AN ITALIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED BLUE JOHN, ALABASTER AND JASPER OBELISK

The skillful combination of precious hardstones and elegant 'antique' form of this richly conceived obelisk is typical of the work of Roman bronziers of the end of the 18th Century such as Luigi and Giuseppe Valadier and Francesco Righetti. It is also interesting to note a design for a related obelisk by the noted English silversmith and bronzier Matthew Boulton, who in turn frequently looked to Rome for inspiration (see N. Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, p. 267, fig. 223.3).