Lot Essay
These bacchic krater-urns have domed lids embellished with golden thyrsus finials, while vine-stems wreathing their shoulders are ribbon-tied at the handles. Their vine-enrichments recall such antique marble vases as those noted in the collection of Lord Palmerston and Hugh Dean in G. B. Piranesi's Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi of 1778, the latter of which were recorded in the possession of King George III in G. Moses, Collection of Antique Vases.., 1811, pl. 28.
These vases may well have been acquired in Italy by John, 3rd Earl of Bute for Luton Park, Bedfordshire. For as Mrs. Delany remarked in a letter of 16 September 1774, following a visit to Luton with the Duchess of Portland, there were 'A great variety of fine vases, foreign and English, and marble tables' (F. Russell, John, 3rd Earl of Bute: Patron and Collector, forthcoming, p. 166).
It is interesting to note that sixteen 'vasi verdi' (Diaspro di Corsica) alternating with 'quelli rossi' (Diaspro di Barga) were supplied by Ambrogio Caroni of the Arsenale di Pisa for the Capella dei Principi at San Lorenzo, Florence (Anna Maria Giusti, ed., 'Splendori di Pietre Dure', Exhibition Catalogue, Florence, 1988, p. 274, XVII).
These vases may well have been acquired in Italy by John, 3rd Earl of Bute for Luton Park, Bedfordshire. For as Mrs. Delany remarked in a letter of 16 September 1774, following a visit to Luton with the Duchess of Portland, there were 'A great variety of fine vases, foreign and English, and marble tables' (F. Russell, John, 3rd Earl of Bute: Patron and Collector, forthcoming, p. 166).
It is interesting to note that sixteen 'vasi verdi' (Diaspro di Corsica) alternating with 'quelli rossi' (Diaspro di Barga) were supplied by Ambrogio Caroni of the Arsenale di Pisa for the Capella dei Principi at San Lorenzo, Florence (Anna Maria Giusti, ed., 'Splendori di Pietre Dure', Exhibition Catalogue, Florence, 1988, p. 274, XVII).