying cord. Some pitting, otherwise fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $60
Indonesia, Central Flores, jewellery, mounted on boards and described, a pair of earrings or Iti Bholo (one illustrated), given as engagement presents to Nage women in Boawai in Central Flores; also (3) silver alloy (kwari) charms (one illustrated), worn as body ornaments in ceremonies. Extremely fine. (5)
Estimate $150
SOLD $90
China, Song Dynasty, 960-1279 A.D., off-white celadon glaze bowl, of tapered form, scalloped edge, swirling cloud decoration incised into bowl, basic mark to base, (170mm wide). Extremely fine with no chips or cracks, rare.
Estimate $3,500
Passed in
China, Kangxi period, (1662-1772), blue and white plate, possibly made in Jingdezhen, decorated with four-toed dragons and floral decorations to the rim, (240mm wide). A few light chips to the rim, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,000
Passed in
China, late Qing Dynasty, blue glazed bowl, of squat form with flared rim, interior with white glaze, (130mm wide). Extremely fine with no chips or cracks, scarce.
Estimate $1,500
Passed in
China, late Qing Dynasty, glazed ceramic pen holder, circular form with straight sides, decorated in blue and white with warriors and scholars, Chinese characters around, signed at base, (185mm wide, 140mm high). Extremely fine with no chips or cracks.
Estimate $300
SOLD $200
China, c.mid-19th century, cloisonne enamel bowl of shallow oval form, decorated with scrolling dragons chasing sacred flaming pearls above waves set in brightly coloured enamels within a fine black cloud effect ground, decorated inside and underneath with attractive blue enamel, on wooden base, (290mm wide). Extremely fine and attractive.
Estimate $700
SOLD $600