Antique 19th Century French Imperial Style Extendable Fireplace Fender - Rococo Late Baroque Style - Original Condition - D3/FD101

A superb example of a French Antique Fire Fender in completely unrestored, original Gilt Bronze condition. This beautiful item came from a family-owned Chateau in the Loire Valley in France. This fender is a quality item, bearing both a Foundry Mark and a Pattern Number. Extremely versatile in that the width can be extended up to a maximum of 1.25 metres, so is as suitable for a cosy bedroom or nook fireplace as it is for a medium lounge or dining area. Made of solid cast bronze with a gilt finish and inlaid marble, this decorative fire fender is in completely original condition. In the Paris antique quarters we have seen similar, restored - re-gilded - items priced at over 5,000 euros. We prefer the honest, original condition and patina that reassures that this is a fine, pre-loved antique. We are happy to answer any questions or supply further photographs.

Appearing from the two tall thin fluted columns on either side are two curved arms, these would be used to rest your fireside tools against, making this a stylish superbly designed and innovative piece for its time. However for us the best and most unusual features are the two outer feet in the form of Asian inspired open mouthed leaf dragons with scrolling leaves almost like a green man in design.

Designed in a Baroque or late Rococo style, the foundry has a mark similar to a clasp of small leaves gathered together, quite pretty. And can be found on the attached feet to the rear of the main bodies. The gilt has worn over the many years that it has been in the Chateau, leaving a superb patina; underneath the decorative finials the original bright colour of the gold can still be seen. It has backings to both bottom piers of wonderful blocks of white marble to accentuate the golden scrolling acanthus leaf decoration. Easily assembled from an original French antique 'flat pack' design (ahead of their time, those French!), it can be transported quite easily although it is naturally quite weighty.

Height: 70 cm  27.5"
Width: 125 cm 49.5"
Depth: 14 cm 5.5"

A very special French Louis XV style item indeed, with gorgeous details - like the tiny scowling faces at each side. With a height of 27.5" or 70cm, width extending to 49.5" or 125cm and a depth of 5.5" or 14cm., the ensemble weighs just under 12 kilograms or around 26 pounds.

Price is €1850 including worldwide shipping

 

A very rare set of Hermès No's 1 to 6 Knotting Cards plus the Soft Cover Book, New Old Stock - Hermes Knotting Cards - FF3/008

A very rare set of Vintage Hermès No's 1 to 6 Knotting Cards Plus the Soft Cover Book,  we also have some individual numbers extra should you wish to buy just one please contact us.

A very rare set of Vintage Hermès Knotting Cards: the set comprises numbers one to number six of these boxed collector cards.  Brand New Old Stock in their boxes; as can be seen in the photographs, these boxes are now highly collectable in their own right - with the highest prices paid for the earlier versions. These are in perfect condition. They would make a fantastic gift for anyone who loves Hermès. The price is for set of five boxed card collections and the soft cover book that is entitled LE CARRÉ HERMÈS or The Hermes Square.

These cards are a practical aid, showing how to tie your scarf etc., in many stylish and innovative ways - so they not just interesting but also a highly useful item and very collectable.

This completely original set would make a perfect gift for the girl who has (almost) everything - or a serious Hermes collector.

They are around 11.5cm / 4.6"  x 6cm / 2.5" each and the book is 11cm / 4.4" x 11cm / 4.4" and 1cm / 0.4" deep.

Found packed away in a stock room of a designer fashion shop local to us in France, that had been closed and is only now being refurbished:- Hermes Knotting Cards, No1 to No6 plus Book. The photos show only sets 1 to 5 but we have now found some number 6 so this means you will have all the ones that Hermes produced.

Price inc worldwide shipping €375

Antique Irish Taxidermy - Irish Grey Partridge - dating from 1920s - 1930's

 This very beautiful example of a  Grey Partridge comes from County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland on its original base, made of paper maché. Originally mounted in the Nineteen-Twenties, this little Partridge and its friend a Long Eared Owl ( see separate listing ) spent most of their time on display in a public house / shop in a village in County Waterford. During that time they were usually displayed in the show window of the pub, and became a little faded on one side from exposure to sunshine.  This only adds to the story and character of the birds. Older, more traditional pubs here in Ireland often have display windows - to stop people being able to look in and see if their husband (or someone else's husband!) was inside drinking in the middle of the day. These show windows were filled with all sorts of items from foodstuffs to small farm implements. We have seen many that have remained with the same items untouched and uncleaned for more than ten years. This lovely Grey  Partridge has been posed by a professional taxidermist and set in a very natural position. This is an excellent specimen in lovely condition. A beautiful bird to add to, or start, a fine collection.

Taxidermy items on this site are vintage and often antique. The Grey Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes. It is sometimes known as the English Partridge, to distinguish it from the French or Red Legged Partridge. The Grey Partridge is believed to be in decline across its range here and is now on the red list of endangered birds, however things are starting to look up with an increase in numbers in the Offaly region of Ireland.

The price inc worldwide shipping is €175

Irish Taxidermied Long Eared Owl - Asio Otus

This very handsome Long Eared Owl comes from County Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. Originally mounted in the Nineteen-Thirties, this and its friend the Grey Partridge ( see separate listing ) lived most of their time on display in a public house / shop in a village in County Waterford. During this time they were on show in the show window of the pub and became a little faded on one side, which only adds to their charm and character. Lots of the older, traditional pubs in Ireland use their windows for display items with some type of solid shutter as a backdrop behind them, in order to stop people being able to look in and see if their husband - or someone who should not be there -  was inside drinking in the middle of the day. These show windows were filled with all sorts of items from foodstuffs to small farm implements. We have seen many that have remained with the same items untouched and uncleaned for more than ten years. This handsome little guy has been posed on a paper maché base by a professional taxidermist, and set in a very natural position looking off to the distance, as if for prey. This is an excellent specimen in lovely condition, a fine example that enables us to see how the design of its feathers make it able to fly without making a sound. A beautiful bird to add to, or start, a fine collection.

The name "Long-Eared Owl" comes from the long feathered “ear-tufts” on top of the bird’s head, that the bird can raise and lower at will. These actually have absolutely nothing to do with the birds' ears, - but together with the piercing orange eyes they make the Long-Eared Owl unmistakeable when at rest. 

This bird is about 15.5 inches high including the mount and weighs 663 grammes without any packaging.

Ireland only has two resident owl species – the Barn Owl and the Long-Eared Owl. Of the two the Long-Eared Owl, also known as the Lesser Horned Owl or Cat Owl, is by far the most common, and is found across most of the country. It is a shy and elusive bird however, whose nocturnal habits coupled with excellent camouflage make it very difficult to spot.

Long-Eared Owls are medium body sized owls, which is smaller than you might expect – somewhat similar to a Wood Pigeon in size. The average body length is about 35 cm (c. 14 inches) and the wingspan is between 90cm and 100 cm (35 inches and 40 inches). As with most owls the females tend to be noticeably larger than the males, and have darker plumage.

 

 The price including worldwide shipping is €325

 

Antique Sacred Heart - Stunning 13-Inch Paper Mache French or Italian Polychrome Coloured Bust with Glass Eyes on Wall Plinth c1890

A beautifully made, antique paper or wood fibre bust of The Sacred Heart, made in France in around 1890. The bust measures 13" in height, including the gold coloured plinth and is 8" wide. 

This representation of Jesus Christ is very serene and the eyes, in glass, are set so that He is looking straight ahead - initially quite startling, they are very expressive. The polychrome decoration is in bright colours which have held well over the years as there is a base layer underneath extending the life of the top colours and the material of the paint itself. As yet we have not cleaned the bust, but would be happy to do so if required by a buyer. Jesus Christ is portrayed in a cream coloured robe with large golden crosses, over which there is a red cloak with gold lining. His hands, clearly pierced, are pointing to The Sacred Heart which has a chain around it and fire coming from the top, from which there are rays of light emanating. A lovely artefact, a hand painted religious figure beloved of those of the Catholic Faith. This is an early original bust, extremely well painted and not a later copy.

The plinth is ornately patterned and gilded in a matt golden colour. The bust has a strong metal ring inserted into the back for wall hanging. The weight is just over one kilo, without any packaging. The condition is good antique, with some chips to the colour but no more than would be expected - it is in great antique condition.

Price - Including Worldwide Shipping - 449.00 Euros

Irish Antique Crucifix - Freestanding Irish Crucifix - UNIQUE Handmade Oak Cross with Italian Gilt Metal Corpus - Irish Folk Art

A unique and interesting antique Crucifix from Ireland. The Corpus Christ - Body of Christ - was originally from Italy; it has a gilt finish and came from an earlier Crucifix that was broken. The Cross upon which it is mounted is made from a shaped base in old oak and the cross itself is fashioned from Hawthorn, a very hard and dense wood with both Christian (the Crown of Thorns) and Pagan / Celtic / Christian (The Glastonbury Thorn) connections.

The upright shaft of the cross has been cut away to allow the insertion of the crossbar, which is nailed into place; the upright is firmly fixed and glued into place on the base, displayed at an angle instead of square face-on. One of the most beautiful aspects of the cross is the markings, made many years ago by the larvae of an insect while the wood was growing - the most gorgeous and intricate pattern, with each little pathway ending in a tiny hole where the young emerged. 

We bought this from the grandson of the man who made the crucifix as it is today; although very proud of his Grandfather's work, he has many more items that he made, which he feels are more personal to him. The cross stands at 12.5" or 32cm high by 5.25" or 13cm wide and 5.5" or 14 cm deep. It weighs 530 grammes without any packaging.

The price is €125 inc worldwide shipping

 

Vintage Irish Taxidermy - A Gorgeous Reeves Pheasant with the Longest Tail Ever - Syrmaticus reevesli

Simply the most remarkable bird, this stately Reeves Pheasant has a tail of 39" (or one metre !! ) in length. The tail is detachable for transport. Having seen quite a few birds of this type before, we have never seen one with this unusual colouration; the Reeves Pheasant here in the wild are not so bright; we get normal and black ones in our garden.  The Reeves' were introduced to Europe from China and are named after the British naturalist John Reeve who first brought them over to the British Isles in 1831.

He is a most handsome specimen and we would love to see him go to a good home. The tail can be detached which is an intelligent feature for posting ( the box would be HUGE if not ) and it slides easily back onto the wire were it says quite happily - or it could be glued to fix it permanently by its new owner.

This lovely bird of Chinese Origin has been wonderfully modelled by a skilful taxidermist who has achieved something special; he has the longest tail we have ever seen of around one metre and has been mounted on a tall column so the tail is not dragged by touching any surface.

Dimensions are 1355mm / 53" long, 760mm / 30" high and around 140mm /5.5" deep. All measurements include the stand.

The Price is €395 inc worldwide shipping.