20TH CENTURY

The present pair of obelisks was executed after a design by the late Renzo Mongiardino (1916-1998), one of the most theatrical designers of the 20th century, who often drew his inspiration from the Antique, Renaissance and Baroque. A closely related pair is in the Palazzo Quirinale, Rome, whilst the other is illustrated in F. Cattaneo, Roomscapes, The Decorative Architecture of Renzo Mongiardino, New York, 1993, p.81. Further comparable examples sold at auction include a pair sold Christie's, New York, on 22 May 2002, lot 363 ($33,460 with premium) and another sold Christie’s, New York, 19 May 2004, lot 241 ($28,680 with premium), respectively.