拍品專文
This table top is related to two tops in the Museo degli Argenti in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence, and another in the Prado, Madrid (see: A.M. Giusti, et al., La Cappella dei Principi e le pietre dure a Firenze, Milan, 1979, figs. 6, 7 and 8, and A. Gonzàlez-Palacios, Il Gusto dei Principi, Milan, 1993, pp. 384-385, figs. 698-700). The central ornamental section is closely related to drawings in the Uffizi, Florence, by Niccolo Gaddi (1537-1591) and the architect Giovanni Antonio Dosio (1533-1609). They were the first designers to promote inlay in marble and pietre dure in Tuscany. The design by Dosio for a table now in the Sala di Venere in the Palazzo Pitti has almost identical cartouches as those in the angles of this table (see: A. Morrogh, Disegni di architetti fiorentini 1540-1640, Florence, 1985, fig. 66, and A.M. Giusti, op. cit., fig. 57).
Unfortunately the present level of research into this field does not answer the difficult question of whether this group were made in Florence or in Rome. Dosio lived for a long period in Rome and some of the tops today in the Palazzo Pitti (among them the table in the Sala di Venere) were transferred from the Villa Medici in Rome. The Sala di Venere table is recorded in the Villa Medici in 1588. However some examples that were definitely executed in Florence also appear to have been made around this date. One of the best examples is the altar table of the Capella Niccolini in the Santa Croce, which was executed by Giulio Balsimelli in 1584 (see: L. Berti, Il Pantheon di S. Croce a Firenze, Florence, 1993, pp. 85 and 90, fig. 9).
This table top is of particular interest for the rarity of the stones used and in particular the colour contrasts. The central speccled Spanish broccatello panel, of rare very light shading, contrasts with the more yellow border of breccia dorata. The presence of the breccia quintilina gives another element to suggest a date for this table as the stone was only discovered by Cardinal del Monte at Tivoli during the period of Pius IV (1559-1565). As the table was originally of modest size (84.5 x 96cm.; almost the same as a 94cm. x 96cm. table in the Pitti), it was decided at a later date to enlarge it by adding an outer frame of bianco e nero antico, or marmo di Aquitania.
Sir Henry Edwardes was a late 19th Century collector of old master pictures and objets d'art. The sale of his collection of works of art at Christie's after his death took three days on 24-26 April 1901. His pictures were sold on 27 April 1901. Although little provenance was given for the furniture, he had bought paintings that had come from several of the major sales of the day, including the legendary Hamilton Palace sale at Christie's in 1882. Other pictures came from the Cavendish-Bentinck collection, sold in these Rooms in 1891, and that of Sir Charles Eastlake in 1894. The two highest priced pictures, one 'B. van der Helst' and the other 'J. van der Heyden' were bought by J.P. Morgan for 1900 guineas and 920 guineas respectively.
Unfortunately the present level of research into this field does not answer the difficult question of whether this group were made in Florence or in Rome. Dosio lived for a long period in Rome and some of the tops today in the Palazzo Pitti (among them the table in the Sala di Venere) were transferred from the Villa Medici in Rome. The Sala di Venere table is recorded in the Villa Medici in 1588. However some examples that were definitely executed in Florence also appear to have been made around this date. One of the best examples is the altar table of the Capella Niccolini in the Santa Croce, which was executed by Giulio Balsimelli in 1584 (see: L. Berti, Il Pantheon di S. Croce a Firenze, Florence, 1993, pp. 85 and 90, fig. 9).
This table top is of particular interest for the rarity of the stones used and in particular the colour contrasts. The central speccled Spanish broccatello panel, of rare very light shading, contrasts with the more yellow border of breccia dorata. The presence of the breccia quintilina gives another element to suggest a date for this table as the stone was only discovered by Cardinal del Monte at Tivoli during the period of Pius IV (1559-1565). As the table was originally of modest size (84.5 x 96cm.; almost the same as a 94cm. x 96cm. table in the Pitti), it was decided at a later date to enlarge it by adding an outer frame of bianco e nero antico, or marmo di Aquitania.
Sir Henry Edwardes was a late 19th Century collector of old master pictures and objets d'art. The sale of his collection of works of art at Christie's after his death took three days on 24-26 April 1901. His pictures were sold on 27 April 1901. Although little provenance was given for the furniture, he had bought paintings that had come from several of the major sales of the day, including the legendary Hamilton Palace sale at Christie's in 1882. Other pictures came from the Cavendish-Bentinck collection, sold in these Rooms in 1891, and that of Sir Charles Eastlake in 1894. The two highest priced pictures, one 'B. van der Helst' and the other 'J. van der Heyden' were bought by J.P. Morgan for 1900 guineas and 920 guineas respectively.