RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

Greetings Jon. Please help us with the item we have sent you pictures of. We inherited it several years ago from our in-laws. As can be seen, it is sterling silver, large and very elegant. We recently took it to a local auction house for an appraisal. We were told it was a champagne cooler, dating from somewhere around 1910. The auction house thought it was a very nice item due to its size which is 11 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It weighs about 35 ounces. They then offered to purchase it outright. I decided not to sell it until I was able to obtain some information from you about it. I read your column each week and know that you are honest and have a vast amount of knowledge on antiques in general. When we returned home from this auction house, I looked in the original large felt bag we located this item in and found a serrated brass cover. That’s my dilemma Jon! The cover fits on the top like a glove. Is this just coincidental or is this cover actually meant for this vase? The auction house was evasive on the exact value of this vase, indicating that it was “out of style.” Perhaps you can correctly enlighten me. Thank you very much.

Randy

The beautiful item you are inquiring about is a Victorian period vase with a flower frog lid, circa the 1880s. Certainly not a champagne cooler, contrary to what you were told by this auction gallery. Furthermore, sophisticated elegant beauty never goes “out of style.” Vases with lids that have holes to hold flower stems are often referred to as having a flower frog lid. These open-work covers sit above the water, with the stems extending through the holes into the water. This allows a more structured and varied arrangement of the flowers. These tops can be made of various materials. In your case, it is polished brass. Please take a close look along the very top portion of the interior of the vase. You will clearly observe a lip formed along the upper section that extends the circumference of the interior. That lip is the location for the pierced or serrated brass top to sit upon. This item was also used to hold Potpourri, which allows the room to have a pleasant smell. This also explains the pierced brass top. I would like to inform you that it is rare to find the original brass top with the base. Most of the ones I’ve encountered through the years have no top. Some being lost to time or broken. This is the reason some people erroneously believe this to be a champagne cooler. Now, more important information for you. It was produced by the silversmiths Graff Washbourne & Dunn in New York City. I am able to ascertain this information by the punched hallmarks along the side. It was retailed or sold through the prominent J.E. Caldwell firm in Philadelphia. It has a trumpet form with a Belle Epoque style. The vase features a flared reticulated rim and matching foot with pierced vertical scrolls, foliate swags, beautiful floral urns within raised medallions and a scrolling acanthus leaf shaped rim. The value of your sterling silver vase, based on the current spot price of silver size, is $1,500 USD. A complete antique Victorian silver flower frog vase is a rare find. Not to mention how wonderful your room is going to smell now that you are aware you can put potpourri in it!