16th Century Furniture

Important Renaissance Medical Box. Spanish Or Italian Workshop, Around 1550 Renaissance Medical Casket with stepped lid and vaulted flanked dome. Polychro...

Group of altarpiece representing the life of a Saint, Saint Renualde? Engraved by the sign of Antwerp hand on the hat of the central character Carved oak, traces of polychromy Fir...

Amazing Chest, Italy, late 16th century 93 x 214 x 74 cm Rectangular shaped chest, in walnut wood. Four bracket feet, with four corners with sculpted leaves. Table top with owl's bea...

An extremely impressive, strikingly attractive and very rare Spanish oak and studded leather bench in good antique condition. Most likely made around 1890 in Spain in the Spanish Col...

Jean Boulogne bronze sculpture "Abduction of the Sabine Women" a verdigris patinated bronze figured group on a circular stylized. Base signe "Jean Bologne".

This exceptional mask of Bhairava is finely modeled with an open mouth, bulging eyes, and sharply arched brows. The wrathful expression is flanked by foliate hooped earrings and sur...

16th Antique Panel of Glazed Green Tiles with Original Patina

Relief with angel head. Polychrome and gilded wood. Spanish school, 16th century. Rectangular table that presents, on the front, a relief of certain depth and figurative theme. On a...

A wonderful Gothic period hand carved stone statue of Saint Nicholas from the Avignon area of France. The now headless Saint Nicholas holds his staff an...

Antique Ovoid Jar from Ming Dynasty, China. Large jar with textures and a russet glaze (brown). Top part has light yellow glaze and body has black specks or pigments.

This earthenware bowl from the late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) is cloaked inside and out in an ashen celadon glaze, fired with cool grey color and fine crazing. Once used daily for foo...

Antique large Burmese wooden Buddha sitting in Mara Vijaya (calling the earth to witness) posture on a base. Age: Burma, Early Shan Period, Early 16th Century Size: Height 123.8 C.M...

Reliefs with heads of angels. Polychrome and gilded wood. Spanish school, 16th century. Pair of rectangular boards with a hanging ring on the back that present, on the front, two de...

Bird’s-Eye View of Basel from Braun & Hogenberg’s "Civitates Orbis Terrarum" (Circa 1572-1617) This highly detailed map of Basel is a bird's-eye view, originally based on Sebastian Münster’s map...

Pair of French 1940s-style antique (16th century) vellum veneered obelisks with caligraphy music manuscript notation (priced as pair).

Hongzhi Period (1487 - 1505) sculpture of an important man, possibly Confucius. Comes with box.

An exceptional 16th Century Flemish Brussels tapestry pillow woven in wool and silk, featuring architectural and botanical motifs. Likely a fragment from a larger Renaissance wall ha...

Antique Oval Marble Relief of a Male. 17th Century Carved Oval Marble Relief. A relief of a male head and shoulders, carved in statutory marble and displayed on a custom stand. This ...

A pair of 16th Century Italian wood carved figures of Saint Ambrose Archbishop of Milan and Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, two of the four original Doc...

A set of four early Arista y Cuenca tiles from Toledo, Spain, dating to circa 1550–1575. These tiles were produced during the Spanish Renaissance, a period when Toledo was a major ce...

An absolutely stunning Bizen ware stoneware vase/jar/vessel - produced sometime during the late Momoyama period (1568-1600) / Early Edo Period (1603-1867). Bizen yaki...

De Bry Engraving “Wie es den Holländern in der Grundlosen Insul ergangen” – Encounter of the Dutch with Islanders, c.1599 A remarkable original copper engraving from Theodor de Bry’...

Aeschylus. Edited by Willem Canter. Aeschyli Tragoediae VII. In quibus praeter infinita menda sublata, carminum omnium ratio hactenus ignorata, nunc primum proditur; opera Gulielmi C...

Own a remarkable piece of Spanish heritage with this grand 16th-century family coat of arms, expertly carved in sandstone. This magnificent piece embodies the nobility and craftsmans...

This inkstone is from the Ming dynasty in China, and would have been used to grind hardened 'inksticks' of pigment into paint through a process of rubbing and mixing with water. The...

Pair of De Bry Engravings of Birds, Fish, and Sea Plants Observed en Route to India, c.1598 A fascinating pair of original copper engravings from Theodor de Bry’s Petits Voyages (Fr...

A French Henri II period Renaissance walnut buffet from the 16th century with carved folded cloth décor, two drawers over two doors and carved acanthus leaf motifs. This French Henri...

Antique 16th Century Egyptian Cairene Rug

Italy, Florence Walnut wood Good state of preservation Former Collection Bresset     The "credenza" is a typical piece of furniture from Italy. It evolved during the 15th century from an earlier form, a table with shelves for decorative purposes, which played a role in the ceremonial settings of refined environments. Transformed into a low cabinet with two doors...

Virgin of La Antigua with Child, polychrome wood carving with silver crown, 16th-17th century This ancient devotional sculpture depicts the Virgin of La Antigua with the Child. Carve...

Virgin and Child, polychrome wood carving, Hispanic school, 16th-17th century This carved and polychrome wood sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms, crowned an...

Title: Portrait of Abraham Ortelius Engraved by Philippe Galle, first published in 1579, featured in the *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*. Description: This is a meticulously detailed portrait of Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598), the renowned Flemish cartographer, geographer, and creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. This copperplate engraving, crafted by the master engraver Philippe Galle (1537–1612), was first published in the 1579 edition of Ortelius’s groundbreaking work. The image presents a bust-length profile of Ortelius facing to the left, emphasizing his austere yet intellectual presence. He is depicted wearing formal attire typical of the late Renaissance period, including a richly textured doublet with a fur-lined collar and a finely detailed ruff around his neck. His aged, yet determined face, with a pointed beard and furrowed brow, symbolizes his deep dedication to the study of geography and cartography. Surrounding the portrait is an elaborate architectural and floral frame, characteristic of late 16th-century Mannerist designs, which conveys a sense of both intellectual grandeur and artistic sophistication. At the top of the frame is a "Chi Rho" symbol, representing Christ, and emphasizing the religious underpinnings of Ortelius's worldview. The Latin inscription below the portrait reads: "Spectandum dedit Ortelius mortalib. orbem, Orbi spectandum Galleus Ortelium" ("Ortelius gave the world to be seen by mortals, Galleus gave Ortelius to be seen by the world.") This suggests the lasting legacy of Ortelius’s work in mapping the known world and how Galle, through his engraving, immortalized Ortelius himself. About the Engraver: Philippe Galle (1537–1612) was a prominent Flemish engraver and publisher, known for his precision and technical skill in copperplate engraving. Galle often worked with leading figures of his time, producing prints that highlighted important cultural, intellectual, and political figures. His engraving technique involved etching intricate lines and textures onto a copperplate, which would then be inked and pressed onto paper to produce highly detailed prints. His collaboration with Ortelius on this project further solidified his reputation as a master engraver. Why Ortelius was Important: Abraham Ortelius is celebrated as one of the founders of modern cartography. His atlas, *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum* (Theatre of the World), published in 1570, was the first to gather a comprehensive collection of maps into a single, standardized volume. This work marked a turning point in the history of geography by establishing a modern understanding of world mapping. Ortelius also significantly contributed to geographic knowledge by incorporating information from various cartographers, which helped to unify mapmaking practices across Europe. Ortelius's work not only aided navigators and explorers but also influenced scholars and rulers in their understanding of the world. His reputation extended well beyond his home in Antwerp, making him one of the most respected intellectuals of his time. Keywords: Abraham Ortelius portrait, Philippe Galle engraving, 1579 Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Renaissance cartography, Ortelius atlas, historical cartographer portrait, copperplate engraving, Mannerist engravings...

Saint Luke is often represented as a man of mature and bearded age, accompanied by the animal of the Tetramorphs with which he is related (Revelation 4: 67)...

Pair of 16th Century Italian carved polychromed angelic sculptures.

An exceptional sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment depicting stylized fruit and foliage in a beautifully aged palette of deep indigo muted teal warm sand beige golden tan an...

Acquareccia plate Patanazzi workshop Urbino, last quarter of the 16th century It measures diameter 17.12 in; foot diameter 11.53 in; height 1.88 in (43.5 cm; 29.3 cm; 4.8 cm). Weight State of conservation: wear and a few small minimal detachments of enamel, chipping on the raised areas, peeling of enamel at the brim on the back. This large, shallow basin is equipped with a wide and convex well. It is umbonate with a contoured center. The brim, short and flat, is enclosed in a double rounded and barely raised edge. The basin has a flat base without rims; it has a slightly concave center in correspondence to the well. The shape takes inspiration from the basins associated with the metal forged amphora pourers that traditionally adorned the credenza. These were used from the Middle Ages to wash hands during banquets. Two or three people washed their hands in the same basin and it was considered an honor to wash one’s hands with an illustrious person. The decoration is arranged in concentric bands with, in the center of the umbo, an unidentified shield on a blue background: an oval banded in gold with a blue head, a gold star and a field with a burning pitcher. Rings of faux pods separate the center from a series of grotesque motifs of small birds and masks. These go around the basin and are, in fact, faithfully repeated on the brim. The main decoration develops inside the flounce of the basin, which sees alternating symmetrical figures of winged harpies and chimeras. The ornamentation, outlined in orange, green and blue, stands out against the white enamel background. This decorative style, defined since the Renaissance as “grottesche” or “raffaellesche”, refers to the decorations introduced after the discovery of the paintings of the Domus Aurea towards the end of the fifteenth century. The discovery of Nero's palace, buried inside Colle Oppio by damnatio memoriae, occurred by chance when a young Roman, in 1480, fell into a large crack which had opened in the ground on the hill, thus finding himself in a cave with walls covered with painted figures. The great artists present in the papal city, including Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Raffaello, immediately visited these caves. The decorations found there soon became a decorative subject of immense success: the term grotesque , with the meaning of “unusual,” “caricatured,” or “monstrous,” was later commented by Vasari in 1550 as “una spezie di pittura licenziose e ridicole molto”( “a very licentious and ridiculous kind of painting”). The decorations “a grottesche” also widely circulated in ceramic factories, through the use of engravings, variously interpreted according to the creativity of the artists or the requests of the client. Our basin is reflected in similar artifacts produced at the end of the sixteenth century by the factories of the Urbino district. See the series of basins preserved in the main French museums, among which the closest in morphology is that of the Campana collection of the Louvre (Inv. OA1496); this however has a more complex figure decoration, while the decoration of our specimen is sober and with a watercolor style. The style, sure in its execution, approaches decorative results still close to the works produced around the middle of the sixteenth century by the Fontana workshop. The decoration is closely linked to their taste, which later finds its natural outlet, through the work of Antonio, also in the Patanazzi workshop. Studies show the contiguity between the two workshops due to the kinship and collaboration between the masters Orazio Fontana and Antonio Patanazzi, both trained in the workshop of Guido Fontana il Durantino. It is therefore almost natural that their works, often created according to similar typologies and under the aegis of the same commissions, are not always easily distinguishable, so much so that the presence of historiated or “grottesche” works by Orazio is documented and preserved in Antonio Patanazzi's workshop. Given that the studies have always emphasized the collaboration between several hands in the context of the shops, it is known that the most ancient “grottesche” works thus far known, can be dated from 1560, when the Fontana shop created the so-called Servizio Spagnolo (Spanish Service) and how, from that moment on, this ornamentation became one of the most requested by high-ranking clients. We remember the works created for the Granduchi di Toscana, when Flaminio Fontana along with his uncle Orazio supplied ceramics to Florence, and, later, other commissions of considerable importance: those for the service of the Duchi d’Este or for the Messina Farmacia of Roccavaldina, associated with the Patanazzi workshop when, now after 1580, Antonio Patanazzi began to sign his own work. Thus, in our basin, the presence of masks hanging from garlands, a theme of more ancient memory, is associated in the work with more advanced stylistic motifs, such as the hatching of the chimeras and harpies. These are found here on the front with the wings painted in two ornate ways. In addition, the theme of the birds on the edge completes the decoration along the thin brim and can be seen as representing an early style typical of the Urbino district during a period of activity and collaboration between the two workshops. Later, a more “doll-like” decorative choice, typical of the end of the century and the beginning of the seventeenth century, characterized the period of the Patanazzi workshop under the direction of Francesco. Bibliography: Philippe Morel, Il funzionamento simbolico e la critica delle grottesche nella seconda metà del Cinquecento, in: Marcello Fagiolo, (a cura di), Roma e...

A beautiful sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment depicting fruit and foliage in a richly aged palette of deep indigo muted teal soft ivory warm golden taupe sage green and to...

16th Century Spanish Moorish bronze mortar A small round bronze dark brown patinated shaped mortar, resting on a round base. The exterior decorated with vertical rib pattern from t...

Set of Four De Bry Engravings of India and the East Indies, c.1598 – Cockfights, Sacred Trees, Exotic Animals, and the Eeme Bird An exceptional and matching set of four original eng...

16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century Belgium. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting frame...

De Bry Engraving “Expressio Germinum” – Exotic Plants of St. Lawrence Island, c.1598 A fascinating original 16th-century copper engraving from Theodor de Bry’s Petits Voyages (Frank...

This panel comprises four antique tiles with a geometric design glazed in greens, browns, and blacks. Made using the cuerda seca technique, they exhibit patina, craquelure, and visib...

A rare sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment in a beautifully balanced palette of deep slate blue muted forest green olive warm taupe soft beige and faded cocoa brown. Subtle ...

Agnolo di Polo (Firenze 1470 - Arezzo 1528) Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Around 1510-1520 Painted and gilded terracotta 55.5 x 24 x 16.5 cm San Nicholas de Tolentino is represe...

America – Indians Crossing a River, Rafts and Canoes – De Bry, Latin Edition c.1594–1596 This finely engraved and hand-colored copperplate originates from the celebrated America ser...

16th Century pair of Spanish wooden footings with medieval scenes of fantastic animals and floral motifs. Polychrome in dark colors on a vivid red background. Two pieces with grea...

Belgium / 16th Century / Crucifix / wood, marble, metal / Religious An exceptional 16th-century Belgian crucifix, originally conceived for use in religious processions, later mounte...

Antique map titled 'Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio'. A very attractive example of Ortelius' map combining, on one page, maps of the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corfu, Elba, Malta and Zerbi (Jerba, off the coast of Tunisia.) The maps detail fortifications on the islands and other major features. (Jerba, for instance, is shown connected to the mainland by a causeway.) The waters are attractively engraved and are sailed by ships. A shipwreck, north of Malta, indicates the point at which St. Paul is thought to have shipwrecked. Volcanoes are indicated in the Sicily map...

Estienne, Charles De re hortensi libellus (A small book on gardening); . . . vulgaria herborum, florum ac fruticum qui in hortis conseri solent nomina latinis vocibus efferre docens ...

Garden window archway made of Limestone. Originates from France. Circa, 16th century.

16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century Belgium. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting frame...

Important Renaissance sideboard-credence. This piece of furniture, originally a very large chest from the 16th century chest from the 16th century has three panels carved with mascar...

A rare engraving titled “IN ADAM OMNES MORIUNTUR” (All die in Adam) by Johann Sadeler after a work by Maerten de Vos, depicting Adam taking the forbidden fruit from Eve. Signed and...

Large Chinese Blue and White "Grape Dish", Ming Dynasty, Jiajing Period, 16th Century Large blue and white "Grape Dish". Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Jiaj...

Important - 16th century - grand scale - museum quality - Renaissance period - antique Flemish finely woven grotesque tapestry panel in wool and silk - after designs by PERINO DEL VA...

16th Century Italian carved-wood and polychromed sculpture of Jesus Christ the conqueror raising the flag after his resurrection.

Antique map titled 'Westfalia cum dioecelsi Bremensi'. Original antique map of Germany. Published by Mercator/Hondius, circa '1620' 17th Century antique detailled map of Westphali...

16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century France. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting framed...

An incredible palace size earlier 20th century Kermanshah rug in predominant blues, gray and raspberry. Woven with the finest of Manchester wool. Measures: 11'8'' x 21'8'' Kirm...

16th century German Gothic fireback from the early days of casting firebacks. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upo...