Alexander the Great, son of Philip II of Macedon, is arguably the most important historical figure in the ancient world. Born on July 20th, 356 BC, he was an astute, if  More »

Alexander the Great, son of Philip II of Macedon, is arguably the most important historical figure in the ancient world. Born on July 20th, 356 BC, he was an astute, if somewhat headstrong student, and was schooled by various famous teachers, notably Aristotle. By the time of his death at the age of 32, he had personally supervised one of the largest land-based military expeditions of all time, and had conquered the whole of the then known world from Asia Minor across the whole of Persia, Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Bactria, parts of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. A legend in his own lifetime, he became known as much for his excesses and cruelty as his extraordinary military prowess but was nonetheless a comparatively fair and temperate man. Perhaps due to his supposed descent from Achilles and Herakles, he essentially became deified during the Hellenistic period. The Greeks celebrated Alexander in art and song, and his legend continued under the Romans, who had a fascination with military campaigns and tactics. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether currency in the age we live or an artifact of a long forgotten empire. Worth a month’s pay, a silver coin like this would have rewarded the bravery and fortitude of the officers serving under one of history’s most celebrated generals, Alexander the Great. While his vast kingdom dissolved after his death, the carefully cultivated legend of Alexander will continue to live on not only in our history books and museums, but also in artifacts like this coin: concrete remnants of ancient empires passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation. - (C.4989)   « Less

Obverse: Diademed Bust of the King Facing Right. Reverse: Zeus Striding Left, Holding Thunderbolt and Aegis, Wreath above Eagle in Inner Left Field Following the death of  More »

Obverse: Diademed Bust of the King Facing Right. Reverse: Zeus Striding Left, Holding Thunderbolt and Aegis, Wreath above Eagle in Inner Left Field Following the death of Seleucid king Antiochus II in 246 B.C., rebellions erupted in far-flung territories to the east. Seleucid forces were tied up in their struggles against Ptolemaic Egypt and were thus unable to protect the borders of their kingdom from nomadic barbarian raiders. In the province of Bactria, a historical region situated in present day Afghanistan, the satrap, or governor, Diodotus I rose up against Seleucid authority and achieved independence for his kingdom. Nearby, in modern Iran, another former satrap named Andragoras also gained independence for the territory of Parthia. This independence was short lived, as soon after a tribe from the east, the Parni, under the command of Arsaces I, invaded and conquered the land and established the mighty Parthian Empire, effectively cutting off the Bactrians from direct contact with the Greek world. Although the Parthians and the Bactrians seem to have battled at times, they were allied against Seleucid campaigns launched to punish the rebel kingdoms. It is believed Diodotus died sometime during, or shortly after this campaign, leaving his son Diodotus II to inherit the throne and conclude a peace treaty with the Parthians. How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or your purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after us. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and place, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of long forgotten empires. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine-made currencies. This coin marks the emergence of the Bactrian Kingdom. As satrap, Diodotus first issued coins in the name of Antiochos II featuring portraits of the Seleucid king. Perhaps symbolizing his increasing independence, Diodotus eventually replaced the image of Antiochos II with his own portrait. Though Antiochos' name was originally retained on coins such as this one, after officially rebelling against Seleucid authority, Diodotus replaced Antiochos' name with his own as well. This gold stater is a memorial to an ancient king and his empire passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (C.4094)   « Less

Record 78 RPM - Little Drummer Boy

Record 78 RPM - Little Drummer Boy   « Less

Baby Book Bank. Peach; brown; and brass. Brass and simulated leather. The bank is in the form of a book. The binding is peach in color with brass corner guards. The "pages"  More »

Baby Book Bank. Peach; brown; and brass. Brass and simulated leather. The bank is in the form of a book. The binding is peach in color with brass corner guards. The "pages" are brass sides. A coin slot is in the top and a key hole in the bottom. The top is marked, "For Coins and Bills" and "The Zell Co. N.Y." The cover of the book has a drawing of a baby in a sail book pulled by a swan. The sail reads, "Safe Sailing by Saving." Little drawings of toys are around the border.   « Less

California Couroc Gift ware pair of charming wood trays. Rustic brass enamel eagle. inscribed labels, Made in U.S.A. handcrafted for lasting quality in Monterey California.  More »

California Couroc Gift ware pair of charming wood trays. Rustic brass enamel eagle. inscribed labels, Made in U.S.A. handcrafted for lasting quality in Monterey California. 7" x 6". very good aged condition.   « Less

The Yuan Dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, upon relocating the capital of his empire from Mongolia to Beijing. The Forbidden City was  More »

The Yuan Dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, upon relocating the capital of his empire from Mongolia to Beijing. The Forbidden City was constructed, a relative oasis of Mongolian culture in the heart of China. While the Mongol elite retained their native language and customs, they did adapt the Chinese system of bureaucratic government and cemented the authoritarian rule of the emperor. Although they were unaffected by Chinese culture, the Yuan did little to stifle the native traditions and beliefs of their subjects. Buddhism continued to flourish, although the monasteries received little funding from the state. In fact, during the Yuan Dynasty, China first began to open up to foreigners. Christian and Hindu missionaries were established in Beijing and Marco Polo made his famous journey during the Yuan era. While the Chinese never accepted the Yuan as a legitimate dynasty, instead viewing them as foreign bandits, the Mongolians rebelled against the Beijing Khans for becoming, “too Chinese.” In the end, the Yuan Dynasty had the shortest duration of the major Chinese Dynasties, lasting little more than a hundred years.The term, “Cizhou,” denotes a particular type of ceramics ware. Named after the Cizhou province where examples were first unearthed, there have also been ruins of related kilns discovered in the Hebei and Henan provinces. While Cizhou ware was first created during the Five Dynasties, it only became popular during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, after which point production ceased. Cizhou wares are celebrated for their great variety of decorative motifs characterized by bold, expressive patterns with painterly qualities that can almost be called calligraphic. The free, expressive nature of Cizhou ware might be a reflection of the fact that they were created for the public and not intended for court consumption where tastes tended to be more refined. While the production of Cizhou ware was short-lived, its emphasis on decoration would affect the course of future ceramic production in China.This gorgeous, wide-bodied vase is a perfect example of the Cizhou style. While the shape of the vessel itself is quite pleasing, it is not what is emphasized. Instead, our eyes are attracted to the beautiful painted motifs that adorn this vase. The majority of the painted decoration is composed of three circular-framed areas. One is filled with a blossoming flower painted with the same freedom of brushstroke normally reserved for calligraphy and scroll painting. The other two areas depict scenes of philosopher-types contemplating the beauty of nature. No doubt the vivacity of the decoration, typical of Cizhou ware, was influenced by the constant fluctuation of nature and the changing seasons. - (H.858)   « Less

An 8" Diameter Crystal 3-Toed Bon Bon Plate with the Chintz Etching on a Baroque Blank. Made by the Fostoria Glass Company of Moundsville, West Virginia during the years  More »

An 8" Diameter Crystal 3-Toed Bon Bon Plate with the Chintz Etching on a Baroque Blank. Made by the Fostoria Glass Company of Moundsville, West Virginia during the years 1940-1970. Good Condition. No chips or c racks, Some minor use marks in the center.   « Less

A stunning French architectural panel! Relief sculpted floral bouquet motif and other designs. Exquisite detail by the artist. With the original wooden frame, overall in  More »

A stunning French architectural panel! Relief sculpted floral bouquet motif and other designs. Exquisite detail by the artist. With the original wooden frame, overall in excellent condition. A fabulous decorative piece that can be implemented into almost any design. Outside measuring 60W X 30H.   « Less

Bronze Jug - AMD.210, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 8 th Century AD to 9 th Century AD, Dimensions: 12.2" (31.0cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Bronze Jug - AMD.210, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 8 th Century AD to 9 th Century AD, Dimensions: 12.2" (31.0cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Post Sassnian, Medium: Bronze. The pear shaped body is raised on a splayed foot, the narrow neck rises from a raised ridge around the shoulder and terminates in a horizontal lip with lobed flanges. The curved handle is surmounted by a palmette-firm thumb-piece. The body of the ewer is decorated with a band of inscription.   « Less

; ; This is a fantastic set of 10 French ochre painted French tulip back dining chairs (ONLY 6 SHOWN BUT THERE ARE TEN). Look at the frames and the painted finish and the  More »

; ; This is a fantastic set of 10 French ochre painted French tulip back dining chairs (ONLY 6 SHOWN BUT THERE ARE TEN). Look at the frames and the painted finish and the gorgeous upholstery. These 1940s French chairs are in excellent condition and ready to take home. Look at the classic styling and finish. They don''t get better.. MEASURES APROX. 38T x 19W x 18D SEAT HEIGHT 18 - Status: For Sale Reference#: _80220689325 Year: UNKNOWN Country: US   « Less