The roots of Decorative Arts lie in antiquity, where both Mediterranean and Chinese civilizations aspired to create objects that combined utility with artistry and elegance. The aim was not only for an item to fulfill its practical function, but also to emphasize the status of its owner and inspire admiration.
The value of these objects continues to grow thanks to their uniqueness, the limited output of their makers, rising prices of precious metals (such as silver, gold) and copper used in decorative arts, and the decreasing availability of such works on the market amid constant interest from investors and collectors.
“Apostle” spoon with St. Simon, silver, England, 18th century.
“Apostle” spoon with St. Thomas, silver, England, 18th century.
Bell fragment from the garrison church in Zamość, bronze, Poland, 1915.
Commemorative fragment of a church bell (so-called Kriegsandenken / Grabenschmuck), an irregular bronze shard from the mantle with distinct, sharp edges, typical of a mechanical fracture.
On the outer surface of the bronze, a fragment of rich, plastic relief decoration in the Byzantine-Russian style has been preserved. It depicts a distinct bust/face of a bearded saint wearing a dignified, ceremonial headdress (a bishop's miter or an Eastern princely crown). The anatomical features of the figure and the details of the vestments indicate the high sculptural artistry of the Tsarist manufacture. Most likely, this is an image of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker or Saint Prince Vladimir. Above the figure's head, the outline of a decorative frieze (vegetal ornament or cherub's wings) is visible.
A rectangular metal plate with an engraved, German-language inscription in decorative cursive has been attached to the fragment with two rivets:
a. d. Zarenglocke d. Garnison Kirche Don Kosaken Zamosc, 27.8.1915
Devotional Ring, Silver, Lviv, 1872-1920
Garment Clasp, Gilt Silver, Poland, 17th Century