Rare Pair of Pedestals Decorated with Grotesques, Florence, Early 17th Century

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

The Adoration of the Magi. Panel carved in high relief. Flanders, 17th century. Measures: 53 x 32,5 cm.

Marble lion white marble France, probably Périgord, 17th century Small marble lion wearing a coat of arms pendant with the engraved date, ...

Italian Memento Mori skull Marble North of Italy, 17th century H 9 x L 7 x P 14 cm At the turn of the 16th century, they were the height of fashi...

Turned, engraved and openwork box Fruit wood Florence, 17th century Measures: Diameter 11cm Height 4.4cm.  

Alabaster Golgotha Italy, 17th cenury Alabaster with traces of polychromy 16 x 10 x 9 cm The Golgotha (literally "Place of the Skull ») is a hill on the outskirts of the city o...

17th century pair of carved and gilded wooden mensulae with birds.

17th century Polychrome wooden Niche with Angels and Pilasters.

Splendid sideboard in solid walnut, finely carved with refined decorative details. The cabinet has two doors that open onto two large shelves, and two drawers on the front. The class...

A petite pair of hanging corner cupboards.

Unusual pair of étagères, made circa 1845-1850 in England in a round form are masculine and formal but not fussy or over decorated. The Mahogany color is warm and light not a deep re...

An English circa 19th century pedestal wooden base that's been painted in an historic, mid-blue, grey green colour. It is a substantial piece to use to display an urn or bust, which...