18th Century and Earlier Sculptures

A personification of Winter, from The Four Seasons. Unusually fine condition for a figure of this period.

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...

With its extremely unusual central amethyst epimorph after calcite, this natural wonder evokes images of the legendary sword, Excalibur, magically fixed in the stone. Elsewhere we ...

An amethyst crystal with central calcite piece.   

Beautiful green-grey coral-like stalactites emerge from the interior lining of this round geode. The borders polished to reveal the celdonite shell with the exterior basalt still v...

Coade Stone Relief Panel. An original Coade panel dating from circa 1790. The panel features two torches with a central roundel. Additional dimensions...

Brazilian thin slice of agate mounted on a wood stand. Agate is a banded form of finely-grained, microcrystalline Quartz. The lovely color patterns and banding make this transluce...

This beautiful end cut of a geode resembles a piece of Murano glass. Greenish colours, punctuated by cut stalactite "eyes" blur into orange areas and create a wonderful aesthetic. A ...

Late 18th century campana shaped carved limestone garden urn with stylised ram heads. This piece features a refined Classic decoration with acanthus leaf motifs applied to the lid a...

A large monumental pair of late 18th century Italian terra cotta busts of Apollo and Diana on jadeite and gilt bronze mounted pedestals. 77'' H overal...

Exceptional Gypsum ‘Blade’ Mineral Cluster from China. A very rare Gypsum specimen with a superb 'three-dimensional' gypsum blade cluster on the front ...

A pleasing crescentic section of quartz with agate areas, surrounding a beautiful vibrant streak of deep purple amethyst. This crescentic medium sized section has a wonderful thick white quartz...

Roman Antique marble sculpture, 2nd century AD, South of France. This sculpture is a Roman Antiquity. Frontal section of a Roman Sarcophagus. Made...

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...

Brazilian thin slice of agate mounted on a wood stand. Agate is a banded form of finely-grained, microcrystalline Quartz. The lovely color patterns and banding make this transluce...

Brazilian thin slice of agate mounted on a custom steel stand. Agate is a banded form of finely-grained, microcrystalline Quartz. The lovely color patterns and banding make this t...

This beautiful half geode has a wonderful blue-brown banded agate border with a thick base of white quartz differentiating to deep amethyst at the tips. A small section of orange ...

A figurine of a mother and two children, the girl playing the flute German, Meissen, mid-18th century, marked for Meissen, porcelain, Germany with double crossed swords in under-glaz...

Fine German Meissen porcelain beveled wall mirror with a pair of figural cherubs. Finely modelled as an elegant 18th century piece of art, hand painted white porcelain china with cob...

A small piece preserving a beautiful stalactite covered in orange-tan druzy quartz. The lower edges polished to reveal a relatively thick celadonite shell. Measures: Dimensions of...

Masterfully executed marble sculpture of Marsyas with lover. French after the Greek Antique Ca 1780

A stunning an unusual formation of white quartz on top of a black hematite. This beautiful and delicate piece presents a rough piece with a stalactite of black hematite covered w...

Fully terminated transparent gem quality spodumene var. kunzite with intense vibrant pink color all throughout the crystals. The crystal faces are deeply striated with a glassy luste...

Polished to a breath-taking finish and presented on an artistic wooden stand, this unique and beautiful piece displays a half geode. The edges of the geodes have been polished reveal...

Derby was able to produce exceptional work, and these vases are a brilliant example of what they were capable of, when making for the top of the market. The body, the modeling, and t...

Rhodochrosite with Galena and Calcite from Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northeren Cape Prov., South Africa Massive aesthetic specimen of powder-pink, bladed Rhodochrosite in hemispher...

An impressive half geode, this piece is composed of blue grey druze, with beautiful multiple stalactite formations. The edges of this beautiful mineralogical piece have been poli...

An incredible amethyst formation with central calcite "arch" and calcite spear. Two special calcite formations are shown here; the first is a beautiful arch covered with a blanket...

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...

An unusual mineral formation of organic appearance. This piece is composed of light grey to green druze, with beautiful multiple stalactite formatio...

This is a large heavy rectangular shaped carved marble relief of the Agnus Dei. It depicts a lamb with curly hair seated over a Bible and bearing ...

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...

This important George III tazza is attributed to famed Scottish-Swedish architect Sir William Chambers. The magnificent piece features a base carved from statuary marble in the shape of a stylized dolphin, which relates to Chambers' extraordinary 18th-century architectural designs. A marvel of beauty and craftsmanship, the tazza is also inset with specimens of Derbyshire Blue John in both the plinth and bowl. Blue John is one of the most in-demand decorative stones in the world, and its inclusion in this piece elevates the tazza to a true Georgian masterpiece. Due to its popularity, the largest veins of Blue John had disappeared by the early 19th century, and only a small amount of the stone remains today. Because of its scarcity, most examples of Blue John furniture feature only small inset veneers. By contrast, this rare tazza features not one, but two substantial specimens of the stone. It represents some of the last ornamental wares created of such grand size and proportion, though other smaller examples still grace the stately British estates of Chatsworth, Hardwick, Kedleston and Haddon, among others. Not only does this tazza boast a highly rare material, but it was also designed by one of the most important architects and designers of the Georgian era. Sir William Chambers was a Scottish-Swedish architect based in London who was active during the reigns of Kings George II and George III. Celebrated for his combination of English Palladianism...

Head in marble, represents a personage with a beard, 18th century. Dimensions: 45 x 35 x 19cm. Measure including the base. Good condition.     

A stunning piece of pinkish-lilac amethyst. Its very large peaks are accentuated by the beautiful graduated colour, intensifying towards the tips of each crystal. Various crystals ...

This important antique bust of Marie Antoinette was sculpted in Paris, France, circa 1780. Built of white Carrara marble, and crafted in the style of Lecomte (French sculptor 1737-1817), the original inspiration of the bust was located in the Queen's bedroom in the chateau of Versailles. In the likeness, Marie Antoinette is represented with her elaborate, well-known coiffure, numerous Fleur de Lys on her dress and a Louis XVI portrait...

Natural rock crystal sculpture with stand, Measures: 6 in x 8 in x 4 in without stand.

A fine late Georgian marble portrait bust of 18th century barrister, politician and judge, Edward Willes. Signed by the artist, this superb bust was made by 18th century sculptor, John Bacon. It demonstrates his exceptional artistic skill and perfected sculpting technique for which he was much celebrated. We believe this bust was sculpted at the height of Edward Willes career, when he became a justice of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench...

A stunning amethyst formation formed of a three quarter geode with cut window, revealing deep purple amethyst crystals, with a beautiful central calcite coated in black goethite and ...

An outstanding and stunning pair of 18th century Lead Fountain Elements from the South of France. Beautifully crafted from lead ornamented with beaut...

From the Commedia dell’arte, shown seated on a tree stump and playing her favourite instrument. Probably after Kandler, who described the model as a Tyrolean maiden playing a lyre. ...

This striking circular slice preserves the end of a large geode. Lined with deep purple, high peaked amethyst crystals, this wonderful piece is punctuated with small calcites overl...

Large quartz crystal geode specimen.

A wonderful largely complete geode lined with steel coloured druzy quartz and a large central calcite covered in white druze, resembling a bellowing smoke cloud. To the side the flam...

A fine Costa Rican Jade Axe God. Guanacaste-Nicoya region, circa A.D. 1-1500 Of celt form depicting the mythical part human- part avian figure, with circular...

Beautiful large Greek mythology white porcelain figural group with Europa en Zeus. I never came across such a large model and think it's impressive by size, details and color. ...

This open geode is lined with steel coloured quartz and embelished with a large central calite covered with tan coloured amethystine quartz. Several other calcites to the side. Di...

Sea monster Carrara marble mouth fountain Italy, late 16th century It measures 13.8 x 31.5 x 18.9 in (35 x 80 x 48 cm) State of conservation: some small evident gaps and widespread signs of wear due to outdoor exposure. The gray marks crossing it do not come from restoration, but are rather the natural veins of the marble. This work has some morphological characteristics typically associated with the iconography of the sea monster: an elongated muzzle, sharp teeth, protruding eyes, elongated ears, and a coiled serpent's tail. An in-depth series of studies on artistic depictions of the sea monster attempted to verify how this symbol evolved in antiquity in the European and Mediterranean contexts and how it gradually changed its image and function over time. The iconography itself is mutable and imaginative and its history is rich with cultural and artistic exchange, as well as the overlapping of ideas. This occurred so much that it is difficult to accurately pinpoint the "types" that satisfactorily represent its various developments. However, we can try to summarize the main figures, starting from the biblical Leviathan and the marine creature that swallowed Jonah (in the Christian version, this figure was to become a whale or a "big fish", the “ketos mega”, translation of the Hebrew “dag gadol”). Other specimens ranged from the dragons mentioned in the Iliad (which were winged and had legs) to "ketos” (also from Greek mythology), the terrifying being from whose Latinized name (“cetus”) derives the word "cetacean". See J. Boardman, “Very Like a Whale” - Classical Sea Monsters, in Monsters and Demons in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds, in Papers presented in Honor of Edith Porada, Mainz am Rhein 1987, pp. 73-84). In Italy the monster underwent yet further variations: it can be found in Etruscan art on the front of some sarcophagi representing the companion of souls, while among the Romans we find the “Pistrice” (cited by Plinio in Naturalis Historia PLIN., Nat., II 9, 8 and by Virgilio in Eneide: VERG., Aen., III, 427), which appeared in the shape of a stylized hippocampus or a very large monstrous cetacean and evolved into a hideous being with a dragon's head and long webbed fins. During the Middle Ages, the sea monster was the object of new transformations: at this time, it is often winged, the head is stretched like a crocodile, the front legs are often very sharp fins - sometimes real paws - until the image merges with dragons, the typical figures of medieval visionary spirituality widely found throughout Europe (on this topic and much more, see: Baltrušaitis, J., Il Medioevo fantastico. Antichità ed esotismi nell’arte gotica, Gli Adelphi 1997). In Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries, the revival of classicism - representative of the humanistic and Renaissance periods - led to a different reading of these "creatures". Indeed, the sea monster was also to find widespread use as an isolated decorative motif, especially in numerous fountains and sculptures where dolphins or sea monsters were used as a characterizing element linked to water (on this theme see: Chet Van Duzer, Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps, London, The British library, 2013). From the morphological point of view, the "sea monsters" of this period are mostly depicted as hybrid figures, in which the body of a mythological or real being (a hippocampus, a sea snake, a dolphin), is joined to a head with a rather indistinct appearance. It was usually characterized by large upright ears, an elongated snout, sharp teeth and globular, protruding eyes; a complex and indefinite figure, both from the symbolic point of view and from that of its genesis. The work we are examining is placed as a cross between the medieval sea serpent and the Renaissance dolphin, with stylistic features which recall the snake as often used in heraldry (such as the "snake" depicted in the coat of arms of the Visconti - the lords and then dukes of Milan between 1277 and 1447 - and which, for some, may be derived from the representations of the “Pistrice” that swallowed Jonah). In the search for sources, Renaissance cartography and in particular woodcuts should not be neglected. See for example the monsters of Olaus Magnus, from the editions of the “Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus” (“History of the peoples of the north”) and the natural histories of Conrad Gesner, Ulisse...

Colours fuse together in this uniquely beautiful piece, presenting the viewer with mixed of pink druze, lilac amethyst and white quartz. A dynamic miner...

A gorgeous deep purple amethyst cluster with high peaked crystals. The polished frame shows mineral layers developing from the rough basalt, to the grey/blue agate, the thick layer o...

Resembling an infinity sign, this whole geode is a stunning and rich piece, full of mineralogical information. The outer layer is basalt, the interior amethyst crystals, and at the h...

Marked Meissen. With 18th century French gilt bronze mounts. Modeled by Friederich Elias Meyer.

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...

An interesting and stunning geode section with a striking colour mix. In this aesthetic piece the original basalt has been polished to reveal the exquisite green celadonite hidden within on the front, whilst maintaining its rough condition at the back. Such a thick and vibrant celadonite layer is uncommon. The interior of the mineral sculpture is endowed with a gorgeous very deep purple amethyst...

Prehistoric ammonite fossil.

This double sided hitching post was used to stall horses for short period of times. They are found throughout China and made during centuries. This hardstone example dates from the 1...

17th century arrowheads excavated from central highlands, Vietnam. Beautiful patina on the arrowheads. Mounted $1,400 each.   8.5" H x 5.5" W x 2" D   

This is an extraordinary half geode with a calcite formation. This piece celebrates the visual phenomenon of the geode interior with some parts of the sculpture being rough basalt...