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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
Silk, Textile, Wood
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
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
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
Carved Italian Stemma Plaque with Cornucopias, Eagle, and Winged Angel
Located in Dallas, TX
A stemma is a written record of a family tree that can be traced back to ancient Rome when they recorded such genealogical information on scrolls. In the Middle Ages, coat of arms be...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Limestone
Antique Marble Basin from an Italian Villa, Early 1900s
Located in Dallas, TX
Salvaged from the garden of an Italian villa, this marble basin was hand-carved in the early 1900’s and most recently used as a planter. The ovate shaped bowl has an exterior width of 31 inches and has a small drainage hole in the bottom. A square, rough-cut block that extends from the backside would be used to affix the basin to a wall. The gray marble is naturally weathered, giving the stone a matte finish with a nice speckled black patina. Not only would this piece be a unique garden planter, the antique basin...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Stone Sinks
Materials
Marble
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
Antique Marble Basin from an Italian Villa, Early 1900s
Located in Dallas, TX
Salvaged from the garden of an Italian villa, this marble basin was hand-carved in the early 1900’s and most recently used as a planter. The ovate shaped bowl has an exterior width o...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Stone Sinks
Materials
Marble
Double Eagle Cartouche Plaque in Carved Limestone
Located in Dallas, TX
Reminiscent of a late 15th century coat of arms, this double eagle cartouche plaque has been hand-carved in limestone in Italy. A square top shield wi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Wall-mounted Sculptures
Materials
Limestone
Monumental Italian Wall Fountain in Carved Verona Rossa Marble, Early 1900s
Located in Dallas, TX
This monumental Italian wall fountain was hand-carved in verona rossa marble in the early 1900’s. Truly the work of a master mason, the fountain is comprised of four thick pieces of richly carved marble, with each piece weighing several hundred pounds. The marble has lovely salmon color with cream inclusions that has developed a soft patina.
The 3 ¼” deep back wall is adorned with a repetitive C-scroll border. A winged lion mascaron hovers above a geometric panel filled with nondescript interlaced carvings. Below the panel is a scalloped shell with sprawling barbed rinceaux that flows between a pair of volute scrolls on the edge of the wall. The shell has a small, incised circle where a spout or tap can be placed, depending on the desired use.
Beneath the vertical wall is an 8 ½” thick sinuous bowl embellished with thick quarter round molding. The front façade has a stylized coat of arms consisting of a shaped shield emblazoned with a fleur de lys. Inside the basin, the back wall has been carved with a pair of volute C-scrolls surrounding bundled leaves. At the base of the leaves is a small drainage hole.
Three volutes highlight the luxurious column that sits on a rectangular plinth with two canted corners. All three volutes are in the traditional S-shape, with two of them flanking the larger channeled scroll. A small fleur de lys graces the front of the plinth, which has gently sloped top edges. There is a thin grooved molding near the base.
A natural conversation piece for any courtyard or garden setting, the Renaissance style Italian wall fountain can be used indoors or outside. It could also be used as a large sink...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Fountains
Materials
Marble
Pair of 19th Century French Balcony Corbels in Carved Pierre de Villebois Stone
Located in Dallas, TX
Recently salvaged from an important French building in the Lyon area, this pair of balcony corbels are from the Napoleon III period (sometimes called Second Empire style). Each corbel was hand-carved in pierre de villebois stone, which is a very hard limestone used...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Architectural Elements
Materials
Limestone
Early 1800s Heraldic Cast Iron Fireback from France
Located in Dallas, TX
Heraldic cast iron fireback’s go back 500 plus years. They would depict a family’s coat of arms at the center, and symbols in the form of animals, birds, plants, and numerous other i...
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Iron
C. 1840 French Boiserie Painting, the Allegory of Spring and the Arms of France
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful boiserie panel depicting an allegory of Spring and the Arms of France was hand-painted in France, circa 1840. Boiserie is ornate wooden paneling that covered walls and ceilings of luxurious chateaus in France. The use of these panels became more prevalent at the end of the 17th century, before exploding in popularity during the 1700’s, thanks to multiple installations at the Palace of Versailles. Lengthy paintings such as this (ours is over 112 inches long) would often be placed above a doorway, forming a continuous theme with the rest of the room.
The arrival of Spring is depicted by four winged cherubs frolicking among pink, white, and yellow flowers. None of the cherubs are clothed, although two of them are draped in colored textiles. The putto on the far left has a billowing peach colored material hanging from the left shoulder as he holds a sheer piece of fabric. The transparent veil stretches across most of the canvas, extending to the right hand of a female cherub wearing a jeweled tiara on the far right.
On the same side of the canvas, but more medial, is another putto loosely draped in green fabric. To the left is the fourth cherub, a female with a laurel leaf tiara that is holding onto the edge of the Arms of France. A gold oval medallion, adorned with volute scrolls at the top and bottom, encircles a representation of the coat of arms of France from the Bourbon Restoration (1814/1815-1830). There is a large, curled leaf rising from the top volute with a husked border surrounding the light blue background with three gold fleur de lys.
Our magnificent French painting gives off a warm and lively feel. Although it could still be used as part of a boiserie room...
Category
Antique 1840s French Paintings
Materials
Wood, Canvas
15th or 16th Century Marble Gargoyle Fountain Spout from Arezzo, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Although when most people hear the word “gargoyle”, they probably envision small, winged creatures with grotesque visages. However, the phrase has a deeper meaning, encompassing any carved head (animal or human) that function as waterspouts.
From the Early Renaissance (late 1400’s/early 1500’s), our gargoyle fountain spout features a human-like face with pointed ears, possibly representing a centaur or a satyr. The roughly rectangular block of marble was hand-carved in Arezzo, in the Tuscany region of Italy. All sides except the front of the cream-colored stone have a sawed finish, resulting in a rough texture. The back has been excavated, adding to the character of the gargoyle. A 1 ½” diameter hole has been cut all the way through, forming an open mouth of the gargoyle. The gaping mouth was often a symbol used to conjure images of devouring giants and used to remind people that they are susceptible to certain forces.
Our 15th/16th century marble...
Category
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Fountains
Materials
Marble
Large Painted Antique Tuscan Cartouche Panel, 18th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This large cartouche panel was carved from wood and hand-painted with a central coat of arms in Italy during the 1700’s. Inspired by a 16th century Fr...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Pair of Large Carved Oak Boiserie Elements from Normandy, France, Circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of large oak boiserie elements were carved in Normandy, France, circa 1880. Boiserie is the French term for “woodwork”, but the phrase is genera...
Category
Antique 1880s French Architectural Elements
Materials
Oak
Pair of French Bronze and Wrought Iron Fleur De Lys Chenets, Circa 1920s
Located in Dallas, TX
Although the fleur de lys is closely associated with French culture, and more specifically, the French Monarchy, the true origin of the symbol is unknown. There are references in his...
Category
Vintage 1920s French Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Bronze, Wrought Iron
18th Century Italian Walnut Wood Pulpit Canopy
Located in Dallas, TX
This large and attractive architectural piece is known as a pulpit canopy. Before the advent of microphones and speakers, orators would often address assemblies from elevated platforms known as “wine glass pulpits”. These podiums featured domed roofs called abat-voix, sometimes known as sounding boards, that would project sound outwards. Our walnut wood pulpit canopy is a fine example of such a device.
Hand-carved and hand-painted in Italy in the 1700’s, our abat-voix is roughly octagonal in shape. Each of the sides have edges with luxuriously thick step molding, alternating between stained and gilded wood. Each of the corner cornices are adorned with gilded flower carvings, although some are missing. The interior of the canopy features a gilded open sun with sinuous rays emanating all around. Each of the sides are adorned with foliate margents surrounded by scrolls, again with some losses. All the edges are bordered with a thin layer of gilding.
Although our fascinating 18th century Italian walnut pulpit canopy was designed for a church pulpit...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Architectural Elements
Materials
Iron
Rare Large Scale Pastoral Plaster Sculpture from Loriol-du-Comtat, France, 1914
Located in Dallas, TX
Found in a chateau in Loriol du Comtat, in the Provence region of France, this large-scale plaster sculpture is signed and dated by the artist, making it a rare find. Originally part of a boiserie containing a fireplace, the sculpture decorated the main hall of the chateau. The artist, Marius Sain, created the piece for the owners of the chateau in 1914. The lovely depiction of a shepherdess and her flock is a fitting subject for an area of France in which shepherding is such an important part of the culture. The preserved heritage of transhumance in Provence goes back at least 800 years, as evidenced by collections of ancient songs, stories, and art.
Life-size in scale, the lovely sculpture features a mix of high-, mid-, and low-relief embellishments. A hooded shepherdess tends to her flock of sheep with a crook in hand. A dog sits calmly at her feet as the flock gathers in front of them. Both the shepherdess and the dog are in high relief, as is the lead sheep. The lamb seen suckling from the front sheep was crafted in mid relief, as is the visible head on the far right of the sculpture. There are a few sheep behind them in low relief. Large trees can be seen on either side of the group, while off in the background (faintly visible) are a castle with four fastigiate Mediterranean cypress trees (known as Stricta) and a spired church. The attention to detail is magnificent, with textured surfaces including the animals’ fur and the uneven ground.
Block print on the plaster can be seen at the base. The letters read Le Soir, which is French for “The Night”. The right side of the sculpture has been signed “M Sain 1914”.
Marius Joseph Sain was born in 1877 in Avignon, France. In 1902, Sain moved to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Through introductions by his older brother and painter, Paul...
Category
Vintage 1910s French Architectural Elements
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Antique French Stone Fountain Piece with Triple Dolphin Spouts, Circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
This charming French fountain piece with triple dolphin spouts was made circa 1900. The dolphins are made from reconstituted stone, which is natural lim...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Fountains
Materials
Stone
Pair of Large Wrought Iron Fleur De Lys Chenets with Cross Bar
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of large wrought iron fleur de lys chenets with cross bar were produced in France in the 1900’s. Chenets, or andirons, are used to support logs in fireplaces, ensuring that...
Category
20th Century French Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Wrought Iron
Elegant Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Jardiniere from France, Circa 1850
Located in Dallas, TX
At just over two feet long, this gilt bronze jardiniere was produced in France, circa 1850, at the end of the Neoclassical period. Neoclassical ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Planters and Jardinieres
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Period French Louis XVI Giltwood Firescreen, circa 1780
Located in Dallas, TX
This Louis XVI period giltwood firescreen is a rather unique find. Typically firescreens from this period (the late 1700’s) were produced with a tapestry or needlepoint body; this particular piece has a solid colored (gold) silk upholstery screen which meshes well with the giltwood frame. Firescreens were used during warmer months to cover the opening of the fireplace.
The detachable crest (which can be removed to replace or reupholster the screen) has bell shaped finials on the shoulders that are connected by a raised carving. These elements are surrounded by slightly spiral gadrooning. Beneath the crest is a repeating laurel leaf motif that runs all the way around the border. The ornamentation is double sided. Louis XVI firescreens...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Silk, Wood
18th Century French Fireplace Mantel in Carved Limestone
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful antique French fireplace mantel was carved in stone during the late 18th century. It’s quite an unusual example in that falls into the transitional style of Louis XV and XVI. This was a short period of time in the 1700s when the opulent rocaille forms were transitioning into the Neoclassical of Louis XVI. The fireplace has an impressive, deep stance, with a slightly bowed or “galbee” lintel. The bottom of the lintel is composed of a series of rounded and incurved moldings, shaped in the classic crossbow or serpentine form that was so popular in the early to mid-1700s. What makes this piece stand out from other French Louis XV mantels...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Fireplaces and Mantels
Materials
Limestone
Pair of Antique French Cast Iron Balcony Planters/Ornaments, circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
These fabulous antique French rusted objects are known as “Balconniers”. A balconniere is a special ornamental planter that is attached or hung from balcony. These would have been ca...
Category
Early 20th Century French Planters and Jardinieres
Materials
Iron
Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
These monumental arched antique door shutters were salvaged from a 19th century French chateau. They would have been on the ground floor, attached...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Doors and Gates
Materials
Iron
Exceptional 18th Century Oak Boiserie Panel from Chateau Saint-Maclou, Normandy
Located in Dallas, TX
This fabulous hand-carved boiseries or wooden panel was recently purchased from the Chateau St. Maclou in Normandy, France. Rooms of boiseries had design motifs that were kept the same throughout the entire area that was paneled. For instance, on this panel, there are mainly acanthus leaf motifs used in various areas. A medieval lion...
Category
Antique 1750s French Architectural Elements
Materials
Oak
Antique One-Piece Cooking Andiron from France, circa 1800
Located in Dallas, TX
This is an antique "monochenet" or single piece andiron from France, dating to the late 1700s or early 1800s. Known as a "Landier" in French, this particular type of andiron was used in kitchens for keeping foods warm or roasting meats on a cooking rod. This piece has two holders on top, which would have held and warmed foods...
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Iron
Rare 16th Century Architectural Stone Capital from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This rare fragment was salvaged from an entryway on a building in Fontvieille, near the city ancient Arles, France. There is a worn and carved center cartouche depicting a very small...
Category
Antique 16th Century French Gothic Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
Pair of Antique Carved Stone Sinks (Stoups or Benitiers) from France, Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
These antique French Gothic style white limestone (Pierre Calcaire) pieces are old holy water vessels (stoups or 'benitiers' in French) are from a small chapel in the Drome departmen...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Gothic Stone Sinks
Materials
Stone
Pair of Antique French Bronze Chenets “Aux Dauphins” Circa 1700
Located in Dallas, TX
This rare pair of French bronze andirons is from the period of Louis XIV (1643-1715), which in France, was the period that the andiron reached its greatest artistic development. The ...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Andirons
Materials
Bronze, Iron, Metal
