Europe

Chest of drawers. Carved wood. 16th century. Restorations. Chest of drawers with a carved wooden front in its own color, featuring two drawers with metal handles and lock escutcheo...

Description of the Engraving: Braun & Hogenberg’s "S. Galli Opp. et Monasterium Heluetiorum" from Civitates Orbis Terrarum (1575) This is an original, hand-colored copper engraving ...

This is a fine example of Ortelius' map of Switzerland from his *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*, recognized as the first modern atlas of the world. The map is oriented with south at the top, which reverses the typical north-up orientation seen in most modern maps. It highlights significant geographical features such as Lake Geneva (Lemanus Lacus) to the right of the map and the Rhine river entering Switzerland near the center. The *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*, first published in 1570 by Abraham Ortelius in Antwerp, was groundbreaking as it compiled uniform maps with supporting text in a single volume, marking a departure from earlier collections of maps that were custom-assembled on demand. This atlas included a wealth of sixteenth-century cartographic knowledge, reflecting the extensive global explorations occurring after the discovery of America...

Title: Rare 1592 Woodcut of Deer from Sebastian Münster's "Cosmographia" Description: This remarkable woodcut, published in Basel in 1592, originates from Sebastian Münster's mon...

Title: Early Woodcut Map of Europe from Münster's Cosmographia, 1574 This is an original early woodcut map of Europe by the famed cartographer Sebastian Münster, printed in 1574 by ...

16th Century Spanish Moorish bronze mortar A small round bronze dark brown patinated shaped mortar, resting on a round base. The exterior decorated with vertical rib pattern from t...

RARE SPANISH CONSOLE   ORIGIN : SPAIN PERIODE : 16TH CENTURY   Height: 83,5 cm Width : 118 cm Depth : 49,5 cm   Original handles and locks. Walnut   This rare Spanish console rests o...

The 'Battle for the Kauwenstein Dijk', engraved and titled Pugna in Aggerere Covenstio Anno 1585, depicts a significant battle during the Siege of Antwerp on 26 May 1585. The engraving illustrates the fierce combat around the Kauwenstein embankment, where the Spanish forces under the Duke of Parma attempted to cut off supplies to the city of Antwerp, leading to intense fighting. The scene vividly portrays soldiers engaged in close combat, naval forces in the background, and smoke rising from the battlefield as cannon fire and musket shots fill the air. The embankment, partially breached, is a focal point, showing the chaotic nature of the battle as forces from both sides converge. At the top, the title is inscribed in Latin, and a detailed legend (A-O) at the bottom provides further explanations about various parts of the battle, referencing key locations, troops, and actions. The detailed precision of the engraving reflects the high level of craftsmanship typical of 16th-century military engravings...

Title: Bird's-Eye View of Blâmont in Lorraine by Braun and Hogenberg, 1597 This copperplate engraving, published in 1597 by Braun and Hogenberg, depicts a bird's-eye view of the t...

The painting features the enthroned Madonna and Child, two praying angels, and Saints Nicholas of Tolentino, Augustine, Luke the Evangelist, and Monica, below an elegant canopy. The ...

A Very Rare Venetian Velvet Cover Cut and uncut voided silk velvet in green on a light gold ground The pattern is a lattice of Leaf motifs, with the diamond shaped openings contain...

Antique Map of Douai (France) titled 'Duacum, Catuacorum Urbs, tam situ, quam incolis, et litterarum studijs elegantissime ornata'. This map depicts the city of Douai (France) an...

Hand-Colored Engraving of Louis XIII from Pluvinel's Equestrian Manual, 1623-1629 Description: This exquisite hand-colored engraving is from Antoine de Pluvinel's renowned equestr...

A rare & sculptural 16th C. Marble mortar from the ancient city of Salamanca, Spain. Likely used by chemists/alchemists of the time due to its size and wear Heavily, heavily patina...

France / 16th century / candlestick / bronze / Antique / Rustic An antique bronze candlestick on an octagonal baseand with curved stem in different patterns. Crafted in the 16th ce...

Antique print titled 'Abbildung der Statt Rom/wie sie under Keyser Vespasiano und zu Plinii zeiten gewesen'. Woodcut of ancient Rome. This print originates from Munster's Cosmographi...

Landscape with Figures is an original Old Master Painting realized in the Second half of the 16th Century and attributed to the French painter Matthijs Bril (Antwerp, 1550 – Rome, 15...

1584 Abraham Ortelius Map of Lower Burgundy, France Description of the Map: This antique map by Abraham Ortelius, titled "Bvrgvndiae Inferioris Qvae Dvcatvs Nomine Censetur Des," w...

PORTRAIT HEAD OF BEARDED MAN Central Italy, 16th/17th Century marble with traces of polychromy height 39 cm height 15 1/4 in

Rare and well-preserved 16th century cupboard / cabinet. Detailed carved top section depicting a floral leaf design and people in polychrome lacquer. Front with red lacquer, pair of ...

Description: Antique map titled 'Sumatra ein grosse Insel / so von den alten Geographen Taprobana genennt worden'. Beautiful map of Sumatra and the southern part of Malaysia, with Si...

Friar armchair. Walnut wood, leather. Spain, 16th century. Armchair with arms and high back of the type known as “frailero”, which has leather with studs on the seat and upper part ...

16th century French Gothic andirons made of cast iron. With faces on the spit hooks to discourage evil powers. This product has to be shipped as freight due to its size and/or (volu...

A Renaissance Bed Valance Spain or Italy 16th century From a set of bed hangings originally part of the decor from a castle in France A long impressive ...

Title: Limburgum Oppidum Galliae Belgicae, vulgo Lympurch, gallicè, Lembor Dr. Type: Print (Copper Engraving) Circa 1580 Technique: Colored Copper Engraving Medium: Handmade Paper S...

This map, "Asiae I Tab:", features the region corresponding to modern-day Iran and Iraq, intricately depicted in Gerard Mercator's edition of Claudius Ptolemy's "Tabulae Geographicae...

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...

Antique map titled 'Dordrecht'. Map of the city of Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Bird's-eye plan view of the city, with many ships and two coats of arms in upper corners. This map orig...

A large, museum-quality, late-16th century, cedar, Venetian, cassone on its original stand ; the sea creature ornament probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568 • This is the only, known, cassone of this type retaining its original stand. • The collection in Italy that it originally came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. • The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. • The inner lid is very practical and can be used for display or serving. The interior offers masses of storage space which is particularly suitable for textiles being cedar which repels moths. • The cassone is a beautiful, rich colour and has developed a lustrous patina. • The cassone is Illustrated & discussed in discussed in ‘Woods in British Furniture Making’, (Bowett) c13 Provenance: Private collection, Mayorca. Private collection, Italy Related to: Cassone in V&A collection, no 4886-1858 Width 177 cm., 70 in., Height 87 cm., 34 ½ in. Depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. With lid open 155 cm., 61 in “Late 16th and 17th century, London inventories confirm that cypress wood chests were relatively common in prosperous households. In 1598 there was a cypress chest in the hall of John Mason, a vintner, valued at 50 shillings. It was the most expensive piece of furniture in the house. Similarly there was a ‘fair cypress chest’ in the great chamber of Adrian Moore, haberdasher, in 1618, and a cypress chest worth £ 9 in the hall of Thomas Willis, a clotherworker in 1630. The chests were sometimes described as ‘great’ or ‘small’ but not otherwise described – presumably they were familiar to the compilers of the inventories. They were placed in halls, chambers and parlours, places where they would have been on prominent view. It is noteworthy that only the chests were imported and not, apparently, the wood. “ (p282, Cypress, Woods in British Furniture making) The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. I have never seen one of these chests on its original stand. The collection in Italy that it came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. In practical terms, the stand makes the chest a comfortable height to use. The exterior of the chest is a beautiful, mellow colour and has developed a lustrous patina. The top comprises three planks faced with a shallow, cleated, moulded edge nailed on. The front retains its original hasp and lockplate and, as is commonly found, the lock has been removed but, unusually the original ring hinges have survived. The top opens to reveal an inner lid with ring hinges and a brass ring, revealing a large open storage compartment below, the bottom lined with an old fabric. The underside of the lid retains its original penwork and pierced decoration. The central panel depicts sea creatures, sharks, flatfish, monster fish, sea horses, Neptune and mermaids, probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568. The panels either side depicting a crown, the sun and unicorns amongst stylised floral sprays. The surrounding naive penwork border features repeats of three naked ladies in the sea, a man wearing an animal mask with two dogs in a forest and a huntsman with two dogs. The floor of the inside of the cassone is upholstered in an 18th century red and yellow striped woven textile the colours of the Catalan flag. The front is decorated with pierced, silhouettes of beasts, trees and figures. The sides are plain with iron carrying handles. On its original stand, with similar decoration, and bearing a cartouche which would have been decorated with the arms of its original owner. Italian, last quarter of the 16th century. Condition Report : Old repair to bottom left moulding of top. Some hairline cracks to top. The hasp, lockplate and ring hinges are original, the lock has been removed. Handles probably 18th century. The inner lid was probably added in the 18th century and supporting mechanism in the 19th century. Exceptional original, lustrous colour and patina. Measures: Width 177 cm. 70 in., height 87 cm. 34 ½ in., depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. The cassone was the principal piece of furniture in 16th century, Italy. These chests were made as bridal gifts for nobles and aristocrats from cedar specifically for storing their much prized and valued hangings, clothing and linens, as the wood repels moths and the sweet fragrance delicately scents fabrics. Consquently the cassone, as in this example might be decorated with the family coat of arms or with depictions of virtue and edifying episodes from the Bible. A young woman could not be allowed to enter marriage without some instruction. Later, many cassoni were taken apart so that the decorated front panel could be hung as a painting. The stand of this cassone has a cartouche that would have contained a painted coat of arms in the centre which shows that it was conceived for a noble family. Such cypress or cedar chests, incised in bas relief and pyrographically engraved, have long been associated with Venice and typically have a naïve decoration on the exterior. Literature: The 'cypress chests' containing 'arras, counterpoints, costely apparel, tents, and canopies, fine linen, Turkey cushions...

This walnut chair stands on four square-section feet linked by four crossbars. The front spacer is carved as an intertwined branch. The backrest’s jambs are adorned with leaves motif...

These images are rare but fine examples of original 17th-century European engravings, displaying characteristics that might point to an Italian origin based on stylistic analysis. Th...

"Tabula Asiae V", Ptolemy/Ruscelli Subject: Persia - Iran Period: 1598 (published) Publication: Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Allessadrino… Claudius Ptolemy was a mathematician, ast...

This is a woodcut city view of Worms, published in Sebastian Münster's *Cosmographia* around 1578. The image depicts a bird's-eye view of the city of Worms, located in Rheinland-Pfal...

Title: Rare 1592 Woodcut of Exotic Animal from Sebastian Münster's "Cosmographia" Description: This intriguing woodcut, published in Basel in 1592, is from Sebastian Münster's gr...

"Polychrome carved wooden sculpture of Saint Sebastian, late 16th century. JUAN DE JUNI" Attributed to: Circle of Juan de Juni (Valladolid School) Date: Circa 1580-1600 Material: Car...

An exquisite and very rare 16th century renaissance Silk brocade fragments mounted and artistically displayed in the Glas case on the antique linen. Both fragments are greatly preserved and originated by its design from famous Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The ornaments contain flowers, jaguars, birds and Fleur De Lis- the symbol of royalty. The colours remain vibrant and parts of golden embroidery/ threads are in very good condition considering the age. Both fabric...

Original Antique map of Asia, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Maldives by Rosaccio / Ruscelli in attractive coloring. Title: Calecut Nuova Tavola Year: 1599 Relief shown pictorially. ...

Early Arista y Cuenca tile made in Toledo. Azulejo Toledano. Alhambra tile decorated in renaissance mudejar style geometrical design. Probably made between 1550 and 1575. In very g...

Very nice and old french tapestry fragment, from the middle of the 16th century, with nice design of its period design and beautiful natural colo...

A stunning pair of 16th century stylophore lions, cast and gilt bronze figurative sculptures from Germany, Nuremberg. The Stylophore Lions were figurative sculpture used in the Re...

Antique map titled 'Artesia'. Original antique map of the Artois region, France. Published by A. Ortelius, circa 1590.

"Rare 1582 Copper Engraving of Hanseatic House, Antwerp by Guicciardini" This copper engraving, published in 1582 by Christoph Plantin in Antwerp, presents the impressive Hanseatic ...

Early Woodcut Bird's Eye View of Rouffach, France, by Sebastian Münster, 1554 Description: This rare 1554 woodcut is a bird's eye view of Rouffach, a town in the Haut-Rhin departmen...

Condition Report: Condition: Good, some small chips and flakes from the top rim. Fritting also. Base rim with a baking flaw. Its also warped. SIze: 21.5cm x 11cm Lovely decorated pie...

Elegant pair of oil paintings on wooden panels, depicting Jesus and the Madonna in their youthful physiognomy. Originally part of a larger wooden altarpiece, these two works are now ...

Early Woodcut Map of the Rhine River Region, "Die Dritte Tafel des Rheinstroms," ca. 16th Century This early woodcut map, titled "Die Dritte Tafel des Rheinstroms Innhaltend das Nid...

Title: Early Woodcut Map of Swabia and Bavaria, 16th Century This early woodcut map titled "Schwaben und Bayernlande / Darbey auch begreiffen der Oenwaldt / Nordgaw / etc." provides...

Early Woodcut Map of the Rhine River Region Covering the Palatinate, Austria, and Elsass, ca. 1628 This early woodcut map, titled "Die ander Tafel des Rheinstromes/begriffen die Pfa...

The antique print titled 'Francenbergum, vel ut alij Francoburgum Hassiae Opp', published by Braun & Hogenberg around 1599, is a remarkable historical ...

16th century Spanish Valencian Manises lusterware plate combining ceramics with metallic glaze. It has been repaired with iron grapples.

A 445-year-old late medieval 16th century heraldic encaustic tile of Flemish origin (unmarked). Made from terracotta and glazed, this 6-inch antique tile is an excellent collector’s ...

A large Japanese Namban lacquer arqueta coffer for the Portuguese market Kyoto, Momoyama-period, late 16th century In Hinoki cypress lacquered in ...

Religious sculpture representing the nativity, carved wood from the 16th century. Carved wood sculpture, walnut wood and oak wood base, sculpture representing the nativity, circa 16...

Title: Portrait of Abraham Ortelius Engraved by Philippe Galle, first published in 1579, featured in the *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*. Description: This is a meticulously detailed portrait of Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598), the renowned Flemish cartographer, geographer, and creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. This copperplate engraving, crafted by the master engraver Philippe Galle (1537–1612), was first published in the 1579 edition of Ortelius’s groundbreaking work. The image presents a bust-length profile of Ortelius facing to the left, emphasizing his austere yet intellectual presence. He is depicted wearing formal attire typical of the late Renaissance period, including a richly textured doublet with a fur-lined collar and a finely detailed ruff around his neck. His aged, yet determined face, with a pointed beard and furrowed brow, symbolizes his deep dedication to the study of geography and cartography. Surrounding the portrait is an elaborate architectural and floral frame, characteristic of late 16th-century Mannerist designs, which conveys a sense of both intellectual grandeur and artistic sophistication. At the top of the frame is a "Chi Rho" symbol, representing Christ, and emphasizing the religious underpinnings of Ortelius's worldview. The Latin inscription below the portrait reads: "Spectandum dedit Ortelius mortalib. orbem, Orbi spectandum Galleus Ortelium" ("Ortelius gave the world to be seen by mortals, Galleus gave Ortelius to be seen by the world.") This suggests the lasting legacy of Ortelius’s work in mapping the known world and how Galle, through his engraving, immortalized Ortelius himself. About the Engraver: Philippe Galle (1537–1612) was a prominent Flemish engraver and publisher, known for his precision and technical skill in copperplate engraving. Galle often worked with leading figures of his time, producing prints that highlighted important cultural, intellectual, and political figures. His engraving technique involved etching intricate lines and textures onto a copperplate, which would then be inked and pressed onto paper to produce highly detailed prints. His collaboration with Ortelius on this project further solidified his reputation as a master engraver. Why Ortelius was Important: Abraham Ortelius is celebrated as one of the founders of modern cartography. His atlas, *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum* (Theatre of the World), published in 1570, was the first to gather a comprehensive collection of maps into a single, standardized volume. This work marked a turning point in the history of geography by establishing a modern understanding of world mapping. Ortelius also significantly contributed to geographic knowledge by incorporating information from various cartographers, which helped to unify mapmaking practices across Europe. Ortelius's work not only aided navigators and explorers but also influenced scholars and rulers in their understanding of the world. His reputation extended well beyond his home in Antwerp, making him one of the most respected intellectuals of his time. Keywords: Abraham Ortelius portrait, Philippe Galle engraving, 1579 Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Renaissance cartography, Ortelius atlas, historical cartographer portrait, copperplate engraving, Mannerist engravings...

Hand Made Bespoke Pillow The front panel. 16th Century Italian Silk Velvet Dark blue on a cream silk ground Edged with antique Silver metallic tassel trim and gold metallic braid ...

Small renaissance cabinet from Lyon. ORIGIN: FRANCE, SCHOOL OF LYON PERIOD: 16th CENTURY Height:151cm Depth: 120cm Length: 54cm Walnut ...

One sheet with two engraved maps, one on each site, and text in Italian. Late 16th century copper engravings in great condition, considering its age. "Tavola Decima Dell'Asia" - Tabula Asiae X" Plate X (10). Pakistan, Cashmir, Bangla Desh, North-India...

Bird's-Eye Views of Dunkerque, Gravelines, and Bourbourg by Braun and Hogenberg, 1597 This antique print, published in 1597 by Braun and Hogenberg, showcases three detailed bird's...

A magnificent Antique Pillow Impressive large oversize example Featuring a rare and exquisite 16th Century Embroidery of Christ Worked in coloured silks and metallic threads French ...

A beautiful, unique riding spur probably dating from the 16-17th century, As an accessory, there is also a historic horseshoe. The spur is in very good condition, there is no major d...