Le Louvre French Antiques
Color: Brown
Circa 1800 French Copper 2-Handled Vase with Chariot and Cartouche
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-worked circa 1800, this French vase is adorned with a chariot and cartouche scene. Some of the elements were hammered from the front side, in a metalworking technique known as c...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Vases
Materials
Metal, Copper
Pair of Circa 1750 Solid Walnut Façade or Cabinet Doors from Provence, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Dating to the period of Louis XV (circa 1750), this pair of walnut facades or cabinet doors were hand-carved in Provence, France. The beautiful doors, which have a golden brown patin...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Doors and Gates
Materials
Iron
19th Century French Genre Scene Overdoor Painting on Board
Located in Dallas, TX
Genre paintings, such as this outdoor scene on a board, depict people engaged in leisurely activities, such as picnicking, hunting, or walking through a park. They were popular durin...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint
French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Wooden Mantel with Gilt Bronze Mounts, 20th C.
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in the style of Louis XVI, this striking French wood mantel dates to the 1900s. Decorative motifs during the reign of Louis XVI were inspired by ancient civilizations (Ro...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Fireplaces and Mantels
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Large and Unique 18th Century Painted Wooden Jardinière from Bruges
Located in Dallas, TX
This magnificent and tall wooden jardinière or planter is from a private chapel in a chateau near Bruges. It is in two pieces: the hexagonal jardiniè...
Category
Antique 18th Century Belgian Planters and Jardinieres
Materials
Wood
Exceptional Walnut and Pierre de St Cyr Enfilade Buffet, Lyon, France C. 1715
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare find in today’s day and age, this walnut buffet with original pierre de st cyr stone top is in exceptional condition. Hand-carved circa 1715 in Lyon, France, this wonderful bu...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Buffets
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Iron
Antique French Bleached Oak Hunt Buffet “St. Hubert”, Circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
Known as a “St Hubert”, this impressive oak hunt buffet features a well-carved back wall with two shelves set above a traditional buffet body. This structure, as well as the presence of the highly detailed and scrolled pilasters, are hallmarks of a St Hubert buffet or vaisselier. Additionally, St Hubert was the patron saint of hunters, so pieces such as ours almost always feature hunting trophies or carvings of animals.
Perhaps the most noticeable carving is the ornate crown, which has a pair of winged lions flanking a shaped coat of arms topped by a scalloped shell with foliate margents running under the mythical creatures. Two more winged lions (with large monopodial feet) make up the pilasters that support the bottom shelf. The pilasters of the upper shelf are scrolled architectural elements with a curled leaf façade. Both shelves have volute leaf curls on each side, while the back wall has two foliate margents with a raised roundel medallion, set inside a rectangular border adorned with foliage.
The same rectangular border can be seen on all four doors of the main body, each enveloping a unique carving inspired by nature. Both center doors have been embellished with trophies of felled birds, opening to reveal a single shelf. The side doors, which have been meticulously carved in a curved fashion, feature fruit and floral bouquets tied with crinkled ribbons, and front a shaped shelf. Above each door is a drawer festooned with rectangular molding and foliate margents, separated by square joinery embellished with rosettes and leaf clusters. Buffets such as ours would have been used as presentation pieces for fresh game in French hunting lodges...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Buffets
Materials
Metal
Rare Seven-Piece Louis XIV Style Giltwood Salon Suite from France, circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
This majestic giltwood Chateau salon suite is from France and dates to circa 1880. There are four side chairs, two armchairs (fauteuils), and a canapé. All have square baluster legs and volute x-stretchers. All the wood has been richly sculpted and gilded, and motifs include scrolls, foliage, rinceaux, palmettes, beading, acanthus leaves and more. The armrests of the fauteuils and canapé are supported by large lion muzzles. The side chairs and canapé are all supported by cross stretchers, while the bright yellow upholstery is more recent, attached by large brass nailheads. The motifs are musical trophies encircled by foliate and floral motifs. French furniture of this style would have been first produced during the reign of Louis XIV, toward the end of the 1600s. A magnificent 19th century suite...
Category
Antique 1880s French Louis XIV Living Room Sets
Materials
Upholstery, Textile, Wood, Giltwood
Period Gothic Oak Trunk or Chest Façade from Picardie France, circa 1550
Located in Dallas, TX
Often when centuries-old trunks did not survive the passage of time, 19th-century menuisiers (French woodworkers) would salvage the surviving wood and carve new furniture such as desks and similar trunks. The facade was typically the most ornate section of these antique trunks, making intact frontages highly valued antiques. Hand-carved from oak in Picardie, France, circa 1550, this period Gothic architectural is a beautiful example of an antique trunk facade that was not incorporated into a more recent furnishing. Picardie is a former administrative region in northern France that is home to many Gothic cathedrals. The Amiens Cathedral (mid-13th century) is the largest standing cathedral in Europe and is truly a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
Our trunk frontage has five vertically oriented inset panels embellished with various forms of Gothic tracery, including high-arching niches...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Gothic Architectural Elements
Materials
Metal, Iron
Circa 1750 Bleached Oak Rococo Console Table with Royal Flemish Red Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This stunning period Louis XV Rocaille console with its original conforming marble top has been stripped at some point in its history. French wall consoles with two feet were often used in conjunction with boiseries or paneled rooms...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XV Console Tables
Materials
Stone, Marble
Bleached Oak Horloge De Parquet Clock Case from Liege, Belgium, circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Liege, Belgium circa 1870, this horloge de parquet has a commanding presence. The oak wood has been bleached, revealing great graining to the tan colored wood.
A th...
Category
Antique 1870s Belgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Wood, Oak
18th Century Walnut Buffet De Chasse from Lyon, France
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful walnut buffet de chasse (hunting buffet) is characteristic of furniture from the Rhone-Alpes region of France during the Louis XV perio...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Buffets
Materials
Stone, Iron
Le Pont Neuf Painting in Giltwood Frame by Ansaloni, Dated 1944
Located in Dallas, TX
Le Pont Neuf, the oldest existing bridge to span the Seine in Paris, is the subject of this painted board in giltwood frame, signed and dated in the lower left corner by the artist, ...
Category
Vintage 1940s French Paintings
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Circa 1870 French Walnut Wood Center Table with Rams' Heads and Fleur De Lys
Located in Dallas, TX
This unusual and interesting center table was produced in France, during the middle of the latter half of the 19th century. It was during this time that French furniture makers, desi...
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XIV Center Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Circa 1730 Bleached Oak Buffet Deux Corps from Laval, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Laval, France, circa 1730, this oak buffet deux corps has been bleached, allowing the motifs of the Louis XV cabinet to gain promi...
Category
Antique 1730s French Louis XV Buffets
Materials
Oak
18th Century French Cherrywood 'Bureau de Pente' Slant Top Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Larger than the typical Louis XV writing desk, this cherrywood bureau de pente was hand-carved in France during the late 1700’s, just after the period ended. This type of desk went by several names, including bureau dos d’âne and secrétaire à dessus brisé, and they almost always featured a fold-down writing surface.
Four long, slender cabriole legs, which are typical of Louis XV writing desks, provide a sturdy base for the beautiful desk. The curvaceousness of the legs continues throughout the desk, from the subtly contoured sides to the highly sinuous apron on all sides. Set within the apron are two drawers with round bronze pulls that flank a faux center drawer with a foliate and shell handle.
The fold-down writing surface, which has a functioning lock with a foliate escutcheon, opens to reveal eight small arbalete drawers arranged in four columns. Above the topmost drawers of each column is an open storage compartment. There are two more larger storage compartments in the center above a false-bottom hidden compartment. The fold down writing surface is held by a set of polished steel arms.
A graceful and functional bureau de pente from the late 18th century, this cherrywood slant top writing desk...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Large Painted Oval Wooden Wall Panel from Florence, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-painted in Florence, Italy, this fantastic oval wooden wall panel features a large urn with a scrolled handle. The urn is adorned with a fluted...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Bleached Oak Buffet Deux Corps from Haute-Normandie, France
Located in Dallas, TX
A handsome and robust storage piece, this buffet deux corps was hand-carved in Haute-Normandie (“Upper Normandy”), France during the 19th century. The underside of the flat crown has...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Buffets
Materials
Iron
Circular Lobed Marble Font Basin from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy during, this circular lobed marble font basin would make a great vide-poche. A vide-poche (literally “empty pocket”) is a small storag...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Marble
Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
As is the case with most French Renaissance style furniture, this beautiful stripped oak table with marble top features elaborate sculptural ornamen...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass
Antique Louis XV Style Corner Buffet from Provence, France, C. 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
Known as an encoignure in France (literally “corner”), this corner buffet was hand-carved in Provence, circa 1900. First seen during the reign of Louis XV, encoignures were light, fu...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Corner Cupboards
Materials
Pine, Walnut
Antique Giltwood Florentine Mirror, circa 1850
Located in Dallas, TX
From Italy, circa 1850, this giltwood Florentine mirror features a tremendous display of hand-carved curled leaves on multiple levels. The t...
Category
Antique 1850s Italian Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
17th Century Chestnut and Pine Choir Seat from Portugal
Located in Dallas, TX
From Portugal in the 1600’s, this choir seat has a flip-top seat known as a misericord, or mercy seat. As with most antique cathedral seating, the chair pla...
Category
Antique 17th Century Portuguese Chairs
Materials
Wood, Chestnut, Pine
Pair of 18th Century English Ball and Claw Console Tables with Marble Tops
Located in Dallas, TX
This handsome pair of English ball and claw console tables, from the 1700’s, are fitted with shaped, green marble tops. The cabriole legs w...
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Console Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Regence Style Bleached Oak Trumeau Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in the Regence style in France during the 1800’s, this very elegant trumeau would have originally come from a boiserie or wooden paneled room...
Category
Antique 1880s French Trumeau Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Antique French Neoclassical Grisaille Overdoor Painting, Circa 1815
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-painted in France, this handsome grisaille overdoor painting is from the neoclassical period, circa 1815. Grisaille is a monochromatic painting ...
Category
Antique 1810s French Neoclassical Paintings
Materials
Canvas
French Carved Oak Coffre Chest or Trunk with Shaped Legs, 20th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
Chests are one of the oldest pieces of furniture, as ancient Egyptians first used them around 3000 BC. During the early Renaissance, taller chests, such as this French oak coffre chest...
Category
20th Century French Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
Louis XIV Cherrywood Commode from France, Early 18th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
The straight grain and rich color of the cherry tree made it a desirable wood for constructing luxury furniture during the 18th century. One beautiful example is our period Louis XIV commode, which was hand-carved in France in the early 1700’s.
Augmenting the lovely reddish-brown color of the commode is an arbalete top that slightly hangs over the three stacked drawers below. Each drawer has three bronze foliate fittings set inside geometric panels with recessed molding (two pierced foliate swag pulls flanking a small keyplate surrounded by a parted leaf). There is a unique, shallow pullout drawer with two concentric circle pulls built into the molded frieze. This drawer was most likely used to store jewelry and other small valuables.
Canted corners can be seen along the front of the shaped top, with elongated asymmetrical panels beneath that flank the tiers of drawers...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Late 17th Century Italian Walnut Wood Library Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This majestic library table was hand-carved in Italy during the late 1600’s. Three planks of rich walnut wood comprise the top that has been carved with a thin recessed molding along...
Category
Antique Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Bleached Renaissance Style Walnut Sgabello Chair from Italy, Circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
A sgabello is an Italian chair that originated in the Renaissance. Originally designed to be displayed in a hallway (like a French side chair), sgabello were typically highly carved with some sort of familial crest or coat of arms incorporated into the décor. They were purely decorative, as the backrests were elaborately carved with protuberances and bulging motifs; comfort was not a primary concern.
Hand-carved from walnut in Italy, circa 1870, our Renaissance style sgabello has recently been bleached, allowing the carvings to gain further prominence. The shaped seat has quarter round molding adorned with a series of niches that have been filled with trefoil leaves. Additional foliage has been shallowly incised to the top of the seat, with sprawling rinceaux surrounding a potted plant.
The uniquely shaped seatback has several canted edges, topped with various Renaissance motifs. A pair of fragmented...
Category
Antique 1870s Italian Renaissance Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Large 18th Century French Oil on Canvas Painting depicting a Hunt Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
This large (96 3/4 inches high) oil on canvas painting depicts a man and his dog on a hunt in the French countryside. A hunter dressed in red and tan with a mauve overcoat can be seen following behind a white retriever...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Large 18th Century French Oil on Canvas Painting Depicting a Hunt Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
This large (110 inches high) oil on canvas painting depicts a successful hunter, with his felled game displayed near his retriever dogs. Our hunter is leaning against a stone pedestal, clad in blue coat and pants with his rifle beneath his right hand. The man is wearing a gold cap with red fabric attached to it and has a sword on his left hip. Three retriever dogs stand to the hunter’s left, while a fourth sits in front of him (the man appears to be motioning to this dog with his left hand).
An orange terra cotta vase adorned with spiral fluting sits on top of a molded plinth at the top of the pedestal. Ivy has begun to wrap around the vase, which also is festooned with green drapery. On a ledge at the base of the pedestal is the felled game: a rabbit and three birds. The hunting display is surrounded by numerous trees and shrubbery. Mountains and a lake can be seen in the background, beneath a blue sky with pink and orange clouds and birds flying.
Based on the size and vertical orientation, the scene was most likely part of a French boiserie room...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood
A Long 17th Century Carved Oak Baluster Leg Table from Flanders
Located in Dallas, TX
At over nine feet long, this sumptuous oak baluster leg table was hand-carved with an H-stretcher in Flanders, circa 1680. Long tables such as these...
Category
Antique 17th Century Belgian Baroque Sofa Tables
Materials
Oak
Weathered Cast Stone Pig and Piglets from England, 20th C.
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in England in the 1900s using reconstituted stone, this charming pig and four piglets statue has developed a lovely weathered patina from exposure to the elements. Reconstituted stone is organic stone that has been crushed into small bits (if you look closely, you can still see pebble inclusions within the casting). These fragments are then combined with cement and sometimes coloring pigments are added to the mix. The resulting aggregate is poured into a mold where it is left to harden. After the blend has set, the mold is removed, rendering a durable work of art. Our weathered cast stone pig...
Category
20th Century English Animal Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Cast Stone
Antique Forged Iron Fleur-de-Lys Torchere Sconce from France, circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
From France, this antique forged iron torchere style sconce has a large single fleur-de-lis at the top and a thick scroll at the bottom of it. The sconce’s stem is at an angle, held to the backplate by a twisted iron bar. There is a flame style glass...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Medieval Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Iron
Antique Wrought Iron Torchere from Italy, 18th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This stately 18th century torchere from Italy has a pyramid shape at the top which has been hand-hammered and is removable (see photos). It holds...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Torchères
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair of 15th Century Iron Door Straps from France
Located in Dallas, TX
Known in French as a "penture", this pair of irons date to approximately the late 15th century. They come from a lot of door and shutter hardware that...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Doors and Gates
Materials
Iron
18th Century Carved Wooden Statue from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French hand carved wooden statue is of a bearded man wearing a robe tied at the waist with a long scarf draped over his shoulder...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Miniature Antique Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers from France, circa 1910
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique miniature French table top commode dates to the early 1900s. It is in the Louis XV style with splayed feet, shaped (or "bombe") sides, and bronze hardware throughout. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Models and Miniatures
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
Large 17th Century Flemish Carving of a Winged Cherub
Located in Dallas, TX
This large detailed hand carving of a stylized cherub’s face features feathered wings surrounding the side and base of the carving. It was cut and carved from a single piece of oak. ...
Category
Antique 17th Century Belgian Baroque Architectural Elements
Materials
Oak
17th Century French Aubusson - The Forging of the Arms of Achilles
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Dallas, TX
This tapestry from the mid to late 1600’s depicts the Forging of the Arms of Achilles. The figure on the right, Thetis, mother of Achilles, has commissioned armor for him to use in the Trojan War. Kneeling down with the helmet of Achilles in hand, is Hephasteus, God of fire, metal working, masonry, and blacksmiths. This piece was manufactured by Aubusson around 1670, based on the design by Issac Moillon (Painter of the King). Another tapestry like this can currently be seen in the Hospices of Beaune (Nicole de Reynie`s. Sylvain Laveissie`re. "Isaac Moillon (1614-1673), un peintre du roi a` Aubusson". Somogy, 2005, p. 158 a` 180.) A photo can be seen on the French Ministry of Culture website.
Some fragments have been slipped in which are not perfect to the area’s scene, but, were perhaps part of the rest of this tapestry which was too damaged to use. The tapestry weavers who wove the faces, hands, feet and bodies of the people in tapestries were at the top in terms of skills. This weaver was superb in the depiction of all of the people. Note the delicacy of the hands of Thetis. For those who appreciate the truly old and beautiful without requiring perfect condition will cherish this 345 year old textile...
Category
Antique 17th Century French Tapestries
Materials
Textile
Antique Napoleon III Giltwood Firescreen from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French giltwood framed oval needlepoint firescreen was originally used to cover the opening of the fireplace during the warmer mont...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Textile, Silk, Wood
Italian Breccia Pernice Marble Carved Lobed Basin with Foliate Motif
Located in Dallas, TX
This marble basin was hand-carved from beautiful breccia pernice marble. Breccia pernice is mined in Verona, in northeast Italy and like all breccia ma...
Category
20th Century Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Marble, Breccia Marble
Italian Carved Hexagonal Marble Basin or Planter with Lion Cartouche
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy during the 1900’s, this hexagonal marble basin or planter features a lion mascaron cartouche on the front façade. Scrolled elements ...
Category
20th Century Italian Stone Sinks
Materials
Marble
17th Century Granite Rose Mortar from Brittany, France
Located in Dallas, TX
This granite rose mortar was hand-carved in Northern Brittany, France during the 1600’s. Granite is formed when magma is cooled underground, which causes various minerals to become e...
Category
Antique 17th Century French Decorative Bowls
Materials
Granite
Pair of Tall 19th Century Chapel Doors from Belgium
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Belgium, circa 1860, this 11 foot tall pair of doors (132.88 inches) were recently salvaged from a Belgian chapel. They can be considered of the Gothic style, which is sometimes referred to as “pointed architecture”, because of the prevalence of pointed arches in buildings.
Each door is composed of six vertical planks constructed with mortise and tenon joinery. All planks have been adorned with iron pyramid protuberances, placed in a repeating pattern. The planks and iron retain their white paint, now naturally weathered over the years, perfect for those who appreciate original condition. At over 11 feet tall, these 19th century chapel doors...
Category
Antique 1860s Belgian Gothic Doors and Gates
Materials
Iron
19th Century Carrara and Sicilian Marble Table from a Villa in Turin
Located in Dallas, TX
Discovered in a villa in Turin, Italy, this beautiful table features two types of marble, which were hand-carved in the 1800’s. The rectangular top with canted corners has been carve...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Center Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century Belgian Sheep Painting by Henri de Beul
Located in Dallas, TX
This quaint oil on board painting of a shepherd and his flock was painted in the 1800’s by the Belgian artist, Henri de Beul. The painting is signed “H. De Beul” and dated 1885 in the lower left corner of the painting. A shepherd in a green cap...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint
French Carved Limestone Oeil-de-Bouef Window Surround from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
This lovely architectural element from Provence has several names: oeil-de-boeuf, chien-assis, dormer, and lucarne all of which are interchangeable. Comprised of nine pieces of limestone, the building component was designed to be installed on an upper level of a house, with a window fitting inside the interior opening.
Our window surround...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Windows
Materials
Limestone
18th Century Italian Silvered and Giltwood Parecloses Mirror with Sunburst Crest
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy in the 1700’s, this silvered and giltwood parecloses mirror has a large sunburst crest. The central sun is surrounded by a stylized circular cloud, with beams of...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Wall Mirrors
Materials
Glass, Wood, Giltwood
Silver Plated French Bacchanalian Jardiniere, Circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
Produced in France, circa 1880, this impressive silver plated jardiniere has elements of Greek mythology, making it Neoclassical style. On each side of the jardiniere is a mascaron o...
Category
Antique 1880s French Neoclassical Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Large Carved Oak Renaissance Style Armchair from France, C. 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in the Renaissance style in France, circa 1890, this imposing oak armchair features a verdant tapestry affixed with iron nailheads. The sc...
Category
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Armchairs
Materials
Tapestry, Upholstery, Oak
Pair of Italian 18th Century Painted and Gilt Putti with Cornucopia Torcheres
Located in Dallas, TX
Standing at just under 4 feet high and hand-carved in Italy during the 1700’s, this fabulous pair of hand-painted and gilt putti torcheres have sinuous corn...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Torchères
Materials
Iron
Fine French Terracotta Bust of a Woman with Wreath and Veil, 19th/20th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This terracotta bust of a woman has some exquisite details. Sculpted in France in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, our subject has long, straight hair emerging from underneath a hood...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Busts
Materials
Terracotta
Small Italian Carved Marble Shell Basin or Vide Poche, 20th C
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy during the 1900’s, this small marble shell basin would make a great vide-poche. A vide-poche (literally “empty pocket”) is a small sto...
Category
20th Century Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Marble
Antique Wooden Statue of Wenchang Wang, God of Literature and Culture
Located in Dallas, TX
This fascinating antique wooden statue depicts the Taoist God of Literature and Culture, Wenchang Wang. The statue was likely hand-carved in China in the 1700’s, but it is quite possible that it predates the 18th century. An iron stand has been added to the back more recently, although a portion of the back is excavated, indicating that the statue was once part of a larger installation.
Wenchang has been posed in a seated position with his hands clasped in front of his body, which is a common representation of the god in artwork. The hands have a shallow incised section, indicating that Wenchang once held an object. Based on other statues and drawings of Wenchang from this time, it was most likely a hu scepter that once accompanied the statue. Wenchang is clad in an ankle-length robe and a ridged headdress. Although the statue’s color is predominantly natural wood, very old traces of polychrome can be seen throughout the piece indicating that it was once vividly painted.
In China, those who study hard, and test well are often rewarded with high-ranking civil service jobs. The common belief is that Wenchang guides these scholars, leading many to seek his assistance. A statue of this size indicates it could have once been commissioned for a Chinese temple. Today, our wooden statue of Wenchang Wang would make a perfect piece of art in a study or library. It would work well with any contemporary interior, or with an interior displaying other very old Chinese artifacts...
Category
Antique 18th Century Chinese Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Large 19th Century French Cherub Statue in Terra Cotta Tinted Plaster
Located in Dallas, TX
This large French cherub or cupid statue from the 1800’s is made from plaster that has been tinted to mimic the natural color of terra cotta. The figure ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
circa 1880 French Plaster Sculpture of Francois Rene De Chateaubriand
Located in Dallas, TX
Made in plaster, circa 1880, this interesting French sculpture depicts Francois Rene de Chateaubriand sitting with his legs crossed in an armchair. A rolled scroll is in his right hand, which rests on his thigh and books and scrolls are strewn beneath the chair. Chateaubriand’s long overcoat is unbuttoned and gathered, showing an elegant frock and bowtie ensemble beneath. Beneath the chair is a shaped plinth with cavetto molding on all sides and “Chateaubriand” incised along the front.
Francois Rene de Chateaubriand was born in Saint-Malo, France in 1768, the youngest of 10 children. A noted politician, historian, and author, Chateaubriand had a profound effect on literature, being the first major figure of Romanticism. Chateaubriand was also the original man of letters, a group of French authors that also had burgeoning political careers. A fellow man of letter, Victor Hugo was so inspired by Chateaubriand that he is known for having said “To be Chateaubriand or nothing”. This French plaster sculpture...
Category
Antique 1880s French Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Carved Limestone Horsehead from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved by an Italian stone mason, this quaint limestone horsehead has excellent proportions. The contour of the cheek, the thick mane, and the slightly open mouth give the head a sense of realism. Carved with amazing precision, the horse can stand upright (face up) without the aid of a stand. Of course, it can also be hung on a wall in the proper orientation. Decorative horse heads of this size were often seen hanging on the exterior wall of a horse barn.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Garden Ornaments
Materials
Limestone
Finely Carved Italian Limestone Statue of a Woman Holding a Bird
Located in Dallas, TX
This finely carved statue depicts a woman holding a bird close to her chest. It was hand-carved in Italy from one block of stone. The solemn woman can be seen kneeling on her left kn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Statues
Materials
Limestone
