Watteeu Antiquities

A well carved Roman marble figure of a male in military dress, late Roman Period, circa 2nd-3rd century. The figure portrayed dressed in military att...

Discover the beauty of this elegant Syrian jewelry box, featuring intricate marquetry and a luxurious red velvet interior. This rectangular, flat box is ideal for storing jewelry, ke...

Ancient pair of carved hardwood sculptures, depicting a pair of trotting horses, sculpted in the 19th century. They measure about W 7 x H 30 x T 30 cm.

Fantastic antique walking stick, with a beautiful wood carved head of a dog on top. The stick is extra long in size, which indicates that the stick wa...

18th Century Italian hand-carved speckled silver leaf tassel ornaments. The tassels originally came from an Italian church in Tuscany and were used during feast days. These tassels were commonly used to adorn 18th and 19th century French and Italian chandeliers...

A Small Egyptian Bronze Statue of Harpocrates, Circa 1st Century B.C. / 1st Century A.D. The left hand holds the horn of abundance. Provenanc...

Pair of Antiques money box / bank, elephants. One of them circa 1920, made in iron, the other circa 1960 made in aluminium.  

A stunning pair of glass perfume bottles, covered in shagreen, with glass stoppers and brass over-caps, dating from the 1930s. In the spirit of Jean-Michel Frank's creations, these r...

:: Antique handmade African Neolithic era marble bracelet. These marble bracelets were hand carved in North Africa and likely used for currency. This piece is a unique collectible, w...

Introducing a Pair of Mid-Century Mastercraft Brass Furniture Locks, embodying the timeless elegance and functionality characteristic of mid-century design. These exquisite locks, cr...

This is a Korona Home Portrait Camera. It depicts a square wood camera body and base with square glass in the back and metal hardware. In the middle, there...

Beautiful, unique Boule ball pair, France, late 19th Century. Diameter 9,5 cm. In the 19th century, the manufacture of boules balls underwent significant development in France as the game of boules, particularly the pétanque variant, gained in popularity. The manufacture of boules balls during this period was a manual process that required expertise, precision and love to detail. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in rural areas of France and other Mediterranean regions, olive wood was a commonly used source of material for making boules balls. This was not only due to the availability of the material, but also to the outstanding properties of olive wood, which was characterized by hardness, strength and a rich grain. First, the olive wood was carefully selected and shaped into raw balls, which were then sanded to the desired size and shape. The nails were then hammered into the balls one by one, making sure that they were evenly distributed and firmly anchored. Finally, the spheres were polished and coated with a protective varnish to enhance their natural beauty and protect them from the elements. The use of nails to decorate and reinforce olive wood boules was a traditional practice that not only gave the ball a rustic aesthetic, but also improved its durability and contributed to customization. Many balls were made according to the specific requirements and preferences of the players. Nails were driven at regular intervals around the ball, with each nail hole precisely placed so as not to affect the balance and weight distribution of the ball. These nails not only served as a decorative element, but also helped to strengthen the structure of the ball and make it more resistant to the hard knocks and wear and tear during play. Individual engravings or decorations were often applied to the balls to make them unique and identify the player. Antique boules...