Antique Fruitwood Statue of Patron Saint Nicolas

St. Florian (250 A.D. – 304 A.D.), was the patron saint of firefighters, brewers, chimney sweeps, and the town of Linz Austria. He served in the Roman army and part of his duties included organizing fire fighting brigades. He was secretly a Christian and became famous for miraculously saving a town from being destroyed by fire; after he prayed and threw a single bucket of water on the blaze, it was extinguished. This beautifully carved oak statue from the 1600s, clearly depicts St. Florian with a bucket in hand and a miniature house...

This 64 inch high antique statue of a Bishop dates to circa 1650 and is German in origin. Starting in the 15th and 16th centuries, there was a large demand for ecclesiastical carvings throughout central and western Europe. Large statues were commissioned for churches and smaller items were for private use. This bishop statue...

St. Florian (250 A.D. – 304 A.D.), was a the patron saint of firefighters, brewers, chimney sweeps, and the town of Linz, Austria. He served in the Roman army and part of his duties included organizing fire fighting brigades. He was secretly a Christian and became famous for miraculously saving a town from being destroyed by fire; after he prayed and threw a single bucket of water on the blaze, it was extinguished. This beautifully carved and painted statue dates to approximately the end of the 1600s or early 1700s. It clearly depicts St. Florian with a bucket in hand and a flag in the other. At his feet, is a miniature building...

At over five feet tall, this beautiful and large carved oak statue is a life-sized interpretation of a French bishop from the 1600s. The religious leader is wearing a mitre adorned with Vitruvian waves. There is also a vertical swath of waves in the middle of the mitre that separates two spandrel-shaped panels embellished with foliate scrolls and a cabochon. Our bishop is clad in a vestment with large scrollwork and a rectangular clasp across the chest over...

This tall French statue of St. Bartholomew was hand-carved from oak in the 1700’s. This depiction of St. Bartholomew is not often seen in art, except for one of the most well known r...

This charming pair of French terracotta statues depicts a male and female musician and was made during the latter half of the 1800s. Both statues have been stamped “GOSSIN PARIS” on the back sides. The Gossin factory in Paris was led by two brothers, Etienne (died in 1900) and Louis (1846-1928). The brothers regularly showed their wares at the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, the Salon de Paris, where they would often bring home medals for outstanding quality works. They were very well known for their ornamental terra cotta fabrications which were exhibited all-over the country, where they also took home various medals. Both of these statues represent musicians siting upon rocky bases decorated with flowers, and our male musician has been depicted holding a “musette de cour”, which is a relative of the bagpipe. The female musician can be seen with a “vielle à roue” in her lap. A vielle à roue is a string instrument that produces sound when a crank is turned. The crank rotates a wheel that rubs against the strings. The sound can be compared to that of a violin. Place this elegant pair of 19th century terracotta musician statues...

For the collectors of unique and remarkable works of religious art. About ten years ago I was fortunate enough to have been invited to Italy for a week. In that week we visited the St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, the place where the world famous Saint Francis was born and where he is buried. For these unique sculptures to have found their way to us, again felt like a blessing. These amazing workmanship and aesthetically pleasing saint statues, we feel, were not created for one person alone, they were made to be seen and appreciated by a larger community. Those who know about Saint Francis will probably know about Saint Clare...

Saint Erasmus or Saint Elmo (Antioch, ca. 240 – Formia, 303) was an Italian bishop and patron saint of the sailors. His attribute was the capstan, a winch on which the anchor chains were rolled up. He died as a martyr for his faith, and his bones were transferred to Gaeta in the 9th century, where they are kept in the cathedral to this day. The electric phenomenon of Saint Elmus fire is named after Saint Erasmus and the 16th C humanist Desiderius Erasmus. Little is known with certainty about Saint Erasmus' life. However, many legends may have been passed on orally until the - no older writings are known with certainty. His birthplace was in present-day Syria. However, the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian forced him to flee to Mount Lebanon...

Finest quality carved statue of Saint Anthony holding the child Jesus. This rare wooden statue of Saint Anthony and the child Jesus is in ...

Large statue of saint hand carved in wood during the late 17th century, or early 18th century. Some restoration. Sculpture portrays a saint and originall...

A wonderful Gothic period hand carved stone statue of Saint Nicholas from the Avignon area of France. The now headless Saint Nicholas holds his staff an...

A wonderfully primitive Italian statue of Saint Anne - the mother of the Virgin Mary. She is carved from a solid tree trunk. Having been exposed to ...