Antique 19th C Victorian Diorama of 12 tropical birds by James Gardner Sr 1870

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...

Mechelen dolls are rare wooden devotional figurines (mainly walnut was used), which were made by some members of the Guild of Saint Luke. The figures, all individual saints, were made from reference models using highly regulated carving and polychrome techniques. They had to meet several requirements. The shape of the rug had to meet certain criteria and the letter M (from Mechelen) had to be visible in the shape. These devotional or saint figurines...

Although the 18th century, the period of the Enlightenment in France, spawned thinkers who criticised the privileges of the clergy and the truthfulness of certain dogmas, the Roman Catholic faith was very much present in everyday life. Since king Louis XIV had issued the Edict of Fontainebleau in 1685, Protestantism was banned. This Madonna with child illustrates the daily practice of faith. Like many 18th-century Madonna statues...

There is a glass window on just one side so these would not have a counter between the customer and shop assistant, perhaps they were used to weigh tea, or coffee or chocolate.

The Flood, 2016, is an illuminated update on the traditional Victorian glass-cased diorama depicting a surreal jungle encounter between an upcycled vintage taxidermied tiny egret and...

Early 19th century wooden statue of St Jerome, circa 1800. South Europe.

In the 19th century, parabolic reflectors such as these were employed in scientific experiments to study the behavior of light, heat, and sound. These brass parabolic mirrors, when p...

A scene from Ramakian or Ramayan, the Indian epic Rama and Sita. Large and heavy Antique Indian Temple toy metal camel, bronze camel on wheels. Camel with r...