Pair of decorative Renaissance oak wooden reliefs, Europe, late 16th century

A wooden box with polychrome and gilded "pastiglia" relief decor. Italy, XV century, decorated with scenes from the life of a martyr. Length: 15.5 x 10.4 x 9 cm. Provenance: Dutch private collection Overall in good condition for its age, some small defects to the decor and possibly some retouching to the polychromy, ball feet presumably of later date. Pastiglia [paˈstiʎʎa], an Italian term meaning "pastework", is low relief decoration, normally modelled in gesso or white lead, applied to build up a surface that may then be gilded or painted, or left plain. The technique was used in a variety of ways in Italy during the Renaissance. White lead pastiglia was a north Italian speciality, produced between about 1450 and 1550. Six workshops were identified by Patrick M. De Winter, although their location remains uncertain; the Workshop of the Love and Moral Themes, whose products seem the most numerous, was possibly at Ferrara, where the painter Cosimo Tura began his career gilding caskets. Venice is also thought to have produced them. Other workshops identified by De Winter include the "Workshop of the main Berlin casket" and "Workshop of the Cleveland Casket". The subjects were typically classical, drawn from both mythology and Ancient Roman history (especially the early period covered by Livy), but biblical ones are also found. Compositions can often be shown to be borrowed from another medium, such as prints or bronze plaquettes...

A rectangular enamel plaque depicting the triumphant Christ above purgatory and trumpet-blowing angels (the Last Judgment), based on Albrecht Dürer’s works ‘Small Passion series from 1511’, France mid-sixteenth century. Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.5 cm. Incl. frame 15.5 x 14.2 cm. Provenance: Dutch private collection Similar plaque: catalogue The Wyvern Collection, Medieval and Renaissance Enamels...

Large decorative carved wooden cherub, angel, architecturale element, may have been part of a pulpit, 19th century. 57 cm (h) x 65 cm (w)

Bas-relief depicting the "Ascension of Christ" circle of Cesar Bagard (1620-1707) , Baroque, Walnut, Wood, second half 17th century The relief shows a Christ ascending to heaven s...

A pair of late 15th / early 16th century French oak panels carved with round masks surrounded by pattern decoration. The right hand panel appears to show partial text. Both are ready...

A very striking 16th century statue - head of a nobleman - crafted from Roman concrete - opus caementicium. Roman concrete is durable due to its incorporation of volcanic ash, which...

16th century Italian ivory figure of Christ mounted against green felt fabric and framed in a coordinating cream frame. This piece was once originally pa...

16th Century Spanish gold gilded and polychromed Carved-wood sculpture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. She depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary in her...