Tang Dynasty Funerary Ferghana Horse

This extraordinary glass vessel hails from the illustrious Roman empire, likely from Italy, dating to the mid-1st to 2nd century CE. It is exceptionally rare to find such a large and...

An important homage to love, this large black basalt figure is an impressive example of Wedgwood's artistry and imagination. Cupid, the ancient Roman god of love, is standing amongst billowing clouds with a pair of doves at his feet. Gazing towards earth with one hand shielding his eyes, the other hand holds an arrow. His bow and quiver rest at his side, ready to take aim. "CUPID" is etched into the base. Considered a crowning achievement of Wedgwood, black basalt was created by blending manganese with an iron-oxide rich slurry procured from coal mines called carr. In addition to the impressive color, this combination also provided additional strength and solidity. While it initially proved challenging to fire because of its weight, that same characteristic was advantageous in creating ornaments, lending stability to library...

Presenting a regal yet approachable portrait of France’s Louis XV, this terracotta bust is modeled after Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne’s sculpture of the king executed in 1757, which now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This version is executed in meticulous detail, with the king donning his cuirass decorated with the cross of the Holy Ghost and a draper tied under his tie. His head is turned slightly, giving the portrait a more casual, realistic feel, yet there is no mistaking his position of power in this confident portrayal. Louis XV, also called “Louis the Beloved,” ruled as King of France from September 1, 1715 until his death in 1774, succeeding his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until the young Louis...

One of the only known sculptures rendered in Blue John to exist in the world, this extraordinary George III panther exemplifies Georgian sophistication. Georgian — and later Regency — aesthetics revived classical themes of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. With a proud stance, gaping jaw and unyielding gaze, the stately panther closely resembles the grand ancient Roman panthers often carved from marble as trapezophoros table supports. The regal cat rests atop a plinth, also made of Blue John, with Siena and Ashford marble detailing. The intrinsic and richly hued mineral inclusions of the Blue John replicate the textures and colors of the animal’s fur. The rare stone is a variety of natural calcium fluorite found exclusively in Derbyshire, England. It was first discovered in the early 18th century, but its mining did not being until circa 1760. Blue John was a wildly popular material in the decorative arts during the Georgian and Regency...