Medieval Decorative Objects

Honor and loyalty are the supreme values of medieval knights, the heroes of a fascinating, romantic era that inspired this spectacular high porcelain limited edition. The ornamental ...

Provenance : In the same private collection for several generations, Burgundy. The canonical Gospels describe briefly the episode of the Nativity. It comprises three parts : • The Preludes : the Journey to Bethlehem, the Census • The Nativity • The Announce to the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi Only the Gospel according to Matthew (2, 1-12) speaks about the Adoration of the Magi. Staying vague about their number it does say they brought the newborn gold, incense and myrrh. The apocryphals, the fathers of the Church and many other authors have filled in the gaps of the evangelic tale. The sobriety and symbolic of the story have been a huge inspiration to artists. Although one of the oldest depictions of the Adoration of the Magi dates from the 2nd century the theme became very popular in Christian art during the late 14th century. One of the reasons explaining this success is that it celebrates both the Virgin and Christ at the same time. This important walnut panel is carved in a strong relief and depicts the different steps of the story of Jesus’ birth. On the left, the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph from Bethlehem are depicted behind a trough. On the thatch roof appears the star that would guide the magi to the place of birth of Jesus. Mary is wearing a veil and is seating on a bed. She holds her baby at arm’s length to present him to the magi. Saint Joseph is by her side. The old man is holding a cane in his left hand while from the right hand he seems to uncover himself to greet the visitors. A woman assists to the scene. In front of the holy family the three magi stand behind one another to pay their homage to the newborn. The first magi has a pointed beard. He is already kneeling out of deference and has placed his crown to his feet. He gives the baby a hanap filled with gold coins. This is Melchior as the legend describes him with white hair and a long beard. Caspar, the second magi bears a cup of incense. He is looking at the third magi and with his right hand he points to the star that has guided them there. He has a short beard and wears crakow shoes, breeches and a wide sleeved doublet. Finally Balthazar, the elegant last magi proceeds proudly towards the holy family with his one hand on the saber’s hilt and the other holding a cup. He brings the divine child the myrrh. He probably just dismounted as the horse can be seen behind him. The scene is set in a very detailed and narrative decor. In the right part of the panel the shepherd receive the announce of Jesus’ birth. An angel comes down from heaven with a scroll bearing the good news in his hands. The herding dog sleeps peacefully while sheeps graze. At the top of the cliff we notice the gilded sheeps enclosure. The panel’s moulded frame is carved with a foliated decor. In it’s centre appears a coat-of-arms. It is the alliance of the three magi’s arms. Indeed as it was common for legendary figures the three of them received imaginaries coat-of-arms. Thus, on a field of azure stands a star for Melchior, a crescent for Caspar and a pennon for Balthazar. This high-relief panel is undeniably the work of a very skilled and imaginative artist. This key moment in the New Testament is transposed to a contemporary environment thanks to the figures’ clothing and the rural daily life scene. This way the universal dimension of the episode is highlighted allowing a better understanding for the contemporaries. The sculptor has represented the episodes of the Adoration of the Magi and the Announce to the Shepherd with great talent and numerous details giving life to a picturesque and narrative scene. The important traces of polychromy give those already very animated scenes a stronger pictorial power and a rich dynamism. Because of the picturesque and familiar realism so dear to the artists of the late Medieval era, of the didactic function of this type of panel as well as the quality of the sculpture this piece is an astounding example of Burgundian art of the 15th century. Literature Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...

An English terracotta Medieval encaustic tile of exceptional rarity. This tile would have been found in a monastery, church or abbey around the 14th to 15th century. With a distinc...

This antique French safe was crafted circa 1880 in the Champagne-Ardenne region by Bauche, renowned for their patented “Système Incombustible” fireproof designs. Weighing 78 pounds, ...

Rare and impressive work of Gothic art pottery. This most skillfully created and highly decorative work of Gothic art is very rare and of a great size. The impressive floral decor o...

An 15th Century Gothic socket candlestick in in bronze with a pronounced bell foot, integral drip tray, and a slender, knopped stem rising to a tall socket with an early clean-out ap...

PAIR of English Gothic Revival-style (19th Century) bronze altar sticks with round pad feet (PRICED AS PAIR)

Very beathiful set of Gothic revival Wall candle sconces . Hand forced ,Gilded Brass .very nice ornate . super rare to find a set of 4 . Comes with the hand made brackets . All in...

An American Gothic Revival bronze and enamelled box/humidor. By Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Inc., New York, first quarter of 1900s. The rectangul...

Articulated medieval style steel gauntlet. Well made, mid-20th century.

Large bronze representing the Death of the Duke of Clarence during a tournament: beautiful brown patina, the large quantity of details of precision and finesse make this sculpture li...

A large and impressive Indian carved sandstone architectural frieze featuring a central image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by two atten...

Mary Magdalene in Polychromed Carved Walnut 16th Century Devotional figure in carved wood, depicting Mary Magdalene. Walnut, most probably Flemish and from the 16th century. It de...

Saint John the Evangelist and the Virgin from a Crucifixion Group, Spain, circa 1500, in walnut. Superb pair of gilded and polychrome wood sculptures from the late 15th century, circ...

French Gothic Revival-style (19th Century) wrought iron roll blotter with X design and nailheads (Related items: 035057A, 035057B, 048571D)

French wrought iron black painted locksmith trade sign in the form of a large and elaborate key. The trefoil top filled with interlocking Gothic style quatrefoils (like four leaf clovers), with a ladder in the center joining them and a cut metal crest...

BEAUTIFUL GERMAN PIETA KNOWN AS “VESPERBILD” ORIGIN : GERMANY PERIOD : 15th CENTURUY Height : 74 cm Width : 43 cm Depth : 22,5 cm Good condition Oak wood This beautiful 15th-c...

French Gothic Ormolu Cut Glass and Marble/Quartz Double Inkwell France, circa 1870s A magnificent French Gothic Ormolu Cut Glass and Marble/Quartz Double Inkwell, dating back to the...

Byzantine style carved marble Baptismal font on later cast stone stand. Four lion leads Circumnavigate the font. Foliate and Byzantine Carving Th...

We mounted this Gothic architectural fragment on a custom iron stand. In this new context it becomes a sculpture with a almost abstract f...

Religious statue of Saint Eligius from the 16th century in full wood found in France. This very rare find has a beautiful patina due to its old age. The hand and staff are missing. A...

Mid 17th century Northern European carved figure of a saint. This striking statue depicts a saint who is dressed in robes, whilst holding his hand over his heart. This figure is freestanding and is stood within a leaning position which makes him stand out. It has been beautifully carved from oak and has remnants of its original paintwork. Likely to have stood within a church for many years and would have been removed due to renovation reasons. This historical figure...

This is a very large and heavy solid granite stone carved sculpture fountain. This gargoyle with opening at mouth for a water fountain. It is a fantastic and whimsical item. We ha...

Brass and enamel multi-light standing candelabra in the Gothic style. The foot is bulbous scroll pattern with enamelled cartouches sitting on three mythical beasts. The candle holder...

Seating on a bench-like throne the Virgin carries her child on her left knee. She bears an important crown high on her head .The Virgin has an ovoid face with bulging eyes, straight long nose and thin lips. The hair parts in the middle and are carved as thick horizontals parallel hair strands...

Cast bronze life size gothic skeleton / bone praying hands sculpture, titled on base Eternal Hope and signed Park '92. In the style of Blackman Cruz Workshop.

A medieval English alabaster statue, possibly dating as far back as the late 14th / early 15th century, mounted on one of our exclusive large display plinths. Well weathered over the centuries, this 600-year-old statue depicts a medieval cloaked figure, possibly a monk, offering a glimpse into English architecture and sculpture of the Middle Ages. This sculpture is possibly made from Nottingham alabaster. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Nottingham was the centre of alabaster carving and painting. Alabaster works were mostly made as small alabaster models with religious themes. During the 16th century Reformation, many alabaster carvings were destroyed under King Henry VIII's rule, making any surviving examples even more significant. Provenance From the collection of Peter Hone (b. 1941). A master plaster caster, he is an expert and experienced collector, building up an extraordinary, museum-worthy collection of items in his one-bedroom flat in London W11...

Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM Box, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. This alms box is made of pine wood painted in shades of blue and gray with carved saint figures onamentations decorating the top. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: Saints Box: 33 cm H x 37 cm W x 14 cm D Poor...

Rectangular body casket with semicircular lid made of carved wood and covered with a worked leather that has been reinforced with a series of forged iron fittings, material in which ...

Gothic Corbel France, 15th century limestone 36 x 44 x 45 cm This imposing culot, carved in stone and dating from the fifteenth century, exemplifies the expressive vitality and imag...

Pair of massive Gothic style brass candelabra of impressive size. Can be electrified or used to hold large pillar candles.

Pair of 19th-century French Gothic-style 5-light Candelabra - Private Collection Domenico Rugiano

SAINT WOMAN IN POLYCHROME CARVED WOOD   ORIGIN : ITALY PERIOD : late 13th century   Height : 103 cm Length : 28  cm Width : 16 cm  Remains of polychromy   ...

A decorative set of two antique cast bronze Mission bells sculptures. Each bell features fine details and engraving. Perfect to decorate your desk, st...

Heavy Bronze Gothic Pestle and Mortar An unusual pair and very heavy probably made for the preparation of herbal treatments rather than for culinary use The mortar is clean inside ...

Early Heavily Embossed Brass Box This is a large and heavy chest is made in Brass with a wooden lining, the beaten brass is embossed with decorativ...

This beautiful antique bronze figure, was created in France, circa 1880. The realistic sculpture, titled on the front: "Escholier, 14eme Siecle", (meaning middle French, 14th century...

Saint Ambrosius Italian sculpture 17th century in painted and gilded wood. The figure is represented standing up blessing with the hand. Faults and defects. Dimensions. Heigh...

A Pair of 16th Century Oak Saints: One being a male depicted wearing a long hooded cloak held together with a brooch over a flowing tunic tied at the ...

French Gothic-style (19/20th Century) oak coffer chest on stand with tracery carved panels and a domed lid with iron strap work

A fine and rare Indian carved sandstone stele of a Jain family group, Sarnath style, early Indian Medieval period, 6th-7th century, Uttar Pradesh, India. Carved from a single block of buff sandstone, the stele features a Jain family group comprised of a father, mother, and two children. The family group is portrayed upon a lotus pedestal under a tall palm tree. The mother and father both seated in a relaxed pose known as lalitasana, or royal ease pose, a jovial expression on their faces. The mother holds the daughter in her lap. The younger son scampers mischievously up the trunk of the palm tree, his head turned to look back at his parents. Above the family, nestled in a niche amongst the palm fronds, an image of a Jain Tirthankara...

This striking original mixed media sculpture is a masterclass in curiosity-inspired decor. Utilizing a repurposed vintage wooden box as its canvas, the artist has created a detailed ...

Flemish Polychrome Sculpture of the Meeting of St. Joachim and St. Anna. Sandstone cast over limestone depicting St. Joachim and St. Anna's embrace at the Golden Gate after the news ...

A Seljuk Bronze Oil Lamp Base, 12th/13th Century a tripod stand with stylized hoofed feet. Provenance: Private Australian Collection. Dimensions: Height: 62.5cm. Diameter: 22cm.

Italian Romanesque 12th century marble recumbent lion 12th century Italian roman marble lion  with a stylized mane and tail wrapped around its body a...

A wonderful sculptural figure of a lady, intricate in detail and wearing women's medieval attire and hat. A good weight at 18 lbs - use as a heavy duty bookend, decor or door sto...

Head of a crowned Virgin Île-de-France, first half of 14th century. H26 x 14 x 14 cm Provenance : - Private Collection, Paris France (1960) - Private Collection Tuscany, Italy (19...

A 16th Century Giltwood and Polychromed Carved Group depicting God and Mary seated on a plinth.

19th Century Brass Wall hanging Shield A Decorative Gothic wall hanging Shield hand made in brass, the shield is decorated with mythical Warriors and beasts, there are 2 images of t...

A very fine antique jeweled, silver Viennese enamel covered Cornucopia. Each panel is beautifully enameled with cupids, Angeles and Maidens with neoclassical mythological subjects, f...

Amazing period piece. Beautiful hand-carved fragment depicting a dragon / mythical creature. Once had its place in wall of a medieval church or chapel in Spain. Weathered stone full ...

A cast model of a Danish Runestone from the Viking era. The so-called Klemensker Stenen on the Island of Bornholm found in 1882. It is one of the tallest/largest Danish Runestones me...

From the esteemed former collection of Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, this exquisite early 16th-century polychromed carved wood figure of St. Florian stands as a rare example of late...

A polychrome sculpture depicting the Virgin and the Child Mosan region, second half of 13th century Polychrome wood 73 x 29 X 12 cm Provenance : Former Belgian private collection from the beginning of the 20th century This remarkable early artwork portrays the Enthroned Virgin and Child, also known as Sedes Sapientiae, which translates to the 'Seat of Wisdom...

A 1960s candle sconce. Consists of a panel of iridescent glass framed by twisted iron. Seven fluted brass heads elevate to hold taper candles. Lovely patina throughout. Pair availabl...

Hand Carved Stone Vide poche Basin Jardinière bowl planter vessel sink Antiques . 17th C. Possibly earlier Gothic Container . A Water Trough Benitier in a ...

A rare and large Christ of pity, or Christ in bonds. Jesus is sitting on a rock, stripped of his clothes, awaiting his execution. Monoxyle Ash wood carved in the round. Traces of po...

An impressive plaster Romanesque capital model elevated by a later 20th century bespoke oak display plinth, made by the French Louvre Museum workshops in the late 19th/early 20th century (stamped). The cast is a museum reproduction taken from the original medieval limestone capital dating back to the 12th century, circa 1125-1130. It is just one of various carved capitals in the Louvre’s diverse artistic collection that was sourced from the Moutiers-St-Jean, a Benedictine Church in Burgundy, France. This area, famed for its wines, is reflected in the cast carving of this model, the capital displaying a vineyard scene with figures harvesting grapes to make wine. Steeped in history, this reproduction medieval capital...

19th century crucifix or corpus Christi made from wood. Wooden cross with a nice patina and an exquisite shape. This item depicts the Christ in his last agony on the cross, after be...

Bronze candlestick. Century XVI. Polished bronze candlestick with a wide circular base from which arises a truncated cone axis opening into a smooth plat...