18th C. Spanish Carlos III Chair Back Sofa w/ Carved Walnut and Red Silk Fabric

A matched set of four Queen Anne style side chairs, with urn-shaped pierced back splats. The wood furniture has great character - well constructed and solid, with a rustic handmade q...

Three piece set, late 18th century French Louis XV canapé / sofa / settee with two matching armchairs. The sofa is able to accommodate three sit...

Completely hand-crafted in 18th century Spain, this sculpture of the Virgin stands 1.5 meters / 5 feet tall and was most certainly created for devotional purposes, to be displayed in a church or chapel. Besides its impressive size this sculpture is an excellent, museum-quality example of the Spanish “Estofado” polychrome technique, developed during the Gothic period to imitate rich brocade fabrics. The finely carved “fabric” areas of the sculpture would be first covered in gesso, and then a layer of gold leaf would be applied. The gold leaf would then be painted over with various colors of tempera paints. Once dry, the painted surface would be incised or scratched away in patterns, revealing the gold beneath. The sculpture was professionally restored in 2022 by a firm that is often hired by the Spanish government to work on historic building interiors and museum pieces. The virgin was carefully cleaned, repaired and its condition stabilized. A complete and fully-illustrated restoration report will be included with purchase. Often confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary herself was conceived “immaculately” without original sin has been variously defended and debated within the Catholic Church since the pre-Middle Ages. For centuries, artists struggled to create an acceptable visual representation of this highly abstract concept, in part taking inspiration from the Book of Revelation and other scriptural sources. We see the Virgin standing on a half moon (biblically inspired, though also an ancient symbol of chastity) with her long natural hair loose down her back, another indication of purity. Both her white tunic and flowing blue mantle...

An excellent example of the classic dome top Spanish "arcón" or travel chest / trunk. Constructed of wood, the exterior is completely covered in a dark brown leather and the top and front feature studded brass nails arranged in decorative patterns. The nailheads themselves are decorated with raised star shape. The functioning lock mechanism (key included), hasp and side carry handles are original and made of wrought iron. Included are a pair of matching studded leather "feet" or supports which raise the trunk off of the floor allowing air to circulate, thus protecting the bottom from moisture. A solid and useable trunk...

An 18th century Italian Venetian sofa with removable back. This antique sofa from Italy, just over 6 feet in length, features a beautiful wood trimmed lines throughout; the flat-edged wooden crest...

Period 18th Century Rococo sofa from the area of Lindome, Sweden. It has exquisite carving, the whole standing on cabriolet legs tapering to the ball and...

A Danish period Rococo sofa from the 18th century. This antique Danish sofa features a beautifully carved wood frame in a floral and leaf motif, ca...

Beautiful Walnut Spanish Bench on carved legs. Great patina to the wood.