18th Century and Earlier Objets d'Art and Vertu

This exquisite and rare black jade tablet dates to the Qing period. The Qing Dynasty period spanned the years 1636 -1912. Precisely dating jade artifacts...

Antique French Miniature 18K Gold Piqué Tortoiseshell Snuff Box, circa 1790 Rare snuffbox made of tortoiseshell with fine gold piqué decor on ...

A fine matched pair of English 18th century tea caddies. In sterling silver. Marked for Francis Crump, London, and 1758. Having ce...

Antique Mughal Indian Enamel and Diamond Cup Saucer & Spoon Set A 200+ year old masterpiece: Incredible enamel on gold tea cup, saucer, and spoon. Set w...

Antique Sterling Silver George II - Dated 1733, Chester England Wall pocket with Rococo floral design

AMULET PENDANT WITH FIGA Spain, c. 1620–1630 Jet, silver, and enamel Weight 60.7 grams; dimensions 85 × 49 × 18 mm Large pendant in the shape of a hand carved from jet with a clinched fist in the figa (Spanish higa) gesture. In the palm of the hand is a heart carved in relief and on the back a six-ray star in a circle. The silver mount covers the wrist like a cuff and is decorated with a frilled border, and on the front with collet-set bosses with silver C-scrolls against blue enamel; on the back is a roundel in relief with floral motif. Domed base for the pendant loop in pea-pod form. The figa (also fica or higa) represents an age-old symbol of protection against the evil eye and other demonic threats. Its origins were pagan and buried deep in antiquity. Roman examples, such as one found recently in an archeological excavation in London, also make it clear that the protective qualities are based in a sexual symbolism–particularly the power of the phallus. The Roman bone figa/phallus in effect represents the phallus twice; that is, the gesture made by the figa hand is generally explained as fingers representing the female genitalia (vulva) penetrated by the phallus of the thumb. But other interpretations are less specific, including explanations that the left hand is the feminine principle, and the right hand is the masculine. In Spain, jet figa are common; we see one in the portrait of Anne of Austria the infanta (p. 75). That is not to say that the objects are not sumptuous or treasured. Jet was a very valuable material, and in many examples like this one, the figa is embellished with beautiful enameling or is even gem-studded. Comparable objects occur in equally sumptuous materials such as rock crystal. The enameled setting allows a dating of these objects that otherwise might prove difficult, given that the production of such objects in Spain is so consistent over centuries. Indeed, there is another, even more elaborately carved example in this collection, attached to the “magic belt” (no. 9). That example may belong to an earlier group. That figa includes deeply excavated carving, including on the upper surface, an M-shaped design that Walter Leo Hildburgh links to the heart shape (as it occurs more explicitly on this example). Hildburgh argues that its presence is especially common on these objects and that it originally represented the Sacred Heart of Mary...

Large, unusual 18th century antique Greek Orthodox icon of Saint George and the Dragon with scenes from the life of the Saint. This rare, multi-fa...

Beautiful grisaille miniature of a young mother and her child executed in pencil on paper mounted in an oval engraved gold frame that can be worn as a pendant. The mother's clothes a...

The most beautiful on Earth - her name is Psyche. ⠀ Psyche was a mortal woman whose extraordinary beauty made Aphrodite jealous and she sent her son Eros to punish Psyche. But he fell in love with her instead. After many challenges and hardships, Eros took her to Olympus and made her the Goddess of Soul. ⠀ In ancient mosaic...

Very rare wooden icon depicting "San Nicola di Mozajsk" Condition: the painting is in excellent condition, perfect in all its parts

This is a Museum Quality Enamel on Copper Bonbonnière, Patch Box or Snuff Box in the form of Love Birds. The extraordinary bird form box is from the collection of the Indianapolis M...

Exceptional pear-shaped flask in heliotrope, also known as bloodstone jasper. The body of the flask intricately sculpted with gadrooning and Rocaille motifs. A band of gold encircles...

Reliquary Pendant with Christ on the Cross Germany, c. 1480–1500 Gilded silver Weight 35 grams; dimensions 69 × 46 × 8 mm A mixture of forms gives t...

An Ancient Egyptian funerary figurine made of faience in a modern gold pendant mounting.

A very rare and fine quality box. A Georgian period example, circa 1790 - 1810. Rectangular shaped example in 15 carat rose gold. The front with a finely engraved crest, The top and ...

Thanks for looking at this superb object of virtue. This Box is In the form of a Boat, the cover and base of translucent blue enamel on a peacock-feather engine-turned ground, the cover further enamelled with a variety of sea shells on a grass bank in bright colours of red, pink, yellow, green, blue etc. All around the cover and the base there are 64 emerald cabochons set in as a decorative border. The sides are covered in blue enamel with a gold chequered design with a white enamel border all the way around the corners of the base. The curved shape grille is expertly pierced and bright-cut with foliage. The overall condition is faultless it opens and closes effortlessly and the very important enamel is in perfect order no excuses and has never suffered any restoration. The Box is stamped with a makers mark in the base but we have never looked up the maker please look at the images and see for yourself. This is a very good example of a solid gold Box...

BADGE WITH ST. JAMES THE GREAT Northern Spain, 16th century Silver, jet Weight 18.2 grams; dimensions 44 × 43 × 12 mm Round pendant with high-relief image of St. James the Great of Santiago de Compostela carved in jet. The saint is flanked by two pilgrims (their heads defaced); each holds a staff and rosary in his hand. Silver mount with plain flat backplate, corded wire surround and toothed edge as setting. Four pendant loops for sewing onto a hat or cloak. According to the Roman naturalist Pliny, jet, the material of which this pin was made, prevented snakebite and was “thrown up by the sea.” The first quality would certainly have been reassuring for a pilgrim who owned this object and who had to make long journeys over unfamiliar terrain. The second quality made jet an especially fitting material to honor St. James, given that his body arrived in Spain mysteriously, carried there “by the sea” from the Holy Land. Santiago de Compostela was a major center for jet carving from the late Middle Ages, and highly polished jet was a desirable and common material for pilgrimage souvenirs. One even finds scallop shells, the pilgrim’s badge...

Pendant with Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven Western Europe, Southern Germany (?), Italy (?), c. 1550-1560 Gold, enamel, diamonds, and pearls Weight 13.2 gr; Length 36.9 x 31.2 mm (incl. pearls) This sumptuous image exudes regal power. It portrays the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven wearing a dress and crown studded with seven large diamonds and set against a translucent, rich blue celestial background. Far removed from the tender, humble Virgin seen in German and Netherlandish artworks of the period, she is a majestic ruler, mouth sternly set, head tilted upward, and face in full profile. The oval pendant cast in high gold relief with a central medallion, the single figure filling the space, echoes jewelry portraits of the aristocracy during the Renaissance, which similarly offset the ruler’s image against a blue field composed of enamel or lapis lazuli, symbolic of divine power Only the rays of the shining gold halo that emerge behind the Virgin’s head and her long flowing hair (instead of neatly coiffed) distinguish her from female ruler portraits of the period. Three studded pearls, forming an axis, also recall pendants of European rulers. Wealth, royal status, and divine power come together in this opulent pendant. Portraits of the period show similar small oval pendants worn by women in the square of the garment or by men nestled inside multiple chains below the base of the neck. PROVENANCE European Private Collection LITERATURE Compare images from ancient Rome, for example a sardonyx cameo with female head (Kugel 2000, no. 18; Milan, c. 1550), and a pendant with gold, pearls, and enamel in the Staatliche Museum Kassel (Schmidberger/Richter 2001, no. 43; France, c. 1555-1560). For ruler pendants with blue backgrounds see a pendant of King Frances I...

Flat trapezoidal shaped tablet case in enamelled gold. The upper part is hinged and opens with a push-button. The case is composed of four translucent blue...

Flat, rectangular case for holding writing utensils in colored gold and vernis Martin (a type of imitation lacquer). A button serves to open the hinged lid. Four panels made of verni...

Diamond-shaped vinaigrette with enameled gold and bordered with pearls. The hinged lid is decorated with four winged cupid heads floating in the clouds. The sides of the lid are embe...

Oval box or snuffbox in gold of several tones. The snuffbox is adorned with a guilloche pattern with parallel stripes and dots on the lid, side and ground. The border is decorated with a stylized laurel wreath frieze on amati background. The box has an alternation of guilloche panels and leafy and stylized patterns. Weight: 2.96oz (84g) L: 2.55in. (6.5) / W: 1.81in. (4.6 cm) / H: 0.78in. (2 cm). Gold marks Jurande mark: Henri Clavel (1781-1783) Charging hallmark: P crowned. 1784-1788 Goldsmith Joseph-André Bologniel-Presidant, received in 1778. (1778-1793) Discharge mark: 1783-1789 vanneau head. Eagle head 18K...

This charming miniature has been painted in the last quarter of the 18th century. The painting shows a scene from Greek mythology. Paris is sitting in a garden with a shepherd's staff. He is placing an apple on the top of a column which carries the inscription ' à la plus belle ' ( for the most beautiful). Paris has to decide which of the three goddesses...

Eye-catching gilded bronze lion mantel clock, Louis XV, circa 1770. 3.5 inch enamel dial; bell striking movement with flat-bottomed plates and outsid...

A 'vinaigrette' in the shape of a small tobacco box. In 18- carat, two- colored, gold (rose and green), it is studded with flower decorations. Marked with two eagles, warranty mark f...

Objet d'art watch in the shape of an egg. It has romantic scenes in enamel on cooper with a gilt brass fusee movement and round baluster pillars. This piece ...

An Incredible and Quite Rare 18th/19th Century Islamic/Mogul Blued Steel and Gold Inlay Rock Crystal Double Rams Head Handle Cane/Swagger Stick. This elegant cane features blued stee...

A Fine and Exquisite Mughal Gem Set Rock Crystal and Gold Box, India, 18th Century. Finley set in 22k gold, mounted with rubies and pearls. The body carved...

COIN DETAILS Dynasts of Lykia, Trbbenimi AR Third Stater. Circa 390-370 B.C. Obverse: Facing lion's scalp; triskeles below Reverse: Triskeles, TPBB NEME around; all within shallow i...