African Art & Wonders: A Collection of Cultural Treasures. In partnership with BAIAS Arte.

Two fossils and two geodes
Africa ?
Lot composed of a large ammonite fossil, a pebble with orthoceras fossil and two geodes with different crystals.
H massima cm 26.5

Four decorative minerals
One desert rose, a half carnelian geode and two agate bookends.
H from cm 7 to cm 12

A beautiful framed fossil
Africa ? - Eocene
A large quadrangular limestone slab within a wooden frame containing a complete sample of marsh plants.
cm 69.6x29.5

Two African coprolites
Madagascar, Cretaceous
Coprolites are masses of hardened and calcified fecal matter, first identified and described by William Buckland in 1829. In some cases, partially digested plant and animal remains can be identified within them, providing valuable information about diet and the presence of intestinal parasites.
L cm 9.5
L cm 12.5

An old Indian coconut box
Colonial India, Early 20th century
Trinket casket made out of a coconut shell with its mesocarp.
H cm 25

An old European coconut box
North Europe, 18th century
Polished coconut shell with bronze fittings.
H cm 20

A fine Indonesian carved coconut shell
Bali, 19th century
The round coconut shell entirely pierced and finely engraved with Gods images and mythological scenes.
D cm 18
H cm 14.5

Three engraved Scrimshaw
England, c. 1950
Three nice moulds of sperm whale teeth crafted in Elforyn a premium ivory substitute that, in addition to providing excellent technical and mechanical properties, closely resembles the ivory found in the teeth of certain cetaceans.
The creation of Scrimshaw, a term used in the maritime world meaning 'pastime', started on whaling ships in the early 19th century. During calm periods on board of these sailing vessels, many sailors created engravings of notable artistic value on cetacean bones, sperm whale teeth, whale bones, and walrus tusks. The engravings were made using knives, needles, or other pointed tools and were colored with sepia ink.
H cm 15

A large plaster cast of a rhinoceros horn
A naturalistic and faithful representation of a complete rhinoceros horn. The long, characteristic double horn of this rare and now endangered animal, mounted on a shaped wooden shield, is reproduced in plaster, accurately mirroring the original.
H cm 50

An Indian mounted swordfish bill
Indian Ocean, c. 1950
Mounted on a truncated pyramidal wooden stand to highlight its shape and size, the large swordfish trophy is stabilized with resin to preserve its integrity and enhance its color.
H cm 42.5 (without base)

A beautiful fossilized wood branch
An unusual fossilized branch formed over millennia in an oxygen-free environment that preserved it and made it 'immortal'.
H cm 38

Four African warthogs tusks - non-CITES species
Africa, Early 20th century
Two pair of anterior tusks from two warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus), equipped only with the sharpening teeth. Warthogs belong to the pig family and are easily recognized by their distinctive set of four curved tusks.
L cm 29

Doyen, Anatomical plate
Turin, Early 19th century
Plate from 'Study of Elements of Anatomy Applied to the Fine Arts'. Turin, 1838, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Turin.
A fine engraved plate depicting the anatomical study of the muscle layers of the hand and forearm, in an antique frame.
cm 25x20 (frame included)

Doyen, Anatomical plate
Turin, Early 19th century
Plate from 'Study of Elements of Anatomy Applied to the Fine Arts. Turin, 1838, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Turin.'
A large and fine engraved plate depicting the anatomical study of the muscle layers of the arm and shoulder, in an antique frame.
cm 54x42 (frame included)

Mecco Leone, Anatomical plate
Plate from 'Study of anatomy applied to the Fine Arts.' Turin, 1838, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Turin.
A fine engraved plate depicting the anatomical study in section of the muscle bands of the neck and face, in an antique frame.
cm 26x30 (frame included)

Mecco Leone, Anatomical plate
Anatomical plate from 'Study of Elements of Anatomy Applied to the Fine Arts'. Turin, 1838, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Turin.
A large and fine engraved plate depicting studies of pathological anatomy of the muscle layers of the lower leg joint in the left leg, shown in both anterior and posterior positions, in an antique frame.
cm 33x49 (frame included)

Paolo Emilio Morgari, Anatomical study
Plate from 'Study of Elements of Anatomy Applied to the Fine Arts, Turin, 1838, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Turin.'
A fine engraved plate depicting the anatomical study of the muscle layers of the upper torso of a man, in an antique frame.
cm 29x22.5 (frame included)

Thirty-one plates from 'Atlas de dermatologie et de syphiligraphie, edited by Deschiens'
France, Paris, N.d. (c. 1900)
A series of thirty-one color-printed medical plates featuring photographic representations of the brutal visual developments of venereal and skin diseases, described in detail in French.
cm 15.5x10.5

Unknown artist - Human body with pressure gauges
Italy? Early 20th century
Carved and painted wood.
Work of an early 20th century artist, depicting a human body with pressure gauges and other instruments.
cm 48.5x36.5

Anatomical teaching bust
Italy, c. 1950
A scientific anatomical model of a female human body in section, thought to contain several removable parts, hand-painted.
Missing and broken pieces.
H cm 90

An anatomical study
France, 19th century
Anatomical cast of a forearm made out of plaster.
This anatomical specimen comes from a group similar models created by skillful french workshops since the 18th century specialized in representing parts of human body intended as important tools for teaching anatomy or for the study of the plastic and figurative arts.
H cm 40

Jean-Gabriel Pretre (1768-1849), a fine group of five engravings with monkeys
Paris, 18th-19th century
An interesting and curious collection consisting of five engravings of various species of primates by Jean-Gabriel Pretre (1768-1849) in their original ebonized frame. The Franco-Swiss artist illustrated a wide variety of animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles, in numerous publications.
He began his career working at the menagerie of Empress Josephine. It was there that he developed his love for nature and began painting animals in their natural habitat. He later worked for the Museum of Natural History in Paris. His work was so influential that several species were named in his honor, such as Amphisbaena Pretrei, a species of green lizard.
cm 14.5x18.5 (frame included)

Two Italian paintings with birds
Italy ? 19th century
Two walnut-framed tempera paintings depicting blossoming trees with birds and butterflies.
cm 64x42 (included frame)

Eleven bronze African manillas
Central Africa
Lot consisting of eleven brass, copper and bronze bangles used as currency.
The pieces, of different size and shape, range from the 17th to 19th century.
The largest D cm 11
The smallest D cm 7