879 results for "antiquity"

A ceramic amphora-form liqueur vessel produced by Denbac, France, in the 1950s for the iconic French spirits brand Cointreau. Commissioned as a branded serving or display piece, this...

Late 19th Century Bronze Bust of Venus de Milo. Bust depicts the chest and head of the goddess. Bust is detailed and is a refined reproduction of the iconic Greek statue, Aphrodite o...

Large Martaban Ming dynasty stoneware storage vase with dragons, 14th century. Beautiful Ochoa and yellow brown glaze with decorated dragons and Ming clouds. Applied snail or dragon ...

French ceramic ball vase with nucleations by Monique Cavallini - Circa 2000 Very delicately glazed ball vase in soft plant-inspired tones: earthy brown and leafy green. The vase is glazed with nucleations, similar to crystallizations, obtained with hay ash and titanium. The result is beautiful. The vase is in very good condition. It is engraved "M.Cavallini". -------------------- An important centre of French ceramics since Antiquity, Vallauris, located 6km from Antibes on the French Riviera, experienced a major boom at the end of the 19th century thanks to the Massier family of ceramists. At the end of the second world war, painters, sculptors and masters of ceramics settled in Vallauris, starting with Picasso in 1948. He perfected his ceramic technique at the Madoura workshop with Suzanne Ramié. Chagall, Matisse, Cocteau, Miro, Braque, Rouault, Fernand Léger, who came to stay in Vallauris, created a stir in this creative centre. The artistic production with its abstract and geometric decorations, its new textures and its rich modern glazes, will definitively replace the traditional pottery. Alain Maunier...

A superb addition to a personal collection or a magnificent gift for a lover of antiquity, this mask reproduces in stunning detail the iconography of the Greek god Apollo...

Pair of Continental Carved and Polychromed Wooden Cornucopias, 19th Century These finely carved and polychromed wooden cornucopias exemplify the enduring symbolic power of the horn of plenty in European decorative arts. Each composition is rendered in high relief, the ribbed horn issuing an abundant cascade of fruit and vegetables—pomegranates, grapes, melons, pumpkins, gourds, citrus, corn, and floral sprays—arranged with exuberant Baroque fullness. Now mounted on forged iron bases for display, the pair measures 20" high × 28" wide × 3.5" deep, including stands 12.5" x 6" (carvings alone 28" wide × 17" high × 3.5" deep). The Cornucopia in History Originating in antiquity, the cornucopia (Latin cornu copiae) was first associated with Amalthea, the goat who suckled the infant Zeus, whose horn became a miraculous source of nourishment. In Roman culture it was carried by deities of abundance—Fortuna, Abundantia, and Ceres—as an emblem of civic prosperity and the cycles of nature. Revived in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the cornucopia became a favored motif in architecture, painting, and decorative arts, symbolizing divine blessing, seasonal plenty, and the wealth of the natural world. Iconography of the Fruits and Vegetables The profusion of produce is not merely decorative but encodes symbolic meanings rooted in both classical and Christian traditions: Pomegranates—fertility, eternal life, and resurrection. Grapes—festivity, vintage, and the Eucharistic blood of Christ. Melons and Watermelon Slices—sensual abundance, refreshment, and ephemeral pleasure. Pumpkins and Gourds—autumn harvest, transformation, and the cycles of plenty. Corn (Maize)—sustenance and prosperity, reflecting New World influence on European symbolism. Citrus Fruits—health, luxury, and Mediterranean prosperity. Floral Sprays—seasonal beauty and the transience of life, underscoring vanitas themes common in still-life art. This allegorical language aligns the carvings with the broader European tradition of abundance imagery found in still-life painting, silverwork, and architectural ornament. Continental Style and Possible Origin The sculptural density, dramatic overlapping of forms, and naturalistic rendering suggest a Continental origin, likely Austrian, German, or Italian, c. late 19th century. While Swedish decorative carving of the same era tends toward flatter surfaces and folk stylization, these examples embody a more theatrical Baroque and Rococo inheritance, later enhanced with a polychrome or silver-toned surface to heighten their decorative impact. Originally conceived as architectural appliqués...

A Monumental and Fine Pair of French 19th, 20th Century Empire Style Red Porphyry-Like Granite and Gilt-Bronze (Ormolu) Mounted Obelisks on Four Gilt-Bronze Lion Paws both resting on...

Measures: Height : 29 cm (11,4 in.) ; width : 61,5 cm (24,2 in.) ; depth : 55,5 cm (21,8 in.) Total height : 139 cm (54,7 in.) Important pair of rare Greek...

Possibly Beatrice, but likely a Grand Tour bust figure, painted plaster over wood. Marked 921 to verso. Barely a few losses to paint. Enchanting and remarkable bust of a young medieval woman. Grand Tour busts were popular souvenirs for wealthy Europeans, particularly British aristocrats, who traveled around Europe, especially Italy, from the 17th to the 19th centuries. These busts often depicted historical figures, mythological characters, or, as seen here, idealized figures in classical style. The provided search results and image descriptions suggest that this could be a 19th-century polychrome painted plaster cast bust...

This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date. This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlaid with a sumptuous arrangement of semi-precious stones including malachite, agate, onyx and amethyst. It is beautifully inlaid on a slate base. Not only is this desk paperweight very functional, but it is also an exquisite mineralogical wonder that can be admired by all discerning collectors. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation, Dimensions in cm: Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10 Dimensions in inches: Height 1 inch x width 7 inches x depth 4 inches. Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade. The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian. But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)" The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...." Giovanni Montelatici...

Exquisite early 19th century French Empire hand-chiseled ormolu mantel clock. Set on bracket feet and a rectangular base. Above, a superb inset plaque of Psyche and Cupid embracing c...

A monumental pair of neoclassical period, Swedish Porphyry Campagna shaped vases, circa 1810. These magnificent handcrafted urns are carved from the uniquely Swedish Porphyry stone, rest on square plinths. Purchased from Didier Aaron in Paris by Michael Taylor. A vase of this shape based on the Borghese vase in the Louvre is shown in a French catalogue of 1805 advertising porphyry from Elfdal in Sweden (H. Sundblom et al., Porfyr, exhibition catalogue, December 1985-February 1986, p.31). A vase of the same shape and size in Blyberg porphyry...

Decorate a table or a buffet with this colorful baluster vase. Created in China circa 1980, the vase features floral and leaf motifs in the cloisonné technique (decorative work in wh...

French Persian-inspired ceramic bowl by Édouard Cazaux (circa 1930s). Master ceramicist, Édouard Cazaux was inspired by antiquities, religion and animal life in his creations. This m...

A pair of Ming dynasty sancai blue glazed pottery figures. Circa 1500 AD Ming Dynasty I have owned over 250 ming tomb figures including over 80...

A pair of Japanese Meiji Period (1852-1912) bronze altar candlesticks / incense holders with attractive warm brownish red bronze color and patina. Japan, 19th century, diminutive /...

A bronze male torso sculpture presented on a custom stand, its fragmented classical form evoking the timeless beauty of antiquity. The figure, modeled with well-defined musculature a...

While Napoleon's armies never conquered Russian, French taste did, and in a big way. This pair made at the Imperial Glass Workshop, under the Sponsorship of the Imperial Family would have been at home in a Paris drawing room as easily as in St. Petersburg. The Intense Ruby Red color of the Crystal is created by adding large quantities of gold to the molten glass before the object is created. The resulting color is dense yet full of light just like its namesake the precious jewel. The Dore bronze mounts use motifs taken from antiquity. Likewise, the shape of the handles is inspired by Greco-Roman amphora...

Large baluster vase on a separate foot, colorless glass with flaky white, yellow-green and brown colored powder inclusions, overlay in yellow, orange-red, green and brown, rosehip decoration etched in several stages, satin-finished surface in the background and on the inside, large cameo signature 'Daum Nancy' with Cross of Lorraine midway between the plants. Technique: Handmade cameo glass Glass overlaid with several layers, with high-cut worked out motifs. Since the middle of the 19th century, the design has also been done by etching. Cameo glass vessels...

A pair of cast bronze cherubs or putti standing contrapposto on a square red marble base, France, circa late 1800s. Note: These charming cherubic figures were probably used in combi...

Decorate a table or a buffet with this colorful baluster vase. Created in China circa 1980, the vase features floral motifs in the cloisonné technique (decorative work in which ename...

A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Champlevé Enamel Figural Three-Piece Clock Garniture. By Eugène Cornu for the Société des Marbres Onyx d'Algerie, the figure cast fr...

This exceptional Pair of Urnes Vases second parts of the XIXs , Provenance Castle Near the district of Biarritz ! 1. Historical and cultural signifi...

19th Century Pair of Red-Figure Black-Ground Vases, 1810-1850, Italy – Grand Tour Terracotta This exquisite pair of Italian red-figure black-ground vases, dating from circa 1810-185...

Graduated (9" & 7") Pair of Artisan Bronze Garden Balls/Sculptural Spheres, Late 20th Century A striking graduated set of two hand-crafted bronze spheres, one measuring 9 inches in ...

A large 19th century 'Grand Tour' bronze model of Narcissus after the antique. Cast in bronze and finished with a soft light verdigris patina, this finely detailed sculpture depicts...

19th Century Fernando De Luca, After Furietti, Bronze Centaur Sculpture is a fine example of the Grand Tour tradition. Furietti, an Italian sculptor, was known for his skill in creat...

Tang Dynasty Pair of Painted Pottery Lokapalas Tang Dynasty (618-907), Height: 27.25 x 11.5 x 7" each PROVENANCE: Weisbrod Chinese Art, Ltd., New York Condition: Losses and resto...

GRAND TOUR MODEL OF VENUS DE MILO AFTER ANTIQUITY Italian a late 19th to early 20th century copy of the original of Antiquity carved from a single block of Carrara marble unsigne...

A very fine late Yuan to early Ming Chinese terracotta gilt and polychrome painted Buddha figure, he is dressed in thick robes, his hair arranged in ty...

A Rene Lalique molded glass perfume burner: Sirenes. Marcilhac 2651, model introduced 1920. Blue patina, inscribed R. Lalique.

Native silver is among a handful of minerals that have been deemed inherently valuable by mankind since antiquity. In the world of mineral collecting, silver specimens and sulfosalts...

A rare and finely decorated pair of porcelain ice cream pails on stands, The decoration of the vases is outstanding: the four medallions representing neoclassical mythological scenes of Bacchus, Ceres, Ariadne and Europa surrounded by intricate motives "a grottesca" in vibrant colours and raised gilding. Fashionable in antiquity, for example in the Pompeian "Third Style", revisited among others in the Renaissance by Raphael in the Logge Vaticane,  the "grottesche" acquired renewed popularity in the early 1800,  with the extensive decorations for example of Villa Borghese and Palazzo Milzetti in Italy, or the Procuratie Nuove in Venice, formerly the Palazzo Reale. In  in the mid XIX century Vienna, the Historismus movement revisited the idea too, an example is the 1862 decoration of newly built Renaissance Style Museum fur Angewandte Kunst. Our vases are a refined example of fashionable, elegant decoration at work: the ice cream pail was used in the setting up of the dessert display...

Large Martaban Ming dynasty stoneware storage vase with dragons, 14th century. Beautiful Ochoa and yellow-brown glaze with decorated dragons and Ming clouds. Applied snail or dragon ...

Decorate a table or a buffet with this colorful baluster vase. Created in China circa 1980, the vase sits on a carved ebonized wood stand and features floral motifs on branches in th...

An 18th-century French carved marble mortar, rich with history and softened by centuries of use, its surface worn smooth with a patina that only 250 years of culinary tradition could...

Near Pair of Chinese Archaic bronze Gu vases. 18th century Late Ming Period, Measures: Height: 11.4 inches. Diameter: 6.4 Inches Condition: Very good with ...

A vintage Japanese two-tiered candelabra with eight arms and verdigris patina. Immerse yourself in the serene elegance of Japanese design with this vintage two-tiered candelabra, a piece that marries the aesthetics of Japan with the timeless beauty of traditional lighting. This candelabra, featuring eight arms and a captivating verdigris patina, is a testament to the craftsmanship and understated elegance of vintage Japanese décor...

Decorative ceramic dish by Édouard Cazaux (circa 1950s). Master ceramicist, Édouard Cazaux, was inspired by antiquities, religion and animal life in his creations. This beautifully d...

A Fine Italian 19th Century Bronze Bust Figure of Il Filosofo (The Philosopher), cast from a model by Vincenzo Gemito, depicting an elder bearded man with a straight gaze, fitted on ...

Realized between 1368AD-1644 AD, this stunning documented horse figurine was realized in China during the Ming period. Executed using a Sacai glaze, the sculpture offers a cream colo...

Delicate Art Nouveau cameo vase of the early 20th century: Baluster-shaped stem vase with bulbous base on a stand ring with long, slender, curved neck, colorless glass with flaky whi...

A Very Fine and Charming Italian Late 19th to early 20th-Century Carrara Marble Sculpture Group Titled “The Village Celebration” by Professor Antonio Garella (Italian, 1863-1919). The intricately, impressive and exceptionally carved statuary marble group depicting a dancing and singing group of Italian villagers, dancing and singing in a lively embrace, holding hands and arms. The joyful scene includes a figure playing an accordion, another holding a wicker basket, and a hunter with a rifle slung over his back, accompanied by his hunting dog. The sculpture is elegantly mounted on a swiveling, carved green marble pedestal. Signed: Profre A. Garella – Galleria P. Bazzanti, Firenze. Circa: Florence, 1900. Antonio Giuseppe Garella (1863–1919) was an Italian sculptor renowned for his work in marble, alabaster, and bronze during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Ferrara (some sources cite Bologna), he trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and in Bologna before establishing himself in Florence, where he became a prominent figure in the city’s artistic community. Often referred to as "Professor Antonio Garella," he was closely associated with the Galleria P. Bazzanti, a prestigious hub for sculpture sales and exhibitions. Garella’s career spanned the fin-de-siècle period, blending neoclassical influences with romantic, narrative themes inspired by everyday Italian life and classical antiquity. His sculptures, known for their intricate carving and emotional expressiveness, include lively portrayals, as seen in The Village Celebration. Other notable works include The Love Letter, a white marble figure of a young woman reading, evoking tender emotion; La Notte (The Night), a nude sculpture of a flying maiden above an orb; Diane of Gabii, a life-size marble inspired by classical antiquity; and Apollo and Daphne, a large marble sculpture modeled after Gianlorenzo Bernini’s 17th-century masterpiece in the Borghese Villa, Rome. In Apollo and Daphne, drawn from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Garella captures the myth of the chaste nymph Daphne, pursued by the young god Apollo, who is bewitched by Cupid to fall in love with her. As Daphne prays to her river-god father to escape Apollo’s advances, she transforms into a laurel tree. Garella, like Bernini, sensitively carves Daphne’s feet and hands morphing into leaves and branches, while Ovid notes that Apollo can still feel her heart beating beneath the bark. Garella’s monumental commissions further highlight his prominence, including a 1904 statue of Garibaldi in Pistoia and two statues, L’Architettura and La Musica, for the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument in Rome. Though not as celebrated as Antonio Canova (1757–1822), Garella significantly contributed to Florence’s marble sculpture tradition, bridging academic styles with emerging 20th-century trends and influencing decorative arts. His masterpieces, often crafted through ateliers like Galleria P. Bazzanti, remain highly valued in European and American private collections, with limited auction records due to their scarcity in the antiques trade market. Related Literature: A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori italiani, Turin, 2003, vol. I. Museums: • Museo Civico di Prato (Prato Civic Museum) - Prato, Italy Ritratto di Filippino Lippi (Portrait of Filippino Lippi) Bronze and marble bust portraying the Renaissance painter Filippino Lippi (1457–1504), reflecting Garella's skill in portraiture and historical homage. • Fondazione Sgarbi (Sgarbi Foundation; a private cultural institution with museum-like functions, focused on art collections) - Ro Ferrarese, Italy Saffo (Sappho) Polymaterial bust (likely marble and other media) depicting the ancient Greek poet Sappho, emphasizing classical themes. • Muzeum Palac-Herbsta – Łódź, Poland...

A dynamic, life-sized marble bust of a Roman in a toga with a leopard’s head clasp, raised on a variegated grey socle. Mid-19th century. This impressive antique bust of an - as yet to be identified - Roman, is in good condition. Some tentative comparisons have been made to Caracalla, also known as Antoninus. Possibly a ''Grand Tour'' item. The Grand Tour was an extended excursion to the Continent undertaken by English gentlemen...

A finely crafted Ancient Apulian Magna Graecia Bell Krater, dating to c. 350 BC, used as a wine mixing bowl in classical antiquity. This red-figure pottery vessel features twin handl...

A pair of elegant Grand Tour candlesticks crafted from golden travertine marble and richly adorned with patinated bronze mounts. The stems feature engraved Egyptian Revival friezes d...

A Pair of Chinese Enameled Sancai Glazed Pottery Attendant Figures Representing Dignitaries. Ming Dynasty Period. Circa 1600AD Dimensions; 23 x 5.5 x 5.25 inches (58.4 x 13.7 x 13.3 ...

Well rendered depiction of Icarus, in brown stained terracotta on an angular stone base. Statue is signed but it is difficult to interpret the signature. It appears to be "Faffa Ales...

A part of a captivating new line blending ancient Greek pottery with contemporary design, the ‘Chyrta’ vase showcases delicate blue underglaze illustrations and ribbons that harmoniz...

This is a superb antique Grand Tour patinated bronze figure of Narcissus, dating from the last quarter of the 19th Century. Narcissus was a hunter in Greek mythology and he was di...

Khadim Diop, the Senegalese artist renowned for his bronze sculptures that adorn many private collections worldwide, has crafted two captivating and expressive pieces that showcase his mastery of the medium, a rare find in the market outside Africa! The first sculpture portrays a dynamic figure playing the Djembe drum...

19th Century Roman Revival Vase Grand Tour Amphora Style, After Thomas Hope This 19th-century amphora-style vase is a superb example of Roman Reviv...

Known as the ‘Augustus of Prima Porta,’ the original bronze version of this sculpture was created c. 20 BCE. That original has been lost since antiquity but is known today from a mar...

This strikingly large chondrite meteorite featuring dramatic thumb-print impressions (regmaglypts) and a lustrous surface, is a rare and oriented natural sculpture from outer space....

This striking fossilised wood cross-section, dating to the Miocene epoch (23-5 million years ago) and featuring paint-like streaks of greens, blues and browns, is a beautiful natural history specimen and impactful display piece. This is a magnificent example of the results of permineralisation, a process through which buried wood tissue, permeated by minerals transported in water, can transform into vibrant fossils. This particular example has fossilised over a copper deposit, resulting in the bright inclusions of copper minerals that manifest as impressive streaks of blue, green and red. This distinctive colouration is unique to Colla wood...

Bring the timeless elegance of classical antiquity into your space with this sculptural female torso, inspired by Greco-Roman art traditions. In art history, a torso refers to a scul...

A part of a captivating new line blending ancient Greek pottery with contemporary design, the ‘Artemis - Blue’ vase showcases delicate blue underglaze illustrations of a face that ha...

Italian Fossil Marble (Lumachella) Specimen Stone Box, Circa 1960s Two pieces, Lid and and Base This sculptural Italian specimen marble box dates to the circa 1960s and is crafted ...

A rare and impressive pair of large vases from Bitossi’s short-lived “Archaeological Series”, produced in the early 1980s. These pieces feature the distinctive scavo finish, expertly...

A part of a captivating triptych blending ancient Greek pottery with contemporary design, the ‘Greek [L]’ vase showcases delicate blue underglaze illustrations that harmonize traditi...