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A RENAISSANCE-STYLE JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED ROCK-CRYSTAL BIBERON IN THE FORM OF A TORTOISE

CIRCA 1870

Details

A RENAISSANCE-STYLE JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED ROCK-CRYSTAL BIBERON IN THE FORM OF A TORTOISE
Circa 1870
On oval enamelled base with coloured gemstone collets, with scrolling black enamel between, the carapace enclosed in black and white enamel strapwork set with similar collets, the head with enamelled gold collar, cabochon ruby eyes and terminating in a spout with hinged pierced cartouche-shaped cover enamelled in various colours with strapwork, the feet with pendant pearls, in later fitted velvet-lined wood case inscribed on brass plaque Tortue Cristal
the tortoise, 10 in. (25.5 cm.) long

Provenance

As lot 1.
Rothschild inv. no. E.de R.259.

Exhibited

Paris, Musée de l'Orangerie, Les Chefs-d'oeuvre des Collections françaises retrouvés en Allemagne par la Commission de Récupération artistique et les Services alliés, 1946, no. 200, description by C. Dreyfus.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

The basic form of this biberon is reminiscent of a design for a silver dish and cover by Giulio Romano (1492-1546) now in the collection of Christ Church, Oxford (illus. in Y. Hackenbroch, 'Reinhold Vasters, Goldsmith', Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 19-20, 1984-5, p. 216, fig. 105). The grotesque mask forming the cover in the drawing was also possibly the inspiration for the covers of a number of ewers thought to be designed by Vasters (see Y. Hackenbroch, op.cit., pp. 213 and 216, figs. 104 and 106).

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