Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century

This cast iron charger from Germany was hand-worked in the 1800s. The low-relief image, in this case, a Bacchanalian scene, is full of hundreds of small decorative and figurative details. The main body of the charger is recessed below the outer rim, which is adorned with a ring of foliage motif encircling fleur de lys and scrolls. A raised ridge separates the two repeating motifs, with eight mascaron and scrolled medallions interrupting the interior circle. In the center of the charger is a Neoclassical medallion surrounded by Vitruvian scrolls filled with beading. Based on the lively scene of revelry that surrounds the medallion, it is quite possible that the figure depicted in the medallion is Ariadne, the wife of Dionysus (or as the Romans called him “Bacchus”), the Greek god of wine and merriment. It is most likely an interpretation of when Dionysus found her abandoned on the island of Naxos. Numerous figures dancing and partaking in food and drink can be seen along the outside of the medallion, including mythological beings such as putti, satyrs, and nymphs, set amongst flora dotted with overturned drinking vessels. A small bracket is affixed to the verso side, allowing the cast iron German charger...

This intriguing Black Forest inkwell has been meticulously hand carved from wood and dates to 19th century Switzerland. The piece depicts two men attempting to milk a cow. The man wearing a hat is struggling to control the cow by pulling on the bovine’s tail; his bespectacled partner is situated next to the cow in an attempt to milk it. The ground immediately beneath these three figures is a rocky formation of varying height. Below this is a wooden terrain that also has quite a lot of depth. Among the forest-like environment, there are two indentations that house the colored and cut glass inkwells. The colored portions of the mushroom-shaped wells are a rustic orange that ties in nicely with the dark brown wood used in the carving. The wells are then capped with silvered lids. One of the glass containers has a perforated top, which would have held the pounce or sand (pounce pot). This would have permitted the writer to sprinkle the sand on the paper before inking to aid in the drying process. Excess pounce was often poured back into the container. The milk cows...

From Portugal in the 1600’s, this choir seat has a flip-top seat known as a misericord, or mercy seat. As with most antique cathedral seating, the chair pla...

Although the earliest mortars and pestles were utilized for cooking during the Stone Age, in more recent centuries they were employed by pharmacists to grind herbs into powder for medicinal purposes. They were almost always constructed from a hardened substance, such as this 19th century French marble mortar. The deep black...

This marble crown finial was hand-carved in Italy in the 1800’s. The marble is cream colored with fascinating gray striped veining. Years of patina build ...

From the 1600’s, this pair of tabletop grape leaf columns are polychromed with partial colors of white, light teal and gold. There are stylized acanthus leaf capitals at the top. Car...

Antique German drop-shaped and brass decorated iron with wooden handle.

Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called  « Life of Jean Wesley ». These...

Set of old religious books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called "Commentaries". These beautiful books are perf...

Silver inkwell with base obtained from a deer hoof. English manufacture of the late 19th century. Good condition, the ink bottle is missing. Measures: cm 6.5 x 10 H 8. Shipping is insured by Lloyd...

Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called  «Revue Chrétienne» (Chr...

Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are entitled "Journal des missions Evangeliques» with Map (Mission...