15th Century and Earlier Furniture

Of all the incredible malachite specimens recovered from the Katanga Copper Crescent of the DRC, there is only one known incidence of a stalactite composed of chrysocolla with stunning malachite "eyes" and azurite rings...

A lifesize terracotta head in Gandhara style. Based on the style, it is likely from Kushan period Northern India, circa 4th-6th century. The expres...

Pre-Columbian, Northern Mexico, Chihuahua region, Casas Grandes, Ramos Polychrome type, ca. 1150 to 1450 CE. A hand-built and stone-burnished pottery olla jar of a globular form with...

Bactrian alabaster chalice, circa 3000-2000 BC. It has an elegant tapering formed base with a undeep rimmed cup. The alabaster is strikingly vained. ...

Magnificent large Herkimer diamond proudly seated on its original matrix. This clear, double-terminated quartz crystal is renowned for its exceptional clarity and brilliance, akin to...

A wonderfully sensual Khmer statue of a female divinity delicately carved from gray sandstone. Her face radiates a cool serenity. Almond shaped eyes ga...

A large fossil of a prehistoric Cladocyclus fish sourced from an ex private British collection. Discovered in Brazil, this impressive piece of natural history has been preserved by ...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly important, Museum quality, English Tudor King Henry VII Oak tester bed...

Brazilianite is a phosphate mineral loved for its brilliant color and gemlike crystals. Hues range from light-yellow to electric yellow-green, making it a favorite among specimen col...

Museum-quality, fossilized and calcified ammonite shell with an iridescent, opalized shimmer displaying hints of vibrant red. The fossilized shells of ...

This Virgin and Child is wearing clothes with a limited number of folds and showing a thickness characteristic of the Burgundy region. As a result of the presence in the region of th...

An antique Korean ceramic tea bowl with celadon glaze from Goryeo dynasty, circa 12th century. The thin-walled stoneware bowl was potted delicately with...

Artigas is known for amethysts of the darkest and richest hues of purple. Lustrous and richly-toned, they are instantly recognizable and not uncommon in the mineral market. What sets...

A Pre Columbian Jalisco seated figure Jalisco West Mexico circa B.C. 100-300 A.D, A Male pottery figure with red slip with elongated head and linear delineated hair wearing ear and nose ornaments, the slim body finely modelled with hands on chest seated...

An impressive 108mm (longest curvature) Carcharodontosaurus saharicus dinosaur tooth, known as the North African Tyrannosaurus rex for its formidable size. A noteworthy discovery fro...

Aquamarine with Schorl on Orthoclase Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan 12.7 cm wide x 11.5 cm tall Ex-collection William Ferris There are two significant...

An elegant Khmer pear shaped bronze bottle vase, Angkor Period, 12th-14th century. Crafted of bronze in two parts. When separated, the lower portion of the vase becomes an offerin...

The jar features a round body with well-proportioned four distinct tiers and a short, stable foot. The surface is coated in a deep green Longquan celadon glaze, showcasing the sprout...

A fantastic Chinese Han Dynasty archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, hu, and cover, ex. Michael Goedhuis, Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), China. The archaic ritual bronze hu of typical...

The vase is raised on a slightly splayed foot and flanked on the tall cylindrical neck by a pair of mask handles. The body is molded with lotus scroll pattern between a floral scroll...

This green-glazed bowl was finely crafted with an attention to detail that highlights the skill of the Cizhou green and Ding ware potter. Its delicate form has been adorned with a dr...

The bowl features a relatively deep green glaze and a smooth and lustrous finish. The exterior is intricately incised with a lotus petal design, symbolizing purity and spiritual enlightenment, while the interior remains plain to emphasize the glaze's elegance. Over centuries, a natural brown discoloration has appeared on the exterior, reflecting its historical authenticity and prolonged chemical reaction during burial. This is also considered a part of the aesthetic element of celadon. Period: Ming Dynasty (1368~1644) Region: Longquan, China Medium: Stoneware - Celadon glazed Type: Tripod censer Size : 18.5 cm(Diameter) , 7.5cm(Height) Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong * Ming Dynasty Longquan Celadon Longquan celadon from the Ming Dynasty typically exhibits a more robust and heavier stoneware body compared to its Song Dynasty predecessors. The Ming era saw an evolution in celadon glaze, achieving a wider spectrum of green hues, from olive to bluish-greens. Ming celadons...

Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Horse Head. Crisply modelled with sharp features, including a gaping mouth, nostrils, eyes, ears and an alert exp...

Olmec Pre-Columbian Carved Jade Erotic Sculpture, depicting a male figure embracing a female figure. 1.75" H x 3.25" W x 1.75" D. Provenance: From the Upper East Side Apartment of a ...

A rare ancient Persian totally intact 12th/13th Century Islamic vessel/jug, from Khurasan. The vessel with a deep blue glaze and having a band of incised Islamic calligraphy to the t...

Wellhead Hand Carved Stone Container Firepit Basin Trough Water Feature antique. Early Gothic Period Water Wellhead Hand Carved Stone to be installed as ...

This large amethyst chapel, a complete half of the original geode, shows deep purple amethyst crystals punctuated with small stalactites and overlaid ...

A large scale freestanding polished lapis lazuli freeform originating from Afghanistan, one of two similar naturally-formed lapis lazuli specimens we are selling. With its naturally...

Antique Chinese painted pottery fat lady with original pigments remaining. Thermoluminescence (TL) test result from Oxford Authentication Ltd. is included. Age: China, Tang Dynasty,...

O/6416 - Large fossil stone shell - Ammonites were predatory Prehistorie cephalopod mollusks which existed between 400 and 66 million years ago before dying out during the exinction ...

This rare ancient Apulian Iliupersis pottery vase unveils a traditional scene; a young woman seated, dressed with a delicately draped garment, gracefully holding a fan. In front of her stands a caped man...

Dagger L: 27.8 cm, Luniform bronze, possibly a belt buckle L: 10.8 cm, Shield-shaped bronze with a point Diam: 6.5 cm, Pommel Diam: 3.7 cm, Violin-bow brooch L: 17.5 cm, P-Shape...

Genuine Spinosaurus (Dinosaur) tooth. Spinosaurus (meaning "spine lizard") is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what now is North Africa, during the upper Albian to upper T...

Cypriot Plank Idol Early Bronze Age III - Middle Bronze Age I, c. 2100 - 1850 BC. Low fired burnished earthenware pottery with lime-filled incisions A Cypriot plank idol, an iconic form of human representation from Bronze Age Cyprus...

An impressive and well carved Gandharan figure of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, carved black schist, ancient Kingdom of Gand...

Chinese Han Dynasty earthenware cocoon jar Cocoon jars or Cocoon-shaped jars are funerary pottery vessels in China, belonging to the period of...

Type: Paleolithic Acheulean Hand Axe Age: Lower & Middle Paleolithic, 1.7 million to 300,000 years Origin: Northern Sahara Desert, Morocco, North West Africa Axe: 22.5 x 11 x 4.5 cm...

Hermes head sculpture. Greek Bust representing Hermes. Hermes is an Olympian deity, the God of Speed, in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Sculpted whi...

Roman marble Fragment of a Right Foot with Sandal Circa 1st - 2nd Century A.D. An evocative Roman marble fragment, preserving the front portion of an over-lifesized sandalled foot. The toes, nails, and bridge of the foot have been sensitively carved. The outer sole of the sandal remains, with delicate, pointed straps joining between the first two toes in a diamond shape. This fragment once belonged to Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau...

Aragonite is a polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is elementally identical to calcite but is considerably rarer due to the very specific geological conditions required for it...

Elegant old cedar wood sweet Egyptian mummy mask, 8 3/4 Inches high. Soft weathered surface and great expression. Areas of chips erosion and little bits mis...

Extremely rare Chinese pottery caparisoned horse from the Northern Qi region. A beautiful large sculptural piece, created in China during the Northern Qi dynasty period, between the 549 and 577 AD. This horse statue is extremely finely modeled of earthenware pottery, standing in a very elegant and majestic position striding on a trapezoidal shaped base. The animal has a gracefully arched neck to the left looking forward and its extremely well modeled. The head is adorned with a large detailed tassels of plumes and the body is embellished with a beautiful saddle and intricate harnesses. The trapping around the chest and rump is adorned with elaborated tassels and the straps are accented with multiples florets and bosses in high relief. Decorated with dotted and circles patterns. The surface is treated with applications of natural color pigments such; red, white and others. Has a measurements of 435 mm by 319 mm by 243 mm (17.10 x 12.55 x 9.55 Inches) (43.5 x 31.9 x 24.3 Cm). Northern Qi, was the successor state of the Chinese Xianbei state of Eastern Wei...

Sculpture In Polychrome Wood Representing Saint Anthony Hermit Origin : East of France Period : End of the 15th century Measures: Height : 97 cm Width : 32 cm Depth : 26 cm Polychrome wood The saint is represented by an old, bearded man, dressed in a hooded monk’s habit over the tunic of his religious order. He is stood upright, holding an open book, La Règle des Antonnites, in his right hand. In the other hand, he is holding a staff in the form of the Greek letter tau with a rosary hanging down over it. At his feet lies a pig wearing a small bell around its neck. He rests on his right leg, whilst the left advances forward as if he were about to start walking. His belted tunic, forming several rectilinear pleats, is covered by a habit which is open only at the waist, therefore revealing these pleats. He is also wearing a hooded scapular over his shoulders. His thick hair escapes from under a distinctive hat, forming a collection of finely sculpted ringlets. This fine detail is also applied to the four long ringlets of his superb beard, which sit just below the shorter ones of his moustache. His face is a picture of harmony, with lowered eyes and his small mouth lost amongst the abundance of hair. At his feet on a pedestal of flames, hinting to the fire of Saint Anthony no doubt, a pig trying to scratch its ear. Born in 251 in Upper Egypt, he withdrew into solitude at a very young age. He would have been plagued in the desert with extremely diabolical temptations. He payed a visit to Saint Paul the hermit towards the end of his life. He was the dean of the Thébaïde anchorites, who was miraculously fed by a crow. On the day that Saint Anthony visited, the crow brought two portions of bread in its beak instead of one. Some time after, having learnt of the death of his venerable brother, Saint Anthony went to bury him with the help of two lions. The King of Catalonia pleaded to come and exorcise his posessed wife and children. He left Thébaïde for Barcelona. He appeared at the house of the provost André, bringing him a sow in his mouth, a monstrous piglet born without eyes. André wanted to kill it but Anthony stopped him, telling him that the poor beast wanted to ask for healing, as the King had done for his offspring. He made a sign of the cross on the piglet and it suddenly acquired its sight and the members which it did not have at birth. After which, André, guided by Saint Anthony, exorcised the Queen of Catalonia in the same way whilst she knelt at his feet. Théophile discovered the body of Saint Anthony wrapped in a palm fibre tunic which he had been given by Saint Paul the Hermit. In the Red Sea Desert there are two Coptic, IV century, monasteries which stand next to each other, one dedicated to Saint Anthony, the other to Saint Paul the Hermit. They are the oldest monasteries in the Christian world. The body of the famous hermit was transported to Constantinople and would have been transferred into the abbaye, Saint Antoine-en-Viennois, Dauphine. The Antonnite Order was a charitable order which specialised in treating contagious diseases. The fire of Saint Anthony, was identified by doctors as a grangrenous ergotism, caused by a diet of rye bread contaminated with the parasite ergot. The effect of this is the drying out of hands and feet which then need amputation, the plague and then later syphilis. All the skin diseases came from Saint Anthony. Saint Anthony’s pilgrimage to Dauphine rivaled that of Saint Jacques to Compostela. Thanks to the various commanderies created by the mother house, Saint Anthony’s cult spread throughout Christianity. In order to maintain commanderies and their hospitals, the Antonnites resorted to pig farming. They enjoyed having the benefit of letting their pigs roam freely through the streets of the villages, with little bells round their necks that had a recognisable chime so that they were able to find them. This privilege was very envied by other monastic Orders. Saint Anthony was the patron saint of several crafts such as basket makers and gravediggers. However it is to the pig that he owes the majority of his patronages; pigkeepers, pig sellers, butchers, porc butchers, brush makers who use pig bristle and bell-ringers because of the pig bells...

A striking collection of 7 mineral specimens in natural form sourced from an ex British private collection. Each presented on exclusive custom display plinths, this collection showc...

Provenance : - Kunsthaus Heinrich Hahn, Frankfurt am Main, sale 16, June 17, 1930, lot 16. - Sotheby's, Amsterdam, Feb. 26, 2006, lot 201. HISTORIC Located between Moselle valley and Meuse valley, framed by the Vosges Mountains on the south side and the duchy of Luxembourg on the north side, the duchy of Lorraine is the result of several partitions. It starts with the 9th century when the Carolingian empire is divided, with Lothar 1st inheriting Lotharingia. In 959 this territory was in turn divided in two; Lower and Upper Lotharingia, the latter being the forebear of the duchy of Lorraine. This duchy was under the rule of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire until 1736 when it was absorbed by the kingdom of France. All along its history the duchy of Lorraine has found itself in the midst of many conflicts. Alliances and feuds marking European history were always particularly sensible in Lorraine where instability was frequent. Because of its geographic position the duchy of Lorraine was also an artistic crossroad. Hence the duchy of Lorraine becomes from the 13th century onwards an important artistic centre where a particular type of Virgin and Child appears. According to professor J. A. Schmoll the characteristics of Lorraine sculpture burgeon around 1280-1300 in the Aube region. It presents “vigorous volumes, restrained movements, rare but solemn gestures and a strong interiorised and stern expression”. Those Virgins look similar with a wide forehead, a shield- or oval-shaped face, large neck, small lips and a cleft chin. This model is particularly in favour during the 13th century because of the revival for Marial worship and for the theme of the Virgin and Child. It bears witness to a new religious sensibility with a more intimate vision of religious practice. DESCRIPTION The important 14th century Virgin we present to you is one of the most beautiful examples of sculptural art from Eastern France, with her fascinating distant gaze. Her contrapposto posture is induced by the weight of the child she carries high on her left side. The child has a chubby face framed by blond hair with well defined curls and he wears a long red V-collared tunic from which emerge his feet. The fabric is animated by long folds. The position of the right foot turned to the back is a detail we can notice on several Virgins from Lorraine. He holds a bird that seems to be pecking his thumb. “The bird /held by the child in his hands/ has been read as a reference to an episode from Christ’s childhood when he has moulded sparrows with clay before giving them life. It appears in the apocryphal gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (ch. 27) and later in the Quran (III, 43, v. 110). However the iconography seems to be more influenced by the concept of Redemption or of Eucharist, the bird symbolising the soul of the Christian about to be redeemed or revitalised.” Mary wears a long dress with two rock crystal cabochons remaining from the original five. She is covered by a red cloak enriched with old-gold motifs draped as an apron falling in long pleats along her left hip. The relief treatment and the volume of the cloak developing a network of concentric pleats contrast with the the flat pleating of her dress. They nevertheless suggest the curve of her bent right leg. She wears a floret crown securing a short thin veil carved in very low relief. From it emerges her blond curled hair characteristic of the 13th century. The large face with almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, small lips and cleft chin casts its gaze afar in a fashion typical of 13th century Virgins. In her right hand she holds a lily flower. In a very refined manner the artist has carved a band on her right ring-finger. In the back, carefully sculpted, spreads the minutely detailed short veil. COMPARATIVE STUDIES This sculpture of great quality presents obvious similarities with Virgins from Lorraine, designated by William Forsythe...

A pre-Inca Chimu culture, pre Columbian vase in earth ware. This beautiful little vessel vase, was created in the northern Peruvian region by the Chimu culture between the 900 / 1...

The "twin fish" dishes, emblematic of fertility and marital joy, are also recognized as one of the Eight Buddhist symbols. These dishes were prominently produced by the Longquan kiln...

Ghurid Rulers Of India, Mu'izz Al-Din Muhammad B. Sam (567-602h). Gold 10-Mithqals/Dinars, Balad Ghazna 601h. Obverse: In Field: La Ilaha Illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah Al-Nasir Li-Din Allah Amir Al-Mu'minin; In Field (Above, And To Left And Right): Allah A'la; (Below): Ornament Of Two Intertwined Tendrils; In Margin: Qur'an Ix, 33. Reverse: In Field: Al Sultan Al-A'azam Mu 'Izz Al-Dunya Wa Al-Din Abu'l-Muzaffar Muhammad Bin Sam; In Field (Above, And To Left And Right): Allah A'la; (Below): Ornament Of Two Intertwined Tendrils; In Margin: Mint And Date. Weight: 44.82g. Published: The Shah Firzan Heritage Of Islamic Coins...

Rhodochrosite stalactites are found exclusively in the Mina Capillitas (“little chapels”) mineral deposit of Argentina. Within each nondescript stalactite is a core with bands of blu...

A Very Rare and Important Marble Relief of the ‘Resurrection of Christ’ Attributed to the Master of the Mascoli Altar Marble Venice, Italy Second half of the 15th Century SIZE: ...

This is a guaranteed authentic ancient Chinese jade bi cache of ninety six (96) discs from the Qijia culture, Northwestern China, circa 3000-2000 BCE. Including Our Certificate of A...

Obverse: head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and spiral palmette Reverse: owl standing right with h...

Spinosaurus (meaning "spine lizard") is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what now is North Africa, during the upper Albian to upper Turonian stages of the Cretaceous period...

South Arabian Calcite female figure 3rd Century BC to 1st century A.D. Calcite Alabaster height: 30.5 cm A magnificent alabaster female figure, a f...

A collection of two small pottery bowls with polychrome central figurative decorations, matching size and similar conical form. These bowls are identified as Nishapur ware circa 10th century (in nowadays Iran). They were stoneware (possibly buffware) and covered with opaque white glaze. Both were lovely decorated with a central human figure within an outer border. One is predominantly yellow, an imitation of luster ware...

Han Dynasty Bixie, circa 206 BC to 220 AD, muscularly carved. The creature is depicted crouching on its powerful paws, its head thrown back, jaws open to reveal fangs, wings folded a...

Two small fragments of pre-Columbian textiles in shadow box frames. Both have strong geometrical patterns in the style of Nazca culture, located in the southern coast of nowadays Per...

Dorothy Draper Style X benches- Stools. Ebonized. Gold color painted accents. Metal foot caps. Tufted cushion seats. Dimensions: 18 5/8" h x 24 1/2" w x 20 5/8" d.

Natural Calcite on Amethyst cluster from San Eugenio, Artigas Dept., Uruguay. Unusual 7'' elongated rhombic calcite crystal with modified terminations on gem amethyst crystal matrix...

This exquisite red soapstone Bi disc is a remarkable artifact from Neolithic China, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Set on a modern iron base, the disc reflects the timeless be...