Lot Essay
This pair of bellows is closely related to an example in the Wallace collection, which has a virtually identical central cabochon flanked by putti holding swags to the front and a grotesque mask to the back. The latter was possibly acquired by Sir Richard Wallace in 1871 with the Nieuwerkerke collection as a receipted bill to the Comte de Nieuwerkerke mentions un soufflet en bois Sculpté, 3 verres de Venise 1.500 (F.J.B. Watson, Wallace Collection Catalogues, Furniture, London, 1956, p.246, F.480 and F.481).
A related pair of bellows, with a similar grotesque beast to the reverse, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 5 December 1995, lot 8.
See illustration
A related pair of bellows, with a similar grotesque beast to the reverse, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 5 December 1995, lot 8.
See illustration