Lapis Lazuli Sculptures

From Nuristan, Laghman Province, Afghanistan This excellent, Manganotantalite is rare find. Most of the crystal appears to be black, but the "glow" shot reveals translucent, red spo...

Continental, 19th century. A grand tour era (possibly Italian) obelisk constructed with a stepped black marble square base, a highly decorated mixed material stem which consists of ...

Large lapis lazuki eagle sculpture on a hardwood base, circa 1990s. The piece is well detailed, nicely veined and has an absolutely stunning pallet of blue shades. The sculpture me...

A lovely Nepalese gilt bronze figure of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, early to mid 20th century. The Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom ...

Extremely rare combination pendant attached to custom-made chain by Harry Bertoia in sterling silver, containing one Lapis Lazuli and one Coral. This piece comes from a private collection. Provenance will accompany the piece. The work has been added to the Harry Bertoia Catalogue Raisonné and assigned the following catalogue raisonné number: D.JE.78. Although associated with Mid-Century Modern furniture, Harry Bertoia was originally a jewelry designer who used both sterling silver, precious stones and gem stones. The pendant measures: 1.25" long x 1" wide. The necklace measures: 11" length with a measurement of 22" overall length. The chain and closure are all handcrafted and in his unique design. Lapis Lazuli measures 20mm round supported by one 6 mm red coral. Total weight is 33 grams. The following is from Beverly H. Twitchell, PhD, author of Bertoia: The Metalworker, London: Phaidon, 2019. She provides a very informative critique of Bertoia and his jewelry. Wearable Art an Important Design for a Necklace “Before Harry Bertoia enrolled at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1937 he had already mastered traditional jewelers’ techniques, but his engagement with Modernism led him to invent and use more direct methods. Instead of precious metals and gems, Bertoia made jewelry that appealed through its design, craftsmanship and the nature of its materials. That approach would make Bertoia a direct predecessor of the American Studio Crafts movement. So complex and cumulative are human perception and memory that we often do not know from where our own ideas come and without firm evidence, it is impossible to think we can establish the origins of an artist’s ideas. While his jewelry is entirely modern, chokers with multiple small pendants had come from ancient Mediterranean cultures: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Italy, even from Europe and America at the turn of the last century. Did Bertoia see works in books, journals or at the Detroit Institute of Arts that resonated with him or did he invent this on his own, as he would so many other forms? Bertoia found inspiration in nature from an early age on a small farm in Italy and later in Cranbrook’s woods, on the beaches of southern California and in the fields near his home in eastern Pennsylvania where he lived after 1950. The fluidity and motion of the his jewelry characterize much of his art. In that spirit, too, he made jewelry that suited human anatomy and was animated by its wearer’s movement. Bertoia had the instincts of an engineer, as the intricacy of the present lot’s clasp and overall construction of the jewelry demonstrates. Large jewelry by Bertoia is very rare. A delight to the eye, and like all of Bertoia’s work it is timeless.” Harry Bertoia (1915 – 1978) was an Italian-born American artist, jewelry creator and modern furniture designer. He was born in San Lorenzo d-Arzene, Pordenone, Italy. At age 15 he moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with his older brother, Oreste. He quickly learned English and the bus schedule and enrolled in Cass Tech High School in Detroit (1930-1936) where he studied art and design and learned the skill of handmade jewelry making. At that time, there were three jewelry and metals teachers Louise Green...

Exquisite hand carved Russian hard stone "Coachman" sculpture figure dating from the early 1900s. In the manner of Fabergé. Made of solid lapis lazuli. Beard is made of gray obsidian...

This top-quality, Lapis Lazuli sphere from Afghanistan, has been beautifully hand-polished for maximum aesthetic appeal. The solid piece of natural stone boasts a vibrant, ultra-roya...

A nice vintage early to mid-20th century gilt bronze sculpture of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara in his four armed form, known as Chaturbuhja, or Chenrezig in Tibet. Chenrezig, a form of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion (known as Guan Yin or Kwan Yin in Chinese), sits in vajrasana upon a high double lotus pedestal. One pair of hands is clasped in prayer at heart level, the other pair of hands raised upwards at shoulder lever and holding discreet attributes, a mala (prayer beads) in one hand, a lotus blossom in the other. Chenrezig is dressed in an elaborately patterned floral dhoti that covers his lower half. His torso bare, shoulders covered with a shawl and scarves that billow out around him. He is festooned with jewels, necklaces, bracelets, armlets, earrings, belt and a five pointed crown. The earrings studded with coral. The crown studded with turquoise. His face is cold painted with beautiful details. The hair has been pigmented blue with crushed lapis, indicating his peaceful nature. The copper base plate is inscribed with a visvajra (double vajra...

Pair of pyramids of Grand Tour for Wunderkammer, made of ebonized wood, covered with marbles and pietra dura. The large appliances are in violet breach. On the sides of each pyramid,...

From Koksha Valley, Khash Kuran Wa Munjan Districts, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan Prismatic blue afghanite crystals exposed on the face of gray to white marble. Crystals has lus...

Contemporary Head Bust of Indian Lapis Lazuli, Silvered Metal & Granite Mexico, ca. 1980s DIMENSIONS Height: 13.75 inches Width: 4.5 inches ...

Product Information: Specimen Type: Afghanite on Lazurite with Pyrite Weight: 383 grams Dimension: H: 8.8 x W: 6.5 x D: 6.8 cm Origin: Saar-e-Sang Mine, Badakhshan Province, Afgh...

Antique early 20th century Chinese carved lapis lazuli figurine, featuring a recumbent pose with a wood base stand. The dimensions: Horse size: ...

A great and beautiful Lapis Lazuli sculpture of circa 1950, produced in India.

Contemporary Lapis Lazuli ashtray with sterling silver 925 apllications is a modern piece by Alcino Silversmith 1902. This piece was designed and...