Walnut chest, France or South Germany, 18th century

A wooden box with polychrome and gilded "pastiglia" relief decor. Italy, XV century, decorated with scenes from the life of a martyr. Length: 15.5 x 10.4 x 9 cm. Provenance: Dutch private collection Overall in good condition for its age, some small defects to the decor and possibly some retouching to the polychromy, ball feet presumably of later date. Pastiglia [paˈstiʎʎa], an Italian term meaning "pastework", is low relief decoration, normally modelled in gesso or white lead, applied to build up a surface that may then be gilded or painted, or left plain. The technique was used in a variety of ways in Italy during the Renaissance. White lead pastiglia was a north Italian speciality, produced between about 1450 and 1550. Six workshops were identified by Patrick M. De Winter, although their location remains uncertain; the Workshop of the Love and Moral Themes, whose products seem the most numerous, was possibly at Ferrara, where the painter Cosimo Tura began his career gilding caskets. Venice is also thought to have produced them. Other workshops identified by De Winter include the "Workshop of the main Berlin casket" and "Workshop of the Cleveland Casket". The subjects were typically classical, drawn from both mythology and Ancient Roman history (especially the early period covered by Livy), but biblical ones are also found. Compositions can often be shown to be borrowed from another medium, such as prints or bronze plaquettes...

Rare collection of 5 antique ceramic tobacco jars/humidors. 1. Hand-painted cermic tobacco jar, marked underside illegible and numbered 8100, man with cap with inscription 'Polin' ...

La Sainte Bible qui contient le Vieux et le Nouveau Testament edited by: Z.CHatelain & Fils, Arkstee & Merkus, Marc Michel Rey. A.D. 1770. Subtitle: 'Le nouveau Testament, cést à di...

A rectangular enamel plaque depicting the triumphant Christ above purgatory and trumpet-blowing angels (the Last Judgment), based on Albrecht Dürer’s works ‘Small Passion series from 1511’, France mid-sixteenth century. Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.5 cm. Incl. frame 15.5 x 14.2 cm. Provenance: Dutch private collection Similar plaque: catalogue The Wyvern Collection, Medieval and Renaissance Enamels...

Beautiful handmade oak silver chest. It was made to hold valuables such as silver coins, jewels or maps. This was the precursor to the modern day safe. It is...

An exquisitely carved Fariniere or flour box from Provence. Decorated with carved fish and flower swags, this fariniere features a lower inset panel w...

The exterior surface decorated with striking geometric panels of contrasting light & dark fruitwood veneers with ebonized mouldings, the slant top opening on later iron hinges to a plain interior housing a small hinged compartment for writing implements...

An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box, painted with figures and a boat by a classical colonnade . 3.25" wide x 2.5" depth x 1.5" high