- 9
A set of four impressive French gilded cast iron vases and covers mid 19th century
Description
- each approx. 95cm. high; 70 cm. wide; base 72cm.; 3ft. 1 3/4 in., 2ft 3 1/2in., 2ft. 4 1/4in.
Provenance
By repute Maria Gabriella di Savoia dei Principi di Villafranca, married in 1827 to Principe Camillo Vittorio Massimo
By descent Principi Massimo, Rome.
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Comparative Literature:
J. Davis, Antique Garden Ornament, Woodbridge, 1991, p. 351.
G. Van der Kemp, Versailles, London, 1978, pp. 68-69.
The design of these vases is inspired by the 17th century models of Claude Ballin (1615-1678), who was commissioned to design vases for Louis XIV for Versailles, which were to be executed in silver, but due to the financial constraints of the war in Flanders were eventually cast in bronze. An example of one of these designs by Ballin, depicting Apollo slaying the Python, was engraved by Jean Lepautre in 1673 (Bibliothèque Nationale de France, département des Estampes).
Ballin's vases were to remain unique to Versailles until the third quarter of the nineteenth century, when the 4th Marquis of Hertford (1800-1870), a devotee of Le Nôtre, landscape designer to Louis XIV, had bronze copies cast for his estate outside of Paris, the Château de Bagatelle. It is interesting to note that none of the Bagatelle copies bears a founder's mark as is the case with the present vases.
The original 17th century marble models which almost certainly inspired these vases are in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and illustrated by van der Kemp, op. cit., p.68-69, and they were carved in Rome based upon French designs.
The mythological scenes on the vases:
The low relief scenes are symbolic of Le Roi Soleil Louis XIV, depicting tthe two mythological tales of the Sun God Apollo. On one side the scene represents Apollo slaying the Python, and on the other side Daphne is being transformed into a tree by her father, the River God, to escape love-struck Apollo.