18th Century Polychromed Architectural Niche Façade from Italy

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...

At over four feet wide, this winged angel carving has an impressive span. Hand-carved in walnut in France during the 1600’s, the sculpture depicts the i...

In the 2nd century CE, a set of columns were carved in Greek marble for an ancient temple. In the 4th century, Constantine brought the columns to Rome t...

This hand carved wooden overdoor dates to the early 1700s as shown by its main motif at the center. It is called a bat’s wing motif and was used on furniture during the Regence Period, 1700-1723. It is centered within a stylized cartouche, being held by two draped cherubs, one on either side. The shaped base is decorated with C-Scroll motifs. Overdoors were used most often in wooden paneled rooms...

With its elaborate Rocaille style, this period Louis XV overdoor was hand-carved in France during the 1700s. Rocaille pieces featured dramatic movements that drew inspiration from na...

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...

Paned Georgian window with ornate metalwork. This is an excellent example of a fan-style window framework dating to the George III period. The popular...

18th century Italian hand-carved gold leaf architectural element with a pair of hand-cast plaster angels, a plaster rosette, and a detail plaster cornic...

18th century spanish polychromed tabernacle, niche for the display of Santos. Original finish in somber tones of ochre and siena.

Stunning late 18th-early 19th century Italian painted and parcel carved giltwood architectural over door, architectural element or fragment. A ...

18th century Naga Granary Doors. These handsome and hefty granary doors were found in Nagaland. They were originally situated at the entrance to a granary...

Pair of 17th century Italian carved fruit swag architectural elements. Stunning large pair of 17th century Italian Baroque carved giltwood fruit swag archit...