Chicago - Decorative Objects

Paper brass bowl I by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 25.4 x W 25.4 x H 12.7 cm Materials: tarnished brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series embodies th...

A petite 19th century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box is formed of antique coins and copper and pro...

Hand-turned from sustainably harvested Mango wood, the Wave Candlestick draws its form from sinusoidal waves. Burned and oiled finish. Available in sh...

This petite glazed jar from China's Shanxi province exemplifies the timeless appeal of handcrafted pottery. Once used in an apothecary to hold ground herbs and oils for traditional m...

This rustic container was made over a hundred years ago to measure and hold a dou of rice, a traditional Chinese unit of volume. The rice measure has a square form with tapered sides...

Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional scholars' desk. This small wooden bru...

Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here he has taken heavy gauge wire and formed it into a simple dog and placed it upon a salvaged steel cylinder. These repurposed items combine to form this small simple sculpture that will sure to bring a smile to its owner. Jim Rose Objects No. 04 Found and Collected Objects 6.50h x 6w x 10.50d in 16.51h x 15.24w x 26.67d cm JR0291 Jim Rose b. 1966, d. 2023 Bio Born in Indiana, Jim Rose lived in Europe until he returned to the United States to attend college. After one year at Bard College, Jim transferred to the School of the Art Institute in Chicago (SAIC) where he graduated in 1988 with a BFA. His skillful interpretation of the Shaker design is a result of intense research and field study of Shaker furniture, architecture, culture and history. After over two decades of dedicated work, he has mastered the minimalism of the Shaker technique and created his own unique visual vernacular. The quilts of Gee's Bend have become a monumental influence taking this artist's work to new levels of unique interpretation and artistry. His selection of aged steel results in a patina directly related to that of aged wood while his colored strips beautifully mimic worn cloth. Each piece of furniture is masterfully made and intended for daily use. Jim Rose’s steel furniture is featured every year at SOFA Chicago for the past 25 years. Jim Rose b. 1966, Wisconsin Education 1989 B.F.A., Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL 1988 Student at Large, Welding Technology, Triton College, Chicago, IL 1985 Undergraduate Photography Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Awards 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship Award, Madison, WI. 2005 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 Grant Recipient for Shaker Interpretations in Cast Iron, PA Arts Assoc / WI Arts Board 2003 Arts/Industry Residency Program for Visual Artists, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Solo Exhibitions 2023 Jim Rose CODA, Gallery Victor, Chicago, IL 2020 Unseen, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 New Work, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2012 Simply Steel, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2007 Variation, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003 New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2000 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Hands and Heart to Steel III, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL National Exhibitions 2023 Intersect Palm Springs, Gallery Victor, Palm Springs, CA 2018 SOFA Chicago 2018, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Art Market Hamptons, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Bridgehampton, NY Art on Paper, Gallery Victor, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY 2017 - 2019 SOFA Chicago – Gallery Victor Armendariz 2016 - 1995 SOFA Chicago, New York, Palm Beach - Ann Nathan Gallery 2011 - 2002 Art Chicago - Ann Nathan Gallery Group Exhibitions 2017 Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 Living with Art: The Newman Collection, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, Oklahoma 2016 Form Follows Function: The Intersection of Art and Craft, The Hardy Gallery, Ephraim, Wi 2015 NEO, Chipstone Foundation, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 2015 ICFF, Furniture Society, Javits Convention Center, New York City, NY 2013 Vahki Revisited, The Enduring Spirit of a Craft Collection” Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2013 Fearless Furniture, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN 2013 Inaugural Exhibition, Museum Wisconsin of Art, West Bend, WI 2012 Sitting Pretty: Furniture from RAM’s Collection, Racine Art Museum, WI 2011 Hiding Places: Memory in the Arts, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, WI 2010 Living with Art, Strohl Art Center, Chautauqua Institution, NY 2009 Summer in Wisconsin, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2009 High Honors, James Watrous Gallery, Madison, WI 2008 Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary, Museum of Art and Design, NY 2007 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, Art Association, Jackson, WY 2007 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX (traveling exhibition) 2006 Show us Your Drawers, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN 2006 Marriage of the Minds...

This mid-20th-century American hand-crafted leather humpback whale, found in one of Oregon's picturesque coastal towns, is a stunning example of traditional craftsmanship and creativ...

While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty. This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow handle of iron and wood, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with raised lines and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...

Charged with the humble task of storing dry goods, this small earthenware jar was hand-shaped in the early 20th century with balanced proportions and a beautifully irregular unglazed...

While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty. This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow iron handle, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with concentric grooves and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...

Detailed and eye catching outsider art "found" wood sculpture. Constructed from floor moldings and cut paper geometric appliques. Unsigned.

This Chinese Neolithic-inspired stone axe head, meticulously carved from an orange/brown stone, is a testament to ancient craftsmanship and cultural significance. Axe heads of this s...

This is a welded steel sculpture made by furniture creator Jim Rose. It is sustainable design created from salvaged and recycled steel panels left over from his larger projects. These sculptures reference traditional American Folk Art barn house models or bird houses. This sculpture works alone on a shelf or table or can be grouped with other house sculptures by the artist. Each house sculpture is unique in design and color. Jim Rose Structure #168 found steel with natural rust patina and paint 6h x 4.50w x 2.50d in 15.24h x 11.43w x 6.35d cm Jim Rose b. 1966 Bio Born in Indiana, Jim Rose lived in Europe until he returned to the United States to attend college. After one year at Bard College, Jim transferred to the School of the Art Institute in Chicago (SAIC) where he graduated in 1988 with a BFA. His skillful interpretation of the Shaker design is a result of intense research and field study of Shaker furniture, architecture, culture and history. After over two decades of dedicated work, he has mastered the minimalism of the Shaker technique and created his own unique visual vernacular. The quilts of Gee's Bend have become a monumental influence taking this artist's work to new levels of unique interpretation and artistry. His selection of aged steel results in a patina directly related to that of aged wood while his colored strips beautifully mimic worn cloth. Each piece of furniture is masterfully made and intended for daily use. Jim Rose’s steel furniture is featured every year at SOFA Chicago for the past 25 years. Jim Rose b. 1966, Wisconsin Education 1989 B.F.A., Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL 1988 Student at Large, Welding Technology, Triton College, Chicago, IL 1985 Undergraduate Photography Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Awards 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship Award, Madison, WI 2005 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 Grant Recipient for Shaker Interpretations in Cast Iron, PA Arts Assoc / WI Arts Board 2003 Arts/Industry Residency Program for Visual Artists, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Solo Exhibitions 2017 New Work, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2012 Simply Steel, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2007 Variation, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003 New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2000 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Hands and Heart to Steel III, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL National Exhibitions 2017-2018 SOFA Chicago – Gallery Victor Armendariz 2016 - 1995 SOFA Chicago, New York, Palm Beach - Ann Nathan Gallery 2011 - 2002 Art Chicago - Ann Nathan Gallery Group Exhibitions 2017 Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 Living with Art: The Newman Collection, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, Oklahoma 2016 Form Follows Function: The Intersection of Art and Craft, The Hardy Gallery...

A massive vintage Mexican glazed terracotta bowl with two applied handles and a beautiful drip glazed pattern on the interior. The exterior is u...

This vintage water bucket conjures up images of water-bearing figures illustrated in painted scrolls. Beautifully aged with a warm patina, this Qi...

A petite bronze canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box dates to the early 20th century and provided an air...

A large Accolay French ceramic dish with palest of chartreuse green heavily crackled glaze. This dish has an undulating organic rim edge. An atypical color for Accolay makes this d...

French geometric shaped three-sided clear pressed glass vase by Luminarc with wonderful heavy weight. Reflects the light brilliantly. Signed F...

This intricately styled pair of terracotta figurines is sculpted in the style of Japanese Dogū sculptures of the Jōmon period (10th-4th century B.C.). Reminiscent of Pre-Columbian redware figures, Dogū ceramics are known for their primitive abstract rendering of the human form and decorative geometric etchings. This pair of ceramic figurines...

As the embodiment of compassion, Guanyin is the most beloved enlightened being in China. Known as the Goddess of Mercy, she is the female bodhisattva form taken by Avalokitesvara in eastern Buddhism and is instantly available to all who call upon her with their mind. Though commonly depicted as a woman in Chinese statuary...

Lorenzo Burchiellaro cast and etched aluminum square sculpture. Patinaed black and natural etched aluminum composes this open cube with a dish depressed center for either holding va...

Designed to resemble a scroll-form altar table, this narrow footed box has an elegant silhouette with waterfall sides and minimal ornamentation. Dated to the late 19th century, the b...

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rosewood Tissue Box (circa 1965) This elegant rectangular tissue box exemplifies Arthur Espenet Carpenter’s mid-century modern vision. Carpenter was a self-t...

A well-chosen stone is a focal point of both a traditional Chinese garden and a scholar's studio, evoking the grandeur of nature and inspiring creative thought. Meditation stones off...

Hand-turned from sustainably harvested Mango wood, the Wave Candlestick draws its form from sinusoidal waves. Burned and oiled finish. Available in short (12") and tall (16"). Found...

These monumental Chinese roof tiles were once installed as part of the elaborate roof of a Ming-dynasty temple or grand courtyard home. Dated to the 17th century or earlier, the scul...

These monumental Chinese roof tiles were once installed as part of the elaborate roof of an early Qing-dynasty temple or grand courtyard home. Dated to the 18th century, the sculptur...

This incredible pair of sancai-glazed Chinese roof tiles were once installed as part of the elaborate roof of a Ming-dynasty temple or grand courtyard home. Dated to the 17th century...

This shallow brass bowl is a monumental version of the Indian open fire cooking vessel known as urli or uruli. Traditionally, these wide metal basins were used for preparing ayurvedi...

This woven tray basket was originally used for harvesting grains or in a kitchen for food prep and storage. Despite its humble origin, the basket exhibits remarkable workmanship, bea...

Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only f...

By the 18th century, opium use had become as central to Chinese social life as taking tea or smoking tobacco, fostering a subculture rich with its own customs, traditions, and exquis...

A striking vintage Casa Grandes pottery vase with a large belly, narrow neck, and wide lip, and decorated with black geometric patterns repeated around t...

These petite Japanese dishes are patterned with a bright, cobalt blue design of flowers and leaves, arranged to form a large, five-petal plum or cherry blossom. A type of porcelain w...

Georges Jouve Soleil Bowl, Black glazed earthenware. Incised artist's cipher to the underside. France, c. 1950 It can hang on the wall.

A charming vintage Italian porcelain sculpture depicting a stacked grouping of onions and artichokes and resting on a tazza-form base.

This slender metal container is a 19th-century white brass incense burner, used for storing and burning incense sticks. The small box has a rectangular form and a removable sliding t...

This miniature furniture set - at only 6 inches tall - beautifully recreates classic Chinese furniture forms down to the finest of details. Crafted of a beautiful hardwood, prized for its strength and dark color, the set includes a side table and two petite roundback armchairs...

This contemporary lidded baluster jar continues the centuries-old tradition of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain ware. Painted with cobalt pigments for a brilliant blue finish, the ja...

Originally used for fermenting rice or sorghum into wine or vinegar, this squat, earthenware vessel from the early 20th century is coated inside and out with a thick, dark glaze. The...

This is a white glazed and black clay raku fired ceramic bust. Though modern, this sculpture references Classical Greek and Roman antiquities. A subtle red glaze is used on the lips and the artist has purposefully and mysteriously left a portion around the neck between the head and the chest free of glaze, exposing the black clay beneath. The cracking on the surface is a result of the raku firing process and intended to be there. Pavel Amromin George, 2017 raku fired ceramic 17H x 15W x 9D in 43.18H x 38.10W x 22.86D cm Pavel G. Amromin Exhibitions 2017 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 2009 Pavel Amromin: Adventure Bound, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY 2008 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY 38th Annual Ceramics Exhibition, Crossman Gallery, UW Whitewater, WI 2007 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, Chicago, IL SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY 2006 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, Chicago, IL The Toy Soldier Collection – MFA Thesis Exhibition, University Gallery, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL 2005 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY 2004 SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, New York, NY SOFA: Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art, Chicago, IL 2003 SOFA...

John Prip silver plate elegant modern dish for Reed and Barton. Excellent condition no scratches to the surface. John Prip was born in New York of a Danish father and an American...

Following the sculpted form, marbled coloring, and natural veining of this one-of-a-kind stone can be deeply meditative. Viewed as a source of beauty and creativity, Chinese scholar-...

In 19th century Tibet, many men would have carried a flint striker along with several other tools that could help ensure survival in the often-harsh climate of the Tibetan Plateau. K...

A rosewood and walnut posacenere or ashtray model 1402 designed by Ico Parisi for Stildomuselezione, circa 1959. Ashtray 5" diameter x 2.75" height. Pictured in the Ice Parisi book...

Larry Mohr (American / New York 1921-2013), "Marquette" 2005, metal and chrome abstract geometric sculpture, signed, numbered 3/8. and dated to lower edge of base. Larry Mohr (1921-...

Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his travels. In his ongoing series of memory jugs, Thompson adorns stoneware vessels with a kaleidoscope of ceramic shards, found objects, and pocket-sized trinkets he collected over the course of his life. Also known as forget-me-not jugs or spirit jars, memory jugs are African American folk art objects that honor a loved one who has recently passed. Small tokens and mementos of the deceased are gathered and affixed to the exterior of a jug or vase, an abundance of memories that celebrates a life lived to the fullest. Michael Thompson applies this tradition to his own practice, creating tactile assemblages of this and that. Formed in the manner of collage, each jug honors the lost memories of generations past and his own memories of personally discovering each item. With varied sources for materials including Kyoto, Turkey, and Mexico, a great number of the found shards are 18th and 19th century ceramics...

By the 18th century, opium use had become as central to Chinese social life as taking tea or smoking tobacco, fostering a subculture rich with its own customs, traditions, and exquis...

Tony Rosenthal Monumental "Mandala" Variation 1994. Painted wood half circles bolted together with metal base. Signed on metal base Tony Rosenthal Born August 9, 1914, in Highland Pa...

Arno Declercq’s works are monumental and ethno-graphic pieces of art. Objects with a strong identity influenced by his passion for brutalism and tribal art, each piece has a function...

An impressive antique padlock of wrought iron, originally used to secure large doors such as those used at a temple entrance or courtyard gate. Set on...

This grandly scaled ceramic vessel was made by hand in northern China in the early 20th century, patterned in high relief with medallions framing floral motifs. Rimmed with texture, the vase is expressively coated inside and out with an ochre glaze, streaked with dark brown, and makes for the perfect a dramatic, large planter, water feature, or stoic sculpture.

Clyde Burt ceramic bowl, beautiful technical glazes. Signed [CB] underside.

This intriguing head fragment was once attached to a pre-Columbian bust or full effigy figurine. Earthenware figurines like this were made in great abundance throughout Mesoamerican history, serving a wide variety of purposes and functions from religious rituals to burial offerings. Figurines like this commemorated important people and events across Mesoamerica, portraying individuals of different rank and status such as soldiers, merchants, bureaucrats, and occasionally divinities. This figure is adorned with an elaborate headdress, or coiffure, and ear spools...

The largest Yanomami basket we've ever seen! The Yanomami are an indigenous people to the Amazonian regions of Brazil and Venezuela. This monumental ba...

These charming early 20th-century French wooden garden trugs exude rustic elegance and historical charm. Painted a dark green, each trug bears the patina of time and use, evidenced b...

In 19th-century Tibet, many men carried a fire striker to help ensure survival in the often-harsh climate of the Tibetan Plateau. Known as mechag, such strikers would hang from one's belt and often doubled as a small pouch for flint and tinder. The finest strikers were finished with precious metals and decorated with repoussé and inlaid stones. This leather flint pouch is decorated with silver and gold plated metalwork and three large beads of turquoise and red coral. The mechag hangs from a simple leather strap and three decorative leather beads hang below. The pouch contains two Tibetan prayer flags...