Sculptures

A Chinese Procession Ornament dating from the Liao Dynasty, from 907 to 1125 AD. The Liao Dynasty, also known as the Khitan Empire, was an empire in northern China that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper. It was founded by the Yelu family of the Khitan people in the final years of the Tang Dynasty, even though its first ruler, Yelu Abaoji, did not declare an era name until 916. The Liao Empire was destroyed by the Jurchen of the Jin Dynasty in 1125. However, remnants of its people led by Yelu Dashi established the Xi (or Western) Liao Dynasty 1125 - 1220, also known as Kara - Khitan Khanate, which survived until the arrival of Genghis Khan...

This amusing naturalistic sculpture in silver-plated pewter was probably made in the 17th century by Georg Schweigger. Inspired by a model created by another Nuremberg sculptor, Peter Flötner, it bears witness to the persistence during the baroque era of the naturalistic taste that emerged in the Renaissance. Intended as an ornament for some Kunstkammer, or cabinet of curiosities, this sculpture was a great success, as can be seen from the presence of similar works in many European museums. 1. Georg Schweigger Georg Schweigger was a baroque sculptor and medal founder from Nuremberg, known mainly for his small-scale works in stone, carved wood and cast metal. His only large-scale work, the Neptune Fountain, has been in the Petershof Palace, the summer residence of the Tsars near St. Petersburg, since 1797. This monumental sculpture demonstrates his taste for the representation of movement, which we find in this small piece, inspired, as we shall see, by earlier models. 2. The success of a naturalistic theme As is often the case in the history of art, the source of the Dog scratching his ear theme probably comes from an engraving, and more precisely from one made in Strasbourg in 1480 or in Aschaffenburg in 1481 by the Master of the Housebook, an anonymous engraver working in southern Germany at the end of the 15th century. This engraving seems to have been Peter Flötner’s (1490 - 1546) source of inspiration. Peter Flötner was a sculptor and engraver who settled in Nuremberg in 1522. The Louvre Museum also has a gilded lead statuette dated between 1500 and 1515 (on deposit at the Musée de L'Œuvre in Strasbourg), which in turn is thought to have served as a model for other known statuettes. This model was later taken up by the Frenchman Barthélemy Prieur...

Antique white marble statuary sculpture depicting Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), the Austrian archduchess who would become the wife of King Louis XVI and the last queen of France. Hi...

PORTRAIT HEAD OF A GIRL Rome, circa 2nd/3rd century A.D. Marble height 18.4 cm height 7 1/4 in Provenance: Sotheby's, London, May 23rd, 1988, no. 240,...

Description: A Flemish Statue of Crowned Virgin Mary with Child Jesus, 17th Century, polychromed wood, silver crowns Statue: Crowned Madonna and Child Object Type: Statuette Artist, Sculptor / Creator: Unknown Place of Origin: Flanders Period: 17th Century Style: Renaissance Materials and Techniques: Polychromed wood, Silver Categories: Christianity Dimensions: H. 55 cm D. 15 cm W. 19 cm History: The Madonna and Child is one of the most easily recognisable, most frequently produced themes in the history of Art and has been depicted by many famous artists, including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael. The word Madonna is derived from the Italian 'ma donna,' or 'my lady' and is used to describe Mary, the mother of Christ. The Madonna and Child depict a loving mother and son, which is a symbol of hope, faith, and love and represents the love and bond between mother and child, and is a symbol of hope and protection. Purity or virginity is represented by the color of clothing of Madonna. The color blue symbolises purity, virginity, and royalty. Physical Description: A magnificent 17th Century statue in polychromed wood of standing Madonna and Child. Virgin Mary is holding a small staff that is often shown in the hands of a king or queen. In Her left arm She is holding Her Son, Jesus Christ who is holding the World in His left hand to show that He is our Heavenly king on Earth and His Mother is our Queen. She wears a tight fitting golden dress with blue sleeves; over this is a blue mantle; Her mantle is lined red and is with an ochre gold border. The flesh is painted in natural colours and Her long hair lies over both shoulders. The Child Jesus wears a blue long sleeves dress...

Sitting Madonna Central Italy/Tuscany or Marche Around 1420 Poplar wood carved Original version Height 31 cm Charming Madonna sculpture from the heyday of the Soft or International...

Carved and painted wooden sculpture - Pietà - Italy, 18th century. 13 x 7 x h 22.5 cm. Entirely made of carved and polychrome painted wood. Condition report: Good state of conserv...

In celebration of the Year of the Rabbit, Hunt Slonem’s iconic muse is revisited in timeless powder-coated aluminum. Each edition is signed, numbered, and comes with a certificate of...

Virgin and Child Franco-Spanish sculptor from the Catalan/Pyrenean area Late Middle Ages, 13th-14th century Carved oak, flat back Height: 67 cm Fascinating and rare wooden sculpt...

This artwork is described beautifully by Art critic and curator Salvatore Russo at an exhibition in Uffizi Gallery, Florence 2016 - "Barry Davies, a sculptor able to state the streng...

Oak with marble top Height: 55 inches (86.25 cm) Width: 55 inches (140 cm) Provenance Château de Mareil Le Guyon This commode is available to view at our gallery on Cecil Court. J...

ITALIAN MEDIEVAL CAPITAL Italy, 12th/13th Century marble 19 x 23 x 23 cm 7 1/2 x 9 x 9 in total height 31 cm (12 1/4 in)

Paranthropus Robustus. An early man (hominid), one of the Australopiths from the subepochs of the early to middle Pleistocene period 2.6 - 1.5 million years ago. Some distinctive fea...

A fine and rare early barbers pole in original polychrome paint finish. Turned in one piece. A decorative and original piece of folk art. The white was for bandages, red for blood an...

The images of this sculpture are of a larger original than the scaled down version for sale here. This sword was a gift from Zeus to Perseus to defeat the gorgon Medusa. Davies desig...

This white tailed sea eagle is depicted here on a rock on the shore of a remote wild Scottish Isle (Outer Hebrides). Hiding beneath the rock is a brown crab...

Davies designed this urn by drawing on extensive research culminating in adopting classical elements from Graeco-Roman antiquity. It's elegant shape is subtly embellished with a Roma...

Lovely pair of heads of small cherubs carved in white Carrara marble. The chubby faces adorned with admirable hair with abundant tight and deep curls with a quiff on the forehead. Th...

Virgin of the Annunciation Burgundy, cercle of Claus de Werve (Haarlem? - Dijon, 1439) Early 15th century Walnut carved in the round Hight: 60 cm The Virgin Mary stands, her right ...

They may be damaged and battered, but real historic objects will always give you a sense of awe. Can you sense it, looking at this ancient carved granite which depicts, as it is call...

Perseus was in Greek mythology the son of Zeus and Danae, founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for King Polydectes and saved Andromeda from th...

Xiphactinus (higher classification Ichthyodectidae) lived during the late Cretaceous period 90 - 65 million years ago.It was a predatory fish weighing approximately 1000lbs and measu...

St. Jerome 347 Stridon, Croatia - 420 Bethlehem Around 1500/20 Limestone Remains of the original polychromy Height 45 cm The man with the holy name! 347 Stridon, Croation – 420 Be...

Natural 7 kilos mesosiderite meteorite specimen space stone certified with certificate available

This neo-classical style sculpture is of Perseus the son of Zues and Danae is ordered by King Polydectes to slay the gorgon Medusa. With the gift of a polished shield from Athena, a ...

This artwork emulates the classical statues from the ancient world, particularly with the head broken off at the base of the neck if carved in marble. In fact I went to the lengths o...

What is unique about this artwork is the grace and elegance of the greyhound but designed in a most difficult stance frought with technical challenges. Yet the result offers a stance...

Standing angel with banner Flemish Around 1450/60 Sandstone 60 x 21 x 15 cm This museum figurine shows a standing angel with a banner in his right hand and a small box in his left. The youthful, ageless figure wears a coat held together with a triangular, floral brooch in front of the chest over a long robe. The angel’s gaze is directed forward, his head tilted slightly to the left. The elongated face is sculpted: the large almond-shaped eyes with accentuated upper and lower eyelids are alertly open and sharp eyebrows lead directly into the root of the nose. The straight nose above the pronounced mouth completes the idealized oval face of the angel and his calm, internalized facial expression. What is particularly remarkable, however, is the magnificent curls, which are only partially tamed by a simple headband. As if puffed up by the wind, the hair, which is sometimes streaked in parallel, sometimes wildly twisted and richly curled, stands out dynamically from the ears. The tilted head with these sideways protruding waves of hair thus conveys an immediate impression of movement. The physicality of the sculpture is expressed particularly through this organic, lifelike movement of the loosened hair. The lively overall impression of the figure is further enhanced by the multiple rolled banners that the angel presents to the viewer. The outstretched palm of the right hand appears both intimate and confidential as well as mystically revealing. This banderole winds in gentle curves in front of the figure’s body, throws a fold over the second attribute in the angel’s left hand and falls downwards in a loose manner. The volute-shaped rolled up end of the banner clearly shows the fine texture of the banner and at the same time draws the viewer’s attention to the small cube-shaped box that the angel is holding in its slender, long-limbed fingers. The cube is decorated with a Gothic quatrefoil motif, which is often seen in the architectural tracery of windows, but was also often used to decorate caskets and other small treasures. The sweeping gestures in the presentation of the attributes suggest three-dimensionality, in contrast to the tubular folds at the base of the neck and the intricate draperies in flat and multiple overlapping garment sections. The soft curves of the folds give the impression that the clothing is made of a heavy fabric that falls diagonally down the front and is laid in several bowl folds under the right hand. Overall, the sculptural work testifies to the highest artistic skill, which emphasizes the virtuosity of sculpture in its precious and representative overall impression. The memorable characteristics recognizable here can be seen in comparable pictorial works from Utrecht around the middle of the 15th century, when sculptural art – especially stone sculpture – was characterized by a remarkably high quality. Particularly noteworthy is the accentuated Utrecht head type with an elongated oval face, almond-shaped eyes with heavy lids and dense, vividly protruding tufts of hair framing the head. For example, the figure is comparable to a capital of an angel on the east side of the rood screen of the Joriskerk in Amersfoort (province of Utrecht) from the second quarter of the 15th century. Not only the physiognomy and hair, which in the comparative example stand somewhat more horizontally to one side, but also the garment puff above the girdle are similar. Even more related motifs, such as the cleverly placed bowl folds, can be found on the limestone figure...

OUTSTANDING MADONNA Bavaria Around 1515/20 Lime wood carved Original, polychrome version Height 60 cm This masterfully carved, full-round Madonna was created around 1515-20 in...

Antique Neapolitan shepherd depicting rustic. The sculpture features wooden hands and feet with a terracotta head and crystal eyes according to the Neapolitan nativity tradition. T...

Antique Venetian Blackmoor sculpture Venice, early 18th century Carved, lacquered and gilded wood Height 155 cm. Good overall condition, old repainting Original wooden sculpture d...

Antique carved and polychromed wax portrait of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Attributed to Isaac Gosset (British 1713-1799). In the original frame. Inscribed ...

Late 18th Century Bronze Sculpture after the Farnese Hercules Grand Tour bronze with a fine encrusted patination on a later wooden base 16 in. h., overall 12.5 in. h., bronze 3.5 in...

Laocoön and his Sons Italian Bronze Group after Agesander, Polydorus and Anthenodorus Late 18th Century “The greatest piece of art in the world.” - Michelangelo, Italian sculptor, p...

18th Century Continental School Bronze Sculpture of Aphrodite, c. 18th Century 25-3/4 in. h. x 11 in. w. x 9 in. d., without Base 1-1/4...

Melanie Sherman Vintage Peacock III (Wall Piece/Dish (handpainted) Porcelain, Glaze, Overglaze, Chinapaints, 24k German Gold Luster, Brass Wire (for hanging, can be removed) Year: 20...

Sculpted in walnut wood In Germany the use of walnut was quite rare, in some cities in Northern Germany such as Lüneberg and Hamburg the use of walnut was allowed by gild regulation...

A superb Han Dynasty pair of terra cotta figures, a horse with its attendant, in superb condition. Ex. Hamrick collection, New Orleans. They purchased...

Head of apostle or Christ in carved limestone. Elongated face with a large forehead and long hair with thick wavy locks on the sides. The almond-shaped eyes are underlined by the hem...

Provenance: - via Stefano Bardini purchased in 1896 by Prince Johannes II of Liechtenstein; - Stadtpalais, Vienna, 1906; - Gartenpalais, Rossau, Vienna, 1912; - Stadtpalais, Vienna,...

Pair of scagliola sculptures - Dancers (from Canova). Italy, 19th-20th century. h 81 x 30 x 30 cm. Entirely in glazed terracotta. The sculptures take inspiration from the original...

English Delftware blue and white plate, painted with a flower and bird design Diameter: 8 3/4 inches (22.25 cm) Delftware is also known as Delft Blue, was originally a general term ...

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE CAPITAL WITH MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURES, 15th Century marble H 18 x Diam 33.5 cm H 7 x Diam 13 1/4 in

LARGE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE MARBLE CAPITAL Florence, 15th/16th Century marble 38 x 47 x 47 cm 15 x 18 1/2 x 18 1/2 in

Sculpted in limewood We'd like to thank dr. Michael Rief for his advice. This sculpture represents Saint Matthias, one of the apostles chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. Crafted wit...

PAIR OF ROMANESQUE MARBLE COLUMNS Italy, 13th/14th Century marble 86 x 16 x 13 cm 33 3/4 x 6 1/4 x 5 in

MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF VENETIAN DOGE, Italy, 18th Century Carrare marble 60 x 46 x 34 cm 23 1/2 x 18 x 13 1/2 in

ITALIAN MARBLE HEAD OF A PHILOSOPHER Italy, Late 17th/early 18th Century Marble height 36 cm (14 1/4 in) height 51 cm (20 in) with base

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE MARBLE RELIEF WITH GRIFFIN Central Italy, 16th Century marble 42 x 28.5 x 5.5 cm 16 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 2 1/4 in

Relief with saint Georges France, 15th Century limestone 26 x 20 cm (10 1/4 x 7 3/4 in) without base

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE MARBLE RELIEF WITH COAT OF ARMS OF POPE SIXTUS IV DELLA ROVERE Italy, 15th Century marble 49.5 x 47.5 x 7.5 cm 19 1/2 x 18 3/4 x 3 in

ANTIQUE ITALIAN PORPRHYRY MORTAR Rome, 16th/17th Century Porphyry 19 x 23 x 23 cm 7 1/2 x 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 in Provenance: Sotheby Parke Bernet Florence, 21 October 1976, page 36, lot 5...

A finely carved 16th or early 17th century large hard stone pendant cameo of Christ the Redeemer in profile. Set in period a gilt bronze frame. Possibly Italian. The profile view of...

18th Century Italian breccia circular vase probably carved in Rome ROUND BRECCIA TAZZA, 18th Century Breccia H 29 cm D 39 cm

PAIR OF PIETRA DURA MOUNTED URNS France, 18th and 19th Century Amethyst and breccia pavonazzetto height 24.5 cm height 9 3/4 in

Natura gaint amber crystal specimen weight 120 kilograms origin Africa

A Roman, Carrara marble sculpture of the mythological Greek god Pan as a fountain. Italy.

A beautifully hand carved Roman marble bust of an Emperor or Senator. The richly draped robe features a relief of a face.