Important 16th Century Renaissance Florentine Drop Front Desk Cabinet

Tibetan Buddhist thangka from the late 18th early 19th century. Distemper on cloth (either silk or cotton) Depicting a Buddhist deity with multi arms and Buddhist religious relics ...

Ayutthaya Lacquered and Gilt Copper Bronze Buddha Head Circa 15th Century A beautifully lacquered and gilt bronze Buddha head from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, Thailand, circa 15th ...

Former collection Altounian At the beginning of the reign of Henri II (1547-1559) the furniture’s ornamentation evolves. The few medieval motifs that were still used are eventually relinquished. Furniture becomes more sober showcasing moulded panels and perfect architecture. Cabinet-makers use ornaments such as curved fluted or plain columns, feather quills, roses or winged putti heads. High-relief carving becomes more scarce and compositions lighter. To that end cabinet-makers draw inspiration from Fontainebleau motifs filtering them and adapting them to French taste. During this period cabinet-makers turn into a kind of architects. Indeed the architectural balance of furniture is the centre of their concerns. The study of Antic formulas is then a necessity. From this care given to proportions appear refined cabinets with pure lines. This style is characteristic of the reign of Henri II and disappears soon after under the regency of Catherine de Medici (1560-1574) when an abundance of high and low-relief ornaments comes back on furnitures. This two-bodies cabinet...

Important Renaissance sideboard-credence. This piece of furniture, originally a very large chest from the 16th century chest from the 16th century has three panels carved with mascar...