MID-18TH CENTURY

細節

A PAIR OF NEAPOLITAN GOLD-INLAID TORTOISHELL PIQUE TRAYS
Mid-18th century
Each with shaped rectangular dished tray centered by a landscape of Roman buildings and various figures, with butterflies and birds within a scrolling acanthus and floral border, the raised sides with conforming decoration and lappeted rim
12in. (30cm.)wide

來源

The Property of the late Hon. Angela Baring sold by order of the Executors, Christie's London, 4 July 1996, lot 201, (£8,625)

拍品專文

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. Amongst the signed pieces are an inkstand in the Wallace Collection (Inv. no. XXIIIA 35) by Sarao; a tray by the same hand in the Wernher Collection; 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. Indeed, the Rothschilds appear to have formed amongst 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.

A related small (7in.; (18cm.)) tray was sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30 April 1999, lot 55 ($8,250).