Camels are often known as the ships of the desert and have been depicted in both Asian and European antiques. Camels have often given the impression of exotic places and were particularly fashionable as decor from the Victorian era to the Art Deco period. Camels are still very collectible today.
Below are some examples and price guides of silver camels including a Viennese silver timepiece and a bronze camel inlaid with silver and gold.
A VIENNESE RENAISSANCE REVIVAL ENAMELED SILVER TIMEPIECE
Date: Last quarter 19th century
Movement: Gilt full plate key wound with verge escapement, fusee, bridge pieced with scrolls, coqueret, signed “Lorentz Engelbrecht à Wienn”
Dial: Oval gilt with champlevé enamel scrolls enclosing enamel roman chapters, gilt scroll hands
Case: On winged cherub feet, domed base with enamel vignettes of winged Eros with various mythologic personages, supporting a silver camel and oval watch case with further mythologic scene, cherub finial
Size: 18.5 cm high
Sold for US$ 4,462 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020
FAR EAST INDIAN HAND CHASED SILVER BOWL
Depicting exotic animals including: Peacock, camel, lion, birds etc. unmarked 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches Condition: GoodTemp No 58
Sold for US$170 at John McInnis Auctioneers, LLC in 2022
An Edwardian novelty silver pin cushion, Carrington and Co., London 1904, cast in relief as a camel, sitting, with two saddle bags, on a wooden plinth base, 9.5cm long
Sold for £700 at Kinghams Auctioneers in 2022
GOLD & SILVER INLAID BRONZE CAST CAMEL CENSER Height 12 cm / Width 18.5 cm / Thickness 11 cm / Weight 1620g
Sold for US$7,500 at Cordier Auctions & Appraisals in 2022
ELEPHANTS AND CAMEL: A GROUP OF SILVER AND ENAMEL CIRCUS FIGURES, DESIGNED BY GENE MOORE FOR TIFFANY & CO., NEW YORK, CIRCA 1990
comprising four caparisoned elephants, one holding a woman in his trunk, one standing with a dragon cape and with elephant trainer, two with stands, and a caparisoned camel supporting a harlequin, 9 pieces
all marked TIFFANY & CO., STERLING, and Made in Italy
116 oz
3608 g
height of tallest 5⅝ in.
14.3 cm
Sold for 25,000 USD at Sotheby’s in 2020
