15th Century and Earlier Furniture

Pre Columbian Mezcala Stone Pendant Axe god Figure Ancient Mexico Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico, Guerrero region, Mezcala culture, ca. 600 to 100 BCE A  abstract serpentine figur...

The lamp shaped as a kneeling female figure wearing long robes, her face with a large nose, deep-set eyes and pronounced cheeks, holding an infant in her lap, her cylindrical and elo...

Weight: 207.32 Gram Dimension: 8.2 x 6.7 x 3.2 Cm Origin: Afghanistan Aquamarine is a pale-blue to light-green variety of beryl. The color of aquamarine can be changed by heat. Aqu...

A late Gothic limestone gargoyle water spout. Original iron bracket in central gutter. Stunning hairline cracking in stone due to old age. Perfect o...

Pre Columbian Sican Lambayeque Stirrup whistle Vessel A most interesting stirrup whistle vessel of a man seated on top of a raft of storage vessel, the vessel features a conical sp...

Ancient Holy Land Iron Age Pottery Jug c.1000 BC. Fine large pottery footed jug with loop type handle, etched lines at shoulder. Iron Age from the time of King David. Provenance: E...

The upper section of the vessel is broad and flat, intended to support a candle or an oil lamp, while the stem and base are robust, designed for stability and durability. The surface...

Large and small two-handled jars, pitchers, bowls, and beakers are the most common forms produced during the Machang phase of the Majiayao (or Gansu Yangshao) culture. The decorative...

This complete cross-sectional slice from the Imilac meteorite has been prepared to reveal shimmering olivine and peridot gems embedded in an iron-nick...

Rock crystal vessels were highly demanded and valuable in Medieval times. Inventories from European royal houses and the highest aristocratic families detail the important and sophisticated collections of ewers and bowls. Rock crystal has also been used extensively in religious art. Fine European reliquaries were also made of Rock Crystal including gems, enamel and other precious materials. The work of rock crystal is very ancient. The materials has been worked and valued for its solidity and its purity: it has been believed to be water ice permanently frozen. Our superb example is a gold-mounted rock crystal bowl with enamel. The items origin is not clear and various features and characteristics may lead us to think of different origins and periods of creation. A single piece of stone mounted with gold could be a Milanese work. Although the cut could be French as similar pieces belonged to the French royalty (especially the art lover Duc de Berry, (1340-1416)). French and Italian crystal cutters have been active at the same time and it is often difficult to differentiate their works. Islamic art also influenced European artists. The famous Fatimid treasury provided examples of their sophistication and quality. The seven ewers carved for the Fatimid Imans (known as "The Magnificent Seven") display impressive quality of both rock crystal and enamelled mounts. Even though not identical to works by French silversmith Jean-Valentin Morel who was appointed goldsmith to Queen Victoria in 1852 or Reinhold Vasters (1927-1909) another renown German goldsmith who embellished older rock crystal items, there are similarities between these works. Both reduce their use of colour to black and white on pure gold mounts. Moreover the black enamel design is quite similar. Also, no gems are included and no human figure is represented. Sotherby's described our bowl as a "German Rock crystal bowl with later gold mounts, 15th century." Other items from the period from Germany or Austria are usually silver mounted and the decorations are more colourful and include gems or human figures but they have in common enamel motifs. In our case, the gold foot, handles and rim could date from the 1900s. An expert has established the foot, handles and rim are pure gold. The goldsmith responsible for the improvement of the bowl is possibly the most famous Reinhold Vasters whose work has been displayed in the greatest museums such as the V&A in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Rock Crystal bowl we have is gold mounted. The gold shows in enamelled details that are black and white. The gold handles are also enamelled with black acanthus-like leaves. The enamelling method could be "champleve" or "painting metal". The metal that is usually preferred is copper but these techniques are also applied to gold. The bowl itself could be from the 14th century. It's cut reminds of an estimated 14th century rock crystal ball bearing the Buoncompagni family arms...

A pair of very refined standing pottery statue of guardians, dramatic facial expression, beautiful detail, early Tang dynasty 618-907, come with one Oxford authentication TL test cer...

South Arabian Alabaster Inscription Calcite Alabaster circa 1st century A.D. ‘’Consequently, neither white marble of Paros nor any other stone which men admire can be compared with the precious stones of Arabia, since their whiteness is most brilliant, their weight the heaviest, and their smoothness leaves no room for other stones to surpass them.’’ - Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Book II, 52.9 This inscription, finely worked on an alabaster tablet, is a remarkably well preserved example of Ancient South Arabian script, with its distinct bold, angular forms, written in the Qatabanic dialect - that is, the dialect spoken by the people of the kingdom of Qataban, which ruled much of modern day Yemen from the 7th Century B.C. to the 2nd Century A.D. The text, which reads: ‘[... ...]sa?d and Ma?add?i- / (of the lineage) of Hawfa- / She entrusted Anb- / against any malfeasance (which would remove it) from its place’ - indicates that it likely served to commemorate a temple offering. The quality of the script, incised so neatly into the surface of the alabaster, tells us that this piece was commissioned by somebody of considerable wealth and prestige, employing a scribe of equally considerable expertise. South Arabia was known throughout the ancient world for its incredible wealth - so much so that the Romans termed the region ‘Arabia Felix’ - literally, ‘Happy, or Fortunate, Arabia.’ That wealth was built largely on the trade of spices and incense, in which the Kingdom of Qataban played a major part. According to Pliny the Elder, this was the sole country through which frankincense could be exported, first being collected in the city of Shabwa, on the South Arabian coast, and from there travelling by camel up to Gaza, to be shipped all across the Mediterranean - not only that, but all growers of myrrh across Arabia were required to give a quarter of their yield to the king of the Qatabanians. As such, the kingdom became exceedingly rich and powerful, and Pliny goes on to tell us that ‘The nations of the Larendani and the Catabani, and the Gebanitæ [...] occupy a great number of towns, the largest of which are Nagia, and Thomna (the capital of Qataban) with sixty-five temples, a number which fully bespeaks its size.’ Because of the nature of its exports, frankincense in particular - the ‘sweat of of the gods’ according to the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and perhaps most famous as one of the three gifts brought to the newborn Christ - being closely associated with the divine, South Arabia’s reputation in antiquity was as a mysterious, almost sacred, and - crucially - extraordinarily wealthy region, at the very edge of the known world; in the words of Herodotus: ‘’Enough of marvels, and yet the land of Arabia gives off a scent as sweet as if divine.’’ This inscription invokes the protection of god Anbay, the judge-oracle of the chief god ‘Amm, who he served as an attendant. Much of what we know of the religious life of the ancient South Arabians comes to us from early Islamic texts, describing what is known in Islamic scholarship as ‘Jahiliyyah’ - the age before the advent of Islam in Arabia. What comes across in much of these texts is that these religious practices placed a great deal of emphasis on sacred stones, perhaps linked to the brilliance of the alabaster which is local to the region, and which a great many of the cult-objects produced in this time are made from. Hisham ibn-Al-Kalbi’s Book of Idols records: ‘’The Arabs were passionately fond of worshipping idols [...] Whenever a traveller stopped at a place or station in order to rest or spend the night, he would select for himself four stones, pick out the finest among them and adopt it as his god, and use the remaining three as supports for his cooking-pot.’’ This inscription was once in the collection of the intrepid British-Australian travel...

This large 5" high megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old from South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the most massive predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 ...

Pair polished matching set of two ammonites newly mounted on custom steel stands. One measures 5" diameter and 6" tall One measures 5" diameter and 7" tall Stands measure 3.5" x 1.5"...

Presenting an exquisite 15th-century Flamboyant Gothic oak panel from the Southern Netherlands (Flanders). This remarkable piece, featuring a beautiful patina, was originally part of...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

Stoneware decorated with Persian-style colors and patterns, and it is highly likely that this Annamese pottery intended for export was produced to meet Middle Eastern demand. Dates ...

A very large cabinet pyrite and calcite specimen originating from Madagascar, displayed on one of our exclusive museum-quality painted plaster bases. Naturally formed over millions ...

A very large cabinet natural quartz specimen originating from Madagascar and presented on an exclusive painted plaster display plinth. This superb mineral is a stunning and unique sp...

A rare, naturally occurring witherite plate specimen from Settlingstones Mine in Northumberland UK, presented on an exclusive medium size painted plaster display plinth. Originally w...

A naturally occurring blue-green botryoidal chrysocolla mineral specimen, originating from Kalukuluku in Congo and presented on one of our exclusive painted plaster display plinths. ...

This exquisite specimen features a stunning Vanadinite crystal from Morocco. The Vanadinite showcases vibrant red-orange hues, characteristic of this mineral, and is of a substantial...

A monumental collection of 48 pre-Columbian hand-built pottery heads and bust artifacts. Possibly deriving from West Mexico, Michoacan or Chupicuaro. Although primitive, the carving ...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

A Chinese earthenware painted pot, Neolithic period, Yangshao culture, circa 3000 BC. Unique all black with cowrie decoration. 11 ¼ inches wide by 9 ½ inches deep by 5 ¾ inches tall

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

Our antique Shiwan ware flambe-glazed prunus vase with flowering branches and unglazed foot is signed on underside with what appears to be a mark of the Song dynasty. In very good c...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

Statues of Chinese dignitaries crafted from terracotta, featuring glazes in green and ocher, are set on rectangular bases. The wide-sleeved robes and craftsmanship, along with the cy...

This is a gu and is one of the earliest shapes used for holding wine. Cylindrical form with a wide trumpet mouth. Dimensions: 10.375"H x 4.5"W x 4.5"D From a Manhattan estate. Pro...

The face with downcast eyes and a smile, the hair swept up behind the pendulous ears into a high topknot. Faint traces of pigmentation hinting at the sculpture's original polychromy....

Late Roman to Early Byzantine, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A rare and beautiful amulet of a generally circular form with a flat bottom, a raised periphery, and an integral suspension loop, mo...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

Well potted with shallow sides rising from a short foot, the interior molded with a single chrysanthemum surrounded by peony blossoms picked out in yellow and with green leaves again...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

Tang Dynasty Full Set Of Painted Pottery Zodiac Figures (TL tested) The Thermoluminescence Report (Item #185404) will accompany this sale. A Rare Set of Chinese Pottery Zodiac Figu...

Late Roman to Early Byzantine, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A rare and beautiful amulet of a generally circular form with a flat bottom, a raised periphery, and an integral suspension loop, mo...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

This huge megalodon tooth is five to ten million years old out of South Carolina, USA. The megalodon was the biggest predatory shark to ever live. Reaching lengths of 70 feet or more...

A Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...

Attributed to Pietro di Galeotto (1450-1483) Saint Roch Oil on panel 43,5 x 24,5 (cadre moderne) Expertise and attribution by Art Historian Alessandro Del Priori The small panel dep...

A Large Chinese Pottery Mythical Creature Figure from the Han Dynasty China. Western Han Dynasty Circa 25 - 220 TL tested estimated age 1800 years old (+/- 200) by Artemis Testing ...

Large and small two-handled jars, pitchers, bowls, and beakers are the most common forms produced during the Machang phase of the Majiayao (or Gansu Yangshao) culture. The decorative...

Banded Iron Fossil Formation Circa 2.9 Billion y/o This spectacular banded iron formation from Port Hedland, Western Australia, provides evid...

Statues of Chinese horse and rider, featuring glazes in green, amber, are set on rectangular bases. Period: Ming Dynasty Medium: Green-glazed Pottery Type: Figure Provenance : Ac...

Very beautiful statuette of a Nuraghic warrior dating from 18 century before J-C. The warrior rests on a hollow base. He carries in his right hand a weapon, surely a knife, and in his left hand a shield decorated with a four-petal flower. He is wearing a headdress decorated with two horns. This statuette was realized in bronze by a technique of casting of "lost wax" (a process of precision), and carries a label in the hollow base: "bronzetto nuragico guerriero" (bronze nuragic "warrior"). The Nuraghic culture makes its appearance in Sardinia, in the age of bronze...

A collection of museum minerals in a display case. Presented in a sleek glazed case, the collection includes 38 European minerals, including amethyst and pyrite, all with their own s...

Statues of Chinese dignitaries crafted from terracotta, featuring glazes in blue and ocher, are set on rectangular bases. The wide-sleeved robes and craftsmanship, along with the cyl...

A Pre columbian Moche portrait Vessel A vessel modelled on a Amazonian native American Indian, a personage with a grimacing face perhaps a prisoner the shaved head and fringe is typ...