Trent Jansen Abstract Sculptures

Ebonised wood sculpture by Johnny Mattsson, Sweden, 1950s. Signed. Ebonised wood.

Sculpture “Mermaid” by Johnny Mattsson, Sweden, 1950s. Pine with teak base. Dimensions: H: 28 cm/ 11" D: 7 cm/ 2 3/4" Johnny Mattsson was one of Sweden’s leading wood artists in t...

A large sculptural ceramic vessel by British potter Alan Wallwork (1931 to 2016). The vessel has a grooved crescent form in neutral brown tones, with...

Dimensions approximate: 15.6' L x 40" D x 29" H Bronze bench Artist proof (Limited Edition).

Glazed stoneware. Unique wood-fired vessel.

Splendid bronze Saddle cut-back with authentic equestrian details, by renowned artist Douwe Blumberg.  

Sculpture designed by Johnny Mattsson. Produced by Johnny Mattsson in Sweden.

Ammonite vessel is a unique steel & moon gold sculptural vessel by the British artist Claire Malet. Created from an oxidised re-formed steel can and hand-gilded on the interior with ...

Broached monsters by Trent Jansen The vast majority of mainstream Australian mythology commonly used as a foundation for Australian identity is culturally exclusive. Both Indigenous myths, including post-colonial myths and precolonial dreaming stories, and non-indigenous Australian myths, including the bush legend, ANZAC tradition and convict legend, focus on the historical role that the race of authorship has played in building the nation. However, a contemporary understanding of Australian history acknowledges the contribution of both Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in forging the nation, and the national identity which accompanies it. Instead of perpetuating the same exclusive national myths, perhaps Australians should adopt a national mythology that acknowledges this inclusive understanding of Australian history, a mythology that unites Australians of many backgrounds under a shared Australian identity. In his book on Australia’s Folklore of Fear, Robert Holden explores pre-colonial ideas of Australia as a Great Southern Land – an imaginary landmass conjured up to counterbalance the continents in the northern hemisphere, as far removed as possible from Britain, the center of the Christian world (Holden, 2001). Holden speaks of Australia as an imaginary world, occupied by unimaginable creatures and monsters. Holden is commenting in part on the mythical creatures that originated in both British and Aboriginal Australian folklore and were shared by the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inhabitants of Sydney during the early years of colonisation. Stories of the yahoo, a creature that resembled a slender man, with long white straight hair, extraordinarily long arms and great talons (Unknown 1842), captured the imaginations of the new British settlers, and soon a fear of the yahoo became a common ground between Aboriginal people and British settlers. is fear of a gruesome and vicious creature gained its potency from the folkloric tales that were used to substantiate its existence. These tales were suitably vague, their lack of detail attributed to the fierce nature of these creatures and the assumption that no one had survived an encounter (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001). The yahoo “became one of the very few Aboriginal legends to be embraced by the Europeans” (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001, p16), providing a catalyst for conversation between individuals from these two culturally disparate societies and forming some personal links between these communities. Could creature myths like the yahoo once again form the foundation of a united national...

Kernos vessel by Acoocooro Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 23 cm. Materials: Stackable set of two "crema maya" marble bowls and cast bronze bowl and lid; vessel, container, or burner. Kernos (plural kernoi), a very peculiar form of compound vessel or, simply put, «a plurality of bowls,» that was utilized for ceremonial purposes from as early as the Neolithic period. It may have been part of the rites and offerings to goddesses like Demeter, Kore, and Attis; but there are those who believe it was nothing more than table dishes. The two crema maya vessels...

Broached Monsters by Trent Jansen The vast majority of mainstream Australian mythology commonly used as a foundation for Australian identity is culturally exclusive. Both Indigenou...

Broached Monsters by Trent Jansen The vast majority of mainstream Australian mythology commonly used as a foundation for Australian identity is culturally exclusive. Both Indigenous myths, including post-colonial myths and precolonial dreaming stories, and non-indigenous Australian myths, including the bush legend, ANZAC tradition and convict legend, focus on the historical role that the race of authorship has played in building the nation. However, a contemporary understanding of Australian history acknowledges the contribution of both Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in forging the nation, and the national identity which accompanies it. Instead of perpetuating the same exclusive national myths, perhaps Australians should adopt a national mythology that acknowledges this inclusive understanding of Australian history, a mythology that unites Australians of many backgrounds under a shared Australian identity. In his book on Australia’s Folklore of Fear, Robert Holden explores pre-colonial ideas of Australia as a Great Southern Land – an imaginary landmass conjured up to counterbalance the continents in the northern hemisphere, as far removed as possible from Britain, the center of the Christian world (Holden, 2001). Holden speaks of Australia as an imaginary world, occupied by unimaginable creatures and monsters. Holden is commenting in part on the mythical creatures that originated in both British and Aboriginal Australian folklore and were shared by the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inhabitants of Sydney during the early years of colonization. Stories of the yahoo, a creature that resembled a slender man, with long white straight hair, extraordinarily long arms and great talons (Unknown 1842), captured the imaginations of the new British settlers, and soon a fear of the yahoo became a common ground between Aboriginal people and British settlers. is fear of a gruesome and vicious creature gained its potency from the folkloric tales that were used to substantiate its existence. These tales were suitably vague, their lack of detail attributed to the fierce nature of these creatures and the assumption that no one had survived an encounter (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001). The yahoo “became one of the very few Aboriginal legends to be embraced by the Europeans” (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001, p16), providing a catalyst for conversation between individuals from these two culturally disparate societies and forming some personal links between these communities. Could creature myths like the yahoo once again form the foundation of a united national...