An intriguing architectural element reflects the Roman social order. Pisciculture -- the process of raising fish -- held a lasting fascination for the people of ancient Rome. Whether bred for household consumption, cultivated for sale at market, or simply kept in confinement for reasons of aesthetic appreciation, fish remained an important commodity and prominent cultural symbol throughout the periods of the Roman Republic and early Empire...

Sauce label for KETCHUP made in England around 1810 and remaining in very good condition. This is Old Sheffield Plate (OSP), but the silver is in very good shape with only the very slightest blush showing on a few of the beads at the top. It is 1⅜ inches wide and about ½-inch high. A nice addition for your collection of bottle labels or tickets or just fun if you like ketchup.

Very good quality early 18th century brass candlestick with the high-domed, faceted, octagonal base which is so characteristic of French candlesticks of that period. It is made in two parts —the handmade threads joining the shaft to the base are easily seen in the photos. It stands 8¾ inches tall. It has a great patina on the underside. We have other detailed photographs that can be emailed on request.

Handsome and very graphic placard advertising Jules Bertier & Cie champagne. This is on heavy cardboard stock, retaining the original pink ribbon used to hang it in a bar of wine store. It is in excellent condition with just a couple of small, light stains on the bottom border which can be seen in the photograph. The design is by Max Sidaine which operated in Bordeaux from 1880 to 1923. It is in the great tradition of French Art Nouveau graphics...

Signed presentation copy of Millie's Book As Dictated to Barbara Bush. Pasted on the half title page is a book plate with gift inscription and signature (see photograph). This is a stated first edition, 4th printing. It is in very good condition. There is a crease at the top corner of the front flap of the dust wrapper as well as a bit of curl at the top of the wrapper. There is a small raised area at the top of the first two pages left by a paper clip that was once attached there.

This is the Reagan Inaugural commemorative catalog for the sale of the Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci at Christie's on 12 December 1980. The codex was purchased by Armand Hammer and lent to the Presidential Inaugural of Ronald Reagan. Pasted on the title pages is a label reading: "Nancy and I are very pleased that this major work, Leonardo's The Codex Leicester, has been made available to our Presidential Inaugural celebration enabling so many Americans to share in his diverse genius...

Good early 18th century octagonal base case candlestick of French origin. It is quite hefty (weight: one pound, seven ounces) and stands 8¼ inches tall. It has a strong knop which enhances its appearance; it is carefully finished with etched lines on the base and shaft. You might also note how nicely the maker has finished the underside of the base, even including etched lines there. There is an ejector hole to help remove the burnt down stubs...

Very nice oval Dutch tobacco box of a form typical of the last part of the 17th century. Very well made with heavy gauge brass with engraved scenes on both sides of women drinking. There is a caption under each scene but I cannot translate from the Dutch. In researching it I found a very similar box in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City which is discussed in an article on the museum's collection of tobacco boxes by Daniëlle O...

Beautifully crafted barley twist or spiral bell metal candlestick, nice patina. Made in two pieces. Height is 7 inches. There is a small ½-inch pushed-in bruise on the sharp top edge of the base but this is barely noticeable. Early 19th century. Detailed photographs are available and can be emailed on request.

Pair of cast square-based brass English candlesticks of classical style dating from the George III era, circa 1780. They make a nice presentation at their height of 10½ inches. The also retain their original bobeches whose gardrooned decoration happily echoes the gardrooning on the bases. These were cast in two parts; we have a photo of the top without the bobeche showing the seam lines at the corners...

A heavily illustrated, handsome quarto size book dealing with a subject on which there is little other reference material. Published in 1991 it should find a place in any good library devoted to American furniture and folk art. This copy is in very good condition with minor wear showing at the spine ends and some wear damage at the top of the dust jacket, including a clean two-inch tear at the left side which can be seen in the scan...

This book is a seminal work on the famous folk pottery of the Shenandoah region. Published in 1929, it was authored by A. H. Rice and John Baer Stoudt. I believe it was the first book devoted entirely to this subject. This is a first edition, bound in gold stamped purple cloth that has an intriguing loose woven pattern embossed on it. It is octavo size, consisting of 277 pages with 7 color plates and multitudinous black and white photographs...