Bronze salamander - 17th century

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

Small reclining lion in finely chased bronze Italy, 15th century Traces of gilding H 4,8 x L 6 x P 2 cm Delicately worked bronze depicting a lion in repose, characteristic of early ...

Bronze mortar with garlands, flowers and putti - Tuscany , second half of 17th century. Measures: height 10 diameter : 13 cm Artisans and healers used mortars for grinding food...

Italian School, 18th century Pacing Horse Bronze with brown patina, on a rectangular marble base H 8 x L 8,5 x P 3 cm H totale 11 cm

Superb and large 19th century Vienna bronze of a lizard by the Geschütz manufacture. Not signed. Dimensions in cm ( H x L x L ) : 4 x 28 x 9. Secure shipping.

Life size lizard sculpture or object of art handcrafted with silver plate on bronze metal head, legs, and bottom and featuring a tortoise shell terrazzo back. Signed Maitland-Smith o...

Viennese Bronze Iguana with Original Polychrome Paint This Viennese bronze, depicting an iguana, is a high-quality original piece from the 20th century, preserved in excellent condit...

Small bronze crocodile paperweight. It sits on an oak base and is in very good condition. Dates from the 1930s. Dimensions Base - Lenght 33cm x Width 8cm x Thickness 2cm Crocodile o...