RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

Greetings from Montvale. We read your column each week and enjoy it so much. I recently found this piece while cleaning out my father’s house. Initially I was about ready to just toss it, because I’m told people no longer want or use crystal serving items. But tucked inside, my mother had written a short note that explained this item was French from the 19th century, and that it was valuable. After reading this note, I decided to send you some pictures and request your expertise. It stands about one foot tall and appears to be in great shape. Thank you Jon for all you do.

Gail

I’m looking at this magnificent piece of glass and thinking two things: first, that it probably spent the Gilded Age making someone at a dinner party look incredibly sophisticated. Second, if you run your finger too aggressively down these miter-cuts, you’ll need a band-aid. Let’s figure out if we’re looking at an Heirloom or just another garage sale item. I will begin by informing you that the piece you are inquiring about is a silver with cut-crystal wine carafe and that your mother’s note was only partially correct. Mom was correct in that this carafe definitely dates from the 19th century. However, this wine carafe is not French. It was produced in Austria in 1820. How do I know this? The silver hallmarks of a crescent before a crown with an 800 number, followed by another symbol indicating the year of 1820. This finely crafted Gothic Revival silver-mounted wine carafe features a faceted colorless crystal body flaring gracefully from a serrated circular foot. The neck, spout, cover and handle are richly chased with stylized Gothic ornament, evoking medieval architectural motifs rendered in delicate silverwork. I will note that the Gothic style, which flourished in 19th-century Europe, reflected a romantic fascination with medieval art and architecture. Silversmiths in Germany and Austria embraced this aesthetic, incorporating pointed arches, trefoils, and tracery into both ecclesiastical and domestic silver. Pieces such as your carafe illustrate the period’s technical virtuosity and historical imagination combining the brilliance of hand-cut crystal with the refined craftsmanship of Continental silver mounts. The current value of this elegant antique Austrian silver and cut-crystal wine carafe is $3,500 USD. I am so glad that you didn’t “just toss it.” Hope you have some good wine to pour into it. Enjoy!