A SET OF FOUR NORTH ITALIAN WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS

This lot is offered without reserve. VAT rate of … Read more

COUNTESS ROSSI DI MONTELERA Her many friends in Europe and America will remember Moira, Countess Rossi di Montelera with lasting pleasure. Vivid, forthright in her opinions, intensely curious and knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects, with a particular passion for jewels and horse racing, shrewd and extremely kind, she was a considerable character with great presence. Moira was one of the two daughters, the other being Eileen, Marchioness of Bute, of the 8th Earl of Granard and Beatrice, his Countess, who was Ogden Mills' daughter. Countess Rossi's childhood was spent between the family castle in Ireland, Winterthur, the Mills house on the Hudson, Forbes House in London and the Maison Granard on the rue de Varenne; there are many charming photographs of the sisters when children at Winterthur, now a museum. For many years Countess Rossi made her home in Turin. Eventually she moved to Lausanne where she held court in her intimate and personalised apartment overlooking Lake Geneva, spending the summer season in Santa Margherita. Here, she created a rich and vivid environment ideally suited to her lively and enquiring temperament and her love and knowledge of l8th century furniture and decoration. Visiting her apartment was like stepping out of the 20th century into a suite of private rooms such as one might find tucked behind the main public salons of a grand l8th century palace. Using many family pieces Countess Rossi furnished her salons in such a way that it gave the impression of the elegance of her ancestral homes - the sumptuous Napoleon III Boulle marquetry meubles d'appui by Paul Sormani a direct homage to the suite of six owned by her Phipps grandfather. The Drawing-Room was dominated by fine examples of l8th and 19th century French furniture on which stood carefully selected porcelains and bronzes. The anchor was a fine Louis XV ormolu-mounted kingwood, bois satiné and floral marquetry commode attributable to Pierre Roussel, circa l760, which originally belonged to the Countess's mother and is inscribed in chalk 'LADY GRANARD'. Sculptural Bacchante, figural candelabra and objets d'art all competed for attention, while the walls were hung with Chinoiserie panels and a charming pair of landscapes by Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Following family tradition, Countess Rossi was also fond of clocks and considered them on sculptural as much as scientific merits, as can be seen from the two fine examples in her salon. The first, a Louis XV ormolu and patinated-bronze pendule à l'éléphant by Jean-Baptiste Baillon always intrigued visiting children supported as it was by an elephant with a raised trunk. Another was powerful architectural Louis XVI gôut ormolu pendule à la liseuse by Peignat, the gilt-bronze attributed to Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, the ebony base attributed to the ébéniste Joseph Baumhauer, dit Joseph. Countess Rossi also understood only too well the decorative and utilitarian roles porcelain and silver played in enriching the Drawing and Dining Rooms. There were many fine examples of both European and Chinese porcelain - and she had a particular love of Kangxi and Chinese export pieces, including the whimsical famille verte bearded man candlesticks. Two of the most important pieces will be offered in specialist sales in the summer. The Austrian silver oval soup tureens, covers and stands all by Ignaz Sebastian Wirth, Vienna (£70,000-100,000) will be offered in the Important Silver sale on 14 June, and the impressive and important large Qianlong celadon baluster-shaped vase in the Hall will be offered in the Chinese Ceramic and Works of Art sale on 12 July. Decorated with scrolling dragons and the Qianlong seal mark (1736-1795), the vase towers to over 63 cm. high (£100,000-150,000). Largely offered without reserve, the following selection being sold from the Estate of Countess Rossi vividly reflects her and her family's superlative collecting instincts. Charismatic and generous to the last, the proceeds of the sale will benefit the children's charitable foundation that bears her name. MORNING SESSION AT 10.30 A.M. PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF COUNTESS MOIRA ROSSI DI MONTELERA AND BENEFICIARIES (LOTS 1-113)

A SET OF FOUR NORTH ITALIAN WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS

MID-18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY GENOESE

Details

A SET OF FOUR NORTH ITALIAN WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
MID-18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY GENOESE
Each with moulded shaped rectangular back and serpentine-fronted seat covered in red leather, the channelled frame on cabriole legs, previously decorated
40 in. (103 cm.) high (4)

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

More from English and Continental Furniture Including the Estate

View All