The Jansenist movement originated in the 1600's somewhat in response to Jesuit teaching of free will. The Dutch theologian and Roman Catholic bishop, Cornelius Jansen,  More »

The Jansenist movement originated in the 1600's somewhat in response to Jesuit teaching of free will. The Dutch theologian and Roman Catholic bishop, Cornelius Jansen, emphasized predestination as opposed to the Jesuit teachings of free will. Also a less assuring doctrine, proposing that salvation was indeterminate and impossible without Divine Grace, along with declaring no resistance to Divine Grace could be undertaken by Man. The branch was deemed heretical by Rome, and outlawed in 1712. This bit of history helps us to date the crucifix. The figure of Christ is finely carved in pure ivory. This figure is mounted on a wooden gilt gesso frame with a red velvet backing. Artistic attention to detailed rendering of hair, fingers and facial features is quite nice. The eyes of Christ are directed towards heaven, indicating a living Savior suffering on the cross. Condition: There is damage and loss to one foot, and to some of the gilt gesso. Please see photographs for these, as well as for the dimensions.   « Less

Crucifix Corpus of JESUS CHRIST and shrine of unique and intricate style and incredible workmanship, from the early18th century, Dieppe,France. The corpus and fittings are  More »

Crucifix Corpus of JESUS CHRIST and shrine of unique and intricate style and incredible workmanship, from the early18th century, Dieppe,France. The corpus and fittings are carved from elephant tusk ivory (legally imported from The Netherlands) ebony and fine fruitwoods. Please view this magnificent investment work of art, and note the turned ivory posts,carved mother of pearl placques and every wooden peg, and nail...all miraculously intact. The tiny nail heads even have details. Truly one of a kind, worthy of the finest museum or art collection. We can only speculate as to where this much treasured crucifix has been and how it has survived in exceptional condition with no replacements or damage throughout the numerous wars and ravages of the last 250 or more years. Inquiries invited. Dimensions: 24 Inches (61cm) length 12 Inches(30cm) width 5.2 Inches(13cm) x 3.54 Inches(9cm) The figural ivory sculpture of Christ. Measurements: 24 Inches x 12 Inches x 6 Inches Year: 18th Century   « Less

MAJOLICA Passion of Christ tin glazed tile panel icon, probably Italian or French, unsigned. True museum quality fine art of Jesus Christ with thorn of crowns, carrying cross  More »

MAJOLICA Passion of Christ tin glazed tile panel icon, probably Italian or French, unsigned. True museum quality fine art of Jesus Christ with thorn of crowns, carrying cross with incredible simple pictoral details, characteristic of pre renaissance religious works. This very large and imposing tile pictoral is a religious statement and art treasure beyond compare, for the discerning collector. Displays beautifully. A treasure for the lover of fine art majolica, tile and religious art. Dimensions: 19" x 24" Framed as shown 16" Width 21 1/2" Length Condition: Exceptional for period. A horizontal crack which is stabilized. This is a fine early and solid tile, museum quality. Please enjoy the photos. Additional photos will be posted. Dimensions   « Less

Presented is a brass Crucifix with wonderful Art Nouveau detail in a heavy and fine brass, or possibly bronze from France. . The Christ figure is portrayed with much detail  More »

Presented is a brass Crucifix with wonderful Art Nouveau detail in a heavy and fine brass, or possibly bronze from France. . The Christ figure is portrayed with much detail upon a 14"(35.50cm) cross with Immaculate hearts portrayed in q French manner. The crucifix stands upon a tripod paw footed base. I wish I could tell you more about this fine religious artwork...However, all I know is it is from Paris, and a delightful rare find. Dimensions: Height 14"(35.50cm) Width 8"(20cm) Condition: Fine brass or bronze, normal wear, no damage.   « Less

Blood Stone Amulet Inscribed with Islamic Religious Text - FJ.6539, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Amulets, Style:  More »

Blood Stone Amulet Inscribed with Islamic Religious Text - FJ.6539, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Amulets, Style: Islamic, Medium: Blood Stone/Green Ja.   « Less

A Carved wood , polychrome painted and parcel gilt statue of St. Joseph and baby Christ.French, 18th / 19th Century, possibly with later paint.H: 52" x W: 20" x D: 16"

A Carved wood , polychrome painted and parcel gilt statue of St. Joseph and baby Christ.French, 18th / 19th Century, possibly with later paint.H: 52" x W: 20" x D: 16"   « Less

The elongated vertical chalice with concave waist, incised on the outer surface with a band of three oval medallions, each encircling a seated figure holding either a  More »

The elongated vertical chalice with concave waist, incised on the outer surface with a band of three oval medallions, each encircling a seated figure holding either a chalice, or a long stick or what seems like a writing pen. Their faces and the garments only outlined, their seated cross legs position indicated by a distinctive eight-shaped design. Lying between them, small circular medallions with a squared cross, a register of key-frets above and below, a small band of dotted circles almost at the base above a band of concave arches, the joint terminating with pending individual tear-shaped leaves. The presence of the cross, as well as the unusual rendition of the yogic posture, the halos that ornament each head would seem to point to a latent Christian iconography. At the same time, the Central Asian flavour of the frontal depiction of the human figures, together with the row of dotted circles would point further to the east, and possibly to Transoxiana. It was here that Nestorian Christians thrived from the 6th century onwards. The Nestorian or Assyrian Church, also known as the "church of the east", was ostracised by the Roman church after the council of Ephesus in 431. Allegedly founded by the apostles Thomas and Addai, it became widespread not only in Syria, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and Persia. After the council of Chalkedon in 451, the sect further distanced itself from the orthodoxy by following the teachings of Nestorius who believed in the unity of the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ, a dogma that was later manifested as the two hypostatic natures of the Christ (two natures, two persons). The bishop of the Eastern Church acted as head of all eastern Christians and promoted the voyages of missionaries to India and Central Asia. From the 7th to the 11th centuries Nestorianism was the most widespread Christian sect in the East. Nestorian parishes are known from historical records and archaeological evidence to have existed not only in Persia but to have scattered tremendously throughout Central Asia, following the Silk route. Centres were located in Transoxiana and Turkestan at Bakhara, Kashgar, Khotan, Merv, Samarkand, spreading as far as Chinese Central Asian sites such as Kucha, Urumqi, Turfan (in Gaochang) and Hami. Visual evidence of their expansion comes from various memorial steles, such as the one in the Semiryechye at Frunze, Kirghizistan (datable 8th- 13th c. CE, and bearing an almost identical cross depiction) but most prominently from the famous bilingual stele in Chinese and Syrian (Ugaritian) in the prefecture of Xi'an, erected in 781 and rediscovered in 1625. The inscription narrates the existence of Nestorian (Chinese: Niesituoli parishes in China since the beginning of the 7th century. Nestorian monks lived in a "Persian" Yiningfang Monastery in Xi'an, and the first missionary was a Persian called "Aluoben" (Alopen). After the expulsion of foreign missionaries in the 840s, the Yuan Dynasty period of religious tolerance against foreigners enabled a second wave of Nestorian missionaries (hence called erkehun, Chinese: yelikewen) to work in China. Since the 15th century Nestorianism lost its influence in China and vanished around 1550. Today the number of Nestorian Christians in the whole world is about 150,000, and the church is divided into different branches.Interestingly enough, the Syrian script used by the Nestorians provided the base for the creation of both the Mongolian and the Manchu alphabets. This beautifully preserved chalice provides one of the few existing historical evidence of the presence of Nestorian Christians in Central Asia and its decoration vibrantly proves the incredible conflation of Central Asian and Christian symbols into one unique extraordinary ritual vessel. - (LO.587)   « Less

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 AD Dimensions: 1.90" (4.8cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 AD Dimensions: 1.90" (4.8cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Dimensions: 1.60" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Dimensions: 1.60" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Dimensions: 2.0" (5.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Dimensions: 2.0" (5.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Bronze   « Less