Gallery Elder

Incredibly beautiful Egyptian Late Period (664 - 332 BCE) wooden sarcophagus mask, with well defined facial features across eyes and mouth, nose weathered with an incredible depiction of noble headwear. Capturing identity and spirit of the deceased was tantamount in Egyptian faith, with this depiction being a clear example of that. Joinery holes are evident on either side of mask where it would have been attached to the body of the sarcophagus. Lovely scale, standing 13” (32cm) high on the included custom built contemporary acrylic stand.

Provenance: Southern California collection, purchased in 1960’s from important Swiss collection.

Available.

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Absolutely stunning and monumental adze head from Papua New Guinea - a gigantic example standing 15” high. Dating from at latest, the 19th century, likely much earlier though. Carved of an beautiful green stone, with the blade end still sharpened. Rare in terms of it’s impressive scale, beautiful in it’s sculptural appeal. Due to it’s sheer size and polished state, this would likely have been a ritualistic or ceremonial piece, traded or used in sacred settings.

Provenance: the very famous Jolika Collection, John and Marcia Friede - most of which has been donated to the De Young Museum in San Francisco, making up the museum’s core collection.

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Four pieces rather new into the gallery, shown around the ruins of a 19th century lime kiln.

First, a Neolithic Syrian basalt altar head. Second, a 12th century Portuguese religious inscription on stone. Third, a Mayan Hacha and fourth, a New Guinean stone mace head.

Conciones et Orationes ex Historicis Latinis Excerpta (Speeches and Orations excerpted from Latin Historians) printed in 1649 by Johannes Jansonnius in Amsterdam.

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Beautiful stone adze head, New Guinean in origin, with a graduated design, still sharp edge at the top of the blade, carved of a beautiful serpentine stone with incredible usage markings as well as natural inclusions throughout. A sticker labeled “Hold for DN” sits on the rear, presumably referring to Douglas Newton, the ex curator of the Museum of Primitive Art, New York City - which timing and provenance fits into. A large and stunning example of early utilitarian weaponry, 19th century or considerably older.

Provenance: the very famous Jolika Collection, John and Marcia Friede - most of which has been donated to the De Young Museum in San Francisco, making up the museum’s core collection.

Available.

Beautiful Napoleonic Cuirass or breastplate of heavy iron construction in stunning form with exceptional worn patina through the body and lugs of the plate. Dating to the early 19th century during Napoleon’s reign. Lugs across the body, with creased centre region. A superb example in stunning condition and with exceptional wear.

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An incredible example of a 12th century inscribed stone, likely a fragmentary funerary monument, found in Alcacer Do Sal, Portugal. A beautiful mottled stone with Latin inscription across the face including the lines “serpentum imperit tibi dominus per adam et avv (The Lord rules over the serpents through Adam and Avv)” and “sangea sanctis mortuum imperit tibi dominus per vivum et devotun (The blood of the saints, the dead, commands you, the Lord, through the living and devoted)”. Two crosses line the top of the inscribed area. A beautiful example of early inscription displayed on a custom stand.

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An incredibly stunning discoidal mace or club head, found in Papua New Guineau, Oceania, carved of an beautiful mottled black stone. Although difficult to narrow a time frame as these have been made, and used for thousands of years, this piece dates latest to the 19th century, but likely much, much earlier. Used as a weapon of war, the heavy stone exhibits signs of usage and fighting wear. Displayed on included custom metal stand.

As much as this is a historic object, it also exhibits gorgeous sculptural appeal, lending itself to being as much a piece of art as it is an object of war.

Provenance: the very famous Jolika Collection, John and Marcia Friede - most of which has been donated to the De Young Museum in San Francisco, making up the museum’s core collection.

Available.

Always love these - stunning antiphonal manuscript, a piece of liturgical sheet music from a larger songbook, made of goatskin vellum and hand painted in the 16th century. A lovely example with a beautiful decoration in the centre of the leaf.

Available.