Beninese Desk Accessories

Gorgeous stylized frog sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the unders...

Solid red marble with brass accent stem apple paperweight or sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and ...

Big silvered bronze Vienna dog sculpture, 1900s. Very good detailed silvered bronze dog sculpture. Perfect as desk paperweight. We have specialized in the ...

An exceptional Persian Qajar lacquer papier-mâché photograph or picture album, richly hand-painted with miniature figural scenes, animals, floral arabesques and extensive gold-heightened decoration. Measuring an impressive 17 inches wide × 9 inches high × 1.5 inches deep, this elaborate album was conceived as much as a decorative work of Persian art as a functional repository for photographs, drawings or personal mementos. The front cover is extraordinarily detailed. A richly ornamented rectangular composition is organized around a central cartouche depicting an architectural court or garden scene populated by figures in period dress. The miniature portrays an intimate gathering within a Persian architectural setting, surrounded by attendants or musicians, evoking the courtly imagery frequently encountered in Qajar-period painting. The central scene is surrounded by an exceptionally dense field of scrolling floral arabesques, blossoms and foliage, executed in jewel-like colors against a dark ground. Additional figural and animal vignettes appear throughout the composition, including hunting imagery and animals, integrating narrative elements into the elaborate ornamental surface. Wide borders frame the central composition with further floral and foliate decoration in red, gold, green, black and warm ochre tones. The intricate layering of borders, medallions and miniature scenes gives the cover the visual richness associated with fine Persian lacquer work. The reverse cover is also individually hand-painted with a different composition, making both sides of the album works of art in their own right rather than repeating the same decorative scheme. The painted decoration is executed over a traditional papier-mâché foundation with a lacquered surface, a technique with a distinguished history in Persian decorative arts. Successive layers of painting, delicate line work and gold-colored highlights create remarkable depth and precision beneath the glossy protective finish. The album retains its distinctive red spine and braided cord binding, adding another attractive handcrafted element to the presentation. Inside are 14 pages, providing an intriguing glimpse into the object's original function as a private album or scrapbook. Dating to the late Qajar period, circa 1890–1910, this substantial Persian album combines elaborately hand-painted lacquered papier-mâché covers with patterned paper album leaves intended for photographs, drawings or personal mementos. Dating to the late Qajar period, the album reflects the extraordinary intersection of Persian miniature painting, manuscript illumination and lacquer decoration. Such objects were intended for intimate handling and viewing, allowing the extraordinary detail of the miniature painting to be appreciated at close range. Today, it would make a compelling addition to a collection of Persian art, Qajar painting...

This Chinese rosewood stand displays a brilliant red sheen. It's tabletop sized and can hoist anything into the limelight using a little elevati...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso swimming fish aquarium Italian art glass paperweight / sculpture. The piece is created in the manner of designer Riccardo Licata and the ...

Gorgeous stylized sitting cat sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the...

Gorgeous stylized starfish sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the un...

A crystal ball decorative sphere decorative object with Chinoiserie wood base, circa late-20th century. A great piece for a shelf, cocktail table, credenza, etc. Very good condition ...

Antique Chinese wooden cart wheel, ?a rough handhewn round hardwood wheel with square cut for an axle; worn and eroded to a wonderful crude shape and...

Solid red marble with brass accent stem apple paperweight or sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3" x 3.75"H. #3539

Auspiciousness Eggs by Ango is Feng Shui Egg Stone hand-weld and crafted for feng shui home decor items. Kotchakorn Promchai, the renowned Feng Shui master in Thailand invited Ango to create auspiciousness elements to enhance the Feng Shui of a space in a special collaboration. With their sophisticated craft these objects create a beautiful energy around them as well as commanding auspiciousness. The meaning of Auspiciousness Feng Shui Eggs Harmony, safety and a smooth path towards achieving goals are overall meaning of Auspicious Feng Shui Egg. The proportion of 52 to 54 mm in length signifies a wealthy life and the width of 42 to 44 mm signifies happiness and prosperity, while the coins placed inside each egg signify good fortune, good luck harmony and spiritual support. • Silver Auspicious Egg The colour of peace, justice, intelligence, future-facing, communication, maternity, happiness and prosperity. • Gold Auspicious Egg The colour of power, virtue, prestige, leadership, happiness and prosperity. • Copper Auspicious Egg The colour of elegance, happiness, charm, popularity, imagination and wealth. The three colours of Auspiciousness Eggs The three different colours of Auspiciousness Eggs reflect different aspects in the creation of new energy, happiness and prosperity. Bringing Auspiciousness Eggs into your home or place of work can bring harmony in love, along with good family relations and good fortune in your career, at the same time enabling wealth generation for you, your parents, children and the team who you work with. The significance of the numbering used in creating the Auspiciousness Eggs Number 1 signifies success, victory, smoothness in life, leadership and recognition. Number 6 signifies unexpected fortune, divine blessing, imagination and happiness. Number 8 signifies wealth, power, popularity and spiritual support. Number 9 signifies a plenty of propitiousness and auspiciousness. Each egg is then designed to house 8 silver coins, that are doubled so 16 coins in total; 9 gold coins that are then doubled, so 18 coins; and 10+9 copper coins so 19 coins in total. The technique of doubling is used to increase auspiciousness along with power, and the sequence 8, 9, 10 signifies an increasing power of auspiciousness. So with each piece of Auspiciousness Egg, the propitiousness is maximised in every way and it is recommended you can try one Auspiciousness Egg or one set of three eggs, to gain energy and then build up to 9 elements. How to place by Auspiciousness Eggs for Feng Shui within your home. One recommendation is to place the eggs on the desk space or study table. And for stock market investments, it is recommended the eggs are near to the computer. Another suggestion is on the cashier table, by the safe, or on a shelf with the other decorative items. Who should have Auspiciousness Eggs? The Auspiciousness Egg is a Feng Shui element that gains in energy starting with the determination patience and meditative skill shown by the artisans who create each piece by hand. This good fortune is for everyone no matter what year...

Gorgeous stylized bunny rabbit sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on th...

A charming modernist paperweight in the shape of a foot, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...

Timor Island sculpted wooden traditional mask (circa 1970s) on contemporary metal stand. This is a traditional mask of a figure with male facial features and two holes as eyes and another for the mouth with a handle below the face. The island of Timor gave rise to a distinctive practice of creating traditional masks whose precise origins and significance remain uncertain. Portraying both male and female ancestors, they were held by men during dances and other ceremonies, including celebrations of victory in war. Carved sculptures and masks are specific to rural villages. Here the practice of animism, or nature-worship, is incorporated with the carving of ancestral statues and masks, which have a ritualistic function. Some occasions that call for these ceremonies may include asking for successful crop planting, for prosperity, for good weather...