A SET OF FOUR ITALIAN GILT-BRASS FIVE-BRANCH WALL-LIGHTS

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LA DOLCE VITA Strolling along the 19th century boulevards that radiate around the centre of Milan, it is easy to forget that the rusticated façades that today embody the fashion powerhouses of Milan were originally intended for residential use on a Princely scale. The Carraro Rizzoli Palazzo, one of the last to survive as a private house, provides a fascinating insight into the gilded world of Frederico Fellini'’s inner circle in the 1960’s. The Rizzoli publishing dynasty was established by that 'Cavalier del lavoro'’ Angelo Rizzoli. An orphan, Rizzoli was passionate about the printed word and from a small printing press grew the vast Rizzoli publishing company which still flourishes to this day, counting such popular titles as Oggi, Novella and Candido under its belt. Angelo's energy, devotion and hard work led from one success to another allowing the Rizzoli family to pursue other passions –including cinema, football and the island of Ischia. As a film producer, Angelo is perhaps best remembered for his close working relationship with Federico Fellini, producing not only the Don Camillo series, but most famously La Dolce Vita in 1960 with Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Eckberg. Alberto's CineRiz film company went on to receive an Oscar for Frederico Fellini's 8½ in 1963. In football, as Chairman of AC Milan, Angelo's son, Andrea Rizzoli, had the privilege of seeing the first Italian team lift the European Cup at Wembley in 1963. In Ischia, meanwhile, they embraced both commercial and philanthropic ventures from hotels such as the Il Regina Isabella, where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton tempestuously stayed during the filming of Cleopatra in 1961, to charitable causes, including the founding of the Institute for the Graphic Arts for students and a new hospital. Angelo went on to work with the interior decorator, Filippo Perego in New York to establish a highly respected bookstore on 5th Avenue. The Carraro Rizzoli Palazzo was bought by Angelo for his newly-wed daughter Giuseppina Rizzoli in 1958. Mirroring the opulent grandeur portrayed by Fellini in La Dolce Vita, the young couple embarked on a comprehensive redecoration under the wise counsel and creative spirit of Filippo Perego and the architect Menin. Delicately carved Rococo boiseries and Louis XV Savonnerie carpets were installed from Paris, spectacular gilt-bronze and rock crystal chandeliers were brought from Bacchi, Milan, and Chinese monochrome porcelains were arranged in niches and on brackets throughout the enfilade. Pride of place, however, was given to the magnificent series of Berlin tapestries depicting Scenes from the life of the Emperor of China, almost certainly KangXi (1661-1722), which were woven to designs by Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer and Jean-Baptiste Belin de Fontenay in 1720. Their brilliant colouring has survived undisturbed, having been lit only by candelabra supported on a magnificent set of four George II torchères of circa 1750, which display the confidence of a hand very close to that of Thomas Chippendale himself. Elsewhere three important Charles II silver-gilt vases from the collection of the Earl's of Home were displayed in the opulent dining-room. As the visiting cards from Kugel, Camerons, Sparks, Bulgari, Accorsi, Rossi and Etienne Levy tucked into a secretaire-drawer reveal, during the 1960’s the Carraro-Rizzoli'’s trawled antiquaires throughout Europe in search of the best. When in Paris they often visited Marcel Bissey and Bensimon, in Rome they visited Di Castro, while much of the library was bought from Pozzi in Milan. Fellini's character Steiner in La Dolce Vita concluded that 'Salvation doesn'’t lie within fourwallsl; I'm o o serious to be a dilettante and too much of a dabbler to be a professional.'’ If only he had seen the magnificent interiors created in the Palazzo Carraro-Rizzoli, perhaps he might have been persuaded otherwise.

A SET OF FOUR ITALIAN GILT-BRASS FIVE-BRANCH WALL-LIGHTS

FIRST HALF 20TH CENTURY, REPUTEDLY BY PADOA, MILAN

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A SET OF FOUR ITALIAN GILT-BRASS FIVE-BRANCH WALL-LIGHTS
FIRST HALF 20TH CENTURY, REPUTEDLY BY PADOA, MILAN
Each with oak-leaf wrapped branches and opposed c-scroll and rams mask backplate surmounted by a ribbon-tied warriors helmet, the apron with a scallop shell, each stamped numerously to the reverse with various numbers, fitted for electricity
57 in. (145 cm.) high (4)

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.

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