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拍品專文
Trapani, in Sicily, where the present vases were made, was a famous center of coral-work production between the 16th and the 18th centuries. Famously expensive and collected or exchanged as diplomatic gifts between European nobility, coral-work form Trapani generally combines a gilt-copper ground with enamel embellishments and was fashioned into a variety of religious and secular items.
The present pair of vases demonstrate many characteristics of workmanship from this region. The gilded copper and coral surface of the vases is achieved by setting the pieces of carved coral into the metal using a technique called 'retroincastro'. This consists of inserting small pieces of polished coral into pre-punched holes in the metal, which conform exactly to the pieces of coral. The coral is then fixed using a mixture of pitch and wax, sealed with strips of cloth. An internal examination of the present examples has revealed the presence of this fixing surface.
Interestingly, another two-handled vase with similarly modelled screaming mask mounted with coral as a tongue is known in the Museo Regionale Conte Agostino Pepoli, Trapani.
The present pair of vases demonstrate many characteristics of workmanship from this region. The gilded copper and coral surface of the vases is achieved by setting the pieces of carved coral into the metal using a technique called 'retroincastro'. This consists of inserting small pieces of polished coral into pre-punched holes in the metal, which conform exactly to the pieces of coral. The coral is then fixed using a mixture of pitch and wax, sealed with strips of cloth. An internal examination of the present examples has revealed the presence of this fixing surface.
Interestingly, another two-handled vase with similarly modelled screaming mask mounted with coral as a tongue is known in the Museo Regionale Conte Agostino Pepoli, Trapani.