17th Century Italian Fragments 'Group of Three' with Calcite Crystals on Bobeche

18th century Italian fragment with a calcite crystal cluster in matrix mounted on a Italian glass bobeche base. The fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved f...

17th century Italian vase with a calcite crystal cluster in matrix with sphalerite. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic flooding of the Arno River in 1966. The calcite crystal cluster with sphalerite is from Elmwood Mine in Tennessee. It is an example of the world’s finest crystallized calcite. With the unusual formation of sphalerite, it is unequaled by those from any other part of the world (featured in American Mineral Treasures, pg. 337). These minerals are formed from the chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate and zinc. The minerals are essentially deposited on the walls, floors, and ceiling of the geological caverns of the zinc mine. It is known for producing some of the most superb various examples of calcite, fluorite, and sphalerite with exceptionally large and sharp calcite clusters. The piece has been naturally distressed from the flood. It has been preserved and transformed by Jean O'Reilly Barlow, the creative director of Interi. The date of manufacture reflects when she created the piece and the period shows that the Italian fragment is originally 17th century. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...

17th century Italian vase with a calcite crystal cluster in matrix on a petrified wood base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic flo...

17th century Italian (Tuscan) figure of Christ decorated with calcite crystals on a barite and calcite crystal specimen with chalcopyrite. The hand carved figure of Christ is from a ...

17th century Italian gold leaf fragment with calcite crystals in a rock matrix with gold leaf crystal quartz and mounted on a rock coral base. This fragment was originally part of a...

17th century Italian vase with black tourmaline and crystals on a petrified wood base This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic flooding of the Arno River in 1966. The piece has been naturally distressed from the flood. It has been preserved and transformed by Jean O'Reilly Barlow, the creative director of Interi. The tourmaline and crystals have been applied to the fragment vase and mimic the texture and color of the painted distressed fragment. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...

An absolutely stunning set of two 17th century architectural fragments from Venice, Italy. Beautifully carved in giltwood with a pomegranate motif, a symbol of resurrection and the h...

A delightful 17th century Northern Italian "Haut De Chapiteau" - architectural fragment - beautifully carved from polychromed wood and presented on its iron stand. Wonderfully decora...

An outstanding and exquisite 17th century French capital to a pilaster. Expertly carved from wood with a wonderful cherub stunningly finished in water gilding and polychrome. A excep...

Antique 17th-18th century Italian carved wood seated saint figure fragment with beard. Possibly earlier. Remains of paint or pigments. Arms and one leg missing, old damage to nose and other areas. Mounted on vintage base...

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...

Originally gilded. as notice some traces of gilt residue. From the collection of Verna Harrah. Harra's Casinos.