16th Century Furniture

Large and architecturally structured frame from an altar retable, likely originating in 16th-century Italy made from pine and linden tree. The composition features a tripartite layou...

This Renaissance Cabinet reveals the great mastery of the Lyon workshops which are at the origin of its realization. Sculptors and wood-carvers worked here in symbiosis to express an...

Burmese wood carving panel with flower (found from the city 200 KM away from Pagan or Bagan). Age: Burma, Ava Period, 16th Century Size: Height 104...

This is an exceptional and historic pair of Damascus enameled metalwork vessels or urns. These art objects show signs of rough use and handling through the centuries. Although it is ...

A Florentine Parquetry Lacquer and Parcel Gilt Center Table, 16th Century Description: the top of rectangular form with inlaid cubic parquetry decoration, contained by a moulded edg...

A large, museum-quality, late-16th century, cedar, Venetian, cassone on its original stand ; the sea creature ornament probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568 • This is the only, known, cassone of this type retaining its original stand. • The collection in Italy that it originally came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. • The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. • The inner lid is very practical and can be used for display or serving. The interior offers masses of storage space which is particularly suitable for textiles being cedar which repels moths. • The cassone is a beautiful, rich colour and has developed a lustrous patina. • The cassone is Illustrated & discussed in discussed in ‘Woods in British Furniture Making’, (Bowett) c13 Provenance: Private collection, Mayorca. Private collection, Italy Related to: Cassone in V&A collection, no 4886-1858 Width 177 cm., 70 in., Height 87 cm., 34 ½ in. Depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. With lid open 155 cm., 61 in “Late 16th and 17th century, London inventories confirm that cypress wood chests were relatively common in prosperous households. In 1598 there was a cypress chest in the hall of John Mason, a vintner, valued at 50 shillings. It was the most expensive piece of furniture in the house. Similarly there was a ‘fair cypress chest’ in the great chamber of Adrian Moore, haberdasher, in 1618, and a cypress chest worth £ 9 in the hall of Thomas Willis, a clotherworker in 1630. The chests were sometimes described as ‘great’ or ‘small’ but not otherwise described – presumably they were familiar to the compilers of the inventories. They were placed in halls, chambers and parlours, places where they would have been on prominent view. It is noteworthy that only the chests were imported and not, apparently, the wood. “ (p282, Cypress, Woods in British Furniture making) The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. I have never seen one of these chests on its original stand. The collection in Italy that it came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. In practical terms, the stand makes the chest a comfortable height to use. The exterior of the chest is a beautiful, mellow colour and has developed a lustrous patina. The top comprises three planks faced with a shallow, cleated, moulded edge nailed on. The front retains its original hasp and lockplate and, as is commonly found, the lock has been removed but, unusually the original ring hinges have survived. The top opens to reveal an inner lid with ring hinges and a brass ring, revealing a large open storage compartment below, the bottom lined with an old fabric. The underside of the lid retains its original penwork and pierced decoration. The central panel depicts sea creatures, sharks, flatfish, monster fish, sea horses, Neptune and mermaids, probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568. The panels either side depicting a crown, the sun and unicorns amongst stylised floral sprays. The surrounding naive penwork border features repeats of three naked ladies in the sea, a man wearing an animal mask with two dogs in a forest and a huntsman with two dogs. The floor of the inside of the cassone is upholstered in an 18th century red and yellow striped woven textile the colours of the Catalan flag. The front is decorated with pierced, silhouettes of beasts, trees and figures. The sides are plain with iron carrying handles. On its original stand, with similar decoration, and bearing a cartouche which would have been decorated with the arms of its original owner. Italian, last quarter of the 16th century. Condition Report : Old repair to bottom left moulding of top. Some hairline cracks to top. The hasp, lockplate and ring hinges are original, the lock has been removed. Handles probably 18th century. The inner lid was probably added in the 18th century and supporting mechanism in the 19th century. Exceptional original, lustrous colour and patina. Measures: Width 177 cm. 70 in., height 87 cm. 34 ½ in., depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. The cassone was the principal piece of furniture in 16th century, Italy. These chests were made as bridal gifts for nobles and aristocrats from cedar specifically for storing their much prized and valued hangings, clothing and linens, as the wood repels moths and the sweet fragrance delicately scents fabrics. Consquently the cassone, as in this example might be decorated with the family coat of arms or with depictions of virtue and edifying episodes from the Bible. A young woman could not be allowed to enter marriage without some instruction. Later, many cassoni were taken apart so that the decorated front panel could be hung as a painting. The stand of this cassone has a cartouche that would have contained a painted coat of arms in the centre which shows that it was conceived for a noble family. Such cypress or cedar chests, incised in bas relief and pyrographically engraved, have long been associated with Venice and typically have a naïve decoration on the exterior. Literature: The 'cypress chests' containing 'arras, counterpoints, costely apparel, tents, and canopies, fine linen, Turkey cushions...

Ortelius Asia Japan China Taiwan Philippines East Indies Antique Map 1570 This highly important early map of Asia titled “Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus” is one of the most influential 16th-century European depictions of East and Southeast Asia. Published by Abraham Ortelius for his groundbreaking atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, this map presents a sweeping geographical vision of the Far East before the full penetration of the Dutch into the region. It covers India, Indochina, China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, the East Indies or Spice Islands, New Guinea, and parts of the western Pacific. Ortelius was the first European cartographer to name Formosa (modern Taiwan), marking a milestone in Western geographic knowledge of Asia. Japan appears in its famous early “kite-shaped” form, shown as a large oval island...

An exceptional and rare 16th century Venetian textile, richly embroidered with 1.2 kilograms of gold metallic thread on deep red silk velvet. This beautifully preserved fabric exempl...

Impressive wrought iron tabletop safe with engraved decoration and original patina. This type of safe was commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries to hold valuables, alms, or doc...

Fine set of four wooden columns, entirely carved and gilded by hand, dating from the 16th century and of Spanish origin. The shaft has a two-level zig-zag carved pattern, (fishbone),...

Early Arista y cuenca tile made in Toledo. Tile decorated in renaissance style with interlacing lines ending in four stylized flowers was probably made between 1550 and 1575.

SAINT AFRE OF AUGSBURG ORIGIN : SOUTHERN GERMANY PERIOD : 16th CENTURY Height : 119 cm Width : 50 cm Depth : 28 cm Limewood Good state of conservation Patron Saint of the city and the diocese of Augsburg, the oldest traces of her worship date back to the 6th century. There are several versions of his legend. She is sometimes identified as the daughter of a king of Cyprus whose violent and unexpected death forced her and her mother, Hilaria, to flee. They went to Augsburg via Rome. Others see her origins in Africa instead, her name meaning African in Latin. Settled in Augsburg, they became the owners of a notorious inn where they traded in their charms. Bishop Narcissus of Girona, accompanied by his deacon Felix, found refuge there one day, fleeing the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. As the two men prayed devoutly, Afre was touched by grace and asked to be baptized. She then left her old life and embraced the Christian faith. When the Roman authorities learned of his new vocation, they exhorted her to worship the old gods and to deny the Christian faith. She refused to renounce her faith and was sentenced to be burned alive. Her sentence was applied immediately and she suffered her mart...

Elegant yet unrefined, this ceramic wine bottle from Yunnan province is a testament to the wabi-sabi beauty of provincial Chinese pottery. Dated to the 15th/16th century, the bottle ...

Annamese Blue and White Ceramic Dish, Bird Design, Hoi An Hoard, Chu Dau kiln, Vietnam, circa 1500. The sturdily potted form has a raised rim decorated in unde...

Cabinet We present you a unique Renaissance Cabinet from the sixteenth century, Kabinet comes from Germany. It is made of oak. Cabinet is a box furniture, it consists of an upper c...

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.

France / 16th century / Chest / oak / Gothic A remarkable French Gothic oak chest dating from the 16th century, showcasing intricate hand-carved detailing throughout its façade. The...

This elegant ceramic vessel is a Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) bottle originally used for storing oil or sauces. Dated to the 15th/16th century, the small bottle has a gracefully curved f...

This regal seat dates to the 16th century. The square seat and back contrasted by the blocked barley twist turnings that comprise the arms legs and stretcher. Well-carved recumbent l...

Sleeping Eros Rome, 16th century
 Carrara marble, on a wooden base
 of an ancient collection 31 × 44 x 17 cm Carved from a fine block of Carrara marble, this sculpture depicts Eros ...

Experience the allure of history with our Brussels 16th Century Pillow, measuring 19" x 8". Immerse your living space in the intricate beauty of 16th-century Brussels design, meticul...

This cabinet is composed of two bodies, the upper one being recessed. The extraordinary proportions are enriched by a mythological and floral carved decor. The Lower body stands o...

A quite large 16th century Italian so called 'coffre fort' . Coffers or chest like these were specifically made for cities or large villages to safegueard the gold and valuables. The...

Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow

An Italian Florentine Renaissance Carved Burl Walnut Fall-Front Writing Cabinet, Circa 1560, 16th century From the Davanzatti Palace Museum in Florence Height: 59 inches x 36 inches ...

Set of 2 large early 16th century Tuscany vases, Italy. Rare and very large ceramic water vases with a green glaze. These vases were made in Tuscany Italy. Of course hand made and th...

China, a monumental pair (2) of 500 year old lime stone “Spirit Path” Equine horse head sculptures. Ming dynasty, (1368-1644 CE). Please view our video. A pair of near life size and robust head sections with fine, wavy combed manes, well defined mouths, ears, nostrils, and ornamental bridles, all carved in a medium to dark gray limestone with considerable weathering to surfaces. The smaller head with a later inscription on bottom and signed “Zhuang”. Formerly exhibited “Treasures from Asia”, Shelburne Vermont, Shelburne Art Center, 2006. Originally found in the vicinity of the village of Chuan near Luoyang City, Henan Provance, China. Each mounted on a custom iron display stand. Dimensions: A the smaller 32.5cm, 13” high and 62.5cm, 25” in length and with display stand, 60cm, 24” high; b the larger 37.5cm, 15” high and 67.5cm, 27” in length and with display stand 65cm, 26” high. Please view additional photographs from our Chinese antiquities catalog 35 Years Collecting 35 Treasures, page 60. History: Placing stone animals and human figures along spirit paths in front of important tombs can be traced back at least to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE), some two thousand years ago. In ancient times, stone animals and human figures placed before imperial tombs symbolized royal power and privilege in addition to decorative functions. Life size “spirit path” stone horse sculptures are known and can be viewed from Ming dynasty tombs including thirteen imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty scattered over an area of forty square kilometers in Changping District to the northwest of Beijing. The first Ming tomb...

A 445-year-old late medieval 16th century encaustic tile of Flemish origin (unmarked), detailed with a rampant lion. Made from terracotta and glazed, this 6-inch antique tile is an e...

A striking pair of large Chinese glazed and painted pottery figures, Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), circa 16th century, China. The impressive and realistically modeled figures each portrayed standing upright upon a sancai (three color) glazed pedestal of kang table form. The man is dressed in a short black surcoat over a long robe and pants, a smart cap upon his head. His face is warm and welcoming, with wide eyes and a slight smile on his lips. He holds his hands out in front of him, palms up, almost as if shrugging, though presumably originally holding an object or offering, now lost. The woman of slightly smaller stature, and dressed in a longer surcoat over a long robe and skirt. She wears a fitted cap upon her head. Her hands also held out in front, grasping long lost objects. Her face is slightly more severe, with a somewhat pinched look, and slight frown upon her lips. The size of these figures is remarkable, as is the realism and attention to detail, almost as if they were modeled after real people, as opposed to the more common and generic Ming Dynasty pottery...

400-500 years old hand carved sandstone sculpture of a standning Buddha flanked by a munk and a mythical animal. Originates from pagoda / temple in Ara...

A wonderful example of Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) hand wrought commemorative embroidery with a central foliate cartouche surrounded by four smaller ones, each with metallic t...

An unusually large Chinese Ming Dynasty glazed pottery architectural model of a shrine or cabinet, Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), circa 16th century, China. The shrine model crafted o...

Superb and rare Renaissance period walnut buffet from the end of the 16th century representing the four seasons opening with four doors and two drawers on the front, The doors offer...

Superb and rare Italian Renaissance walnut wedding chest or cassone from the late 16th century from the Tuscany region. Very beautiful chest with a wood marquetry coat of arms in it...

Antique Japanese Black Lacquered Table Cabinet, having a quality lacquered lift off lid above 4 drawers with original handles, containing ...

The relief was probably a door of the Sagrario. The piece follows a customary decoration in the tabernacles of the Renaissance and the Baroque. Compare, for example, with the sevente...

Former collection Altounian At the beginning of the reign of Henri II (1547-1559) the furniture’s ornamentation evolves. The few medieval motifs that were still used are eventually relinquished. Furniture becomes more sober showcasing moulded panels and perfect architecture. Cabinet-makers use ornaments such as curved fluted or plain columns, feather quills, roses or winged putti heads. High-relief carving becomes more scarce and compositions lighter. To that end cabinet-makers draw inspiration from Fontainebleau motifs filtering them and adapting them to French taste. During this period cabinet-makers turn into a kind of architects. Indeed the architectural balance of furniture is the centre of their concerns. The study of Antic formulas is then a necessity. From this care given to proportions appear refined cabinets with pure lines. This style is characteristic of the reign of Henri II and disappears soon after under the regency of Catherine de Medici (1560-1574) when an abundance of high and low-relief ornaments comes back on furnitures. This two-bodies cabinet...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Elizabeth I English sterling silver seal-top spoon; an addition to our 16th century silver flatware collection. This exceptional antique Elizabethan sterling seal top spoon* has a pear-shaped bowl to a faceted stem. The rounded bowl of this impressive antique silver spoon is plain and unembellished, apart from the feature assay mark. The faceted stem terminates with a knopped circular seal matrix/die bearing the initials 'SPSW'. The knopped terminal and bowl of the spoon retain the original gilding. Such 16th century examples in this condition are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. * Seal top spoons became popular in England in the later 16th and 17th centuries. NOTE: After surviving the Great Fire of London, the records at the London Assay office were destroyed by fire in 1681; their catalogues and documentation began again in 1697. Due to this unfortunate event, we are unable to associate a maker to this spoon. Condition This antique silver seal...

Step into the past with our Brussels 16th Century Pillow. Measuring 20" x 12", its timeless design and generous size make it a striking centerpiece for any sofa or bed.

RARE CABINET DEPICTING THE FOUR ELEMENTS ORIGIN : FRANCE PERIOD : CIRCA 1600 Height: 178 cm Width: 112 cm Depth: 50 cm Former Perpitch Collection Forme...

Versatile small 3 drawer chest circa 1970's very clean condition dovetail drawers .

Spanish 16th Century Renaissance Ecclesiastical Wood Carved Tabernacle, The Pelican in her Piety. Magnificent polychrome and gilded wooden Tabernacle with a masterfully hand carved ...

Gothic front gallery chest, Westphalia around 1500 - 1550, wrought iron bands, boxy oak body, partially carved. Monumental star-shaped key plate with original key, feet on the front ...

A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...

Bowl from the late Ming dynasty cargo. An identical piece is included on page 136 of the Bin Thuan catalog titled 'The Age of Discovery: Asian Ceramics Found...

Good Condition, Original Design Modified.

Rare Large Grape or Cauldron in Solid Bronze, Europe, 16th Century. This is a rare and large museum quality 16th century grape or cauldron or cooking pot in solid bronze. A practi...

This exceptional 16th-century chest is a masterful example of Aragonese craftsmanship, combining rich walnut wood with intricate geometric bone marquetry inspired by Islamic artistic...

Pair of decorative Renaissance oak wooden reliefs depicting two man with curly hair and a moustache. The reliefs were probably part of a piece of furniture or architectural element. ...

Beautiful and very rare Italian antique chair from the 1500s. In finely crafted walnut wood, red velvet and bangs, the antique chair is in its o...

Most likely Ming 15th/16th Century, carved chicken bone jade figure of a standing Guanyin (Quanyin) holding a scroll in one hand, prayer beads in the other. Affixed to carved wood ba...

Warped by fire and eroded by time, this ceramic storage jar from Yunnan province is a testament to the wabi-sabi beauty of provincial Chinese pottery. Dated to the 15th/16th century,...

A late 16th Century Flemish Historical Tapestry panel. This vertically oriented decorative tapestry panel depicts a female figure at bottom, sitting within an elaborate floral reserv...

A Rare and Finely Carved Weser Renaissance Stone Head Stone Germany 16th Century Size: 23cm high, 21cm wide, 21cm deep - 9 ins high, 8¼ ins wide, 8¼ ins deep / 33cm high ...

Exceptional lacquered and gilded wooden cabinet, Venice, last quarter of the 16th century. The architectural facade is centered on a gable supported by columns reminiscent of ancient...

400 - 600 Year old charming and artistic sandstone relief. Dragon "mythical beast" which is a symbol of wisdom. From Buddha temple in Arakan, Burma....

Chest. Carved wood, metal. Spanish school, 16th century. Rectangular casket with a flat lid decorated on the outside with a series of figurative reliefs in a symmetrical arrangemen...

An antique English Tudor period oak panel dating to circa 1590, deeply handcarved with three large foliage scrolls and flowers. Over 430 years old, this oak wall panel has stood the ...

A late 16th century Flemish Historical Tapestry panel. This vertically oriented decorative tapestry panel depicts a female figure at bottom, sitting within an elaborate floral reserv...

From the esteemed former collection of Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, this exquisite early 16th-century polychromed carved wood figure of St. Florian stands as a rare example of late...