Jackdaw Antiques + Vintage

At first glance it looks simple enough: a small metal cup decorated with cattle and a few unfortunate men. Pleasant. Decorative. Perhaps the sort of thing you might place on a shelf next to a Greek history book and a decent bottle of wine. But the design on this object carries a story that begins more than three and a half thousand years ago , in the Bronze Age world of the eastern Mediterranean. The original version of this cup was not made for decoration or tourists. It was made for someone important enough to be buried with solid gold . And judging by the craftsmanship involved, they were very important indeed. This object is a replica of one of the famous Vapheio cups , a pair of extraordinary gold vessels discovered in a tomb near Vapheio in Laconia, Greece , in 1889. The originals date to roughly 1500–1400 BC , during what historians call the Late Bronze Age , when the cultures of Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece dominated the Aegean world. Today the original cups sit safel...

In 1867, while Europe was inventing telephones, laying railways, and discovering germs, southern Italy was busy turning molten rock into saints. Progress comes in many forms. This small relic — a medallion cast from Vesuvius lava — bears the face of Francesco de Marchi , Bishop of Krk. A man long gone, resurrected two centuries after his death. A portrait forged by fire, belief hardened by geology. Obverse of the medallion Reverse of the medallion A Bishop Remembered Francesco de Marchi was born in 1610, when theology outranked science and bishops ran islands like small kingdoms. Appointed Bishop of Krk — then part of the Venetian Republic — he spent his life balancing faith, politics, and diplomacy across the Adriatic. He wasn’t a saint, didn’t perform miracles, and never met a martyr’s end. He simply did the job, which in the 17th century was no small feat. He governed, wrote letters, and kept peace between Rome and Venice until his death in 1667. Then, two hundred ye...

We’ve just unearthed a V for Vendetta cinema one-sheet poster, and honestly, it got me thinking. As November 5th rolls around, with effigies of Guy Fawkes crackling away on bonfires, one can’t help but be struck by the enduring image of the man behind the flames. The face we now associate with rebellion and resistance—made famous by the graphic novel, the film, and, let’s face it, every protestor with a mask—is far more than just a cultural icon. It’s a symbol wrapped in history, myth, and a whole lot of irony. The iconic Guy Fawkes mask from V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes, born in York in 1570, came of age in one of England’s messier family feuds: the Protestant Reformation. As a Catholic in a country that had very publicly chosen Protestantism (with a nudge from the crown and an unhealthy amount of fire and brimstone), Fawkes quickly learned that his faith would make him a second-class citizen. Naturally, this led him to become an international man of intrigue, fighting for Catholic caus...

Ahoy matey! Are ye a fan of the high seas and all the adventures they bring? Well then, ye'll love this 19th century seascape oil painting that's just sailed into the shop!  In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists couldn’t get enough of painting the sea— and why not? With its choppy waves, mighty ships, and treacherous storms, there's always something exciting happening on the open water. Early 19th-century seascape by an unknown artist now available in the Etsy shop . Seascapes became a prominent genre during the Age of Sail, when maritime trade, exploration, and naval warfare were key to national power. The ocean symbolized both adventure and danger, representing the unknown as well as a frontier to be conquered. Artists began to capture the sea’s beauty, majesty, and peril, reflecting its vital role in global commerce and national identity. Maritime nations like the Netherlands, England, and France were eager to celebrate naval victories and document the expanding mariti...

The violin , that slightly arrogant yet undeniably charming instrument, has earned its place in the world of music. It's the star of orchestras, the companion of soloists, and the centerpiece of countless concertos. But the violin’s history isn’t just about the symphonies of Mozart and Beethoven—it’s about the skilled hands that crafted it. And if there’s one place that truly shaped the violin’s destiny, it’s Italy. The story starts in the early 1500s in Northern Italy, particularly Lombardy. Early violins, if you can even call them that, were a far cry from the finely tuned masterpieces we’re familiar with today. Think of a primitive string instrument with an identity crisis: awkwardly shaped, often using sheep gut strings and wood that probably wasn’t seasoned enough. Not exactly the sort of thing that would inspire symphonic brilliance, unless you were trying to torture your listeners. But Italy, ever the industrious innovator, quickly figured out that violins could be much more...

The Art Deco period —a time when society’s fascination with speed, technology, and luxury collided with an enthusiasm for bold geometric shapes and gleaming surfaces. From the late 1920s through the 1940s, Art Deco epitomized modernity. But it wasn’t just any modernity—it was one drenched in glamour, with sharp angles and a sense of opulence that was both futuristic and rooted in the lavish past. Art Deco sculptures, with their sleek lines, stylized figures, and radiant materials, embodied an era that reveled in the newness of the machine age, while still desiring to look sophisticated and stylish—whether in the comfort of a shiny new automobile or at a glittering gala. While Art Deco architecture and interior design dominate many discussions of the period, Art Deco sculptures are highly valued for their ability to capture the spirit of the time. These works, often celebrated in galleries and museums, continue to captivate collectors and art lovers for their dynamic forms, innovative m...

Have you ever glanced at a tiki figure and thought, “Did this thing get beamed down from another galaxy?” Well, you’re not alone! When the first European sailors arrived at the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific, they encountered bold, mysterious figures—towering wooden faces with fierce expressions and limbs posed in timeless stances. To these explorers, the tikis might have seemed like artifacts from an alien art gallery. What they were actually seeing, however, was one of the oldest living art forms in Polynesia, brimming with layers of meaning spanning myth, spirituality, and masterful craftsmanship. So, What Exactly is a Tiki? In Polynesian culture, the “tiki” is much more than a quirky garden statue or the face of a kitschy cocktail bar. A tiki figure, known as tiki in Marquesan culture , is a carved wooden or stone figure created by the Tuhuna , the master carvers of the Marquesas Islands. These figures represent ancient deified ancestors, embodying both human and supernatural qu...

In the hallowed halls of the British Museum, where relics of bygone eras mingle with tourists armed with selfie sticks, there stands a bronze feline figure of unparalleled allure. This isn't your average cat sculpture – it's Bastet herself, bedazzled with silver sun-discs, gold bling, and a nose ring that'd make even the most discerning cat lover envious. But what really sets this ancient masterpiece apart isn't just its divine craftsmanship or historical significance, but its rather improbable title – the Gayer-Anderson Cat. Replica of the Gayer-Anderson Cat, avaible in our shop or alternatively via the   British Museum Shop. Now, the story behind this peculiar moniker is as captivating as the artifact itself, and it involves a chap named Major Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson. Picture a man of many talents, eccentricities, and perhaps a touch of madness – you've got Gayer-Anderson in a nutshell. Born amidst the rolling green hills of Listowel, County...

The crucifix, a central icon of Christianity, is one of the most recognizable symbols in human history. It represents sacrifice, redemption, and eternal hope, but it’s also an intricate piece of cultural and artistic evolution. For those inclined to study symbols with curiosity, the crucifix reveals itself as a masterpiece of layered storytelling. Take, for instance, the skull and crossbones often found beneath Jesus’ feet in certain depictions. This motif isn’t there for decoration, nor is it an early version of the Jolly Roger. Instead, it carries profound symbolism, quietly whispering about mortality, salvation, and humanity’s flair for dramatic imagery. The Crucifix: More Than Just an Ancient Art Installation For early Christians, the cross was both a mark of shame and a beacon of hope. The depiction of Christ crucified—the crucifix—didn’t become widespread until a few centuries after the events it memorializes. This wasn’t due to a lack of artistic talent but likely practical hesi...

Once upon a time, in the land of fancy tea drinkers, a small yet mighty invention would change the course of history forever. It was the birth of the tea caddy—a container so unassuming, you might have missed it in a crowd. But don’t let its modest size fool you; this little caddy was about to embark on an adventurous journey through history, filled with lavish tea parties, sneaky servants, and overindulgent aristocrats who couldn't get enough of their cuppa—leading to the invention of “tea-totaling” (Ha-ha!). It all began in the 17th century, when tea was first served in London coffeehouses. But it wasn’t until Charles II married Catherine of Braganza, a tea-loving queen, that tea became all the rage among the upper classes. As tea drinking became more popular, so did the need for a container to keep it fresh. Enter the tea canister—a fancy porcelain or silver container used to store tea leaves. But with the high cost of tea, it was crucial to keep it under lock and key. And so, t...

Once upon a time in ancient China, a group of spice merchants faced a rather pungent predicament. They were transporting vast quantities of ginger—an invaluable spice prized for its bold flavor and medicinal prowess—from the lush countryside to the bustling markets of the city. But their plans were consistently foiled by a cruel reality: the ginger would lose its zingy essence en route. One particularly clever merchant, who likely fancied himself an innovator, had a flash of brilliance. “Why not seal the ginger in jars?” he proposed with the confidence of someone reinventing the wheel. And thus, the iconic Chinese ginger jar was born—though no one at the time could have guessed the cultural and artistic legacy they were about to launch. 19th-Century Prunus Blossom Ginger Jar – Now Sold. A Jar Worth Its Weight in Ginger These jars first graced the world during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and quickly became more than just practical storage. Crafted from porcelain, stoneware, or eart...