Antique Russian Silk Ikat Wall Hanging. Silk with cotton lining, Uzbekistan, Russia, 1880. H: 75″ W: 60″. Alexander’s Antiques, Gallery 43/212.935.9386 In the 19th century, in the desert oases along the Silk Road, the eye-catching art of ikat flourished. Likely one of the oldest forms of textile decoration, ikat is common to many cultures around […]
Every time you come across a sublime 19th century animal sculpture, you’re looking at a work that owes a debt to French sculptor Pierre Jules Mène (1810-1879). Considered the “pioneer of animal sculpture” in his time, Mène belonged to the elite school of French animalières that included Pierre Louis Rouillard, Antoine-Louis Barye, and his son-in-law […]
“Nimba is the joy of living” for the Baga peoples of Guinea, Africa. The most vital of the Baga arts, the headdress known as Nimba or D’mba represents the “universal mother” in Baga society; a figure of fertility and protection who presides over important events like agricultural ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. According to the Metropolitan […]
A carved giltwood three-piece salon suite upholstered with Aubusson tapestry, French, circa 1880. Comprising of a settee and two chairs. Settee Height: 53″ Length: 77″. Gallery #39 & 63: F&P Associates/212.644.5885 Introduced earlier this year by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, #tapestrytuesday has proliferated across the particular corner of the internet devoted to old treasures […]
The writer W.H. Valentine once wrote “There is nothing more fascinating than collecting coins, all history is summed up in them…they are the story of humanity.” The story of humanity: for many, this is the romance of antique coins–unlike many other relics of the past, ancient coins can pass through so many hands, great and […]
Floral “Firework” Paperweight with Three Flowers, glass, 20th century. Michael’s Antiques. This week in our NEW Vintage & Antique Finds series, highlighting our favorite NEW additions to our vintage & antiques online catalog, we present these enchanting vintage floral paperweights from Michael’s Antiques. It’s likely that the first paperweights appeared alongside paper in ancient Egypt […]
In early-18th century Europe, porcelain was “a rare luxury item.” Tsar Peter the Great imported costly porcelain items from Western Europe for his personal use, and dreamed of establishing porcelain production in his own land of Russia–a dream finally realized during the reign of his daughter, Empress Elizabeth. Today, porcelain from the Imperial Porcelain Factory […]
Royal Vienna hand painted porcelain plate of a brown haired beauty, cobalt blue and gilded border, signed Wagner, Vienna, Austria, circa 1880. Lev Tov Antiques One of the most prized kinds of antique porcelain, Royal Vienna plates originated in the 18th century when “two workers from the Meissen factory in Germany took the “recipe” for […]
Derived from the Roman word “aqua,” meaning “water” and “mare,” meaning “sea,” the serene March birthstone, aquamarine, certainly does recall the clear blue of the ocean. The ancient Romans believed that aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the God of the Sea, having fallen from the jewel caskets of his sirens and washed ashore. Early sailors […]
Due to its brilliant hue of purple, the longstanding color of power, the amethyst has been associated with royalty since its early history. A very old gemstone, the amethyst was used as a decorative stone by prehistoric humans 25,000 years ago, on the tombs of early Egyptian pharaohs, and on English regalia in the Middle […]