St James Antiques

Sheffield 1905 Edwardian most unusual pair of solid silver and ivory knife rests in fitted case, made by JAMES DIXON AND SONS, very well known makers.

Sheffield 1905 Edwardian period most unusual pair of English hallmarked solid silver and ivory knife rests in lovely original fitted case. Made by James Dixon and Sons, a very well known firm who exhibited at the Great Exhibition. Registration marks are also present with the hallmarks. This beautiful and unusual pair of knife rests have a shaped silver six panelled weighted base, topped by a silver ball, with well carved ivory wings extending from each side. Size-3 inches wide by 1.75 inches high. A very elegant undamaged pair of knife rests in excellent condition, and contained in a very good original fitted case. A very unique gift for the collector, and lovely to use at the dining table.

Equestrian portrait of King George lll, early 19th c; Studio of James Ward R.A.

Oil on canvas, in what seems to be the original frame. Painted at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, the King is shown in a martial pose, mounted on his favourite charger Adonis. The wild scenery, stormy skies and strong wind blowing the horse's mane and tail add a sense of drama and are appropriate for the troubled and dangerous times. GEORGE III (1738 - 1820) came to the throne in 1760; unlike his father and grandfather George had been born and educated in England. He was thoroughly English and was the first sovereign since Queen Anne to speak his subjects' language without a foreign accent. He was loved and respected by his people - in many ways 'Farmer George' was a good man and a good king; alas, today he is remembered chiefly for the loss of the American colonies and for the recurrent bouts of insanity in his later years. JAMES WARD R.A. (1769 - 1859) was the most important animal painter of his generation. many of his dynamic compositions depict animals in agitated emotional states, the sense of movement reinforced by vigorous brushwork and strong colours. With their sweeping landscapes and dramatic skies, his canvases epitomize Romanticism. Not content to excel merely as an animal painter, Ward also produced portraits, landscapes and history paintings. A prolific artist, he was a frequent exhibitor at the British Institution and the Royal Academy. He was devoted to the art of Rubens and Van Dyke and emulated them more than any of his contempories. In 1794 he was appointed Painter and Engraver to the Prince of Wales. In 1802, he was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy, becoming a full Member four years later. SIZE: 32 x 28 inches inc. frame. The frame has been painted over the original gilding and there are some small areas of damage; it is also slightly warped. Verso: an erroneous inscription on the stretcher 'Sir J. Reynolds', also, on the bottom left of the canvas, the false monogram and date 'JR 1777'. PROVENANCE: A Suffolk Collection.

Circa 1880 complete set of 12 silverplate pastry, oyster or salad forks by James Dixon and Sons.

Circa 1880 wonderful and complete set of 12 silverplate pastry, oyster, or salad forks by very good makers, James Dixon and Sons, in the double struck Kings pattern. Size 5.75 inches long by 1.25 inches wide. With very good weight and size, and attractive shell accent to heel of bowl, complementing the shell design to front and back of stem. The decoration is crisp and the tines are sharp. This complete set is in very good condition, will blend with other silver or is lovely to use alone. It is unusual to find 12 in a set.

Sheffield 1911 pierced solid silver bowl on pedestal by JAMES DEAKIN AND SONS.

Sheffield 1911 stunning pierced solid English hallmarked silver bowl on pedestal by excellent maker James Deakin and Sons. They were in business during the reign of Queen Victoria, and closed at the outbreak of WWII. Winners of many exhibitions for craftsmanship, they had showrooms in London, Paris, Glasgow and Belfast. This large and unusual example has wonderful thick gauged silver piercework to both bowl and pedestal base, and is complemented by applied rope edging to both locations. Beautifully shaped pedestal suits the bowl shape perfectly. Size 8.25 inches across by 5.5 inches high. In excellent condition, and with very clear hallmarks, this bowl weighs over 18 ounces!

English Early 17th Century James I Oak Coffer

Fine English Early 17th Century James I Oak Coffer With boarded moulded top over finely carved frieze, lozenged carved three panel front, panelled sides, stile feet Circa 1610-20 Width: 52" / 132.1cm Depth: 22.5" / 57.2cm Height: 27.5" / 69.9cm

IMPORTANT Worcester teabowl and saucer, C.1770, painted by JAMES GILES. From the HOPE EDWARDS service

AN IMPORTANT Worcester teabowl and saucer, C.1770, painted by JAMES GILES. From the HOPE EDWARDS service. See below where a dish from this FABULOUS service was sold for £19,000 plus the 20% premium only last year in Bonhams London. Note the fine botanical sliced fruit to my teabowl and saucer, and the same on the dish confirming it to be from the service. I saw a dish for sale that looked simmilar, but had very ordinary flowers, so there was some debate.CONDITION:- EXCELLENT, with no chips, cracks or restorations to either piece. I assume the Bonhams dish was the same. See BONHAMS Sale 13950 - Fine British Pottery and Porcelain, 13 Sep 2006 New Bond Street.An important Worcester dessert dish from the Hope-Edwardes Service circa 1770. Of lobed lozenge shape, painted in the workshops of James Giles with a spray of fruit and flowers, including roses, a cut apple, damsons, a lemon and a gooseberry, within a claret border decorated with cornucopia and flowers in cisellé gilding, 26.5cm wide, (a few minute patches of wear to the gilding on the rim only). Sold for £19,000 plus Premium and tax. Footnote: Exhibited: James Giles Exhibition, Albert Amor 1977. The Hope-Edwardes service is said to have been made for Sir Thomas Edwardes and was sold by his descendents who had taken the name Hope-Edwardes in 1854. This lot bears an old paper cutting from the Christies sale catalogue of 1907 at which the service was dispersed. The catalogue entry lists thirty six pieces which were sold to Lichfield for £1018 10s. Compare the painting on this dish with that on a plate of similar pattern but with a turquoiose ground, forming part of The Zorensky Collection and sold in these rooms on 16 March 2004, lot 243. Both pieces bear strong similarities to the Grubbe plate no 3, illustrated by Stephen Hanscombe, James Giles China and Glass Painter, fig 1.

FINE JAMES GILES decorated Worcester slop bowl, C.1775.

A FINE JAMES GILES decorated Worcester slop bowl, C.1775. This blue ground full colour, crossed swords mark and number 9, is a recognised pattern for Giles. I have an identical teabowl and saucer in my collection, that has been authenticated as Giles. I haven't seen a piece like these in ages for sale. It has also come from a collection, see label that says WP12. Please see the famous book In Search of James Giles by Gerald Coke. The bowl is in SUPERB CONDITION, with no chips, cracks, hairlines or restoration. This is quite an important documentary piece for the 18th cent English porcelain collection.

Craig James Stephenson 1854-1870

A signed Oil painting of a Proud Mother sewing and watching over her child. A very charming picture in original gilt frame. Canvas has had a slight restoration small part of frame repaired. Canvas size 19.5" x 23", overall frame size 28.75" x 25.25". James Stephenson Craig London painter of figures and domestic subjects. Exhibited at R.A., B.I. and S.S. Titles: "The Young Anglers", "The Gamekeeper's House", etc. and some historical works, eg "Jennie Deans".

SOLD....Portrait of Mary Dowdeswell c.1695; by Michael Dahl

Oil on canvas in feigned oval within rare William Kent architectural carved and gilt frame c.1740, the sides decorated with finely carved oakleaves and acorns. The reverse of the frame bears old dealer's labels with the name of the sitter, the provenance and an erroneous attribution to Highmore. The DOWDESWELLS are an old Gloucestershire family where they lived at Pull Court near Tewksbury from the 15th to the 19th century. In the 19th c. the house was sold and is now a school. MICHAEL DAHL (1659-1743) was born in Stockholm; after studying in Paris, Rome and Frankfurt he settled in London in 1689. He soon became the best patronised portrait painter in England after Kneller. He was much employed at the Court painting many portraits; a great patron of the 1690s was the Duke of Somerset, for whom he painted the series of portraits of Court ladies known as the 'Petworth Beauties'. His style is extremely close to Kneller but his interpretation of character is less brash and more human. He has a quieter but somehow more understanding appeal to character which relies on its own integrity to make its impact; his works are of a real distinction. At his best he was a finer portraitist than any of his contemporaries, with a softer and more gentle technique than Kneller's, which was especially suitable for his portraits of women. This painting is absolutely typical of Dahl's highly skilled sensitive portraiture and is of great quality, allowing one to gain an insight into the character of the sitter; here Mary looks out at the viewer with a quiet and intelligent good humour...in every way this is a superb painting. Size: 35.25 x 26.75 inches canvas size. 43 x 34.75 inches inc. frame. Provenance: by descent through the Dowdeswell family of Pull Court. with Frost and Reed of St. James's, London. with Anderson Galleries, Chicago. American Private Collection. (Verso: old dealer's labels). NOTE- PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING