18th Century German Baroque Architectural Putti Bust Wall Shelf Carving

A stunning antique Italian Baroque style silvered metal gilded wood monstrance reliquary. circa 1770-1820 Handmade in Italy in the late 18th / early 19th century, commissioned by the church to display an important religious relic, sculptural painted wood form, mounted with decorative silver repousse metal facing, open oval window where the philatory relic was once housed, rising on a gold gilt painted shaped plinth base. Dimensions: (approx) 17" High, 8" Wide, 5" Deep, 1.25lbs History: Reliquaries (also referred to as a shrine or châsse in French), are containers used to protect and display relics. A portable reliquary may be called a fereter, and a chapel in which it is housed a feretory. A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharistic host during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also used as reliquary for the public display of relics of some saints. The use of reliquaries became an important part of Christian practices from at least the 4th century, initially in the Eastern Churches, which adopted the practice of moving and dividing the bodies of saints much earlier than the West, probably in part because the new capital of Constantinople, unlike Rome, lacked buried saints. Relics are venerated in the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and some Anglican Churches. Reliquaries provide a means of protecting and displaying relics. While frequently taking the form of caskets, they range in size from simple pendants or rings to very elaborate ossuaries. The relics were enshrined in containers crafted of or covered with gold, silver, gems, and enamel. These objects constituted a important form of artistic production across Europe and Byzantium throughout the Middle Ages. Many were designed with portability in mind, often being exhibited in public or carried in procession on the saint's feast day or on other holy days. Pilgrimages often centered on the veneration of relics. The faithful often venerate relics by bowing before the reliquary or kissing it; those churches which observe the veneration of relics distinguish between the honor given to the saints and the worship that is due to God alone. Sixteenth-century reformers such as Martin Luther opposed the use of relics since many had no proof of historical authenticity and objected to a cult of saints. Many reliquaries, particularly in northern Europe, were destroyed by Calvinists or Calvinist sympathizers during the Reformation...

A long hand carved wooden mangle board (clothing and bedding press) with beautiful patina. Handmade in Sweden, circa 1744, this Scandinavian antique with...

A unique signed original Baroque Sauteuse commode from the 18th century. Exceptionally executed, this elegant German mid-sized walnut cabinet presents with absolutely beautiful inlay works, including patchwork marquetry, scrolled inlay and fine inlayed thread work that provide this unique period commode a fine touch of luxury. Finished in Rococo Louis XV taste, the artisans carefully selected highest quality, warm, rich woods, including burled walnut, fruitwood, olive wood, burl maple and various other exotic woods. Having a serpentine shaped top and case fitted with two gorgeous curved drawers, each with parcel-gilt brass pulls and interior paper lining marked Fabrication Allemande. Both the case and drawers have been joined by hand carved dovetail joinery. Resting over a wonderfully shaped and hand carved solid walnut base, accented by simple scroll running ornamentation carvings along the apron, gracefully rising on high cabriole legs, terminating on hoof feet. Signed/Stamped, interior, legible. It is one of the pieces of our extensive collection richer in inlays, very warm and complex, a feature that made us literally fall in love at first sight of this beautiful antique dresser...

A most impressive antique Spanish Colonial hand carved polychromed wood Santo Catholic church altar figure. circa 1800 Hand-crafted in the late 18th / early 19th century, exceptionally executed intricate detailing, the large scale antique religious sculpture depicting the female Saint Teresa of Avila, polychrome painted gesso over finely sculpted wood, inset glass eyes, shown in Carmelite nun habit...

A fabulous French Empire period giltwood figural candlestick, early 19th century, now professionally electrified and fashioned as a single-light table lamp. Exquisitely hand carve...

A monumental Hindu Nandi temple gate-guardian architectural ornament, born in India, dating to the 19th century, hand carved and painted, richly detailed, polychrome decorated, the w...

A finely carved Memento Mori base to hold the holy cross, now hangs to make for a decorative wee shelf. Original polychromed painted decoration, European in origins, age related wear...

A stunning pair of mid-18th century Italian Baroque Putti beautifully crafted in polychromed wood - now resting on their iron stands. Charming position w...

An unusual subject in an interesting pose with a bundle of fruits in his arms. The clothes, head piece, etc., are well detailed.

A truly magnificent and wonderful large hand-carved Italian Baroque wood church angel from the 18th Century. This work, which at one point was likely pol...

18th century wooden carving of an female form. Presumed to be a French church piece. This figure has a beautiful face.

A large carved and polychrome painted tobacconist's figure almost certainly 17th or early 18th century For a related example see Edward H. Pinto, Treen and other Wooden Bygones, Bell and Hyman, London 1969. Page 412, plate 436. Originally this may well have been a tobacconist's shop window figure. For a similar, but slightly earlier unpainted example, see Sotheby's, The W. J. Shepherd collection of treen, 30th November 1983, Lot 393, illustrated in Pinto "Wooden Bygones of Smoking and Snuff Taking", plate 1. Carved wooden figures, often painted, were placed outside tobacconist's shops as signs from the 17th century onwards. The earliest of these figures is the 'black boy' or 'blackamoor'. 'At the sign of the black boy' or 'at the sign of the blackamoor' was a popular address for tobacconists since the early 17th century. The 17th century figures...