In its upcoming auction ‘Opulent Collectibles,’ AstaGuru is showcasing an exquisite assortment of rare and prized antiques. Featuring over 150 lots, the auction will present the best of craftsmanship from across the world with a wide range of decorative elements. These include ceramics, furniture, crystal chandeliers, silverware, Persian carpets, vintage clocks, and many other collectibles that celebrate a mélange of global craftsmanship. Here’s your collecting guide to help you seamlessly navigate our ‘Opulent Collectibles’ Auction. To Register & Bid in our auction click here

A

Agate - A coloured hard stone used in jewellery, sculpture etc
Arita - A type of Japanese porcelain from the Arita district of Hizen province, Japan.
Ardabil Wool Carpet - A type of wool carpet from the region of Ardabil in Iran
Anglo-Indian Furniture - Furniture crafted by Indian craftsmen with English influence.
Art Nouveau - An ornamental style of art, architecture and design, started in Europe in the 1880’s. Characterised by linear designs and flowing curves.
Alabaster - A type of translucent gypsum, typically white. Used for ornamental carving
Applique - Decorative needlework in which separate smaller fabric pieces are sewn together to form larger designs.
Apron - (In Furniture) The border or the rim of a table. Usually, round.

B

Bakhtiyari Rug - A type of sturdy wool carpets made by the Bakhtiyari tribe who live in the Sagros mountains near the city of Isfahan in Iran.
Bracket Clock - A clock designed to rest on a shelf or a bracket
Barraud & Lunds, Cornhill, London - A family of watchmakers from London, started in 1838
Baccarat - A French luxury brand known for manufacturing fine quality, high-end crystal
Bevel- A surface or an edge that is cut at an angle; a tool used to cut the edge of a surface at a certain angle
Bureau- a writing desk with a hinged writing flap that can open and close. The interior usually consists of small drawers and pigeon-holes for postal stationary.

C

Celadon Glaze - A pottery term used to denote a wares glazed in a jade green celadon colour
Copeland - Manufacturer of earthenware and fine porcelain. Originally started by Josiah Spode in 1770, later taken over by Copeland and Garett in 1833.
Chiffoniers - A chest of drawers that are usually high and narrow.
Candelabrum - A holder for several candles or lamps. Characterised by multiple branches.
Crystal - A very high-quality glass used for making chandeliers, jewellery, etc
Candelabra - Plural form of ‘Candelabrum’
Chandelier - A large round frame meant to hold lights/candles. Usually hangs from the ceiling and is decorated with crystal or glass.
F & C Osler - A prominent manufacturer of the finest crystal-cut products from Birmingham, 1807.
Claw Foot - (In Furniture) The foot of a piece of furniture shaped like the claw/paw of an animal.
Cabriole Feet - A stylishly curved leg of a furniture ending in a decorative foot.
Coffee table - A smaller version of a centre-table
Console Table - A table top with decorative brackets supporting it against a wall

D

Davenport - An ornamental writing table with a sloping surface and drawers.
Drop-front Writing Table - A table with a hinged front-cover that acts as a surface for writing when lowered.

E

Edward Barnard & Sons. London - A firm of British silversmiths from London.
Ewer - Traditionally a water jug. Large with a wide mouth.
Escutcheon - An emblem with an engraved Coat of Arms; A piece of ornamental metal around a keyhole or a handle.

F

Famille Rose - A type of Chinese porcelain characterised by pink overglaze enamel
Frosted Glass - Glass produced by acid etching or sandblasting bearing a frosted appearance
Frieze - A type of horizontal decoration that is either painted or sculpted

G

George Zee & Co, Hong Kong - A furniture manufacturer in Hong Kong from 1960’s to 1997
Gustave Keller, Paris - Founder of The Keller Firm,1856, manufacturing high-quality silver-ware
George R Elkington, London - Silver manufacturer from Birmingham. Patented the first commercial electroplating process.
Gilt - A thin covering of gold, usually used in decoration.
Ginger Jar - A high-shouldered ceramic jar with a lid.
Gilding - The process of applying a layer of gold pain on a surface.

H

Hamilton & Co. Calcutta & Bombay - A jewellery and silversmithing firm founded by Robert Hamilton in Calcutta, 1808
Heriz Wool Carpet - Persian rugs from the region of Heris in northwest Iran
High Relief - A type of moulding or carving in which the design is accentuated and stands out from the surface

I

Imari - A type of Japanese porcelain shipped to Europe and China from the port of Imari
Inlay - To design an object by placing a different kind of a material in its surface

J

Jade - A coloured hard stone used to make jewellery, sculpture etc
Jardinie`re - A fancy pot or stand to display plants
James Deakin & Sons, Sheffield - Electroplater and silversmiths from 1866, Sheffield, England
John French, Royal Exchange, London- An eminent maker of precision clocks and chronometers from 19th century, London
Japanese Temple Lion - Lion-like creatures guarding the entrance or the inner sanctum of a shrine.

K

Ko¨nigliche Porzellan-manufaktur, Berlin - The royal porcelain factory from Berlin, founded in 1763 by Friedrich the Great of Prussia.
Kerman Carpet - A type of Persian carpet from the Kerman region of Iran

L

Leopoldo Janesich, Trieste, Italy - A jewellery and silver maker who set up his first store in Trieste in 1835
Lacquer - A type of a transparent polish applied on wood or metal surfaces to make them shine

M

Martin, Hall & Co, Sheffield- Sheffield based silversmiths and electroplate manufacturers. Established in Sheffield, England in 1820.
Mashad Wool Carpet - Type of carpets from Mashad in Iran.
Metcalf Hopgood, England - Silversmithing firm, established in 1807, England.
Mirrored Plateau - An ornamental centrepiece used to display items on a formal dining table.
Marquetry - Decorative patterns or designs applied to a structure using small pieces of wood or other materials.
Majolica - A type of glazed jewel-toned pottery

O

Onyx Mounted Top - A table top made of Onyx which is a semi-precious variety of agate
Opalescent - White or changing colours against a solid background
Occasional Table - A small decorative table used on rare occasions.
Ormolu - A decorative alloy of copper, zinc and tin made that is gold in colour.

P

Palm Pot Stand - A stand designed to hold one or more potted plants
Palmette - A decorative motif resembling the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree

Q

Qum Palmettes Wool Carpet - Rugs made in the Qum province in the south of Tehran, Iran.

R

Rose-pompadour - A background colour developed at the Sèvres porcelain factory and named after Madame Pompadour.
Rose-medallion - A popular type of Chinese porcelain with painted medallions depicting oriental figures. Used interchangeably with famille-rose porcelain in recent years
Robbe & Berking, Germany - Leading German manufacturer of silver cutlery and tableware, established in 1874 by Nicolaus Christoph Robbe.
Royal Worcester - One of the oldest English porcelain brands still in existence today. Established in 1751

S

Satsuma - A type of Japanese pottery from the Satsuma province of Japan. Known for its rich enamel and gilt decoration with a crackled glaze
Se`vres - A type of French porcelain characterised by its intense colours and elaborate decoration, manufactured at Se`vres near Paris. Originally started in Vincennes in 1738, the business received immense support from Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour. Sèvres vases gained popularity in Europe in the 18th century and was the pride of French nobility.
Silver Comports - A dish used to serve dessert or fruits made of silver
Side-tables - A table placed somewhere in the side of a room, apart from the main table.
Samurai - An elite warrior of powerful military caste from Feudal Japan

T

Teakwood - B, hard and durable, yellowish-brown wood from teak trees.
Thomas Richards, London - A famous clockmaker from London

U

Underglaze - A pottery term referring to a colour or design applied to a surface before it is glazed.

V

Variegated Marble Tops - Referring to marble table tops that have patches or marks of different colours across its surface
Varamin Wool - A Persian rug from Varamin in Iran

W

Wucai - Style of decorating Chinese porcelain in a set of colours.
Wedgwood - Ceramic manufacturer from England known for creating minimalist plates and pots in a distinct shade of blue called ‘Wedgwood blue’.
Wall-plate - A plait laid horizontally on a wall for decoration
Wall Brackets - A fixture attached to a wall for supporting a load such as a wall light.

 

Z

Zitan - A red sandalwood tree.

The auction is scheduled on January 27-28, 2022. Visit our website to view the entire catalogue & Register to bid in our auction today.