NORTH ITALIAN, 16TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE FIGURE OF AN URN-CARRYING PUTTO
NORTH ITALIAN, 16TH CENTURY
Depicted striding forward and holding the urn on his head; on an integrally cast circular plinth; the underside inscribed in red with the inventory number '266' and with the remains of a circular gold label indistinctly inscribed 'BRITISH ANTIQUE DEALER CERTIFIED FOR CUSTOMD PU... ONL...'; blackish brown patina with warm chocolate brown high points; very minor damages
6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm.) high

Provenance

Purchased by Alfred (1853-1906) or Otto Beit (1865-1930) between 1904 and 1913.
Thence by descent to Lady (Clementine) Beit (1915-2005) by whom donated to the Alfred Beit Foundation in 2005.

Literature

W. Bode, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures and Bronzes in the Possession of Mr. Otto Beit, London, 1913, p. 115, no. 266, as 'Unknown Venetian artist'.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A related, but damaged, bronze of a putto carrying an urn on his head is in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. For an illustration see L. Planiscig, Venezianische Bildhauer der Renaissance, Vienna, 1921, p. 330, fig. 337.

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