17th Century Italian Carved Stone Italian Lion Sculpture

A charming and whimsical pair of Italian hand-carved stone lions. Italy, early 20th century Size: 6" high x 12 1/4" wide x 3 1/2" deep

This uniquely beautiful Northern Italian mortar was carved from a solid block of Breccia marble. On each of the sides are four fancifully and intricately carved charming and expressive owls. This is a wonderful example of an everyday object made with beauty in mind, likely made for a noble families house in the North of Italy. Mortars were used in the kitchens or in apothecaries to crush herbs into powder for medicinal purposes. This highly sculptural and unique piece would be suitable today as a magnificent decoration on a table or mantle, or to grace the counter of an open kitchen design...

Carved modernist plaster mask sculptures mounted on painted black metal bases and supported stand. Bali, Indonesia, circa 1970s Size: largest (pict...

Hand-carved fossilized coral sculptures mounted on metal stands. by the Atomi People, Timor Island, late 20th century Sizes: 16" high x 10 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep base 4 3/4" squar...

XVII Century Lion Marble, 30 x 43 x 25 The object under consideration is configured as a marble sculpture referable to the 17th century, characterized by a strong, visceral langua...

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

Dating from the 17th century, these English carved stone horse and unicorn statues are architectural fragments from history. Over 350 years old, they li...

17th century, Italian ancient carved stone bust of Roman Emperor Measures: H 33 (with base) H 28.5 (sculpture only) x 25 x 7 cm. The ancient bust, in ...