Walnut chest, France or South Germany, 18th century

A rare wooden casket with polychrome and gilded pastiglia relief, Italy, 15th century. The box is adorned with four finely executed scenes from the life of an unknown martyr — beautifully preserved and remarkably vivid after centuries. Dimensions: 15.5 × 10.4 × 9 cm Provenance: Dutch private collection In overall good condition for its age, with minor losses to the surface and possible retouching to the polychromy. The ball feet are likely later additions. 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...

Large Italian Albarello, 18th Century An impressive 18th-century Italian albarello, notable for its size and the finely painted continuous cityscape in cobalt and manganese tones. O...

Decorative Louis XV style folding screen decorated with a bustling hunting scene, painted on leather, topped with a thick layer of varnish, mounted with gilt brass appliqués. Made ar...

Wooden sculpture of a putto in a mix of baroque and classical style, Early 19th century. Dimensions: 61 (h) x 34 (w) x 15 (d) cm. Heavy oak statue. Probably part of an altar or pul...

Small rectangular ark with a flat lid, with a lock of golden metal worked (crown on two facing lions, located on a garland of great size, and all around a symmetrical composition wit...

Lovely cassone with classical form, the beautiful figuring of the oak creates subtle, decorative patterning and the simple mouldings give a light, contemporary feel. The rich, lustr...

Portuguese Rosewood Baroque Chest, Circa 1830 Suited for Jewelry, Occasional Storage, or Decorative Use Sourced by Martyn Lawrence Bullard from Lisbon, Portugal

European Walnut Storage Chest, early 19th Century. An early chest with triple brass locks and hand-forged iron strap hinges.