The history of the mortar (from the Latin word mortarium, which in turn derives from the Sanskrit root mrdi = to grind or pound, and finds almost identical correspondence in the major European languages) certainly has its origins in the earliest antiquity, if it is true that the first tools for grinding or pounding date back as far …
This outstanding two-door large armoire – beautifully painted all over its outer surface – belongs to a rare group of furniture made in Central Italy – and more precisely in a geographical area going across Tuscany, Umbria and Marche – between the second half of the 16th century and the early 18th century. Armoires of this quality were …
Known and widespread since Ancient times, padlocks are portable locks used for locking boxes, chests, furniture and other domestic containers as well as for closing doors and gates of houses, cities and sacred places. Over the centuries, especially in the vast geographical area from Turkey to India, many padlocks of different shapes, sizes and types …
The tobacco plant was introduced to Europe, and more precisely to Spain, by Christopher Columbus who, having seen the Native Americans pulverise and inhale its dried leaves, brought it to the Old Continent on his return from the second voyage to the New World in 1496. Tobacco thus spread through Europe in the 16th century, …
Along with locks and keys, doorknockers are the most intricately executed iron objects in which the highest aesthetic levels are reached, so that they can be considered true works of art. They usually originate from the inspiration of anonymous iron craftsmen who mould a hard and elusive material into small sculptures. From the Middle Ages …
This touching relief, depicting Christ flanked by Mourning Virgin and San John and carved from a single block of wood, is a significant example of Lombard sculpture at the turn of the 15th century. The lifeless body of Christ is tenderly supported on the left by the Virgin and on the right by Saint John, …
This rare and extraordinarily elegant measuring instrument stands out for its the exclusive fineness: a precision scale with moulded steel shears, steel equal arms beam with swan neck finials; circular embossed silver plate pans are hung to the beam through stirrup shaped silver threads; an elegant cover plate to the shears in finely pierced, engraved …
This exceptional chest, made by assembling thick walnut boards with meticulous dovetail joints, represents the perfect combination of security and elegance. Its external surface is richly adorned on the front with a set of five chased thin ironwork decorative handles – bolted through lozenge shaped, pierced and engraved backplates – ; at the center top, …
Very high quality of ironworking is the distinctive feature of this elegant sealing press. Over an oval plate with moulded rim is fixed a frame consisting of a curved arm, ending with a polylobed element with vertical passing screw crowned in the upper part with a moulded cap, and two small quadrangular driving bars. The …
This gorgeous pair of frames fully represents the triumph of Baroque iron. The frames are entirely made of embossed iron (repoussé): a particularly complex technique and a French prerogative that was brought back to excellent levels precisely during the Baroque era. The embossed iron is obtained from a foil and this implies (in fact, obtaining …