Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Fine Wooden Panel. Children Scenes. 18. – 19th Century.

2 very attractive, delicately carved wooden panels, later framed and fixed at the reverse side to make it one piece. Also the hanging is newer.

The 2 panels are from the 18th ( may 19th ) century and attract by their high skilled craftsmanship.






The depict 2 scenes with little children. The upper scene is probably a scene of sacrifice with a altar at the centre and a little sheep at the right. The lower one is a harvest scene. While each detail is delicately carved the overall flair has much of the gesture of a painting.

There are no fault, no cracks or defects. The wood has a warm flair.

The object is 7,6 x 5,9 inches. It can be hung right away and sure attracts the attention of anyone looking at it.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Antique wooden Garuda Sculpture, China. Qing Dynasty

18 – 19th century sculpture of a bird-headed Buddhist god: Wooden Garuda with a layer of lacquer, gilded.

7,5 x 7 x 2,8 inches. 548 gram. Fine condition. ( Only minor surface aging which is quite usual for such an old piece – the gold partly rubbed off. No parts missing, no splits ).





In Buddhism, the Garuda is said to be a huge bird, his wings spanning several miles! He is said to have amazing power, intelligence, strength and wisdom and can change to human form at will. There are some stories which even talk of Garuda kings having romantic dalliances with human women. The Buddha, in the Mahasamyatta Sutra, is shown as making peace, albeit temporarily, between the Nagas (serpents) and the Garudas.

The concept of Garuda is also seen in Indonesian, Thai, Japanese and Mongolian culture. While the Garuda is the national symbol of both Thailand and Indonesia, it is the symbol of Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Saturday, September 27, 2008

George Savage. Ceramics for collectors. Limited de Luxe.

Savage, George Ceramics for the Collector: An Introduction to Pottery and Porcelain.

Published by Theodore Brun Ltd, 1949. Limited. Leather, hard Cover, 224pp.

Limited edition - copy no. 120 of 200.




Slight scuffing to edges of covers, a few scratches at the back of the cover, a few brown spots. 8.75" by 5.75". Quite a few photos of objects.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Art Nouveau Sculpture by Marie Louise Sarre, Resistance

Scarce Marie Louise Sarre sculpture from the beginning of last century. Artist signed ML which refers to Marie Louise Sarre.

Size: 8,5 x 6,5 x 3 inches.

The sculpture is in very fine condition with no faults.




Size: 8,5 x 6,5 x 3 inches.

Marie-Louise Sarre lived in Berlin before World War II. Her friends called her “Puppi,” meaning “small doll” in German. She didn’t have much of a doll when she became active in the German resistance against Hitler. In the summer of 1944 she was involved in a scheme to secure the support of none other than Heinrich Himmler in a plan to assassinate Hitler.

After the failed coup attempt of July 20, 1944, she and many others were arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo. She managed to escape and fled to Ascona, Switzerland, where she lived until her death at age 95, in 1999.

Her father was Friedrich Sarre, the first director of the Department of Islamic Art at the Kaiser Friedrich Museum (today’s Bode Museum) in Berlin. Her maternal grandfather was Carl Humann, the discoverer and excavator of the Pergamum Altar in Turkey in the 1880s.

Her father also was member of The Solf Circle (German: Solf-Kreis) which was an informal gathering of German intellectuals involved in the resistance against Nazi Germany. Most members were arrested and executed after attending a tea party held near Heidelberg on September 10, 1943, at the residence of Elisabeth von Thadden. The group's downfall also ultimately led to the demise of the Abwehr in February 1944.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

19. Century Measures. Scarce Antique Set from Europe.

19th Century full set of portable and stacking Measures. The exact country of origin is unknown, most probably it is Dutch.




Weight: 4,4 kg ( 8.8 pounds ). Size: Diameter 4.2 inches. Height: 4.5 inches.

At the top and at the bottom are embossed coat of arms ( different patterns ).

There are no blemishes. The hinging and locking mechanism is in very fine condition too.

Very unique and unusual set in perfect condition.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Monday, June 30, 2008

Old African Mask: Baoule Tribe, Ivory Coast. Authentic.

Impressive old wooden mask from the Ivory Coast, Baoulé ethnic group.





Size: 13 x 8 x 3 inches, 883 gram.

Minor aging, a few stains from water drops, one or another minor scratch - but no faults at all. A hanger has been added at the back of the mask. (The image suggests that a small part is broken - right of the hanger - but telling from the wood it surely was carved like this.

The Baoulé are one of more than sixty-five different Akan-speaking ethnic groups living in Cote d'Ivoire. They live essentially in the middle of the Cote d'Ivoire between the Comoé River and the Bandama River. The number about 3,000,000 strong representing approximately 23% of the country's population.

In the 1600s the Baoulé left present day Ghana and traveled west into present day Côte d'Ivoire under the lead of the Queen Pokou. According to oral tradition, the Baoulé were forced to leave Ghana when the Ashanti rose to power. While they were fleeing for their lives they came to a large river that they were unable to cross. With their enemies chasing them they began to throw their most prized possessions into the river. It came to the Queen's attention that their most valuable possession was her son. The Queen realized that she had to sacrifice her son to the river and threw him in. Upon doing so hippopotamuses rose from the river and allowed them to cross, saving their lives. After crossing, the Queen was so upset about losing her son that all she could say was "baouli," meaning: the child is dead. From that point on they were known as the Baoulé.

More at our CURIOSHOP

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Chinese Headsmen. Vintage Postcard from China.

b/w vintage postcard, entitled "Chinesische Scharfrichter" ( Chinese executioners ).



It shows 2 headmen with their swords. Published by Max Grill in Tsingtao.

Unused, very fine condition, scarce.

More Chinese Vintage Postcards HERE

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Scarce Korea Postcard of Destroyed South Gate.

b/w vintage postcard from South Korea depicting a tram and workers in front of the South gate.


Unused, very fine condition.

The Southgate, Namdaemun, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof, was completed in 1398 and served as the main southern entrance to Seoul, which was then a walled city. It was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, an iconic reminder of old Korea in this modern Asian city, the capital of South Korea, and a major tourist attraction. The site is surrounded by a bustling commercial district. Lately, homeless people had sought shelter there.

The gate survived the Chinese and Japanese invasions that devastated the city. It was repaired several times, most recently after the Korean War of 1950 to 1953. When the South Korean government cataloged its national treasures in 1962, it gave the gate the No. 1 ranking.

More antique Photos from Japan and Korea HERE

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Cajetan Felder CdV with authentic Signature from ca. 1880.

Dr. Cajetan von Felder Carte de Visite by the Imperial Photographer J. Löwy in Wien. Authentic signature at the back of the photo.






The autograph comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Cajetan Freiherr von Felder (1814 -1894) was an Austrian jurist and entomologist (specializing in Lepidoptera). He was elected to the first district council of Vienna in 1848 and served as mayor of the city from 1868 to 1878.

Felder is chiefly known for his work with his son Rudolf Felder and Alois Friedrich Rogenhofer Reise Fregatte Novara. Zoologischer Theil., Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera. Three volumes (1865-1867). The Novara was an exploration ship. With the help of Rudolf Cajetan von Felder amassed a huge entomological collection.

The insects from the Novara expedition are in the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna.

A collection of approximately 1,000 letters and postcards sent to Felder between circa 1856 and 1891 is held by the Natural History Museum. They were sent to Felder from all over the world by leading 19th century entomologists and deal mainly with the exchange and purchase of specimens, Lepidoptera in particular.

More Cartes de Vistite: HERE

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Advertising Postcard Sirk. Jubilee Exhibition 1898

Decorative Litho-Trading-card August Sirk " zum Touristen", Wien I, Kaerntnerstrasse 55. Leather goods, Tourist equipment.....




By Lithographische Kunstanstalt Friedrich Sperl, Wien

Jubilaeums-Ausstellungs Wien 1898 - cancellation and Station-cancellation Chiby Dworzec Railway Station.

Scarce. Fine condition.

Friday, April 11, 2008

China. Qing Dynastie Silk Embroidery, Large

Antique China, Qing Dynasty: Decorative silk embroidery with tiger reptiles, flowers and symbols.






This is an apron, size 13,5 x 13,5 inches, loops.

It was in use so there is some abrasion at the lower, round corner.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph Lot

Wilhelm Backhaus: Hand signied, tinted Photo ( Fayer, Wien ). 3,2 x 5,3 inches, slightly fixed to a program from 1966 ( easy to remove ). Concert program of the Wiener Festwochen, Conductor Zubin Mehta, Soloist Wilhelm Backhaus. Complete Program, 8 pages.



Furthermore a greeting card ( Xmas and New Year ), signed and dedicated by Wilhem Backhaus himself “ Frl. Erika Salomon Ihre guten Wünsche herzlichst erwidernd Wilhelm und Alma Backhaus ). 15 x 10,5 cm. + cover.

Wilhelm Backhaus (1884–1969) was an important German pianist.

According to some critics Backhaus was one of the first modern artists of the keyboard (see Alfred Cortot for his antithesis) and played with a clean, spare, and objective style. In spite of this analytic approach, his performances are full of feeling. One of the first pianists to leave recordings, he had a long career on the concert stage and in the studio and left us a great legacy. He recorded virtually the complete works of Beethoven and a large quantity of Mozart and Brahms, and he was also the first to record the Chopin etudes, in 1928; this is still widely regarded as one of the best recordings.


More Classical Music Autographs HERE

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Renate Müller Autograph: Old Ross Photo, CoA

Renate Müller Autograph on "Ross - Verlag" Photo. Signed with pencil. The autograph comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.


Renate Muellers debut was in the silent movie area. However her breakthrough came with"Darling of the Gods" (30), Flute Concert of Sans-Souci (1931), "The Office Girl"(1931), The Little Escapade (1931), " Victor and Victoria "( 33 )...

Muller met Adolf Hitler in Denmark and they spent a great deal of time together but the relationship didn't last too long.

After Mueller left Hitler she was observed by the Gestapo since she knew things which could have compromised Hitler. She became addicted to morphine and went into a sanatorium. On 1st October 1937 Renate Müller was frightened by the appearance of 4 SS men at her sanatorium. In panic she jumped out of the window and was killed.

More such Autographs HERE

Sunday, February 10, 2008

China 1910: Vintage postcard Opium Smoker. Hongkong to Wien.

Old China: Vintage postcard depicting a group of young men as they smoke pipes and opium.



The postcard has been issued by Sternberg.

Sent as postcard from Hong Kong via Shanghai and Siberia to Wien, Austria.

Fine condition.

More Chinese Vintage Postcards HERE