18th Century Carved Wood Drapery Headboard-

This large and attractive architectural piece is known as a pulpit canopy. Before the advent of microphones and speakers, orators would often address assemblies from elevated platforms known as “wine glass pulpits”. These podiums featured domed roofs called abat-voix, sometimes known as sounding boards, that would project sound outwards. Our walnut wood pulpit canopy is a fine example of such a device. Hand-carved and hand-painted in Italy in the 1700’s, our abat-voix is roughly octagonal in shape. Each of the sides have edges with luxuriously thick step molding, alternating between stained and gilded wood. Each of the corner cornices are adorned with gilded flower carvings, although some are missing. The interior of the canopy features a gilded open sun with sinuous rays emanating all around. Each of the sides are adorned with foliate margents surrounded by scrolls, again with some losses. All the edges are bordered with a thin layer of gilding. Although our fascinating 18th century Italian walnut pulpit canopy was designed for a church pulpit...

Beaux-Arts architecture was taught at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, starting in the 1830s and ran into the late 1800’s. Beaux-Arts design leaned towards a sculptural decoration ...

An 18th century architectural gilded and painted wood bracket with carved angel and pine cone finial.

Japanese 18th century carved wood architectural panel.

An Italian carved-wood pediment fragment, with its original finish, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique wall ornament from Italy...

An Italian wooden entryway or doorway casement from the 18th century. This antique architectural piece from Italy is an interior doorway casin...