Franco Lapini Huge Caviar Pumpkin Bowl

Franco Lapinis exquisite vintage life size squirrel sculpture wine cooler or ice cooler is made entirely of gold plated and its surface is lightly textured to give it an organic feel...

Franco Lapini exquisite seal sculpture is made entirely of metal plated in silver and its surface is lightly textured to give it an organic feel, the purple Murano glass gracing a st...

Unique life size turtle stool object with a fake fibreglass turtle shell mounted on a solid brass frame and three solid brass balls. Very authentic impres...

Franco Lapinis rare and famous vintage Monkey sculpture wine cooler or ice bucket is made entirely of metal plated in silver and its surface is lightly textured to give it an organic...

Franco Lapinis exquisite vintage wild boar head sculpture wine cooler is made entirely of metal plated in silver and its surface is lightly textured to ...

This exquisite oval tray is made entirely of metal plated in silver and its surface is lightly textured to give it an organic feel. The gentle curves of the inner and outer profile are sophisticated and elegant, while the finish of the two fake ivory...

Italian silver-plated snack/candy/serving dish with lidded top formed to resemble a pumpkin or squash (ca. 1930s/40s, Italy). This is a shorter, uninsulated version of fruit and vegetable-formed ice buckets made in Italy and France in the Mid-20th Century. Though shallow, with the addition of an insulated lining this piece can hold ice to stylishly refresh a drink or enhance any tabletop decor...

Broached monsters by Trent Jansen The vast majority of mainstream Australian mythology commonly used as a foundation for Australian identity is culturally exclusive. Both Indigenous myths, including post-colonial myths and precolonial dreaming stories, and non-indigenous Australian myths, including the bush legend, ANZAC tradition and convict legend, focus on the historical role that the race of authorship has played in building the nation. However, a contemporary understanding of Australian history acknowledges the contribution of both Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in forging the nation, and the national identity which accompanies it. Instead of perpetuating the same exclusive national myths, perhaps Australians should adopt a national mythology that acknowledges this inclusive understanding of Australian history, a mythology that unites Australians of many backgrounds under a shared Australian identity. In his book on Australia’s Folklore of Fear, Robert Holden explores pre-colonial ideas of Australia as a Great Southern Land – an imaginary landmass conjured up to counterbalance the continents in the northern hemisphere, as far removed as possible from Britain, the center of the Christian world (Holden, 2001). Holden speaks of Australia as an imaginary world, occupied by unimaginable creatures and monsters. Holden is commenting in part on the mythical creatures that originated in both British and Aboriginal Australian folklore and were shared by the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inhabitants of Sydney during the early years of colonisation. Stories of the yahoo, a creature that resembled a slender man, with long white straight hair, extraordinarily long arms and great talons (Unknown 1842), captured the imaginations of the new British settlers, and soon a fear of the yahoo became a common ground between Aboriginal people and British settlers. is fear of a gruesome and vicious creature gained its potency from the folkloric tales that were used to substantiate its existence. These tales were suitably vague, their lack of detail attributed to the fierce nature of these creatures and the assumption that no one had survived an encounter (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001). The yahoo “became one of the very few Aboriginal legends to be embraced by the Europeans” (Holden, Thomas et al. 2001, p16), providing a catalyst for conversation between individuals from these two culturally disparate societies and forming some personal links between these communities. Could creature myths like the yahoo once again form the foundation of a united national...

Broached monsters by Trent Jansen The vast majority of mainstream Australian mythology commonly used as a foundation for Australian identity is culturally exclusive. Both Indigenou...

Beautiful vide-poche in gilt ceramic and brown details in relief. Signed, Francis Cova, France.  

A finely cut and polished crystal regency style Waterford Louise Kennedy bowl . The Regency shape is a time-honored style for good English cut crystal a...

Stunning, aesthetic, timeless are words that can be used to describe this elegant and modern travertine Eclipse bowl from Kiwano. Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our travertin...