Renaissance Decorative Objects

Italian Venetian-style (20th Century) multi colored round crystal paperweight with 5 bubbles.

North Italian, 16th century Bust of the emperor Vitellius Bronze, on later bronze socle, lead support to reverse 18 cm. / 7 ins (the bust), 23 cm. / 9 ins overall This fine and apparently unique all’antica Renaissance bronze is inspired by a bust in Venice thought to depict the Roman emperor Vitellius (15-69 AD), who ruled for only eight months in 69 AD before he was overthrown by Vespasian. The Vitellio Grimani, also known as the pseudo-Vitellius, was discovered in Rome in 1505 during excavations on the Quirinale on land owned by the Venetian cardinal Domenico Grimani (1461-1523). On the death of Grimani the Vitellius was sent to Venice and bequeathed to the Republic of Venice, where it was displayed at the Palazzo Ducale from 1525 to 1593. It is now in the Museo arceologico nazionale di Venezia (inv. 20) and regarded as a portrait of an unknown Roman from the first half of the second century AD. The present small bust, with its rough, waxy surface and imaginative adaptation of the antique model on which it is based, bears all the hallmarks of Renaissance bronze modelling in the north of Italy. Indeed, the vigorous modelling is reminiscent of the works by Andrea Briosco, called Il Riccio (1470-1532), who worked in Padua in the Veneto and specialised in small bronzes based on antique subjects. See, for example, his head of Bacchus (private collection, offered at Sotheby’s London in 2021), which has a similarly waxy treatment of the hair. The fantastical lion-mask on the breastplate, with its stylised face and unusual braids of hair, is also typical of the imaginative re-working of antique motifs by Renaissance artists. This indicates that the present bust is probably by a follower of Riccio working in Padua or another centre of classicism in the Veneto. RELATED LITERATURE: L. Planiscig, 'Andrea Riccio...

An exceptionally rare antique German Renaissance carving by Stephan Rottaler (1581-1533), Bavaria circa 1500. The carving is by Stephan Rottaler, Landshut, Germany, an architect who ...

In a Renaissance style. Possibly Northern European or German. In the form of the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless mortal body of Jesus Christ after his removal from the cross. This is known as the Pietà - the sixth of the "Seven Sorrows of Mary" and a common depiction in sculpture. Carved out of several joined wood blocks. Simply a wonderful antique Religious sculpture...

Large patinated wooden sculpture depicting a woman in a draped dress, carrying a vase on her head. The sculpture is of very high quality, particularly the patina, which gives it a...

Easily recognizable with his gesture of showing pest effect on his thigh this pilgrim saint is accompanied by an angel curing him. The quality of the wood is noteworthy. Bibliography Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art Chrétien...

Robert Haviland & C. Parlon Limoges France Decorative Plate 1979 Limited Ed # 3. Limited Edition collectible plate "The Lady and the Unicorn" by Robert Haviland & Co and Limoges France. Haviland Limoges France Limited Edition Porcelain Collector Plate "La Dame a La Licorne". La Chasse a La Licorne Limoges Haviland C. Parlon Collectible Plate. 1970s French Limoges limited edition and 22-karat gold collectors plate by Haviland & Parlon. This coveted and rare collector plate display a scene from the famous late fifteenth century Renaissance Paris tapestries of unicorn hunting scene ," La Chasse A La Licorne". The plate is hand painted with an incredible amount of detail, bright and bold colors with a 22-karat gold rim. Made of porcelain with a glossy finish, this round plate features a stunning multicolor fairy tale design with a unicorn theme. The plate is handmade and painted, and is part of the Limoge product line. This vintage Haviland Limoges La Chasse a la Licorne Unicorn Plate...

Possibly Saint Hubertus or Saint Eustace. Carved, polychrome and gilded wood. Spanish school, 16th century. Carving in polychrome and gilded wood, sim...

A terracotta bust of Christ as The Redeemer Tuscany or Emilia Romagna, late 15th century Measures: 46 x 43 x 21 cm This powerful, moving bust of...

For your consideration, a decorative plate vintage medieval knights metal dish plate ashtray FIA Lyon France. Stainless steel. Stamped by maker. Dimensions: 1.13" H x 5.13" in diame...

Circa 1880, this elegant antique French bronze bust portrays a refined Renaissance gentleman with a contemplative expression. The figure is modeled wearing a soft period cap and rich...

Stunning life-size carved wood sculpture of a man's head dating from circa 1700 in the south of Europe.  

This exquisite pair of 19th-century French candlesticks combines the luxurious materials of gilt bronze, cloisonné enamel, and onyx to create a stunning display of opulence and craft...

PAIR of Italian Venetian style (Art Nouveau) life size polychromed figures of women standing on round globes with green painted and decorated pedestal base

A very fine copy of the Renaissance sculpture entitled 'A Little Boy'. After Italian Renaissance sculptor Desiderio da Settignano, or Deside...

This is an alabaster and marble bust of Saint Clare of Assisi. It depicts a young lady head/face covered with a cloak. She is looking down, very peacefully...

Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique Gothic Renaissance Revival Distres Blue Painted Twisted Wrought Iron Italian ...

Italian Renaissance style plaster mouth detail of Michelangelo\'s David statue

Italian Renaissance style plaster eye detail of Michelangelo\'s David statue

PAIR of Italian Renaissance-style (19/20th Century) brass candlesticks with an open double swirl design on a round base (PRICED AS PAIR).

Italian Venetian style (20th Cent) blue swirl design colored crystal paperweight.

Italian Venetian-style (20th Century) multi colored round crystal paperweight with floral design.

A handsome and most decorative pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated Bronze urns. The urns are raised by square bases displaying the inscription "Societé des Bronzes" below a mottled border and a fluted socle pedestals. At the body are finely detailed oak leaves and acorns with Greek key bands. The handles displays richly chased wild boar heads and striking column designs with mirrored busts...

More information coming soon… Hand-carved in the 1600 or 1700s, these French busts in profile are in the style of the Renaissance. One figure is a bearded man with long, flowing lo...

This is an old large Spaniard hand painted and carved wood nude baby Jesus. He has hand painted large expressive eyes and eye brows. His abundant hair is bro...

These exquisite Italian candleholders, crafted in Florence during the Renaissance period, showcase the refined artistry and naturalistic motifs popular in the 1500s. Each piece is ma...

Italian Renaissance style plaster ear detail of Michelangelo\'s David statue

Antique Italian Marble Relief Carved 20" Oval Renaissance Bearded Gentleman Bust. Item features ornate detailed carving throughout, raised relief bust, identity of gentleman unknown,...

Continental, early 20th century. A antique oval box made of brass and other metals. The box has a basketweave pattern to the exterior and an affixed basalt plaque to the top. The pl...

Throughout the sixteenth century, sculptors working in the German city of Nuremberg carved sculptural reliefs in various media. This polychrome example, which depicts Hercules’ battl...

Antique French Renaissance Art Nouveau Figural Bronze 4 Candle Pink Glass Column Candelabra. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 18.5" H x 1...

Large photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with painted fire enamels like lapis lazuli stone. Shaping taken from the tiles of the North Door of the Baptistery of the F...

An exceptional and rare pair of Renaissance bronze candlesticks, dating from the 16th century and likely originating from Bohemia (modern - day Czech Republic). Each candlestick feat...

Before describing the object under consideration, we must make an important clarification; the artifact, one of many that we will publish over time, is part of the museum collection of a historic Florentine crystal grinder that unfortunately closed recently. It is the Marcello Galgani & Son company, whose completely manual and artisanal work has not withstood the disproportionate advance of mass-produced mechanical processes! Marcello Galgani began his craft as a grinder and restorer in 1960; as the years went by, Marcello mastered and became familiar with particular techniques and shapes, resulting in the production of objects that manage to retain the freshness of grinding and engraving, the warmth and softness of light, and the inimitable flavor of unique artifacts. After several years, his son Lorenzo, who grew up among crystals, also entered the business and immediately became passionate about this ancient craft with skill and ability. Stimulated by the aesthetic sense of the past, father and son, set up a workshop in which the shapes they researched and created themselves are mouth-blown by traditional Tuscan glassmakers in Empoli, then ground and engraved using ancient sixteenth-century techniques, with motifs born from the Galgani's inexhaustible imagination or culturally inspired by designs of objects seen and studied in Florentine museums (Uffizi, Galleria Palatina, Museo degli Argenti, etc.). Marcello and Lorenzo Galgani were also Masters in the difficult art of restoration, bringing rare and precious objects back to life. As mentioned the company recently closed and disposed of all its last production, and only Marcello's old private museum collection remained, which includes unique and special objects created over time, a collection that the craftsman made available to us for a planned sale. All of the objects were made entirely by hand with old grinding wheels, but there were mainly two tools that allowed the creation of masterpieces: the right hand and the left hand of the master craftsman. Ancient glassmaking techniques were used for all the ground and engraved products: first, the object was ground with an emery wheel fed continuously by a jet of abrasive sand and water, then re-polished with a very fine-grained sandstone wheel also fed with water; the engravings were done freehand using as many as 10-15 small stone wheels for each design (flowers, branches, animals, etc. ); then the object was polished and shined; we must make, at this point, an important clarification on these last two operations: towards the end of the 1960s acid crystal polishing was devised, the object was immersed and rotated in a solution of sulfuric acid, fluoridic acid and water and in a short time all the defects left by the previous processes were eliminated, it was a fast, industrial operation that allowed to lower costs considerably, with discrete but not excellent results. But for Galgani's products polishing is done with a cork bark wheel wet with water and pumice, to make the surfaces more transparent, and finally polishing was achieved with a felt wheel wet with a paste of water, iron oxide, and cerium oxide. This series of processes takes an average of two days of work( sometimes much longer) for each object, each engraving or grinding is the result of the creative inventiveness of the two artisans, inventiveness that transforms crystal into reality material of the highest aesthetic value and inestimable value. All the items in the entire collection have never been used; they were part of the exhibition. Huge and monumental Florentine Renaissance-style vase...

Rare architectural Corbel with Foliate Mask known as "Green Man" France, 14th century Limestone 16 x 35 x 12 cm Architectural fragment in grey limestone, featuring a relief anthropo...

Renaissance Fragment: The Grotesque Candelabrum
 Italy, 16th century
 Marble 29 x 21 x 12,5 cm This fragment of a white marble pilaster constitutes a remarkable testament to the orn...

Small marble desk sculpture depicting a sleeping putto, early 19th century. The sculpture takes from a rinscimental model by François Duqyesnoy, preserved in Rome, and was popular a...

Well cast and impressive sculpture of a nude woman entitle "The Vine" numbered 9/100. Bronze cast on solid marble base. Measures: 24" high.

Arm Holding a Shield Spain, 17th century Wood 18 x 47 x 15 cm This remarkable fragment depicts a right arm grasping a shield, most likely detached from a monumental figure of a knig...

Beautiful and very rare set of six engravings extracted from the work entitled “speculun romanae superbeiae” produced between 1554 and 1573 by An...

Small statuette in bronze of a Venetian mercenary on a small brown stone base with a natural edge. Italy, 16th/17th Century.

Life-size marble sculpture of Spring by Antonio Frilli Italian, late 19th century Height 159cm, width 47cm, depth 40cm This superb sculpture is the work of Antonio Frilli, a renowned Italian artist active in the late 19th century, who founded the Frilli gallery...

Antique Emmanuel Villanis "Saida" Pewter Clad Small Female Bust Sculpture Statue on Marble Base. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 7" W x 5" D.

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...

This fine majolica centerpiece is made and hand-painted in Deruta, Italy. The Bowl recalls the ancient structure of the Greek cups that were used to mix wate...

One-of-a-kind wood sculpture created from 18th-century gilt fragments. Filippo Gherardi (b.1983) was born in Livorno, Italy. Driven by his passion for antiques, he studied and pract...

Pair of Italian Renaissance style (19th Century) carved oak large angels with guitars.  

GUIDING ANGEL Probably Northern Italian, late 16th or early 17th century Lost-wax cast bronze, nuanced black lacquered patination Raised on a later Sienna marble base 7 7/8" H x 2 ...

Antique French Renaissance Figural Brass Repousse Fireplace Coal Scuttle Bucket. Circa Early 19th Century. Measurements: 13.5" H x 12" W x 10" D.

Large, finely carved marble coat of arms surmounted by a knight's helmet and surrounded by rich, harmoniously curved mantling. The shield is composed of 3 fortified towers, a fleur-...

A genuine original Armani Figurine of a woman with a dog , very detailed sculpture, which G. Armani is famous for , it is made in Florence Italy , l...

Superb and rare chiseled bronze basin from the Italian Renaissance. Very beautiful workmanship. Uncommon and very decorative object. Very beautiful patina and in superb condition.

Vintage French Renaissance Silver Plated Figural Italian Inkstand Desk Double Inkwell. Item features double inkwell with inserts, central can...

Antique continental wood carving of a youth holding a vessel resting on a lion carved pedestal, 19th century. Both wood carving and pedestal have excelle...

Saint Crispin
Loire Valley, 16th century
tuffeau stone Height: 67 cm Provenance: Private French collection since the 1960s This fragmentary limestone sculpture represents Saint Cris...

An elegant pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. onyx and ormolu urns/ewers. The pair are raised on square onyx plinths below circular ormolu bases with reeded borders and palm...

A terracotta bust "Ecce Homo" Florence, 15th century 53 x 44 x 31 cm

English Renaissance-style (19th Century) pewter chalice with hunter and gun relief and finial on lid.  

**Antique-Style Bronze – Young Child with a She-Wolf on a Pedestal – 16th Century – M1423** This **16th-century bronze** is finely crafted. It depicts a **young child accompanied, p...

Superb Flemish Renaissance bronze pot from the 16th century. Superb patina and in very good condition.