The art of Benin is the product of an urban royal court, and is meant to symbolize and to extol the power, mystique, grandeur, continuity, and endurance of the ruling  More »

The art of Benin is the product of an urban royal court, and is meant to symbolize and to extol the power, mystique, grandeur, continuity, and endurance of the ruling dynasty. Benin was controlled by the Oba, a divine ruler at the head of the political system. As the office of the Oba became increasingly ceremonial, the art produced evolved into an instrument of the state. Perhaps this politicized phenomenon of the arts is no better embodied than in the bronze plaques that once decorated the Oba’s palace. These plaques depicted scenes of court life as well as other ceremonial and symbolic events. However, much more than mere decoration, these sculpted tiles recorded the history and traditions of the Benin kingdom where the lack of a written language could not. Only a select number of plaques were displayed at any one time; the rest were stored in a special chamber of the palace presided over by an appointed expert who was in charge of interpreting and arranging the plaques. When disputes broke out at the court, they were often settled by consulting the plaques, for no one could argue with the will of the ancestors as represented by these bronze works. When the city of Benin was ransacked by the British punitive expedition in 1897, the soldiers brought the majority of the plaques back to London as booty. There, the Western world discovered the amazing artistry and technical sophistication of these relief sculptures. Today, these works are appreciated the world over and have became the most sought after works of African art. While authentic pieces rarely come up on the market (and normally fetch six figures when they do), this bronze plaque depicting an Oba riding a donkey flanked by two soldiers is a charming replica that offers all the beauty and majesty of the originals, if not the history. - (PF.6255)   « Less

This bronze sculpture depicts a queen, decorated in the traditional ornamentation of Ife royalty, including a flanged crown, beaded necklaces and cuffs. Her body is wrapped  More »

This bronze sculpture depicts a queen, decorated in the traditional ornamentation of Ife royalty, including a flanged crown, beaded necklaces and cuffs. Her body is wrapped around the cup of the vessel while a traditional Ife throne is present at the foot of the piece. In her hand, she hold a small staff topped with a human head. Such staffs survive today and are well-known in the Yoruba/Ife oeuvre. This sculpture is based upon an example dating from the 12th-15th century housed in the collection of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Lagos, Nigeria. - (CK.0096)Ife Style Bronze Vessel - CK.0096Origin: West Africa Circa: 20 th Century ADDimensions: 12" (30.5cm) high x 8.25" (21.0cm) wide x 9" (22.9cm) depth Collection: Decorative Arts Style: Ife Medium: Bronze   « Less

Ife, the capital and religious center of Southwest Nigeria, was one of the first Sub-Saharan cities to emerge at the end of the first millennium AD. A substantial number of  More »

Ife, the capital and religious center of Southwest Nigeria, was one of the first Sub-Saharan cities to emerge at the end of the first millennium AD. A substantial number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic sculptures, made most frequently in terracotta although brass was also employed, were produced in the region between the 11th and the 15th centuries. This distinctive style is broadly referred to as “Ife”, even though some examples may come from other cities such as Owo. The brass objects especially are strikingly realistic, despite the fact they are almost certainly idealized portraits of dead kings, called Oni. The terracotta heads are more numerous and varied, no doubt a result of the comparative abundance and ease of working the material. Some of the faces, whether made of brass or terracotta, carry verticalparallelincisions, possibly representing scarification or body paint. - (CK.0266)Ife Style Bronze Mask - CK.0266Origin: West Africa Circa: 20 th Century ADDimensions: 16" (40.6cm) high x 10.5" (26.7cm) wide x 10" (25.4cm) depth Collection:Decorative Arts Style: Ife Medium: Bronze   « Less

Bronze Vase - CK.0503Origin: France Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century ADDimensions:28(71.1cm)high Collection: Decorative Style: Neo c Lassical Medium: Bronze

Bronze Vase - CK.0503Origin: France Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century ADDimensions:28(71.1cm)high Collection: Decorative Style: Neo c Lassical Medium: Bronze   « Less

This plaque can be safely attributed to the Xiongnu people. Although the early history of the Xiongnu is still blurred, we know that by the 3rd century BC they already formed  More »

This plaque can be safely attributed to the Xiongnu people. Although the early history of the Xiongnu is still blurred, we know that by the 3rd century BC they already formed a vast steppe confederacy stretching throughout the Eastern Eurasian steppes. The artefacts most commonly associated with the Xiongnu are the belt buckles formed either by a pair of solid cast plaques or a pair of openwork plaques cast in mirror image, comparable to the one here illustrated. In fact many single plaques, like this one, originally would have been produced in pairs; in each pair the plaque worn on the left side would carry a small hook for fastening on the front border of the right plaque, while the attachment of the belt was accomplished through the perforations in the openwork design.Our openwork plaque, shaped like a horizontal B, without the defining border, features a mythological raptor (sometimes identified as a gryphon) in combat with a tiger. The raptor is a fantastic creature distinguished from the eagle by its almond-shaped animal eye. Both creatures are shown in profile but their appendages; both of the raptor’s wings are shown as are all the four paws of the tigers. The wings and tail of the bird shows cell-like depressions reflecting the inlay technique common in contemporary golden plaques. The back of the plaque is slightly concave with no attachment loops.A mirror-image version of this plaque was excavated at Xifeng xian Xichagou in Liaoning province with wuzhu coins dating to the reigns of emperors Wen (175 BC), Jin, Wu (140-87 BC) and Zhao. Another version of the same was also found at Urbium in southern Siberia, while a similar composition was found in a Qin-period tomb at Zaomiao, Tongchuan, Shaanxi province. The plaque is also closely related to several gold buckles in the Treasure of Peter the Great in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Peterburg.Reference: E. Bunker, Ancient Bronzes of the Eastern Eurasian Steppes, A.M. Sackler Foundation, 1997: pl. 222, p. 260. Sun Shoudao, “ Xiongnu Xichaogou wenhua gumuqun de faxian”, Wenwu 1960.8-9: pp.25-35, figs. 2-19 and pls. 1-21. Devlet, Marianna. Sibirskie poyasnye azhurnye plastinki, II v. do N.E- IV N.E., Akademia Nauka: Moscow, 1980. Kaogu yu Wenwu 1986.2: p.10. Gryaznov, M.P., The Ancient Civilizations of Southern Siberia, New York, 1969. - (LO.1223)   « Less

Spectacular paired Napoleon III, Egyptian Revival cold painted and gilt bronze sculptures of royal figures by Emile Louis Picault, signed "Picault" in the casting.They are an  More »

Spectacular paired Napoleon III, Egyptian Revival cold painted and gilt bronze sculptures of royal figures by Emile Louis Picault, signed "Picault" in the casting.They are an Egyptian High priest and a scribe. The High Priest is Hierogrammate. The scribe is Pastophore On original marble plinths, all implements intact. France c. 1875. Each of this rare bronze figures of Pharaohs or Kings measures 29.75 inches high and is in excellent condition. Shipping extra. Connecticut residents and buyers picking up in Connecticut add 6.35% state sales tax. Buyers outside the USA are responsible for any taxes,tariffs or customs that might apply. *** If you wish to see examples of similar items we have sold and/or appraised please go to our affiliate site www.OneofaKindAntiques.com and click the Archives / Homepage logo ***   « Less

French bronze plaque Lachasse by Stella. The scene depicts a bunch of men luring cats to be caught. Measures 13 and one quarter by 10 and one half inches. This is a 19th  More »

French bronze plaque Lachasse by Stella. The scene depicts a bunch of men luring cats to be caught. Measures 13 and one quarter by 10 and one half inches. This is a 19th century recast from a work by Jacques Stella 1596-1657. It was a time when people thought cats were carring the plague, when it really was the rats. The killing of the cats, which were in fact killing the rats, let the plaque mulitply out of control.   « Less

Pair antique bronze Indian Chief book ends c1880. This pair well cast and quite heavy. Bookends like these that can hold numerous books with out falling over are hard to come  More »

Pair antique bronze Indian Chief book ends c1880. This pair well cast and quite heavy. Bookends like these that can hold numerous books with out falling over are hard to come by.This piece is on display in our gallery at Clock TowerAntiques Center and can be seen in-person by visiting 824 E Main Street Branford,CT06405. For hours of operation visit: http://www.ClockTowerAntiquesCenter.com   « Less

Antique Cast bronze Swan door stop c1900. This antique doorstop retains its deep rich old original patina. Measures 14 and one quarter inches high. Heavy and in excellent  More »

Antique Cast bronze Swan door stop c1900. This antique doorstop retains its deep rich old original patina. Measures 14 and one quarter inches high. Heavy and in excellent condition.   « Less

Antique Heavy Cast Bronze Book ends measures 5 and three quarter inches wide by 2 and five eighths inches wide and stands 4 and one half inches tall. This pair of book ends  More »

Antique Heavy Cast Bronze Book ends measures 5 and three quarter inches wide by 2 and five eighths inches wide and stands 4 and one half inches tall. This pair of book ends dates from the turn of the last century.   « Less