A Tall 19th Century Carved and Lacquered Wooden Urn from Florence Italy

This stunning lidded urn might have once been found in a 19th century Italian apothecary. The front of the shaped urn body has the hand-painted phrase “C. Violaru”, which is the heavily abbreviated form of the Latin word for violet (violaceum). Up until the mid-1700’s, apothecaries would make syrups from violets and use it to treat kidney ailments. Above the Latin wording is a whimsical musical scene with a man blowing a horn leading a couple who is holding hands over rocky terrain lined with shrubbery. A large house and trees can be seen behind the trio with a pair of mountains in the distance. On the opposite side of the urn is a floral display with a bird perched on a rock. Beneath the bird is a geometric design, possibly a stylized sun with radiating beams of light. Both scenes are segmented by a pair of thin quarter round moldings that encircle the entire vase. Other hand-painted motifs include floral and foliate margents, geometric patterns, and Vitruvian waves that are infilled with horizontal fluting. The sides of the urn have a fish-scale background beneath two mustachioed mascarons. Both men have been styled in grotesque fashion, with a pair of spiraled horns emanating from their heads. In between the horns is a looping handle that is affixed to the body in similar tight spirals. The domed lid has three scrolled arms that merge in a geometric finial. The base color of the urn is white, with illustrations in a monochromatic cobalt oxide blue, reminiscent of Delft blue pottery...

This colorful antique Italian Majolica vase dates to the 1800s. This type of pottery was first produced during the Italian Renaissance, and it often depicted historical and mythologi...

This fantastic faience jardiniere and pedestal were hand-painted in Boulogne, France (formally “Boulogne-sur-Mer”) in the late 1800’s. The vibrant set features heraldic displays set among foliate and floral illustrations. Both the pedestal and the jardiniere have white backgrounds festooned with green leaves and blue, yellow, orange, and purple flowers. The opening of the jardiniere has asymmetrical edges dotted by small piercings, with flowering vines painted along the inner rim. Exquisite handles, comprised of curled leaves and C-scrolls, are affixed to the sides of the lobed body. Numerous painted motifs grace the area between the handles, including drapery, scrolls, and floral baskets hanging from an arabesque border. Equally impressive décor can be seen on the tetrapartite stand with a molded top. Each layer of the molding has a different color scheme, ranging from yellow with volute embellishments to solid green. The neck of the stand has been adorned with floral displays above multi-colored scrolls, shells, and scalloped leaves. In the center of each scalloped leaf is a distinct heraldic shield: on one side is a French style shield representing the city of Boulogne, with a swan that symbolizes perfection. On the opposite side is coat of arms topped by a closed crown, emblazoned with a five-fold cross over three roundels, which is the coat of arms for Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of Jerusalem, who was born in Boulogne. Beneath the coat of arms are a pair of scrolled feet adorned with scalloped leaves and scrolls. There are two more feet to the sides that have pierced elements with floral vines beneath. Our 19th century hand-painted faience jardiniere on pedestal...

This marble crown finial was hand-carved in Italy in the 1800’s. The marble is cream colored with fascinating gray striped veining. Years of patina build ...

Vivid colors, hand-painted in the Renaissance style, enhance this large maiolica pot from the 1800’s. Maiolica is tin-glazed pottery from Italy that has been decorated over a white background. This pot is considered an istoriato, which is to say that the pot has been decorated with figures, rather than strictly geometric patterns or floral designs. The maiolica does incorporate floral and foliate motifs, with white flowers that have yellow centers surrounded by blue rings. There are also yellow flowers that are depicted in various stages of nyctinasty (the closing of flowers during the night). The flora is all connected by a series of green and yellow curled leaves. Behind the vegetation is a dark blue background. There are two portraits inside large yellow cartouches that are painted in the middle of the pot. The first is a bearded man, dressed in a light brown tunic...

Hand-cast by truly skilled Southern Italian artisans, this pair of lidded limestone urns are in the Neoclassical style. Each urn is a testament to the artistry of hand casting, esche...

A handsome and large scale handsome Italian 19th century marble urn. The impressive urn is raised by a square stepped base below the elegant ...

A good quality 19th century Italian gilded ormolu and bronze lidded urn, having a young boy holding fruit as a finial to the lid, foliate and acorn relief decoration, a boars head ha...

A very fine and monumental Italian 19th century Renaissance Revival Style Carved Alabaster figural ewer or urn. The impressive ornately carved alabaster ovoid body centered with an allegorical female mask crowned with grape vines and leaves, the top of the urn with a winged griffin handle flanked by two figures of males, each holding a swagged drape being held by a bull's horns; all raised on a square alabaster plinth...

Beautifully Decorated Majolica Urn

A wooden object made in the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Mat and dry texture of the wood is perfect for wabi sabi interior object. It's also nice to use it as...

19th Century hand-painted lidded urn from Rouen is typical of the colorful and artistic works from the storied region, capturing the vivid natural hues o...