NAPLES, MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

AN ITALIAN TORTOISESHELL, MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND GOLD-INLAID PIQUE CIRCULAR BOX**
NAPLES, MID-18TH CENTURY
The hinged lid decorated with a scene of male Grand Tourists admiring a statue and a bust, with a building in the background, within a diamond and foliate surround, the underside with further foliate surround
2¼ in. (6 cm.) diameter

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

As Lady Anne Miller commented in a letter of 1771, written from Naples:- 'This city is famous for a manufacture of tortoiseshell, which they inlay curiously with gold, and are very ingenious at representing any object you choose.' The technique of piqué is thought to have originated at the end of the 16th century in Naples. Horn or tortoiseshell was softened in boiling water with olive oil. When soft, a design of mother-of-pearl, gold or silver strips or pinpoints was impressed. Signed pieces include an inkstand in the Wallace Collection (Inv. no. XXIIIA 35) by Sarao; a cabinet in the Royal Collection in England, which is signed DE LAURENZIE F and an inkstand by Nicolaus Storace, sold by Lord Rothschild at Christie's London, 12 May 1970, lot 40. The Rothschilds formed one of the greatest collections of piqué historically, both at Mentmore and at Waddesdon, the latter thoroughly discussed in G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor; Furniture, Clocks and Gilt-Bronzes, London, 1974, p.838.

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