Collectibles and Curiosities

This is a distinctive antique French patinated boxwood altar Corpus Christi of Christ crucified on an olive wood cross, dating from the late 17th Century.   The details  are very impressive, the Corpus Christi is very life-like, wearing a flowing linen cloth, his eyes closed and head upper-turned and raised on a stepped base.   The craftsmanship is second to none throughout all aspects of this magnificent altar Corpus Christi which is sure to add an unparalleled touch of sacred art to your home. Condition: In good condition. As an antique item, the piece shows signs of use commensurate with age, these minor condition issues are mentioned for accuracy and, as seen in the accompanying photographs, it displays beautifully. Dimensions in cm: Height 64 cm x Width 26 cm x Depth 13 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 1 inch x Width 10 inches x Depth 5 inches The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus, is the best-known symbol of Christianity. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a corpus, usually a three-dimensional representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols, the term cross itself being detached from the original specifically Christian meaning in modern English (as in many other western languages). The basic forms of the cross are the Latin cross with unequal arms (✝) and the Greek cross (✚) with equal arms, besides numerous variants, partly with confessional significance, such as the tau cross...

This is a tall antique taxidermy dome. An English, glass and ebonised pine display case, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Tall, slim proportion - ideal for displayi...

Author: BACON, Francis. Title: The Works of Francis Bacon. Publisher: London: for many, 1803. Description: 10 vols., 8-1/2" x 5-5/8", frontis portrait plate in volume one, ...

This is an early Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd. smoke mask. These full face helmets are very rare and found mostly in museum collections. This example looks and feels like it´s never have ...

This Roman Gladiator short sword is an absolutely outstanding and unique example of an ancient Roman Pompeian Gladius Sword from 1. AD. There were three ty...

An Exceptionally Fine Example of a Chinese Export Hand Carved Bovine Ivory Walking Stick of small proportions, last quarter of the Nineteenth Centu...

Exquisite museum quality large antique High Renaissance style emerald, natural pearl, garnet silver pectoral cross 19th century Makers Mark: K.T. for Tauböck, Karl Austro-Hungarian E...

Spectacular and very decorative piece. Large carved wooden reliquary bust of a Saint. Beautiful weathered paint and gilding. Small losses / old repairs and without the relics. Italy ...

This beautiful snuff box is made from gold-plated sterling silver. The lid is embellished with a nice little graphic of a church surrounded by generous floral motives and ornament. I...

Wooden antique ship model of a cargo-carrack, probably from Genoa, with three masts, end of the 19th century. Very good conditions. Measures: Length cm 70 - inches 28, height cm 56 ...

AUTHOR: MACAULAY, Thomas Babington. TITLE: The Complete Works of Thomas Babington Macaulay. The Miscellaneous Works & The History of England. PUBLISHER: NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1...

Title: Rare 1864 Civil War Era Map of Canada with Great Lakes Detail Description: This finely detailed antique map, titled "Johnson's Canada," was published in 1864 by Johnson and W...

19th century Spanish Colonial shrine for a Santos or statue of the Virgin Mary in the form of a church likely from New Mexico. Topped with three crosses with traces of gilding, two c...

Wonderful small tabernacle that once graced a church altar. Beautiful original silverleaf and faux marble paint. weathered, small losses. Italy circa 1780  

Title: Piano elevato dell'inclita città di Venezia Bird's-eye view (etching) of Venice. Print made by: Marco Sebastiano Giampiccoli After: Matthäus Merian I Two copper engraved sh...

This is a large antique oval clock dome. An English, glass ornament display showcase, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1900. Fascinating prop...

This is a small antique display case. An English, glass and mahogany taxidermy dome, dating to the late Victoria period, circa 1900. Charm...

This is a wide antique taxidermy dome. An English, glass over ebonised mahogany specimen or ornament showcase, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1870. Usefully broad in dia...

2 Volumes. Count Lyof N. Tolstoi. Anna Karenina. Translated by Nathan Haskell Dole. Bound in 3/4 blue morocco, linen boards, top edges gilt, raised bands. Published: London: Walter S...

This is an antique ovoid clock dome. An English, glass and mahogany taxidermy display showcase, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Fascinating form, useful for hosti...

An antique French intricate brass balance with different weights in solid brass, in good condition. The iron scale is topped with the original polished brass plates. The scale reads ...

This is an antique oval collector's dome. An English, glass and ebonised mahogany clock case or botany showcase, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1900. Charming oval form, off...

This is a very rare sterling silver Judaical Mezuzah which was found in Vienna, Austria and survived WW2 among other historical Religious Judaical items ...

This is a tall antique professor's specimen dome. An English, glass taxidermy or ornament showcase, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1860. Impressive proportion, standing at a...

This is an antique taxidermy dome. An English, glass and ebonised base display showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Appealing example, with a pleasingly brigh...

Madonna and child, Classical 19th century painting. This lovely oil painting was purchased in Spain. The artist is unknown. The painting still maintains its original finish and ha...

Fine and rare antique Russian silver and enamel Holy Trinity icon Moscow, 1853 Marks: Cyrillic D O maker's mark, A C assay master's mark for Aggey Grigorievich Svechin ( Postnikova-L...

Vintage Toot-a-Loop radio (model nr: Panasonic R-72): an emblematic radio, designed and fabricated by Panasonic Japan in the early 1970s. The radio was designed to be wrapped and car...

This is a large antique collector's dome. An English, glass and ebonised mahogany taxidermy or specimen showcase, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870. Appealing Victorian ex...

Original S Type "Rollagas" pocket lighter by Dunhill of England, circa 1970, with a serial number of C80994. The lighter features a 14kt 20 microns gold plate and a mixed surface tex...

Showcase and protect your treasured objects with this unique glass dome from France. Dating to the late 19th century, dome displays like this shielded portico clocks or flora & fauna...

This is a slimline antique display dome. An English, glass over ebonised mahogany specimen or ornament showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Slimline proportio...

This beautiful antique Holy Book was printed in England circa 1870. The impressive Victorian family Bible, titled "The National Comprehensive Family Bible", was edited by Rev. John E...

This is an antique taxidermy specimen dome. An English, glass and ebonised beech tall showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Well proportioned Victorian dome, i...

1970s era surfboard by Santa Cruz shaper / surfer Joey Thomas, this example has a single foiled wooden fin, swallow tail, beak nose, down rail with a resin pin line along the rails configuration which was a popular shape by the influences from what was happening in Hawaii on the North Shore with shapers such as Dick Brewer and surfer / shaper Jerry Lopez...

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...

An Our Lady Of Rosary lithograph, Germany, circa 1890s. A heavily distressed piece in period frame showing a history of devotion. sight: 15 ¾ by 19 ¾ in...

A beautiful rare Antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Ethnic Minority silver Coral turquoise necklace from Yunnan. A superb chain necklace with added Taoist charms with turquoise and fine r...

12 Volumes. Jane Austen, The Novels. Bound by Blackwell in 3/4 brown morocco with marbled boards. Gilt-tooled decoration on the raised band spines. Top edges gilt. Marbled endpapers....

This is a tall antique display showcase. An English, glass taxidermy or ornament dome, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. A t...

'De Indische Archipel: Tafereelen uit de natuur en het volksleven in Indië' by C.W. Mieling. This is a very rare first edition (only 1 copy in Nederlandse Centrale Catalogus – NCC and only 1 copy in JAP, sold in 1974) of a sumptuous work originally published in 12 instalments (started in 1865 by C.W. Mieling and completed in 1876 by J.M. van ‘t Haaff, both in The Hague). It was in January 1862 that a Prospectus was issued by C. W. Mieling, The Hague, announcing the publication of what is the most spectacular of the plate works of Indonesia, De Indische Archipel, which commenced publication in The Hague in 1865. The work contains 24 large chromolithograph plates which are among the largest published on Indonesia. From both a topographical and artistic point of view the plates are of considerable interest as they present a comprehensive series of views in the archipelago, ranging through Java. Borneo, Sumatra and Minahasa, after drawings by virtually all the prominent mid-19th century artists of Indonesia: Raden Saleh...

Antique print titled 'The Ascension'. Original antique print on chine collé, made after the painting by Perugino. Source unknown, to be determined. P...

IMPORTANT PORTUGUESE ORATORY WITH CALVARY 18th Century Portuguese, from the 18th century in carved Brazilian rosewood. Decoration with interrupted pediments, volutes, floral motifs...

This is an antique mirrored display dome. An English, glass and giltwood exhibition cake or taxidermy showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, cir...

This is an absolutely exquisite rare Cooper-gilt ,silver-gold and three Sterling Silver angels Chalice originated from Augsburg (Germany ) in th...

IMPORTANT AND RARE LITURGICAL PSALTER, Spain, 16th Century (1550-1750) Psalterium iuxta Romanum (Liturgical Psalter according to the Roman Rite) Latin (with Spanish additions), illu...

Exquisite antique Russian vermeil silver and cloisonne enamel pendant icon depicting Our Lady of Kazan, Kazanskaya Bogomater. Assayer's mark for Iv...

This antique reliquary contains a relic of Saints with paper roll telling the name in latin. It is hand made of wood, hand carved and very professional made. it can be worn or just d...

Carved out of a single block of grayish brown stone (likely granite type), this Buddha head represents Northern Qi style in China (550-577AD) and likely of the period. The Northern Q...

Vintage Gold-Plated Pocket Gas Lighter By S. T. Dupont, Paris. Like new condition and doesn't appear to have ever have been used.

This is a wide antique clock dome. An English, glass over ebonised pine display showcase, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1860. Superb size, ideal for a larger mantel clo...

This Erard parallel-strung grand piano, crafted in Paris in 1845 (serial number: 18725), has been extraordinarily well-tended, restored and maintained, enduring today as not only a spectacular example of the pinnacle of 19th Century piano design - characterized by its innovative construction and exceptional sonoral qualities - but also as a premium instrument by the most advanced modern standards, concert-ready for world-class, discriminating performers and their audiences. Erard was a renowned piano manufacturer established by Sébastien Erard, and for much of the 19th Century, the company produced some of the most exquisite and innovative European pianos of the era. The sound produced by this parallel-strung grand piano is characterized by a clarity and transparency that distinguishes it from its contemporaries. The parallel arrangement of strings contributes to a more direct transfer of sound energy, resulting in a balanced and articulate tone across the instrument's registers. This piano's tone is beloved for its sweetness in the treble range and a robust quality in the bass, while also allowing for an especially nuanced and expressive interpretation of the musical repertoire of its era. The ebony and ivory keyboard is a testament to the meticulous attention Erard paid to the tactile experience of playing. Each key is precision-weighted, providing a responsive touch that allows the pianist to articulate a wide range of dynamics and expressiveness. An interior faux tableau latches to the outer case lid in an open position for maximum concert volume, and rests in a lowered position to maintain a softer, more muted experience. The year 1845 places this Erard instrument in the heart of the Romantic era, a period marked by a surge in musical creativity and emotional expression. Composer/performers like Chopin and Liszt were drawn to Erard grand...

Exquisite 19th Century Hand Carved Black Forest Humidor Cigar Cabinet3 Featuring Ornate Carved Floral Panel Frontage Finished With An Eagle Finial On The Top. The Two Doors Reveal ...

Stereo that can be closed to cube shape and opened by moving the baffles apart. It includes a radio, record player and 8-track cassette player. It is also possible to connect the tel...

This is a tall antique taxidermy showcase. An English, glass and mahogany display dome, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Pleasingly bright and well-proportioned ant...

Early Japanese Takeda Ningyo, depicting an actor on stage in the role of an emperor, standing, costumed in silk and kinran brocades holding a paper scepter (shaku), the head carved o...

This is a small antique specimen dome. An English, glass and pine botany or taxidermy display case, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1870. Perfect for showcasing smaller s...

This prestige weapon was commissioned by Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia as a diplomatic gift for the renowned French Armenian merchant and honorary French envoy Matig Kevorkoff, a pr...