ID 791834
Lot 2 | AN ITALIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED, PIETRA DURA AND EBONY CASKET
Estimate value
£ 60 000 – 100 000
ATTRIBUTED TO THE GRAND DUCAL WORKSHOPS, PROBABLY AFTER A DESIGN BY GIOVANNI BATTISTA FOGGINI, EARLY 18TH CENTURY
The moulded rectangular top with raised panelled central section inset with various hardstones including amethyst, alabaster, verde antico and rosso antico depicting a bird perched on a laurel branch, framed by inset panels of lapis lazuli, surrounded by alternating lapis lazuli and amethyst cabochons joined by an entwined rope lifting to a damask-lined interior. The sides similarly decorated overall with inset panels of lapis lazuli and centred by further pietra dura panels depicting birds in flight, the angles with ribbon-cast mounts bearing hardstone fruits, on scrolled feet
7 3⁄4 in. (20 cm.) high; 12 1⁄2 in. (32 cm.) wide; 9 3⁄4 in. (25 cm.) deep
Literature
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
A. Giusti, P. Mazzoni and A. Pampaloni Martelli, Il Museo dell'Opificio delle Pietre Dure a Firenze, Milan, 1978, p. 15-18.
A. Giusti, Pietre Dure, Hardstone in furniture and decorations, London, 1992, pp. 84 and 110.
A. Giusti, Pietre Dure and the Art of Florentine Inlay, London, 2006. p. 94-103.
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
| Auction house category: | All other types of objects |
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| Auction house category: | All other types of objects |
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| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
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| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |







