Lot Essay
See Carmen Manueco Santurtún et. al., 'Manufactura del Buen Retiro 1760-1808' Exhibition Catalogue (Madrid, 1999), p. 514, no. 213 for a similar sphinx.
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CIRCA 1805, GILDER'S GILT P.G. MARK TO BOTH, ONE RIDGE WITH IMPRESSED CIRCULAR MARK WITH INDISTINCT INSCRIPTION R (?) MADRID S
Details
A pair of Buen Retiro sphinxes
Circa 1805, gilder's gilt P.G. mark to both, one ridge with impressed circular mark with indistinct inscription R (?) MADRID S
The white biscuit sphinxes with lion's bodies and human female torsos, in conventional recumbent pose, their backs modelled with angular ridges from their hinds to their headdresses, the Egyptian headdresses with sun-disks at the front and pendant cloth draped over their shoulders, one edged with incised meandering foliage and both hung with tassels, on rectangular glazed plinth bases, the front ends gilt with ciselé anthemion palmettes within rectangular cartouches and with further gilt palmettes at the sides and between their front paws (restoration to both sphinxes' heads, chipping to headdresses, slight wear to gilding, minute chipping to edges of bases)
6 in. (15.3 cm.) long (2)
Circa 1805, gilder's gilt P.G. mark to both, one ridge with impressed circular mark with indistinct inscription R (?) MADRID S
The white biscuit sphinxes with lion's bodies and human female torsos, in conventional recumbent pose, their backs modelled with angular ridges from their hinds to their headdresses, the Egyptian headdresses with sun-disks at the front and pendant cloth draped over their shoulders, one edged with incised meandering foliage and both hung with tassels, on rectangular glazed plinth bases, the front ends gilt with ciselé anthemion palmettes within rectangular cartouches and with further gilt palmettes at the sides and between their front paws (restoration to both sphinxes' heads, chipping to headdresses, slight wear to gilding, minute chipping to edges of bases)
6 in. (15.3 cm.) long (2)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis