I was given this set about 16 years ago from an elderly woman. I don't know how long she'd had it. It is a clear glass plate with a fern design inserted in it. Each plate has a circle for the cup. It is shaped like an island. that's the best way to describe it. each plate is 7 " wide and 10" long.

This is a  French brocaded silk panel sewed with gold and silver threads, with a fringe made of metal threads on the bottom.

The silk brocade could have been used in a Christian church due to the image of a triangle with rays of light that is sewn with silver threads on top of the brocade panel. 

In Western society, the triangle most often has highly Christian meanings when used in a religious context. Because the Christian God is a trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost united in a single godhead – he is commonly represented by a triangle. However, there is no Eye, so not the eye of providence.

This is an ornamental French Escutcheon from the mid-16th Century - French Renaissance XVI (~1550). This protective plate for a door or lock has a woman in nude and heart supported by two putti, on the right and left. At center is a keyhole. The woman faces forward and the figures of both putti facing inwards. The woman is wearing a crown and necklace which implies this could be from a wealthy home or royalty.

There has been no restoration on this piece, but it has been mounted with glue on a silk brocade that can be removed. There are a few cracks due to the age of this piece and some rusting as you can see with the picture included. However, the bronze gilding is in good condition.

Provenance/History:
This item was purchased from Anne-France Bergonier - Antiquaire from her antique store in Marche De Puces St. Ouen in Paris. Proof of purchase receipt, her description of item, and Stamp of Antiquaire in file.

The antiquaire that we purchased the escuthcheon from had also just recently acquired this piece. She purchased it from a collegue who purchased this from an estate that verified to be from the French Renaissance period ~1550 and thus where she got the time period and age estimate of the piece. Also the age of the metal and the use of the Putti in this piece shows the period to be around the French Renaissance.

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Recently on 07/10/13 authenticated by a Specialists in Decorative Arts from Bonhams Los Angeles to be highly likely from the French Renaissance late 16th Century time period. Will include documentation and Bonham's contact information to support this.

Dont know much about this piece as there is no makers mark that can be seen and cannot find another one like it online..

Young Chinese emperor on dragon throne

I am looking for a value on this cast iron "Jocko" lawn jockey. From what information I have found so far on the piece, it is from the late 1800s, there is no identifying foundery mark (apparently not uncommon for this particular piece). It is called a "picaninny caricature"  possibly inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The first figure of this type was produced in 1860.

Zsolnay Pecs Vase Signed on bottom and has two numbers on the bottom of Vase, D282 and F564

Don't know too much about the vas other than it was in my family for a very long time.

Small chip on the top of vase on the lip you can see it in the picture...

Beautiful colors on this vase..