Collectibles and Curiosities

Tajan 1993 Islamic Art, Orientalist Paintings Auction Catalog Orientalist painting and Islamic Art, Text in French. Paperback softcover Islamic Art bo...

Traditional religious plaster figure of a virgin. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and...

This antique Dow Jones News Wire Broad Tape Ticker Tape machine from the 1930s-1940s. With its beautifully crafted design and historical significan...

Modernist silver plate menorah, circa 1970s. The menorah is in fair condition with some spotting to the plate and measures 6.5"W x 4.25"D x 6.7...

Custom maritime display with a solid brass ships sextant by John Lilley and Company of London. Mounted into a custom made mahogany box. The highly polished and lacquered sextant is m...

Carl Auböck Model #4500 'Lucky Pig' brass figurine keyring. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural object is hand fabricated in polish...

Luxury Exotic Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design 3.75" H x 1.75 W x 0.5" D Costantini founder William Stuart has bough...

Lalique "Arethuse" Masque De Femme Art Deco Black & Clear Crystal set A set of 2 black resin pendants and a brooch with clear crystal on black resin and the pendants with twisted ...

Unique handmade vintage miniature chair made from metals with mixed finishes. Geometric in form with a round, concave seat atop an angular, square frame, likely intended to hold an i...

As a species of colonial stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae, Seriatopora hystrix is commonly referred to as thin birds nest coral due to its bushy clump formation. It can be fo...

Set of two hand-painted antique figures of two men made of wood. Explore the captivating charm of these two hand-painted antique wooden stick fig...

Fine Pre-Columbian Narino footed bowl from the highlands of Columbia, circa 1250-1500 AD. Desirable polychrome bowl would make a great addition to any pre-Columbian collection. Au...

Collecting Clarice Cliff Book by Howard Watson. The bold, bright hand-painted designs and extraordinary shapes of Clarice Cliff ceramics have attracted collectors for decades. Now, there is a convenient handbook with pricing, pattern identification, and a detailed history of Clarice Cliff and her work, a unique find in the small selection of books on the popular pottery. Readers will find over 500 price listings for teaware, plates, pots, vases, novelties and more. Nearly 200 detailed, full-color photos of the most common pattern styles, along with a convenient shape guide, aid in identification. Clarice Cliff remains one of the most revered and respected ceramic artists of the 20th century. Clarice Cliff comprehensively records her life and work, celebrating it with excellently reproduced images of her major pieces from her collections all around the world. Very good paperback copy; edges slightly dust-dulled and nicked. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. Physical description: 128 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. Subjects: Cliff, Clarice 1899-1972. Bizarre ware. Art deco England. Pottery Design. Genre: Decorative arts. Language: English. Title: Collecting Clarice Cliff. Publisher: London : Kevin Francis...

Fine Spanish coin that was previously on a silver bracelet (sold separately). Spain, Alphonse XII (1874-1885), 5 Peseta, 1882, Year: 1882 Metal: Silver.

ABOUT A vintage brass and copper plated racing car loving cup trophy mounted on tiered solid Walnut base. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Unknown. DATE...

Mannequin Sculpted and carved wood Italy or France, second half of the 19th century. It measures 25.59 x 6.29 x 3.54 in (65.5 x 16 x 9 cm) It weighs 2.2 lb circa (1 kg circa) St...

Vintage new old stock limited edition and collectable POP Swatch watch from the 1992 Fall Winter Collection "Special Dots" model PWK166, Designed by Vasarel...

The legendary Schumacher design house presents an inspiring interiors survey exploring the versatile and transformative use of blue and white Let Schumacher take you on a tour of the best of blue and white decorating, featuring interiors that show just how versatile this color combination can be. Divided by style – charming, modern, boho, traditional, and more – the book features a guide to iconic blue and white colors from robin's egg, sky, and cerulean to oyster, alabaster, and porcelain, as well as a roundup of best-in-class product from tabletop to fabrics and wallcoverings. This definitive survey captures the most compelling use of blue-and-white interiors in a stunning variety of rooms by the heaviest-hitting interior designers and interior photographers in the world, including Mark D. Sikes, Redd Kaihoi, Tom Scheerer, Virginia Tupker, Veere Grenney, Bruce Budd, Todd Romano...

French Louis XVI-style bronze wall barometer with an urn finial top with a head above the round dial and draped with a ribbon design.

Michelangelo - the Complete Sculpture, Painting & Architecture by William E. Wallace. Hardcover coffee table book with dustjacket. First edition published in 1998 by Beaux Arts Editi...

Michelangelo. The Drawings of a Genius. By Achim Gnann. Preface by Klaus Albrecht Schröder. Published by the Albertina, Vienna. This catalogue is published in conjunction with the exhibition "Michelangelo: The Drawings of a Genius", Albertina, Vienna; October 8, 2010 - January 9, 2011. 478th. Published by Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern, 2010. 1st Ed softcover exhibition catalog. Michelangelo's drawings endowed human physique with an expressive musculature that remains to be rivaled in its feeling for corporeal articulation. His drawings of male nudes in particular, fraught as they are with tempestuous longing, project both tension and pliancy, and a compelling sense of health in the exertions and torque of bodies. He was also readily able to bring contrary qualities of grace and swiftness to depictions of women and cherubim. With over 300 color plates and extensive contextualizing scholarship, Michelangelo: The Drawings of a Genius is the most complete treatment of his work ever published, and thus constitutes a publication of great importance. Masterpieces from the world's finest museums are gathered, from the early studies for the "Battle of Cascina" and the studies for the Sistine Chapel frescoes, to the drawings for the tomb of Julius II, the Medici tombs...

Georgian Architectural Designs and Details The Classic 1757 StyleBook by Abraham Swan. Published by Dover Publications, New York, 2005. Among the...

AMBIANIC presents Weather Radio WeatheRadio Deskube TW Weather NOAA Radio 12-181B Radio Shack Tandy Very minimal and modernist with touch of 70s woodgrain ...

6 Volumes. John H. Jesse. London: Its Celebrated Characters & Remarkable Places. London: Richard Bentley, 1871. Extra Illustrated. leather bound. Very Good. Bound in full dark olive ...

ABOUT A "No. 1 Pocket Kodak" folding camera. The body of camera is all leather with a leather handle and it folds smoothly closed to 1.25 inches. This camera has retained its orig...

This is a vintage chess and draughts board. An English, hardstone and marble gaming set, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Dual purpose gam...

Antique Rowing Oar, 1899 Balliol College Oxford, Head of the River. The full-length oar is an original traditional presentation rowing oar with gilt calligraphy and Balliol college insignias. The rowing blade...

Celebrate the Du Pont family heritage of land stewardship and horticultural creativity. Renowned as the first family of American horticulture, the du Ponts created magnificent landscapes and gardens that complement the Brandywine Valley...

A very rare unique example of British late Victorian 19th century Ivory and rosewood walking stick/cane. Carved Ivory clenched fist holding a r...

AUTHOR: VARIOUS - (21st Editions). TITLE: The Journal of Contemporary Photography - 6 volumes. PUBLISHER: Museum Editions, 21st Editions, 1998 - 2003. DESCRIPTION: The Signed Deluxe Limited Editions contain original hand-pulled photogravures and color ptanographs (waterless lithographs) that illuminate the essays and commentaries found in each book. Bound in Morocco, Japanese silks and Italian fabrics, and are cased in a matching portfolio box. They are fully signed on the limitation page by the artists included in each volume. Each book measures approximately 15.25” x 13.75” and the clamshell box measures approximately 16.875” x 14.75”. There are 6 volumes of The Journal published. CONDITION: IN AS NEW CONDITION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Volume 1. Number 193 of 235. Focuses on the "transcendent vision" of 15 major contemporary photographers, illustrated here in richly printed hand-pulled photogravure. Volume I also contains a woodcut by the late Leonard Baskin. Writers include Pulitzer Prize winning poet Richard Wilbur; prize-winning novelists Ann Beattie and Robert Olen Butler; poet and critic Dana Gioia; Harvard professors and award winning historians John Stilgoe and John Stauffer; and Wales’ great poet, the late R. S. Thomas, among many others. Signed by: Bernard Faucon, Michael Kenna, Holly Wright, Luis Gonzales Palma, Keith Carter, Duane Michaels, Steven Albahari, Mark Klett, Sandy Skoglund, Jock Sturgis, Ernestine Ruben, Willie Middlebrook, John Metoyer, Olivia Parker, Leonard Baskin, and Patrick Bailey-Maitre-Grand. Volume 2. Number 187 of 200. Extends the metaphysical themes of the first volume and brings together the work of 13 modern masters of the photographic arts. It contains original essays by France's leading novelist Michel Tournier; philosopher Frederick Turner; award-winning photographic historian Lee Fontanella; novelist and playwright Elizabeth Dewberry; novelist Josh Russell; and photographic historian and 21ST contributing editor Lance Speer. Signed by: Adam Fuss, Jaume Blassi, Bill Jacobson, Joyce Tenneson, Kenro Izu, Vik Muniz, Cy DeCosse, John Dugdale, Tom Baril, Joan Fonteuberta, Arthur Tress, Robert ParkeHarrison, and Sheila Metzner. Volume 3. Number 82 of 100. Entitled The Clandestine Mind, is devoted entirely to the lyrical work of John Dugdale. This master photographer's elegant male nudes and still lifes, printed in rich blue inks to match the original tones of his cyanotypes, are complemented by a short prayer for Dugdale by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler; a poem by prize-winning poet Morri Creech; and an essay by John Wood, the editor of 21ST. Signed by: John Dugdale and features - Annunciation, Christ Out Liberator, The Clandestine Mind, I Could Not See To See, Longing, Mourning Tulips, Wonder Stings Me More Than Bee, and Three White Peaches. Volume 4. Number 82 of 100. Entitled The Gardens of DeCosse, focuses exclusively on the beautiful works of Cy DeCosse. Literary contributors include fiction writer Scott Ely; gallery director John Stevenson; poet Susan Ludvigson; musician and scholar Carol Wood; and editor John Wood. Signed by Cy Decosse and features the following: King of the Night, Sunflower, Fritillaria, Cultered Pearl, Squash, Flowers & Dill, Water Lilly, Tuscan Lemons, and Queen of the Night. Volume 5. Number 39 of 125. Aptly named Strange Genius, is an insightful examination of the ways in which artists today make conscious attempts to create work that can often be unsettling, difficult, even horrific. Writers include poets Raul Peschiera, Susan Ludvigson, Gerard Malanga, and Paul Zimmer; novelists Ann Beattie and Neil Connelly; and essayists Paul LaRosa, Lance Speer, and John Wood. Signed by: Sally Mann, Michal Macku...

Geo III Mahogany fold-over card table with cluster-leg and concertina action c1780. The hinged Leather lined and gilt tooled top opens and is supported by hinged, concertina-action r...

Vintage Gaming Chips, Cards and Container. A nice set of gambling counters (poker, gambling, gaming chips) and two decks of cards in a rectangular beech-wood keeper with chrome centr...

This lighter would likely have a sleek and elegant design, indicative of the Art Deco style popular during the 1920s. This black Porcelain lighter has clean lines, geometric shapes, ...

The sculpture and paintings of 1970–4 are the subject of this third volume of the catalogue dedicated to publishing the complete paintings, sculptures and drawings of Andy Warhol (1928–87). As authoritative and detailed as the highly praised first two volumes, here Warhol's sculptures and paintings of these four years are comprehensively catalogued and illustrated. Early in this period Warhol was concentrating on film and sculpture, as he had been since being shot in 1968, but by late 1971 or early 1972 he was returning to painting and developing his painterly, 'sloppy and fast' style; a dramatic shift from his 'hard' mechanical style of before 1968. The volume covers major sculptures, such as the Rain Machine, the series of paintings Mao and Man Ray, and commissioned portraits...

This is a rare Singer Model 24 chain stitch small sewing machine. Its background is painted black and adorned with red and white foliages decal. A gold color ...

Speaker Lamborghini Carbon with all structure in polymerised carbon in an autoclave at 6 bar, including an original Lamborghini exhaust pipes, a bluetooth® 4.0 – aptX® decoding, a ...

Take home this incredible vintage Pentax Camera Lighter while it's still on the market. Rare and in perfect working condition. Adjustable lighter with a...

Early 20th century Folk Art Boat Model Collection Every now and again something truly amazing comes along, this is true in this amazing collection of...

Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...

Huge Early 20th century English architectural pine model A well modelled early 20th century hand carved oversized pine architectural model. Showing natural age and minor loss as sho...

11X World Champion Kelly Slater personal surfboard used on the world tour of surfing. Shaped in 2005 by the renowned Al Merrick. This surfboard represents a significant piece of worl...

"Bulgari, Between Eternity and History", Bulgari's jewelry coffee table or home library book celebrating Bulgari's 125th Anniversary as an iconic Italian luxury jeweler, "From 1884 T...

Title: Original 16th-Century Map of the Ottoman Empire and Near East: *Turcici Imperii Descriptio* by Ortelius, 1571 This rare copperplate engraving, Turcici Imperii Descriptio, i...

Vintage 1968 issue of Avant-Garde magazine with a superb, highly frame able cover illustration by American pop art icon, Tom Wesselmann. Celebrated within this issue is the artists w...

The great book of French impressionism by Diane Kelder Large heavy art table book by Diane Kelder. A survey of works by French artists of the Impressionist movement focuses on Pissarro, Sisley, Manet, Morisot, Monet, Renoir, Cassatt, Degas, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Absolutely gorgeous extra large coffee table book - “The Great Book of French Impressionism.” With just under 450 pages, this huge, handsomely designed volume contains more than 400 illustrations with 16 spectacular color spreads that fold out to nearly 2 feet in width. This book celebrates the richness and exuberance of the Impressionists' world--a world of light and color, of sunlit fields and shimmering waterscapes, of bustling city views and intimate domestic scenes. Contains more than 400 illustrations, over 200 in full color, with sixteen fold-out color spreads. In the text, art historian Diane Kelder traces the development of Impressionism from its roots in landscape and realist painting through its focus on modern urban life to its ultimate goal: to fix on canvas the fleeting moods and effects of nature in a world that stands still for no one. The author examines the lives and works of all the major Impressionists, including Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat, and Cézanne, and shows how their work influenced others in the movement, ultimately giving rise to the new art of the 20th century.- Title The Great Book of French Impressionism Author Horst Keller Translated by Alexis Brown...

An elegant Gustavian cast iron Tobacco Box from Hellefors Bruk, Sweden. Made in Hellefors in 1808 with a ownership inscription SHB 1808 under a royal crown. Beautiful patina. Wear ...

This antique Cross Pendant is hand made of metal. It looks very beautiful and will be a nice item on your wall or just do place it in your collection of relics and christianity items...

Rare 1793 Map of North America: French and Indian War Boundaries and Historical Notes This remarkable engraved map of North America, printed in 1793 by Emanuel Bowen and John Gibs...

Title: Antique 1830 Map of Southern Scotland with Edinburgh, Berwick, Ayr, and Dumfries Description: This 1830 German-language map, titled Britisches Reich – B. Kon Scotland, fo...

Ten-Rotor T52 "Geheimschreiber" Cipher Machine Dated 1944 This extraordinary Ten-Rotor T52 Cipher Machine, also known as the Geheimschreiber, represents the pinnacle of German wartime cryptography and stands as one of the rarest encryption devices from World War II. Manufactured in 1944 during the final phase of the conflict, this sophisticated cipher machine—codenamed "Sturgeon" by Allied intelligence—was exclusively deployed in high-level German command centers for their most sensitive communications. Its exceptional historical significance and extreme rarity make it arguably the most important cryptographic artifact available to private collectors today. The T52 presents a commanding physical presence that reflects its technological sophistication. Substantially larger and more complex than standard three or four-rotor Enigma machines, this teleprinter-based device features an imposing mechanical construction with ten precisely engineered rotating pinwheels arranged in intricate patterns. Its comprehensive keyboard system and internal mechanical components demonstrate the extraordinary engineering achievements of wartime German cryptographers. The machine's robust metal casing, designed for operational durability in high-command environments, remains in remarkable condition, preserving its historical integrity. The T52 series, manufactured by Siemens & Halske in Berlin, represented a family of cipher machines that evolved through several increasingly complex models. Unlike the simpler Enigma machines which required manual operation, the T52 functioned as an online teleprinter encryption system capable of automatically processing high volumes of communications at 50 baud (approximately 66 words per minute). This automation allowed for real-time secure communication between German high command centers, with messages encrypted and decrypted without the need for time-consuming manual transcription—a revolutionary advancement in wartime communication security. Developed for exclusive use by the Luftwaffe and German Navy high command, the T52 represented such a formidable cryptographic challenge that Bletchley Park...

A vintage Louis Vuitton golf bag circa 1960s - 1970s Beautiful example with nice patina in monogrammed canvas with natural leather trim and shoulder stra...

Barometer weather station Mid-Century Modern, 1960s Original condition it is working.

AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A. TITLE: Now We Aer Six. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1927. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SIGNED BY E. H. SHEPHARD. 1 vol, 7-1/2" x 5-1/4", signed by th...

The very best of Naomi Campbell in an updated two-volume portfolio. Supermodel, entrepreneur, activist, provocateur. Since her teenage rise to stardom, Naomi Campbell has dazzled th...

ESEMPI REPRINT. Chairs, Armchairs, and Sofas. 1934-1950. Volume I More than 1000 models of chairs, armchairs and sofas, 300 designers, 20 years of Italian and international producti...

Beautiful vintage Hannukah Menorah. This vintage piece is a replica of a menorah from the 14th century southern Europe. Made in Israel, this piece is ...

A Very Fine German 19th Century Louis XVI Style Burr Walnut Bechstein Concert Grand Piano, Serial No. 5655. The beautifully crafted Grand piano, raised on three tapered barrel shaped legs, with an intricately carved ornate music desk and original keys. Circa: 1872. Length: 80 inches (203.2 cm) Width: 59 inches: (149.9 cm) Height (top closed): 38 5/8 inches (98.1 cm) C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG (also known as Bechstein) is a German manufacturer of pianos, established in 1853 by Carl Bechstein. Before Bechstein Young Carl Bechstein studied and worked in France and England as a piano craftsman, before he became an independent piano maker. His first pianos were made for other companies. C. Bechstein C. Bechstein piano factory was founded on 1 October 1853 by Carl Bechstein in Berlin, Germany. Carl Bechstein set out to manufacture a piano able to withstand the great demands imposed on the instrument by the virtuosi of the time, such as Franz Liszt. In 1857, Hans von Bülow (Liszt's son-in-law) gave the first public performance on a Bechstein grand piano by performing Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor in Berlin By 1870, with endorsements from Franz Liszt and Hans von Bülow, Bechstein pianos had become a staple in many concert halls and private mansions. By that time three piano makers, all of which were founded in 1853, became established as the industry leaders across the world: Bechstein, Blüthner and Steinway & Sons. In 1881 Bechstein began supplying pianos to Queen Victoria. A gilded art-case piano was delivered to Buckingham Palace, followed by several more Bechstein pianos to Windsor Castle and other royal residences. By January 1886 they were among the piano manufacturers holding a Royal Warrant as a supplier to the Queen. Several British embassies across the world acquired Bechstein pianos. In 1885, Bechstein opened a branch in London, that eventually grew to become the largest showroom and dealership in Europe. By 1890 showrooms had been opened in Paris, Vienna, and Saint Petersburg. On 31 May 1901, Bechstein Hall, built at a cost of £100,000, was opened next to the company's London showroom at 36-40 Wigmore Street. Between 1901 and 1914, C. Bechstein was the largest piano dealership in London. At that time, Bechstein was patronized by the tsars of Russia, the royal families of Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Denmark, and other royalty and aristocracy. The list of royal clients of Bechstein may be found on the soundboard of vintage Bechstein pianos made before the Second World War. The list is part of the original Bechstein trademark logo; it can be seen under the strings in the center of a piano's soundboard. The signature of Carl Bechstein The years from the 1870s through 1914 brought Bechstein their most dramatic increase in sales. In 1880 a second Bechstein factory was opened in Berlin, and the third factory was opened in 1897 in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Production reached 3,700 pianos annually in 1900, and 4,600 in 1910, making Bechstein the largest German manufacturer of high-end pianos. At that time, about three quarters of production went to international markets, especially Britain and the Commonwealth, and Russia. Carl Bechstein died in 1900, and the Bechstein company continued to operate under the management of his sons. Between 1900 and 1914 C. Bechstein was one of the leading piano makers in the world, employing 1,200 craftsmen and workers by 1913 and making five thousand pianos per year. First World War C. Bechstein suffered huge property losses in London, Paris, and St. Petersburg during World War I. The largest loss was in London. Although the company's position in the United Kingdom was initially unaffected, with the company still listed as holding a Royal Warrant in January 1915, Warrants to both King George V, and his wife Queen Mary were cancelled on 13 April 1915. Bechstein was not the only musical concern to be affected by growing anti-German sentiment: there were earlier attempts, led by William Boosey, to boycott German music altogether. In 1915, despite being a Baronet and Privy Counsellor, Sir Edgar Speyer, who was then funding the Proms, was forced to leave the country. Following the passing of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act 1916 the British arm of the company was wound-up on 5 June 1916, all Bechstein property, including the concert hall and showrooms full of pianos, were seized as "enemy property" and closed. In 1916 the hall was sold as alien property at auction to Debenhams for £56,500. It was renamed Wigmore Hall, and then re-opened under the new name in 1917. All 137 Bechstein pianos at the Bechstein showrooms were confiscated too, and became property of the new owner of the Hall. After a dispute with his brother, Edwin Bechstein left the company and was paid off. Eventually the Bechstein factory resumed full-scale production during the 1920s. At that time, technical innovations and inventions of new materials and tools, as well as improvements in piano design and construction, had allowed Bechstein to become one of the leading piano makers again. The most successful models were the updated "A"-185 and "B"-208 grand pianos. The upright pianos became more popular after the war, and C. Bechstein were successful with its upright pianos Model-8 and Model-9, both of which have been considered the finest upright pianos. As the company was changed into a joint-stock company 1923, Edwin Bechstein and his wife Helene, bought themselves back into the company as shareholders. In 1930 the company collaborated with German electrical goods manufacturer Siemens under Nobel laureate Walther Nernst to produce one of the first electric pianos...

Backgammon Bluesky with genuine grained leather and with upholstered padding and lining in dinamica microfiber. With details in solid polished brass in nickel-plated. Bottom feet in solid polished brass in nickel plated. Backgammon including 1 doubling dice...