15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
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Period: 15th Century and Earlier
Returnable Items Only
Tourmaline "Parrot", Brazil
Located in New York, NY
TOURMALINE
Aricanga Mine, Sao Jose da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
9 cm tall x 2.1 cm diameter
Crystals of this type are sometimes referred to as "Parrot" crystals due to the multi-...
Category
Brazilian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Natural Petrified Wood Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A natural piece of Petrified Wood set on a stand. Completely organic natural raw fossil, cleaned for display. The natural process for petrified wood to be created takes hundreds to...
Category
Thai Organic Modern Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Tourmaline, Nigeria
Located in New York, NY
Tourmaline, Ofiki, Oyo State, Nigeria
6.3 cm tall x 1.9 cm diameter
Ofiki is well known for producing deep colored tourmalines. Most of the tourmalines they find are dull, rounded, ...
Category
Nigerian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Wooden casket with polychrome and gilded "pastiglia" relief decor, Italy 15th c.
Located in Gorssel, GE
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...
Category
Italian Renaissance Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Gesso, Wood
Natural Grey Quartz Geode Decorative Object or Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful natural grey quartz geode specimen. Great as a standalone object on shelf, table, atop books, on a desk, as a paperweight, etc. Very good condi...
Category
Organic Modern Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Quartz
Crinoid Fossil from Morocco, from the Ordovician Period 450-Million-Years Ago
Located in Chicago, IL
Another large Crinoid fossil from our collection. Crinoids are more commonly known as sea lilies and are members of the Echinodermata phylum with the st...
Category
Moroccan Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Whole Ammonite Fossil, Mineral Specimen, Jurassic Cretaceous Period #D7U
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Madagascar
Jurassic - Cretaceous Period, 200 - 145 million years old
Dimensions: 8.75 × 7.5 × 1.875 in. / 22 × 19 × 4.75 cm
Weight: 4.125 lbs / 2.169 kg
Height on custom display ...
Category
Malagasy Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Precious Stone
Stone Carved Anthropomorphic Sculpture From The Recuay Culture Peru 400bc-400ac
Located in Madrid, ES
ANTHROPOMORPHIC SCULPTURE CARVED IN STONE OF THE RECUAY CULTURE PERU 400BC-400AC
Recuay is an archaeological culture of Ancient Peru that developed in the Sierra of the current Peruvian department of Áncash between 200 AD. C. until 600 d. C. It corresponds to the stage called Regional Developments, it has also been called the Huaylas or Santa culture.
Like the other Early Intermediate cultures, little is known about this culture. The most accepted position is that it was an extension of the Chavin culture, after the influence of the "White on Red" style in the region. Regarding the political aspect of the recuay, there is a hypothesis that questions their autonomy and maintains that Recuay would be part of one of the many political units that made up the Moche state.
The recuay style, characterized by its ceramics and stone sculpture, was initially described by Eduard Seler in 1893, based on ceramic specimens brought to the Ethnographic Museum in Berlin by Mariano M. Macedo. Seler named this style of pottery Recuay, based on the report that these pieces had been found in the town of Recuay. Later studies showed that this characteristic pottery was not originally from Recuay but from Copa, near Carhuaz, for which reason the name change to that of this town was proposed. Eventually the name of Huaylas was used for this culture. In 1919 Julio C. Tello explored the area and recovered lithic sculptures and Recuay-type ceramics. In the 1960s Rafael Larco Hoyle proposed changing the names of Recuay and Copa to Santa, arguing that the Recuay style had originated in the coastal regions of the Santa Valley. However, the name Recuay has persisted.
Its chronology is also highly debatable. The time of its origin between 0 and 200 AD is discussed. C. and its end or collapse is commonly set to 600 d. C. probably caused by the invasion of the Huari conquerors.
It encompassed almost the entire Callejón de Huaylas, a narrow valley fed by the Santa River and enclosed between two mountain ranges, the Cordillera Blanca to the west and the Cordillera Negra to the east. Its influence extended to the east to the Marañón river basin and to the west to the upper parts of the Santa, Casma and Huarmey valleys. To the north it reached the town of Pashash, in the province of Pallasca.
The Copa area, Marca district, Recuay province, Ancash department seems to have been the center or main nucleus of cohesion of this culture. The name of the culture would then be justified, derived from the province of the same name. Other important settlements were those of Huilcahuaín (near the current city of Ancash), Cátac, Araucay, Tambo, Jancu, Upayacu and Pashash (near the current city of Cabana).
Its main form of expression of art was through stone work (carving and masonry), inherited from its predecessor, the Chavín culture. In addition, they made sculptures in lumps that represent warriors with shields or trophy heads, with which they decorated their complex architectural constructions. They also made white clay pottery...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Large Natural Quartz Crystal
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous large quartz crystal sits on a bed of rough crystalline matrix.
A large piece is wonderfully sculptural.
This piece was legally and ethically sourced.
Place of ori...
Category
Brazilian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Quartz
Large Fossil Agate Coral with Polished Citrine Crystal Point
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Fossil agate coral with a coordinating polished citrine crystal point.
Fossil agate coral is Florida's state stone and is known for its unique formation that can take place over 20 ...
Category
American Prehistoric Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal, Coral
Canary Yellow Calcite Mineral Specimen – Rudny, Kazakhstan
Located in Edison, NJ
Although abundant, the many shapes, colors, and associations of calcite make for a seemingly infinite number of permutations. This allows collectors to have entire suites consisting ...
Category
Kazakhstani Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone, Multi-gemstone
Chinese Dingyao Vase, c. 1100
Located in Chicago, IL
Dingyao porcelain, often called Ding ware, is famous for its creamy-white coloring, refined forms, and low-relief surface patterning. Ding ware was produced ...
Category
Chinese Minimalist Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Large Deep Spherical Amethyst Geode
Located in London, GB
A wonderful and substantial spherical geode is shown here, with deep purple
amethyst crystals enveloping a central calcite. A quintessential geode and a
striking display piece.
...
Category
Uruguayan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
Liddicoatite Tourmaline with Quartz, Madagascar
Located in New York, NY
LIDDICOATITE TOURMALINE WITH QUARTZ
Anjanbonoina, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
7.1 cm tall x 6.8 cm wide
Liddicoatite is an uncommon form of tourmaline. It was first discovered in ...
Category
Malagasy Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Gem Grade Amethyst Geode Sculpture, Uruguay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The amethyst geodes from Uruguay are mined from the same rock formation as their relatives just to the north across the border into southern Brazil and are igneous (volcanic) in orig...
Category
Uruguayan Organic Modern Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Amethyst
Ancient Apulian Iliupersis Pottery Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare ancient Apulian Iliupersis pottery vase unveils a traditional scene; a young woman seated, dressed with a delicately draped garment, gracefully holding a fan. In front of her stands a caped man...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Ancient Greek Black Glaze Kantharos Wine Cup
Located in London, GB
Greek Black Glaze Kantharos
Circa Early 4th Century B.C.
Terracotta
With old label reading ‘No. 133’
Height: 8.8 cm
This 4th Century B.C. kan...
Category
Classical Greek Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Large Grey Druzy Quartz Keokuk Geode
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Geode from the Keokuk, Iowa area containing a variety of minerals with a quartz druzy interior. It took around 240 million years to create the beautiful quartz crystals covering the interior walls of the Keokuk geode...
Category
American Organic Modern Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal
Bronze Age Cypriot Plank Idol
Located in London, GB
Cypriot Plank Idol
Early Bronze Age III - Middle Bronze Age I, c. 2100 - 1850 BC.
Low fired burnished earthenware pottery with lime-filled incisions
A Cypriot plank idol, an iconic form of human representation from Bronze Age Cyprus...
Category
Cypriot Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Fat lady Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
A wonderful period Tang Dynasty Pottery Figure of a Fat Lady.
Tomb Pottery
China
Height: 15 Inches
No TL Test
A COA by Avantiques will accompany the sale of this item.
Condition: Ve...
Category
Chinese Tang Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Pair of Neolithic Stone Bracelets from Mali
Located in Chicago, IL
These exquisite Neolithic bracelets from Mali are a captivating testament to ancient craftsmanship and ingenuity. Carved from limestone with natural crystalline veins coursing throug...
Category
Malian Tribal Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Large Natural Calcite Specimen
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large calcite specimen sourced from an ex British private collection.
Formed over millions of years, this natural calcite specimen originates from Lesotho, South Africa, showcasin...
Category
Lesothian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Natural Fiber
Pre-Columbian Chupicuaro Figure
Located in New Orleans, LA
This lovely Chupicuaro lady wears an elaborate coiffure, large ear plugs, and a beaded jade necklace, all of which were highly prized by Chupicuaro nobility. ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Rock Crystal Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Natural rock crystal sculpture.
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal
Kolihapeltis chlupaci Trilobite from Djebel Oufaten, Morocco (154.5 grams)
Located in New York, NY
Kolihapeltis chlupaci hollardi is a rare, spiny trilobite fossil, a member of the Order Corynexochida and Family Scutellidae, found in the Lhandar Formation near Atchana, Morocco, du...
Category
Moroccan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Cement, Other
Unusual Rotating Geode Slice with Amethyst Peaks and Calcite on Metal Stand
Located in London, GB
A stunning geode slice on a custom metal rotating stand. From the rough basalt on the outside, to the rich purple amethyst crystals inside and calcite formation, this piece presents ...
Category
Uruguayan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
Naturally Formed Mineral, Clear Apophyllite Sculpture
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Naturally formed mineral, clear apophyllite sculpture
India
Measures: 11 x 8 x 4 in. / 28 x 20 x 10 cm
Height on custom display stand: 14 in. / 36 cm
Custom mounted on a ...
Category
Indian Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Collection of 5 Cabinet Scale Mineral Specimens
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking collection of 5 mineral specimens in natural form.
Each presented on exclusive custom display plinths, this collection showcases a range of outstanding large cabinet spec...
Category
Malagasy Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Natural Fiber
Golden Yellow Calcite Crystal Mineral Specimen, Elmwood Mine, USA
Located in Edison, NJ
Although calcite is plentiful and diverse, calcite from Tennessee is instantly recognizable and highly sought-after for its twinned, scalenohedral crystal habit. Often, the scalenohe...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Vanadinite on Barite, Mibladen, Midelt Cercle, Midelt Prov., Morocco
Located in New York, NY
VANADINITE ON BARITE
Mibladen, Aït Oufella Caïdat, Midelt Cercle, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
12.7 cm tall x 14 cm wide
The Drâa-Tafilalet Region of Morocco, best...
Category
Moroccan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Rare Unusual Mineral Formation of Grey Druze and White Quartz
Located in London, GB
An unusual mineral formation of organic appearance. This piece is composed of light grey to green druze, with beautiful multiple stalactite formatio...
Category
Uruguayan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
Genuine Cluster Trilobite (Ptychopariida) fossil on Matrix
Located in New York, NY
Ptychopariida is a large, heterogeneous order of trilobite containing some of the most primitive species known. The earliest species occurred in the second half of the Lower Cambrian...
Category
Moroccan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Cement, Other
Amethyst Crystal Specimen on Stand
Located in Miami, FL
A large specimen mounted on metal display.
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Amethyst
Chinese Ming Dynasty Longquan Celadon Peony Deep Dish, 14th-15th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful Chinese celadon glazed deep dish with an impressed peony design to the center, Ming Dynasty, circa 1400, Longquan kilns, China.
The lovey dish covered in an attractive ...
Category
Chinese Ming Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
African Black Stone Palette Dish Bowl Ashtray Relief Sculpture
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Native carved blackened stone artifact, weighs 2 lbs 12 oz. Age is unknown, estate purchase.
Category
Puerto Rican Pre-Columbian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Cast Stone
European Carved Limestone Celtic Votive Head of a Male Warrior
Located in London, GB
A Large European Carved Limestone Celtic Votive Head of a Male Warrior Wearing a Typical Flowing Moustache Small Beard and Curling Locks of Hair Stiffened with Lime Wash the Slit Mouth Open as if in Command
Circa 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Size: 31cm high, 22cm wide, 25cm deep - 12¼ ins high, 8¾ ins wide, 9¾ ins deep / 42cm high - 16½ ins high (with base)
From about 500 BC, first Greek and later Roman historians mention peoples living in a large area of non-mediterranean Europe as Celts. These classical chroniclers seem to have recognised these communities as having sufficient shared cultural traditions to justify their being given a common name, ‘Keltoi’ by the Greeks, and ‘Celtae’ or ‘Galli’ by the Romans. The earliest allusions to Celts by such Greek historians as Herodotus (485 - 425 BC) were followed by Polybius (200 - 118 BC) and Livy (59 BC - AD 17) who discuss the expansion of the Celts from their central European homelands during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. They document the presence of Celts in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Asia Minor, specifically central Turkey. They testify to the successful Roman resistance to the Celts in Italy, after the ignominy of the sacking of Rome by them in 387 BC, and describe the huge defeat suffered by the Celts at the battle of Telemon in northern Italy in 225 BC. The Celts in Greece who sacked the sacred site of Delphi in 279 BC were defeated by King Antigonos Gonatas of Macedon in 278 - 277 BC and in Turkey by Altalus of Pergamon in 240 BC. The Celts in Spain fell under the shadow of Rome from 2nd Century BC and the Celtic heartland known by the Romans as ‘Gaul’ was conquered by the Romans under Julius Caesar in the mid 1st Century BC. Britain was not referred to as Celtic by the ancient historians, but Caesar recognised the close similarities between Britain and Gaul especially in their political organisation. Tacitus (55 - 120 AD) and others chronicled the conquest of Britain between 43 and 84 AD some mentioning the fierce nature of the Celts who went into battle naked.
Celtic art therefore belongs to an artistic tradition in the early history of Europe which is no less important than that of the classical world. Art was central to Celtic identity and was closely related to the objects which it decorated. The Celts were used to seeing art as an integral part of their everyday lives.
Provenance:
Ex Finch and Co...
Category
European Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Limestone
Gothic Canopy, France, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Gothic canopy
France, 15th century
Alabaster, some traces of polychromy
33 x 23 x 20 cm
Provenance:
- Private collection Genève, Switzerland
...
Category
French Gothic Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Alabaster
Gandharan Stucco Head of the Buddha, 3rd-5th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A sublime Greco-Buddhist stucco head of the Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, circa 3rd-5th century.
A fragment of a larger statue, the Buddha's face...
Category
Pakistani Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stucco
15th Century Monumental Monolithic Stone Slab with Fossiles
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A 15th century French recuperated floor slab of huge proportions. Because of its beauty, unusual size and the richness of fossilles we decided to mount this piece as a sculpture.
We...
Category
French Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Sandstone
Tang Dynasty Painted Terracotta Sculpture of a Lokapala
By Tang Dynasty
Located in Dallas, TX
Tang Dynasty terracotta Pottery Tomb figure of the Lokapala Warrier Deity. Figure molded wearing heavy armor, standing in a dynamic pose with left arm raised in a threatening gesture...
Category
Chinese Tang Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Matched Pair Split Ammonite Fossil Set Mineral Specimen #L2L
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Jurassic - Cretaceous Period, 200 - 145 million years old
Dimensions: 8 × 6.25 × 0.75 in. / 20 × 16 × 2 cm
Dimensions on custom display stands: 10.5 × 5.5 × 3.5 in. / 27 × 14 × 9 c...
Category
Malagasy Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Dioptase, Omaue Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia
Located in New York, NY
Dioptase, Omaue Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene region, Namibia
Measures: 8.5 cm tall x 7 cm wide
Dioptase, once believed to be emerald when first encountered, is amongst the most vividly colored species. Large gem...
Category
Namibian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Cerussite Mineral From , Namibia, West Africa
Located in New York, NY
Cerussite from Tsumeb Mine, Otavi-Bergland District, Oshikoto, Namibia
Complex cluster of highly reflective lustrous transparent cerussite crystals in a 60 degree twinning reticulat...
Category
Namibian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Collection of Museum Mineral Specimens in Display Case
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A collection of museum mineral specimens in a display case with a removable lid. Presented in a sleek glazed case with a removable lid, the set includes 30 European minerals including vanadinite, stilbite, azurite, and pyrite, all with their own striking appearance. Each one is of a superb quality having come from a museum collection. Moulded by nature over thousands of years, these 30 specimens showcase an impressive sculptural piece for an interior display or collectors cabinet.
More about the minerals inside...
First discovered in Mexico, vanadinite is a rare mineral usually found in the form of red hexagonal crystals with a dense brittle texture.
Stilbite is found in zeolite deposits all around the world; its crystal structure is flattened and columned with pointed ends. It can even form in interesting clusters, such as the one included in this case.
Azurite is a soft, deep-blue copper mineral...
Category
European Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Pyrite
Large Genuine Megalodon Shark Tooth in Display Box (274.2 grams)
Located in New York, NY
This genuine Megalodon Shark Tooth, sourced by divers in waters off the coast of the Carolinas, is 100% genuine and measures approximately 5" long. This specimen is accompanied with ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Collected Sculptural Danian-Aged Round Stone Formed 63 Million Years ago
Located in København K, 84
Exceptionally beautiful balanced sculptural stone formed in the Danian age 63 million years ago. Impressive find and a exquisite natural decoration for the sophisticated interior des...
Category
Danish Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Silver Wire Mineral Specimen with Calcite Crystals – Kongsberg, Norway
Located in Edison, NJ
Native silver is among a handful of minerals that have been deemed inherently valuable by mankind since antiquity. In the world of mineral collecting, silver specimens and sulfosalts...
Category
Norwegian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Silver
Korean Celadon Inlay Plate Goryeo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
The round ceramic plate with a slightly raised foot ring is dated from late Korean Goryeo Kingdom (918 to 1392 AD) likely toward the end of the 14th century. The plate features a celadon glaze and underglaze slip inlays in black and white. The inlays showcases a pair of bird (appears to be cranes) in the center of a radiating double walled ring...
Category
Korean Archaistic Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Pre-Columbian Pottery Figure of a Woman Giving Birth
Located in Sofia, BG
Pre-Columbian pottery figure of a seated woman giving birth, with her hands behind the back. It was most probably used by a shaman to look for the benevol...
Category
Mexican Pre-Columbian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Chinese Neolithic Painted Pottery Jar, Machang Period #3
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Neolithic Pottery Jar from the Majiayao Culture, specifically the Machang phase, in northwest China, and dating back roughly 4000 yea...
Category
Chinese Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Rubellite Tourmaline on Quartz, Russia
Located in New York, NY
Rubellite Tourmaline on Quartz, Malkhan Pegmatite Field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
Measures: 12.5 cm tall x 15 cm wide
All ru...
Category
Russian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Opal
Located in New York, NY
Opal
Tsehay Mewcha, Wegeltena, Delanta Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Measures: 14.4 cm tall x 11 cm wide
Precious opals are a hydrated amorphous form of silica (amorphous meaning a non-crystallized solid), unlike crystalline forms of silica, which are classed as minerals. Australia is the locality most associated with precious opal. The precious opals of Ethiopia were only discovered recently in 2008.
Opals are formed over thousands of years when rain frees spherical silica particles from sandstone. These microscopic particles spread deep into underground cavities and are then compressed into a closely-packed interlaced structure. When miners bring them forth from the earth to the surface, sunlight travels through this microstructure creating the dazzling kaleidoscope of flashing rainbow colors that we see here.
This opal may be unique. The colors are like no other we have seen from Ethiopia. There are several names given to opal (Black Opal, Boulder Opal, Fire opal, etc.). This piece begins an entirely new genre - Candy Opal.
Category
Ethiopian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Opal
Whole Ammonite Fossil, Mineral Specimen, Jurassic Cretaceous Period #B3K
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Madagascar
Jurassic - Cretaceous Period, 200 - 145 million years old
Dimensions: 10 × 8.25 × 2 in./ 25.5 × 21. x 5 cm
Weight: 6.925 lbs / 2.984 kg
Height on custom display stand:...
Category
Malagasy Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Precious Stone
Prehistoric Brannerion Fossil Fish Specimen
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This rare Brannerion fossil specimen of a prehistoric fish is an impressive find from an ex private British collection.
Believed to be from Brazil, t...
Category
Brazilian Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Natural Fiber
Roman Marble Head of a Satyr
Located in London, GB
Head of a Satyr
Roman, circa 2nd - 3rd century AD
Carved and highly polished marble
An extremely fine marble head of a satyr, depicted with ivy wreath, curly hair and pointed goat’s ear, the full lips slightly parted to reveal the creature’s clenched teeth.
The head was once part of a relief with visible fragmentation on the left side. Almost completely worked in the round and carefully polished, the skill of the sculptor is particularly remarkable given the confined working space available for a relief carving, such as this.
The Roman Imperial Period marked the expansion of the political and cultural influence of the Roman Empire. The period began with the reign of Augustus in 27 BC, immediately following Caesar’s assassination which ultimately ended Rome’s time as a republic. Soon after, Augustus’ defeat of Anthony and...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Pair of Large Decorative 395 Million Year Old Ammonite Atlas Mountains Fossils
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of fully polished circa 395-million-year-old Ammonite Atlas Mountains fossil statues
These are some of the most decorative pi...
Category
Swedish Other Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Impressive Amethyst Pillar with White Quartz Section
Located in London, GB
Given its breath-taking stature, one can see that this amethyst cluster was freed from an especially large geode and with amethyst of exceptional quality within.
The color and size...
Category
Uruguayan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Amethyst, Quartz
Ancient Rare Kashan Lustre Bowl 12th Century Islamic Pottery Art
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Ancient rare Kashan lustre bowl 12th century Islamic pottery art.
This beautifully decorated and well cared for lustre bowl is one of the few examples still in existence. It was made in Kashan in the 12th-early 13th century, Seljuk- Atabeg period. Kashan was an important center for the production of high quality pottery and tiles. Lustre ware was among the most innovative development of Kashan potters, who mixed silver sulfides and copper oxides to create a shiny copper toned metallic sheen on the surface of glazed earthenware bowls, plates and vessels. It was an expensive and unpredictable lustre technique.
Kashan lustreware pottery can be found in the collections of the British Museum and the Hermitage Museum. Literature: O. Pancaroglu. Perpetual Glory. Medieval Islamic Ceramics...
Category
Saudi Arabian Kashan Antique 15th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
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Kazuyo Sejima’s Flowering Tree Blooms Year-Round
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
He Wrote ‘Oedipus Rex,’ but Do You Know What He Looked Like?
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Cigar Culture Was Once the Peak of Masculinity. Now, It’s a Compelling Curiosity
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
African Travel Plans on Hold? This Ardmore Leopard Vase Brings the Beauty of the Savanna to You
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Zoë Powell’s Magnolia 05 Vessel Is Handmade from Clay She Unearthed Herself
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.
8 Ways to Breathe New Life into a Space with Plants
The pair behind the Instagram account @houseplantclub share their tips for making any room of the house gloriously green.
Paris Gallerist Sandy Toupenet Gets Fired Up over 20th-Century Ceramics and Inventive New Makers
Her space on the city’s Left Bank mixes mid-century pieces by the likes of Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso with whimsical contemporary creations.
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