Lot 1202 - A192 Decorative Arts - Thursday, 18. June 2020, 02.00 PM
OCTAGONAL CASKET WITH MICRO-MOSAIC INLAYS,
Italy, Rome ca. 1870. By Augusto Castellani (1829-1914).
Brass octagonal box, decorated with pearl beading. Hinged cover. The walls and the cover feature 17 micro-mosaic cartouches in the style of Antiquity; depictions of wild beasts, the head of Medusa, and theater masks. The inside lined with violet velour.
20 x 20 x 16.5 cm.
This micro-mosaic box with motifs from Antiquity was designed by the Roman jeweller Augusto Castellani around 1870, and was already praised by the author Alfonso Sartirana in his article on the Castellani studio (see Arte in Italia, 1870). The cista muliebre (lady's casket), the title of the article, illustrates its most important characteristics (Fig. 1, Sartirana, 1870, p. 61). It shows the head of Medusa, the theater masks and the various animals designed in the style of Roman Antiquity.
Comparative literature:
- Alfonso di Sartirana, "Arte applicata all'industria: oreficerie della Fabbrica Castellani in Roma", in "L'Arte in Italia", Torino- Napoli, 1870, pp. 60-62
- Exhibition Catalogue by Susan Weber Soros and Stefanie Walker, "Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry" (The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture, New York, 18.11.2004-06.02.2005), Yale Universtity Press, New Haven and London, 2004, pp. 48 and 173-174
- Judy Rudoe, "The Castellani and the Italian Risorgimento", in Charlotte Gere und Judy Rudoe, "Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria. A mirror to the world", The British Museum, 2010, pp. 398-425
Comparative literature:
- Alfonso di Sartirana, "Arte applicata all'industria: oreficerie della Fabbrica Castellani in Roma", in "L'Arte in Italia", Torino- Napoli, 1870, pp. 60-62
- Exhibition Catalogue by Susan Weber Soros and Stefanie Walker, "Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry" (The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture, New York, 18.11.2004-06.02.2005), Yale Universtity Press, New Haven and London, 2004, pp. 48 and 173-174
- Judy Rudoe, "The Castellani and the Italian Risorgimento", in Charlotte Gere und Judy Rudoe, "Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria. A mirror to the world", The British Museum, 2010, pp. 398-425
CHF 12 000 / 18 000 | (€ 12 370 / 18 560)
Sold for CHF 156 460 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.