Late 18th C Italian Hand Carved & Painted Poplar Wood Phallus Snuff Puzzle Box

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...

A large scale heraldic gilt lion off naive depiction, constructed around a pine carcass with a thick hessian and plaster/gesso skin. The original gilt is beautifully faded, the pl...

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 well executed almost life size skull and crossbones pine carving, depicting the remembrance that we all will pass. Likely a part of a larger religious carving, possibly placed a...

A oversized late 19th century Marionette in original untouched condition, originating from Palmero Italy. The figure is missing both arms, its original clothing is heavily fad...

A rather odd pair of hardwood carved furniture feet from South Tyrolean region Italy, possibly from a ecclesiastical piece like a chest. They remind me of the early imagery of the S...

A big hand carved painted stag sculpture in wood, early 18th century. Pre-owned by a collector. This sculpture are one of a kind. The stag deer are a symbol of spiritual authority, a deer stag is here depicted in all its magnificent elegance. Wooden sculpture of a life-size deer stag laying upon a rectangular platform base. The symbol of the stag: The deer’s antlers are one of the characteristics that have made it the figure of a spiritual superiority, according to some. Like a crown, the antlers grow beyond its body, bringing it closer to the sky and making it sacred. In many cultures, the deer is a symbol of spiritual authority. During a deer’s life the antlers fall off and grow again and the animal is also a symbol of reGeneration. In the Christian imagination, the deer is a symbol of piety, devotion and of God taking care of his children: men. The legend of Saint Eustace...

We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare late 18th early 19th-century hand carved wood statue of an Angel with lovely movement and articulated arms A truly stunn...

A lovely angel, his right hand extended as if to touch something or hold something. He appears very calm and peaceful, clothed in a partial shroud which is draped over his shoulder...

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 Spanish Conquistador carved wood figure. 18th century Carved and painted wood Spanish Conquistador figure or sculpture. This beautif...

A wonderful, well-carved, heavy work depicting religious figures. Perhaps featured in a church or temple at one time. We are listing it as 18th-1...