A
personal choice of some special items from Antiques AtoZ stock. Vintage Fashion & Military Antiques
Watches, fobs, rings, medals and other fine objects from the last few centuries. We specialize in seals and named objects.
1.
An English watch fob-sports award, probably soccer, awarded to J.W. Weatherley
for Division I participation in the R.St..J.F.C. in 1905-5. Fob also engraved
in wreath with "R.&D. F.L.". Sterling hallmarks for London,
1905. Sterling silver with gilt front shield. $150.00.
3.
An English watch fob to the Sussex division of the Royal Navy volunteers.
Awarded to F. White, A.B. for the Farquhar Bowl Field Gun events of 1923-4-5.
Sterling medal hallmarked for Birmingham 1925 with makers mark. $125.00.
4.
A 1910 Scottish shooting medal in 9 kt gold. The reverse is inscribed
“L.M.R.A./ 1910/ II. Division/ Championship/ Second/ Won by/ White
Star M.R.C./ G.W. Hubbard”. Below the inscription it is hallmarked
for 9 kt from Birmingham in 1906. A lovely medal or watch fob that exemplifies
the support system for colonial wars and the alliance system that led
to WW I. Obverse shows shooters competing. The medal is 7/8" in diameter.
$175.00.
5.
An English ivory colonial seal from c. 1820-1860 shaped like a Buddhist
stupa with a silver cap. There were hardly any Buddhists left in India
then, but Ceylon was Buddhist and famous for its ivory carving, so the
seal probably came fromCeylon. It shows the initials "IL" and
floral wreaths. There are spots of red sealing ink left over from its
use. These seals were used to close letters as there were no envelopes
then. Probably a watch fob seal that hung from a gentleman's watch chain.
$175.00
6. An impressive WW II pilot’s A-2 flight jacket and much
more. Lt. Belmont joined the Army Air Force in late 1943, receiving one
of the last A-2s issued. The jacket is in very fine condition with new,
original equipment wool wrist elastic. The lining is old and likely original,
but the label has been lost. The jacket comes with Belmont’s dog
tag and a British 8th Air Force type whistle, photo ID from c. 1945-46,
navigator’s flight diploma and four photos of Belmont with his plane,
instructors and service buddies. Size is c. 38 and the jacket is in wearable
condition. For photos of all the items go to Lt.
Belmont’s page. $900.00.
7.
A Persian carnelian and silver seal from the 19th century. These were carried
by all imporant Persians and are still used today. It is either the man's
name, the name of a Moslem saint, or a phrase from the Koran. This one is
unusual in having the entire seal in such good condition. $50.00 
8.
“Khatt-e Ghubar,” or Persian “dust writing,” of
the late 18th century on a carnelian amulet remounted as a ring. From
the effects of Lt. Kirby of HM 78th Regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders.
Said to have been previously taken by him from the body of a Persian officer
at the battle of Kooshab in Persia in 1856 during the British-Persian
War. Evidently mounted as a ring by Kirby afer returning to India to fight
in the Great Mutiny of 1857. Kirby later died of wounds received in the
first relief of the Residency at Lucknow in 1857. Originally the ring
was with his complete correspondance back to his family in Britiain, along
with his commission documents and uniform bills.
The
stone is an oval shaped carnelian amulet with raised text set within the
flame of the saints, bordered by petals of flowers made up of even smaller
calligraphy. This tiny Amulet is just 16 mm X 12 mm in size and it is
scarcely possible to read the text with the naked eye. Carnelian is a
relatively hard stone and hence makes carving more difficult but the design
stronger and more durable. The mounting is an unmarked, apx. 14K gold
bezel ring as was common in Victorian India for signets. The bezel was
very worn when acquired and was replaced with a new 14K bezel in 2002
so the stone would stay in place. It is otherwise original, even if in
an unexciting mounting. (A scholar of Persian who saw it much enjoyed
the stone, but found the mounting unworthy of the stone. Such is the price
of historical authenticity.)
This is one of the best examples we have ever seen of Khatt e Ghubar, or Calligraphy of Dust, both from the exceptional quality of the carving and its small size. Khatt e Ghubar is usually done on a much larger surface and even so is a difficult task; in ring size it is especially difficult and praiseworthy. This form of Calligraphy gives the effect of a pictorial image, but when seen up close it is composed of very tiny calligraphy. Even more incredible is that it is not engraved in intaglio so that the fine lines are in protected grooves, but has the carving as tiny raised designs. It is possibly the most detailed and difficult stone engraving of any place or period. Some other, larger examples can be seen at the Columbia University Islamic calligraphy site of Prof. Francis Pritchett (items 2, 5, and 6).
$3,200.00
Objects Sold
For orders, questions or suggestions please contact Stephen Herold.
List the number and identity of any pieces desired. We are happy to search for any particular wants you might have and will quote details and price as we find them.