Large 15th Century Large Procession Cross, Gilt Copper, Italy

15th century Gothic Virgin Gothic Virgin of the 15th century Virgin in carved and polychrome wood of the 15th century. In its original state, muse...

Anonymous Second half of the 15th century; Northern Italy, possibly Milan Gilt bronze Approximate size: 17.2 x 13 cm The present pax probably derives from a finer original realized in more precious materials. For example, the vigor of its central motif is carved in such a way as to suggest the original artwork was conceived in carved stone or perhaps mother-of-pearl. The intricacy of its frame suggests a separate master adept in silverwork. Overall, this bronze pax...

15th century Spanish Gothic Virgin and child polychrome figurative wooden sculpture.

18th Century Italian cross adorned with native copper with crystals from White Pine Mine, Michigan and copper-plated kyanite on a crystal druzy in copper...

An Italian wooden ship model of a 15th/16th century galleon, from the early to mid 20th century. This three-mast schooner model, when given a closer look, reveals the minutia in the details, from the beautifully carved stern and rudder, mermaid figurehead, cannon/gun-ports, the bow sprit, masts, flags, and dangling anchor. This tall ship model...

Bronze in its color and gold, lapis lazuli, rock crystal, enamel. In the centre of the work is presented, enthroned, the figure of Mary, with a mantel (fireplace) on her shoulders and hair and holding on her knees the child, who appears addressing one of the angels. The virgin is also sheltered by an ogee arch supported on turned columns, and raised visually by steps. This composition achieves a very striking contrast: the dark bronze figure, in contrast to the lapis lazuli background and the part of the arch and the outside of it, in gilded bronze. Under the steps there is a heraldic enamel shield with a key on an azure background. The angels, kneeling, are flanking this figure, and, appearing in dark bronze, visually share the "category" of religious figures with Mary, while their (lower) position gives more status to both the Mother and Jesus. The rest of the composition is completed with a delicate landscape: constructions and walls on mountains, clouds in the sky, plants, stones, etc. To the outside, another lapis lazuli frame is placed decorated in the corners with appliques, giving way to carved and polychrome wood. The lapis lazuli is a semiprecious stone already known in the seventh millennium BC., found in deposits from the Caucasus to Mauritania. From the end of the middle ages, it increased its export to Europe, its use being more frequent since then both to use it as a pigment in paintings after grinding it (giving rise to the finest and most expensive of the blues, and of the colors in many occasions), as for backgrounds of paintings, incrustations in works of art, jewelry and, a little later, in the well-known "hard stone works". The figure of Mary still shows an influence of Gothic models, although more European than Italian, along with elements that could already show a closeness to the Renaissance: although the nakedness of Jesus is already shown in Gothic works (Madonna with Angels by Fra Angelico ), the creation of space by playing with the cloth in front of Christ can be appreciated in more advanced paintings (Virgin with Child by Domenico Ghirlandaio, National Gallery of London); the presence of a powerful throne can be seen frequently in Italian Madonnas of the Quattrocento (and before), but not quite as presented here. As for the landscape, it is necessary to compare it, for example, with that of the fresco of the Condotiero Guidoriccio de Fogliano (Simone Martini, finished in 1328). This is a work of great technical and aesthetic quality, not to mention the materials chosen for its creation, comparable only to outstanding examples from around the world, such as those preserved in the Palazzo Madama in Torino (Italy), where the coral It also has an important role. It is essential to mention, also, works such as the plate of hard stones (lapis lazuli between them) with a relief of Mary with the Child in...