Le Louvre French Antiques Decorative Objects
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Antique Green Painted French Wine Hotte from the Haute-Garonne
Located in Dallas, TX
Hottes were used during the 19th and early 20th centuries for collecting grapes at French vineyards. The vineyard employee would attach the hotte to his/her back (via the leather str...
Category
Early 20th Century French Decorative Baskets
Materials
Metal
Large Antique Carved Giltwood Eagle Head from Italy, Circa 1750
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy, circa 1750, this large carved giltwood eagle head has been mounted to a painted black stand with a thin metal arm more recently. The bird has a large foliate ma...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Mounted Objects
Materials
Metal
A 17th Century Mounted French Limestone Carving of a Winged Angel
Located in Dallas, TX
Originally part of a larger architectural from a French building in the 1600s, this hand-carved limestone fragment of a winged angel has been mounted more recently to a painted black...
Category
Antique 17th Century French Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Limestone, Metal
Pair of Hand Forged 18th Century Spanish Iron Torchere Candle Holders
Located in Dallas, TX
Full of charm and character, this pair of iron torchere candle holders were hand-forged in Spain during the 1700s. The visible strike marks made by the blacksmith, along with the flattened pin that affixes the highly scrolled arms add subtle nuances to the 21-inch tall candlesticks. At the end of each arm is a torch-like light sconce with a banded noix at the bottom, topped by a flat bobeche with a thin rim and a folded cylindrical capital. Rising a few inches above is a third light source with an identical bobeche and capital that extends from the central column. The three-light spread is supported by tripod bases featuring sinuous legs that have been embellished by roundels set within thin fluting. Our pair of Spanish torchere...
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Iron
Circa 1750 Carved and Gilded Altar Candelabra from Tuscany, Italy 73 inches Long
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Tuscany, Italy, circa 1750, this gilded altar candelabra has a commanding presence. At over six feet long, the candelabra is f...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Candelabras
Materials
Metal, Iron
Set of 4 Antique French Carved Oak Medallion Busts, Circa 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved circa 1890, this set of four oak medallion busts depict four unknown members of nobility, as evidenced by their attire and crowning headpiec...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Charming Flemish Washed Oak Capital, Two Men Drinking at a Barrel, Circa 1800
Located in Dallas, TX
Most likely originally part of a larger installation or highly carved furniture, this charming oak capital is from Flanders, which is part of modern-day Belgium. Hand-carved circa 18...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Belgian Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Rare Pair of Antique Carved Stone Lions from Italy, Circa 1600
Located in Dallas, TX
These utterly captivating, hand-carved stone lions hail from Italy and date to circa 1600, possibly even earlier. Their regal couchant (lying down) posture adds an air of majestic charm to any setting. One lion gracefully rests its forepaws on a stone ball, while the other clutches a coat of arms shield. They are carved in the same stylistic manner as many of the medieval lions...
Category
Antique Early 17th Century Italian Medieval Animal Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Large French Antique Cast iron Mortar with Pestle, Circa 1800
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique example of the traditional French pharmacy mortar, this cast iron version is from circa 1800 and features a large wooden pestle (16 inc...
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Decorative Bowls
Materials
Metal, Iron
Early 1900s French Bronze Statue of Boy and Duck
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast during the early 1900s in France, this captivating bronze statue boasts a rich patina with a mesmerizing blend of turquoise, gold, and gray patina, giving it a unique and timele...
Category
Early 20th Century French Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Fluted Silver Giltwood Pricket Candlesticks from Tuscany, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-crafted in the style of 17th and 18th-century Italian altar candle holders, this pair of fluted silver giltwood pricket candlesticks ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Iron
Small French Bronze Mortar and Pestle with Fleur De Lys and Crown, Circa 1700
Located in Dallas, TX
This small bronze mortar and pestle are from France, circa 1700. The circular opening has several layers of molding, with the bottom three interrupted by a pair of open crowns on opp...
Category
Antique Early 1700s French Louis XIV Decorative Bowls
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Blue and White Saint-Clément Faience Lion Candle Holder, C. 1890
By Émile Gallé
Located in Dallas, TX
Featuring a beautiful hand-painted cobalt blue and white finish, this faience lion candle holder dates to circa 1890. Based on production marks on ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Candlesticks
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Silver Giltwood Pricket Candlesticks from Tuscany, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
These silver gilt candlesticks from Tuscany have been crafted in the style of the 17th and 18th century altar prickets and are suitable for many aesthetics. These are finished in an ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Baroque Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Iron
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Inkwell from France, C. 1840
Located in Dallas, TX
This piece of nineteenth-century French elegance is sure to be the envy of any collector. The Napoleon III gilt bronze inkwell is a prized find, crafted in circa 1840 France with int...
Category
Antique 1840s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Early 1900s French Copper Cachepot Jardiniere with Scalloped Rim
Located in Dallas, TX
This unique French copper cachepot jardiniere dates back to the early 1900s, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. Its folded and scalloped rim adds a touch of ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Materials
Metal, Copper
18th Century Spanish Repousse Copper and Brass Brazier Bowl
Located in Dallas, TX
This exquisite copper bowl is a piece of artistry, designed to bring comfort and warmth to the user during winter months. Crafted with utmost care and skill, it features ornate brass handles with two concentric circle mounts, S-scroll and roundel handle designs – all intricately detailed for an elegant effect. The rim has been thinly rolled to showcase the lobed crenellation alternating with ovals, a testament to the artisan’s deft touch and meticulous attention to detail. The main body of the bowl is adorned with chased roundels, hammered from underneath in a process known as repoussé. This technique imparts a relief-like effect to the surface, enhancing the visual depth and texture of the piece. The reservoir is yet another testament to the artisan’s mastery, adorned with five volutes surrounded by intermittent roundels over a lightly fluted background. The bowl was designed to hold hot coals, serving a practical purpose of warming the legs and feet during winter months while seated at the table. Today, it would make a lovely addition to an antique copper collection.
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Decorative Bowls
Materials
Metal, Brass, Copper
19th Century Painted French Grape Hotte from La Gironde, Doisy-Védrines
Located in Dallas, TX
Grape hottes were used at French vineyards during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by workers when harvesting grapes. Our wide-mouthed hotte would have been used in the 1800’s ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Baskets
Materials
Metal
Pair of Antique French Blue and White Saint-Clément Faience Lion Candle Holders
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful pair of hand-painted cobalt blue and white candle holders, these faience lions date to circa 1890. Based on production marks l...
Category
Antique 1890s French Delft and Faience
Materials
Faience, Paint
French Sculpture of Two Cupids Contesting a Heart, After E. Falconet, circa 1850
By Étienne Maurice Falconet
Located in Dallas, TX
After the original 18th century sculpture by Falconet, this circa 1850 hand carved French wooden sculpture depicts the Erotes brothers, Eros and Anteros, contesting a flaming heart (...
Category
Antique 1850s French Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Antique Painted French Barbotine Vase by Theodore Lefront, circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
Produced by the French studio of Theodore Lefront, circa 1880, this antique barbotine vase features an oblong main body with brass mounts. The vase h...
Category
Antique 1880s French Vases
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Patinated Terra Cotta of Bacchanalian Putti Playing with Goat
Located in Dallas, TX
A lovely depiction of the neoclassical taste, three putti can be seen playing with a goat. The terra cotta sculpture from the 1800s has a variegated patination, with hues of dark och...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Circa 1800 Mounted Carved Oak Soldier Figures from Flanders
Located in Dallas, TX
Originally part of a larger, carved presentation from Flanders (circa 1800), this pair of oak soldiers have been mounted to a two and a half tall block with a dark finish. The patina...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Dutch Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Large Carved Oak Statue of a Bishop, France, 17th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
At over five feet tall, this beautiful and large carved oak statue is a life-sized interpretation of a French bishop from the 1600s. The religious leader is wearing a mitre adorned with Vitruvian waves. There is also a vertical swath of waves in the middle of the mitre that separates two spandrel-shaped panels embellished with foliate scrolls and a cabochon. Our bishop is clad in a vestment with large scrollwork and a rectangular clasp across the chest over...
Category
Antique 17th Century French Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Oak
Solid Limewood Statue of St. Christopher, Germany, circa 1930
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved from limewood in Germany, circa 1930, this four-and-a-half-foot tall statue depicts St Christopher carrying a young Jesus across a river. The legend states that Christopher (who was considered to have size and strength), was instructed to serve Jesus by assisting travelers with crossing a perilous river. One day a young child asked for help, and after safely reaching the far shore, Christopher complained about the child being heavier than the whole world. It was at this point that the child revealed he was Jesus before...
Category
Vintage 1930s German Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Wall Clock, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France in the 1800s, this high quality gilt bronze wall clock has elements in the style of Louis XVI. The white clock face with blue numbers re...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of bronze candlesticks has a lovely patination, giving them a glossy brown color. The highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XIV Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Silvered Bronze Candlesticks, Grape Cluster Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of silvered bronze candlesticks has been delicately chased with grape cluster designs. The highly sinuous candlesticks feature several knops, all adorned with a variety of grape motifs. Additional elements include two rings of beading on the circular bases, roundels, beaded niches, foliage, and fluting. The quality 18th century French candlesticks...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Unique 18th Century Carved Altar Candlestick Holder from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
hand carved from pine in the 1700s, this unique Italian altar candlestick holder features a lovely foliate rinceaux dotted with volute scrolls. The intricate weaving of curled leaves...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Candlesticks
Materials
Wood
Polished 18th Century Copper Rafraichissoir from France
Located in Dallas, TX
Known as a rafraichissoir, this beautifully polished copper vessel has been hammered using both repousse and chasing metalworking techniques. Beneath the ...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Decorative Bowls
Materials
Copper
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Gilt Vases with Bisque Swags, circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
With its Neoclassical elements, this pair of French porcelain vases is in the style of Louis XVI. Crafted circa 1870, the stunning details of the swags are sharpened by the rich colo...
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Vases
Materials
Stone, Marble
Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique piece of scientific equipment, this antique cast iron scale would have been used in a Spanish pharmacy during the 1800s. The main cast...
Category
Antique 19th Century Spanish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Antique Polished Copper Chaudron or Wine Cooler, Wrought Iron Handle, circa 1850
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique copper cookware, such as this polished chaudron with wrought iron handle are highly sought-after decorative pieces due to their unique color and (typically) bright patina. handcrafted in France, circa 1850, our chaudron has a shaped wrought iron handle that rests on a thick rolled rim when not in the upright position. The handle is affixed to the cauldron by a pair of horseshoe shaped mounts, each with two rivets. When the chaudron was used for cooking, the handle would be raised and fitted onto a cremaillere (chimney hook...
Category
Antique 1850s French Decorative Bowls
Materials
Metal, Copper, Iron, Wrought Iron
Silvered Bronze Table Jardiniere from France, circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
Inspired by the movement of plants and flowers, Art Nouveau is a decorative style associated with art and architecture during the late 19th early 20th centuries. Sometime after 1900, the undulating lines associated with Art Nouveau began to disappear and were replaced by geometrical shapes. That places the crafting of this silvered bronze table...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Materials
Bronze
Antique Belgian Cast Iron Milk Container, circa 1920s
Located in Dallas, TX
When dairy farmers traveled to the market, they would use large metal jugs, such as this cast iron milk container, to sell milk to local customers. The cast ...
Category
Vintage 1920s Belgian Jars
Materials
Metal, Iron
Pair of circa 1820 Carved Walnut Spill Vases from England
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in England, circa 1820, these lovely spill vases were fashioned out of burl walnut. The vases have developed a tremendous, darkened patina, particularly along the carved ...
Category
Antique 1820s English Vases
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Burl
Pair of 19th C, French, Bronze Soldiers, before and After the Fight, H. Dumaige
By Etienne-Henri Dumaige
Located in Dallas, TX
Standing over 2 feet tall, these high quality bronze statues depict soldiers during the French revolutionary wars. They are labeled and signed Dumaige (French sculptor, Etienne-Henry Dumaige 1830-1888). The statues show incredible detail, excellent proportion, and retain their original, rich, brown patina, which is still in remarkable condition. Each solider has a raised brass placard on the front of the 1 ½” thick square bases: one reads Avant le combat volontaire de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C, while the other is titled “Apres le combat grenadier de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C.”. The designation “H.C.” stands for Hors concours (“standout”), which is used for artwork that is excluded from competition because it has already claimed top honors elsewhere.
Avant, meaning “before” shows our soldier as a volunteer drummer. Drums were used on the battlefield not only to provide cadence for the soldiers, but also to issue orders based on the percussion pattern. Here, our soldier’s drum is attached to a harness that runs across his right shoulder. Both hands are gripping the frame of the drum, while there is a drumstick in his left hand. There is a satchel on the soldier’s back as he stands on grass with a small wood fence behind him.
Our soldier has a mustache with long braided hair in the back. He is wearing a fluted bicorne with a pomme tuft and has earrings in both ears. His jacket is knee-length in the back, with tasseled epaulets on the shoulders. Apres, meaning “after”, depicts the man as a grenadier, enjoying tobacco after a conflict. The grenadier...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Set of 5 Circa 1900 Blue and White Delft Vases from Holland
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful set of five blue and white Delft vases, this faience collection was hand-painted in Holland, circa 1900. The three bulbous vases are lidded, each with a finial depicting a rampant lion with a ball in its forepaws. Beneath the lion is a mottled background (on the front side only), with a foliate and floral margent. Each vase has the same scene painted on the front of the main body: a couple walking through a field surrounded by flowers. The opposite side has a floral rinceaux above a foliate branch. Painted in a similar fashion, the two concave vases are without lids. The side opposite from the cartouche of the couple has floral margents. All five vases have canted corners on the base.
Inspired by Italian majolica, the faience produced in 16th century Holland...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Dutch Delft and Faience
Materials
Delft, Paint
Circa 1800 Carved Oak Sculptures of the Apostles, James, John, Peter, and Paul
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in oak, circa 1800, these sculptures depict arguably the most important apostles: James, John, Peter, and Paul. All of the figures are distinctly different, although they share some commonalities, such as they are all barefoot and clad in ankle length tunics on a rectangular base with canted corners. The set would make fantastic decorative art for a mantel, shelf, or sofa table.
The apostles as they appear in the main photo (from left to right):
St. James (20 ¼” H x 7 ½” W x 5 ½” D): sometimes referred to as “James the Great”, he is depicted with long hair and a full beard above a cloak pinned...
Category
Antique Early 1800s European Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Oak
Antique French Terra Cotta Bust from Dinard, Dated 1912
Located in Dallas, TX
This terra cotta bust of a monsignor from Dinard, France is signed by the artist with the accompanying date of 1912. An engraving under the left shoulder indicates that the bust was a gift to a Monsignor Blanchet, a well-respected parish priest of Dinard. Msgr Blanchet is depicted wearing a four peak...
Category
Vintage 1910s French Busts
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Early 1900’s Cobalt Blue and White Cylinder form Vases from Holland
Located in Dallas, TX
Inspired by the Delftware products that became world renowned in the mid-17th to mid-18th centuries, this pair of cobalt blue and white cylinder vases were hand-painted in Holland (Netherlands) in the early 1900’s. The vases depict two distinct scenes, which were interestingly painted by different artists.
One vase has a farmhouse scene signed by “E. Lombart”, with a thatched roof house set near two large trees. In front of the house is a woman watching over a cow and three chickens as they gather near a stone feeding trough...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Vases
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Pair of Late 18th Century Italian Giltwood Baroque Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
With their right angle bases and descending bobeche display, this pair of Italian giltwood candlesticks make unique light sources. Hand-carved in the late 1700’s, the Baroque period ...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Candlesticks
Materials
Metal, Iron
Pair of Circa 1800 Giltwood Angels from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy, circa 1800, this pair of giltwood angels is depicted in a double genuflection, or kneeling, stance. Both angels are completely gil...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Italian Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Silvered Bronze Pitcher from France, Circa 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
An exquisite example of Rococo style ornamentation, this antique (circa 1890) silvered bronze pitcher comes from France. The pitcher has been adorned with spiral fluting that expand ...
Category
Antique 1890s French Rococo Pitchers
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Highly Carved French Oak Sculpture of a Man Harvesting Wine Grapes
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful sculpture has been carved from solid French oak during the latter half of the 19th century. The style is that of Black Forest, with realistic depictions of branches, leaves, grapes, and more. Originally a French clock, most of the timing mechanisms have long been removed. The elaborate carving depicts a man harvesting wine grapes on rocky terrain dotted with vegetation. Our gatherer, who is clad in an overcoat and large brimmed hat, is carrying a hod (hotte in French) full of freshly picked grapes. A large wooden bucket...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Pair of 18th Century Italian Baroque Giltwood Candleholders
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy, this pair of giltwood candleholders are from the Baroque period. Based on the asymmetrical carvings of C-scrolls and curled leaves, this was most likely an earl...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Candelabras
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
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
Small Italian Beige and Burgundy Marble Lobed Basin or Vide Poche
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in Italy during the 1900’s, this small marble lobed basin would make a great vide-poche. A vide-poche (literally “empty pocket”) is a small storage bowl for everyday items, such as car keys, loose change, wallets, etc.
A marble basin of this size might have originally been used in a Catholic church as a holy water vessel. The gadrooned lobes carved along the outside give the appearance of a stylized scalloped shell. On the back of the shell is an excavated block of marble, which is how the basin would have been affixed to a wall. The beautiful beige colored marble with burgundy inclusions and white veining has been carved with a quarter round molding along the rim. A versatile item, our small Italian marble shell basin...
Category
20th Century Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Materials
Marble
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 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
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
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
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
Antique Forged Iron Candelabra Torchere from Spain, Circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
Forged in Spain, circa 1900, this iron candelabra torchere has three arms embellished with angular protrusions, in the form of stylized leaves emanating from a plant stem. Each arm i...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Spanish Torchères
Materials
Iron
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
