Poesy rings were popular in England and France during the 16th through the 17th centuries as lover's gifts. The quotations were often from courtship stories and are usually inscribed on the inner surface of the ring as is the case in this one. This ring amusingly reads "A virtuous Wife Preferreth Life". We imagine that in the 17th century, a woman was indeed better off being virtuous! We think this could make a more unusual and unique wedding band than a gold band...

This exquisite antique 17th-century European Baroque Crucifix is a true masterpiece of art. The intricately crafted gilt-bronze Corpus Christi boasts finely chased details that lend a sense of realism to the piece. The crucifix is mounted on a black ebony wood cross fitted with brass terminals, creating a stunning contrast against the golden figure of Christ.

Jesus's head is inclined to the left, and his long, curly hair cascades down his shoulders...

A very rare antique 17th century European Baroque, German Nuremberg repousse brass Jug The bulbous slightly waisted body with short spout rising from a short-splayed foot to a hinged domed lid with bud finial.

Decorated with repoussé and punched ornament of flower heads and scrolling tendrils, the front adorned with a green man mask, and applied at the rear with serpentine handle.

MEASUREMENTS: Height: 16 cm (6.3 inches)...

A Spanish Brass Candlestick, circa 1700. Dimensions; 8.5" high x 5" square base. Weight, approximately 1 pound 14 ounces. Very fine condition. Note, although not a pair, it may be used in conjunction with item 1848.

A Spanish Brass Candlestick, circa 1700. Dimensions; 8.0" high x 5" square base. Weight, approximately 2 pounds. Very fine condition. Note, although not a pair, it may be used in conjunction with item 1849.

An important pair of exceptional gilt brass shield wall sconces, Noble house in the German States or the Holy Roman Empire, c. 1650-1680.

Artfully decorated shield type of scounces with German Heraldic Eagles on either side of a wreath. Inside the wreath a kneeling page is presenting the crown. With floral decoration other the remaining surface. The two candle holders with drippand also decorated repousee...

A lovely Late Gothic style, German christian bronze or bell-metal censor, with fine gilt and hanging in Iron-cut cruciform chains, also adorned with firegilt globular hangers, Northern Germany, c. mid 17th. century.

An incense burner that would have been hanging in a church. The Vessel is decorated with three female busts in the Gothic style from which each of the three long chains are suspended. A the top a circular plate with a cutout brass finial.

Size: 60-61 cm...

A superb quality very large pottery figure of a male attendant or official, dating to the earlier Ming Dynasty, 1400-1500 AD.

The figure is placed on a high hexagonal plint and wears a fine two-colour blue and turquoise glazed robe. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white. Finely painted facial details.

The head is attachable as often seen on the largest figures from this period.

The figure holds his masters Ming hat in his arms...

Attractive Late Gothic style, German christian brass censor, Northern Germany, c. mid 17th. century.

An incense burner that would have been hanging in a church. The Vessel is decorated with three female busts in the Gothic style from which each of the three long chains are suspended. A the top a circular plate with a cutout brass finial.

Size: c. 52 cm. as a hanging censor, incl. chains and c. 17 cm...

Very large and Early Silver Beaker, North European, Baroque period, dated 1701.

Perhaps misleading to call this large Baroque Silver vessel, a beaker, it could be used as a vase. A beautiful engraved vessel with dotted decoration on the body and with a central medallion engraved with CFS:BRD and below the dating 1701. A double concenthric line to the rim which is engraved with the letters P:L:A:M:B.

Size: 12,4 cm...

A rare extremely large brass or bell metal mortar with Dolphin handles, after Dutch model, Dutch or Northern European, c. 1660-1670.

An elegant mortar with concenthric lines and a gothic design with the wide mouth and two dolphin handles applied at the waist. The mortar comes with the original pestle. Such a large size and fine execution mortar for the period, would have been made for a pharmacy.

Size: c. 21 cm. tall and 20,5 cm. wide, weighing perhaps 20+ kilograms, incl...

This is an antique ecclesiastical illustrated manuscript, in Latin, from earlier centuries, commonly called an "antiphonal" or simply an antique manuscript. These are normally seen as hand painted manuscripts on vellum (animal skin). The present example (21" by 13" inside the mats, 26" by 19" framed) is a rather typical example, with generally brown/sepia lettering, and a few capital letters and other letters in colors (red, and blue). It does appear to be a double-sided piece, also common, as ...

A superb quality and extremely large for type decorative brass dish or Baptismal dish, as it's also called, Nuremburg, 16th.-17th. century.

With it's highly unusual size of 52 cm. and the fine execution, this dish comes from a very rich family estate. The dish shows a high-born renaissance lady in the center with well executed incised concentrhic decoration at the fan. Lovely deep black patina on the backside.

Size: c. 52 cm. in diameter and quite solid construction.
...

Lost wax cast bronze Christ. Probably original wooden cross. The fine quality sculpture is certainly the work of a good artist. It would be interesting and profitable to find out who it is. I don't know much about European art but the sculptor who thought of this bead of skin above the nail hole of the feet was not a simple craftsman. Beautiful cast , neat scraper finish. Beautiful original patina. Good condition, the original nails are missing which can be done free of charge on request. Total ...

Antique Chinese 17th century Qing Dynasty Kangxi period. Large, Famille Verte porcelain charger signed with artemisia mark. Fine hand-painted and enameled with landscape scene of a mountainous river with trees, houses, a viewing pagoda, and various figures on a bridge and shore, including a fisherman seated in a boat. All surrounded by a band of twelve rectangular panels containing flower heads. The rim is adorned with a band of latticework.

The base with the unglazed channel foot rim enclo...

Antique 17th century Spanish Hispano - Moresque earthenware, lusterware bowl with ears-shaped handles "escudilla," Spain Manises (Valencia).

The bowl's Interior is decorated in copper lustre with a geometric pattern and two cobalt blue rings on a beige ground. Irregularly shaped handles with barbed rims, painted with copper lustre vegetal motifs. Reverse adorned with scrolling motifs.

Hispano Moresque ware was initially a style of Islamic pottery created in Muslim Spain by Moorish po...

A beautiful early 17th century silk floss textile embroidered with a variety of flowers in a panoply of colors. The central section has larger and more elaborate examples, while the borders have smaller meandering flora. Most probably of Italian origin.

The condition is quite fine, and the dimensions are 67" by 16". This wonderful piece has been part of my collection for 25 years and has not been previously shown or offered.

A fine example of a textile fragment from a 17th century chausable, purple cut velvet in a geometric vine design on a yellow background, mounted on silk. Overall fine condition, with a sight size of 18" by 18 1/2".

A Dutch Delft blue and white wall tile hand painted with a rabbit seated and eating. The animal is surrounded by a circle of a wavy line with dots in the wave troughs. Flowers fill the corners. It is 5 1/8 inches (13 cm) square about ½ inch (1.2 cm) tall. The red clay sides are beveled so that the back is slightly smaller than the front. This style of decoration was used in the 2nd quarter of the 17th century.

Condition: fairly severe chipping and losses along the right edge some on the bot...

Antique 17th-century large Russian Orthodox brass pectoral Cross Telnik (Крест-тельник). This cross features an intricate and ornate design that combines various ancient symbols, including the Suppedaneum (three-bar) and Saint Andrew's (X-shaped or "Saltire") Crosses, as well as the Crescent (half-moon) symbol known as Tsata. The Suppedaneum is a footrest used during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while the Saint Andrew's Cross is named after the apostle Andrew, who was crucified o...

A very attractive large Oak figure of a Catholic Benedictine monk, European, probably Germany or Holland, c. later 16th. century.

The figure depicts a younger monk with the typical dress and tonsure hair. He is standing on a octagonal plint. Remnants of the original colours especially to the head.

Height: c. 48 cm. and quite massive and heavy.

Condition: Nice Ver fine for the size and high age, loss to hands, and age cracks and very sound wood.

Ex. Ol...

Lace collar, probably linen. Was offered for sale in 1908 in London by the Windsor auction house, appraised by a certain Mr Knox as being a rose point lace, Venetian work from middle 17th century or a later French copy from the period of the reign of Louis XIV. The lace is kept in a wall display frame, it is placed on a Chinese silk background with secret embroidery, visible only in raking light. On the back of the frame is stuck the original of the expertise. I made a more readable copy. Good ...

A hand painted blue and white tile of a wolf, at least that is what it looks like though the head is a little odd, in profile running to the left. The animal is surrounded by a circle of a wavy line with dots in the wave troughs. Flowers fill the corners. It is 5 1/8 inches (13 cm) square about ½ inch (1.2 cm) tall. The red clay sides are beveled so that the back is slightly smaller than the front. This style of decoration was used in the 2nd quarter of the 17th century.

Condition: Losses a...

Unusual tile of a seated man in a flat cap holding a fishing pole while his wife in a bonnet cap seated beside him looks at him. A charming scene. The tile has tapered sides.5 ¼ inches (13.5 cm) square. ½ inches (1.5 cm thick).

Condition; major old restoration to the upper left corner, similar restoration along the right edge in the column and other very minor chips.

I think this is a fairly rare format with the columns and arch. The figures have a certain humor and art.

A Westerwald Stoneware Tankard. The body with incised and impressed decoration. The neck with applied masks. Westerwald C1600/20. Height; 7" (17.5 cm). Condition;  chip to upper upper rim, minor small chips to rim. Slightly distorted in the firing. A similar example is in 'The American Pilgrim Museum' Leiden. Fragments of this type have been excavated in Plymouth Massachusetts at the site of the colony founded by the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620. Also at the slightly ea...

Interesting slim design iron key, came with the Roman and early medieval keys, but probably c. 17th. century.

Condition: Nice VF, excellent metal.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

Antique 17th century Spain, Valencia or Manises, Large Hispano Moresque copper lustre ceramic deep circular charger, with a banded rim decorated with concentric bands, and scroll-pattern. The center painted with a stylized long-tailed bird among palm motifs, carnations, and scattered flowers. The rim pierced with the hole to facilitate hanging.

A Hispano Moresque ware was a style of initially Islamic pottery created in Muslim Spain by Moorish potters. The Moors introduced tin-glazed pottery...

A large gold lustre and blue on a cream ground Spanish first half of the 16th century charger, probably Valencia, Manises. Molded with a dome in the center and leaves around the rim with a hole for hanging pierced in the rim before firing. 16 ¾ inches (42.5 cm) diameter.

Condition: Broken and restuck with some fairly crude filling of a couple of lost bits. One serious rim chip and numerous glaze and minor chips on the edge. Some wear to the gold lustre.

There are numerous 19th century ...

A Kangxi period very large baluster- shaped jar and cover, decorated in blue and white with the body showing 36 panels each enclosing a composition of butterflies amongst leafy peony sprays. The borders also reflect a floral image whilst the cover repeats the themes of the panels. This impressive example is of monumental size 57cm (22 and 1/2 inches) high and boasts a vibrant and even blue colour and meticulous painting . Important Note: There is an identical jar and cover in the Topkapi S...

Very rare antique, 17th century (circa 1650 A.D.) Polish Winged Hussar massive sword (broadsword) Pałasz (pallasch) with a karabela hilt and a semi-closed guard composed of a carved horn grip, secured to the tang of the blade with three rivets with domed pewter heads (one rivet has a silver washer).

The steel guard has a semi-closed knuckle bow, faceted crossguard and langets, and down curved quillon.

This particular semi-closed guard is distinctive of the 17th-century Polish hussar...

A finely carved and exceptional early wooden Mangle board, Friesland (coastal regions of the Netherlands and northwestern Germany), c. mid-late 17th. century.

An early mangle board, carved in an exceptional openwork and geomethric style with micro carving of tiny details. Beautiful portal shaped top.

Size: c. 62 cm. long and c. 11 cm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine. Lovely fresh wood for the period and undamaged.

Ex. Dutch Private Collection. ...

A finely carved and exceptional early wooden Mangle board, Friesland (coastal regions of the Netherlands and northwestern Germany), dated 1674.

Mangle boards are rarely seen dated earlier than 1700s and this is a significant piece, carved in a wonderful geomethric style with micro carving of tiny details. Dated at the top and initialized further down.

Size: c. 70 cm. long and c. 14 cm. wide.

Condition: Choice Very fine for this extremely old piece in wood.

Box in black lacquered wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, golden details. The decor is composed of birds among plants and shrubs. The birds are very active, the one in the center tends to what appears to be a stylized egg in a nest? Probably a meaning. The designs are simple but harmonious and very elegant. The inlay work is empirical but the materials used are solide and they have stood the test of time well indeed the lacquer has not peeled off and the mother-of-pearl is still well maintained. ...

An exceptional and rare Italian cut and voided velvet panel, probably Genovese, done in a dark green on a beige foundation. The motif features mythological animals and urns, all surrounded by foliate scrolls.

The condition is quite fine, even for a textile 250 years younger. The length is 64 1/2", with a width of 10 1/2".

A superb piece for display or use as an accent, and should appeal to collectors and decorators.

Late renaissance memento mori skull ring. "Memento mori" jewelry translates to "remember thou must die", a reminder to all to live life fully, as death awaits. Memento mori rings were meant to encourage the practice of reflection on one's mortality. This is a very early ring with black enamel etching along the sides and back and a perfectly shaped skull in intaglio on the front. The ring is silver gilt with black enamel carving. Circa 1620. US size 8 1/2.

A rare pale green Dutch or German roemer with a large cup bowl above a wide hollow stem flaring out to a folded foot. Immediately beneath the bowl is an applied milled collar above a section with applied strawberry prunts, below which is another collar.

This huge example is 8" tall, with a bowl diameter of 5" and a foot diameter of 4 1/2". The condition is excellent, with no cracks chips, mineral deposits, restoration, or other problems.

NOTE: The roemer was purchased in 1970 from Kunstza...