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Completely hand-crafted in 18th century Spain, this sculpture of the Virgin Mary of Immaculate Conception stands 1.5 meters / 5 feet tall, is topped by a silver halo / crown, and was most certainly created for devotional purposes, to be displayed in a church or chapel. Besides its impressive size, this sculpture is an excellent, truly museum-quality example of the Spanish “Estofado” polychrome technique, developed during the Gothic period to imitate rich brocade fabrics. The finely carved “fabric” areas of the sculpture would be first covered in gesso, and then a layer of gold leaf would be applied. The gold leaf would then be painted over with various colors of tempera paints. Once dry, the painted surface would be incised or scratched away in patterns, revealing the gold beneath. The sculpture was professionally restored in 2022 by a firm that is often contracted by the Spanish government to work on historic building interiors and museum pieces. The virgin was carefully cleaned, repaired and its condition stabilized. A complete and fully-illustrated restoration report will be included with purchase. Often confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself was conceived “immaculately” without original sin has been variously defended and debated within the Catholic Church since the pre-Middle Ages. For centuries, artists struggled to create an acceptable visual representation of this highly abstract concept, in part taking inspiration from the Book of Revelation and other scriptural sources. In this case, we see the Virgin standing on a half moon (biblically inspired, though also an ancient symbol of chastity) with her long natural hair loose down her back, another indication of purity. Both her white tunic and flowing blue mantle...

Acquired from an important aristocratic estate some years ago in Madrid, Spain, this grand scale (6.4 x 2 meters / 21 feet long x 6.5 feet wide) neoclassical runner carpet once furni...

This beautifully proportioned "en chapeaux de gendarme" or "gendarme's hat" style French provincial armoire wardrobe brings together form and function in dramatic fashion. At almost ...

A fun and decorative curiosity, this late 19th century French Napoleon III (nephew of Bonaparte I) or Second Empire style "throne" is a fine example of elegant furniture making meeting functional necessity. Known as a "Chaise...

This regal, throne-like high back 19th century Louis XIV style upholstered armchair reminds us of to a time when the size of a person's chair reflected their social status - the bigg...

Impressive in size (1 meter / 3.28 feet), this striking pair of 19th century Sèvres style porcelain ewers / vases demonstrate a high level of detail and quality in both the metalwork...

This impressive 19th century hand-hammered copper jug stands 2 feet tall, and is exceptionally stabile due to its wide based design. Originally crafted for more practical purposes, t...

Hammered, riveted and soldered in 18th century Spain, this copper container was made for common household use, but with its sculptural form, rich color and patina of age it surpasses...

Braziers (known as "braseros" in Spain) were used to heat areas of a home, palace or castle (!) by holding burning "picón" or charcoal in its concave bowl. Braziers of various design...

A late 19th century arched top camphor wood British military campaign chest, with original brass hardware. Solid, in near excellent condition, ready for daily use. Built of durable m...

Originally made for use with candles, this 19th century Spanish carved giltwood mirror sconce has been electrified, and its two sockets will take candelabra style bulbs. The decorati...

This 19th century French Louis XV style commode features beautifully detailed multi-wood inlay marquetry - including a large floral design on the top which is of note, as many of the...