Siberian Ice Age Cave Bear Skeleton

A triumph of ingenuity and craftsmanship, this Swiss cipher machine is a fabulous example of mechanical precision. Cipher machines are used to encrypt a...

This Swiss-engineered cipher machine is a fascinating piece of 20th-century military and engineering history, and this particular example is one of the ...

One of the most amazing timepieces we have ever acquired that offers far more than meets the eye, this incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. While it is clear to see the integrated clock residing within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale. This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of this fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular farrier scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back, middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting. A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which must run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting...a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...

This extremely rare, early Swiss fusée singing bird box by the renowned Charles Bruguier combines exquisite artistry with outstanding mechanical cra...

Tiny dancers twirl to the melodious tunes produced by this Swiss station cylinder music box. The cylinder is joined by a drum and bells that give richness and depth to the wonderful music the box creates. Music boxes were at the height of fashion in the late 19th century and served as a status symbol for the European gentry. Switzerland was the birthplace of cylinder music boxes and home to the great majority of the most renowned manufacturers. This example, in its finely crafted English walnut case, boasts two combs, allowing the box to play in harmony for a richer, more complex song. This particular style, commonly referred to as a “station” or “showcase” box, was used to entertain guests in hotel lobbies, train stations and other similar public places, and as such would have been coin-operated. This example, however, does not accept coins. This, combined with its overall quality, complexity and beauty, indicates it was made for a private household of significant means. Today, these ingenious musical masterpieces are highly sought-after by collectors of musical automata...

"The Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell with him" — Queen Elizabeth II’s toast on October 21, 2005, at the official Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennial dinner In 2005, the United Kingdom marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in grand fashion. Celebrations included memorable speeches by Queen Elizabeth II, awe-inspiring re-enactments of the renowned battle and extraordinary artwork commissions. This silver-gilt creation, one of the exceptional commissions to honor the bicentennial, represents an unprecedented collaboration of the best artists and craftsmen of their day. As one of only five of its kind ever made, this remarkable silver-gilt commemorative casket immortalizes Lord Horatio Nelson's legacy in captivating form. The objet d'art intentionally evokes a graceful wave with its artfully crafted curved sides and bracket feet. The front showcases a hand-painted enamel portrait of General Horatio Nelson, exquisitely rendered on 18K gold by Gillie Hoyte Byrom. Turning the casket reveals a compelling scene of the legendary Battle of Trafalgar painted by Commander Geoff Hunt...

Antique map titled 'Plan de la Grotte de Kungur'. Original plan of the Kungur Ice Cave, a karst cave located in the Urals, near the town Kungur in Perm Krai, Russia, on the right ban...

Siberian Eskimo people were introduced to tobacco in the 17th century, acquiring it from European traders in exchange for furs. Pipes based on European models, such as this example, ...

A sensational 19th century skeleton in bronze originating from the Louvain University Of Medicine - Belgium. An excellent addition to any doctor...

Black Forest Siberian Deer Trophy on Carved Wooden Plaque 1900s Antique trophy of a siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) from the Black Forest, hunted around 1900. The large 6 pointer...

Large Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s Item e6940 A large antique Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...

Abnorm Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s Item e6941 A large abnorm Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...