Louis XIV Historical Memorabilia

Decorate a man's study or an over door with this important antique carving. Crafted in France circa 1650 and made of oakwood, the six foot carved piece features two winged angels wit...

This plaster or resin model dates to the late 1930s when a program that was part of the government's Work's Progress Administration's or WPA program employed hundreds of thousands of artists and artisans to built and produce a diverse array of projects. This model stems from Pennsylvania Museum Extension project and by the number 2 was produced in Pittsburgh Pa. These models are becoming quite difficult to find. The following paragraph from a museum will explain the program which started in 1937: The Pennsylvania Museum Extension Project In 1935, “the first year of its existence the Work Projects Administration in Pennsylvania gained the distinction of originating the State-Wide Museum Extension type of project.” (26), and it is obvious from the surviving literature and artifacts made in Pennsylvania that it was the model emulated by many of the other state programs. In fact, Pennsylvania’s prominence in producing visual aids was made quite evident by its proud and boastful offer to willingly share “blue prints and other plans” (27) with any State MEP project that requested them. The PMEP fulfilled two distinct purposes during its existence. The first and most obvious propose was to “prepare… historical and educational objects and exhibits for use as visual aids in education.” (28) The second aim of the Project was to help “museums in their normal work and to organize and operate children’s museums in schools.” (29) The objects were either distributed free of charge or sometime sold for a nominal fee to tax supported Pennsylvania schools, libraries, and museums. Teachers, librarians, and museum curators then used these “visual props” (often thought of as education-through-play) in the classroom as a way to bring alive the culturally diverse, global and rapidly modernizing world that the children of Pennsylvania and America were increasingly caught up it. Mrs. Martha Colt was the Director of the State-Wide office of the PMEP from 1935-1943. The office was located in Harrisburg, the state capitol, at 46 North Cameron Street. Pennsylvania was divided into 16 Districts, and in 1939, there were seven production facilities, or work units...

This exceptionally rare silver gilt sword was presented by the French King Louis XIV to Alain Porée, Captain of the Corsairs, for his role in defending Saint-Malo against the English in 1693. Adorned with portraits of King Louis XIV and Alain Porée on the guard, this is one of two Royal swords presented to the legendary corsair by a French King; the second was awarded to him in 1730 by Louis XV. Considered an exceptional honor, these two presentation swords...