Arma Christi Calvary, France 19th Century

Superb and rare Arma Christi calvary, popular work, France end of the 19th century. Beautifully executed work. Fair condition. Several small misses and ancient restaurations. See...

Superb church altar candlestick of the Romantic period. Decorations in gold leaf and blue and white enamel of flowers, fleur-de-lys (symbol of the French royal house) and rams at the...

Superb pair of 19th century Christofle Rococo/Rocaille/Louis XV silver-plated candelabra. Very good condition. Oxidation. Dimensions in cm ( H x D ) : 46 x 33 Secure shipping

Stunning and rare Omani tribal necklace in gold and silver featuring eight Burgau thalers dated 1780. 19th century. Very good condition. Preserved and professionally framed. Dimensions of the necklace: 52 x 30 x 3 Dimensions of the frame: 70 x 47 x 5 Secure shipping. This fine Omani necklace of silver and gold comprises two strands of spiky, seed pod-like silver beads; gold-wrapped beads; eight silver Maria Theresa thaler coins; and a large silver and gold amulet box, with multiple chain tassels each of which finishes with a square-shaped pendant cut from sheet silver. The cigar-shaped amulet box called hirz would have contained some Koranic verse or religious text. Such a spectacular display of wealth would only have been worn at times of important festivities such as marriage celebrations. Maria Theresa thalers were made in Austria since the reign of Empress Maria Theresa of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empress died in 1780 and since that time, all thalers that were subsequently struck were minted with that date regardless of the actual year that they were produced. The coins achieved such a level of trust for their silver content (which is 83.3% silver) in the Middle East that neither the design not the date was varied, and so for more than 200 years the coins were used as an international currency among the tribes and the states of the Middle East, in much the same way as the Spanish dollar was used as an international currency at the time elsewhere. The thalers were used to complete most important transactions locally and were also given as dowries. They were also an important source of silver and were melted locally for jewellery. The coins made their way to the ports of the Red Sea, Egypt and northern Africa from the ports of Genoa, Trieste, Livorno and Marseille. European traders used the coins to buy precious materials from the Gulf and northern Africa which it desired – commodities such as spices, coffee, gum Arabic, indigo, pearls, and tortoise shell. The importance and the beauty of the coins saw them incorporated into local jewellery most particularly in Oman and Yemen. References Al-Jadir, S., Arab & Islamic Silver, Stacey International, 1981. Harrigan, P., ‘Tales of a Thaler’, Saudi Aramco World, January/February 2003. Hawley, R., Omani Silver, Longman, 1978. Hawley, R., Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman, Stacey International, 2000. Rajab, J.S., Silver Jewellery of Oman, Tareq Rajab Museum, 1998. Ransom, M., Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba: Regional Yemeni Jewelry...

Superb small ashtray in gilt bronze with intricately carved decorations of roses by Paul Louchet (1854-1936), France Romantic/Art Nouveau Period late 19th century. Signed "Louchet Ci...

Magnificent antique crucifix representation of Christ on the cross in cloisonné arabesque shaped enamel and gilt bronze by the Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry. On a wood backdrop and a...

19th Century French Bread Board

19th Century French Bread Board

19th Century French Bread Board

19th Century French Bread Board

19th Century French Bread Board

19th Century French Bread Board