Attributed to the Saracchi Workshop Italian, Milan, late 16th century

Oskar Dieter Alex von Rosenberg-Rédé, 3rd Baron von Rosenberg-Redé (1922-2004) or Guy Édouard Alphonse Paul de Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild (1908-2007), Hôtel Lambert or Château de Ferrières, Paris
their sale, Sotheby's Monaco, 25 May 1975, lot 26
thence by descent to the present owner

Overall the condition of the rock crystal is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is some dirt to the crevices and to the drilled hole running through the mouth. There are two probably original mount holes in the fur, which have been plugged. As stated in the cataloguing, the lid is carved separately and the mount is probably eighteenth century. To the underside, there is a triangular shaped plug which appears to be original. There are a few various small chips including to the underside. There are naturally occurring inclusions in the rock crystal, mostly below the proper right eye. There is a slightly visible vein running across the proper right side of the face below the eye and above the nose.
"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."

And I will also make small things such as pendants, pine cones, acorns, belts, marten's head, aglets and other things like the samples I sent you.

List of rock crystal objects mentioned in a letter from the Saracchi brothers to Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria (Distelberger, op. cit., p. 162).

This superb rock crystal marten's head comes from a Renaissance zibellino. It would have been attached to the end of a marten's pelt, whilst its mouth would have been fitted to a gold chain, which, in turn, would have connected the zibellino to the wearer's belt. These curious Renaissance objects were worn by women as talismans for fertility. They were popularised by Eleonor of Toledo, and remained fashionable through the 16th century.

The virtuoso carving of the rock crystal indicates that it was carved by an important lapidary. The fantastical styling, inset red agate eyes and upturned nose compare closely with creatures adorning rock crystal vessels created by the celebrated Milanese 16th-century Saracchi workshop; compare with the bird-shaped bowl in the Museo degli Argenti, Florence (inv. no. 1921 no. 721), the body of which is similarly adorned with elaborate vegetal motifs. Note the swirling wave pattern, which is similar to the fur on the present object, on a table fountain also from the Medici collections (inv. no. 1917 (III) no. 1). Another vessel in the form of an owl with agate-set eyes is in the Grünes Gewölbe, Dresden (inv. no. V295). The attribution to the Saracchi is given added credence by the compelling reference to a rock crystal marten's head in a letter from the workshop to Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria (quoted above).

There is a near-identical rock crystal zibellino head by the Saracchi workshop in the Farnese collection, Museo e Gallerie Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples (Cassani, op. cit., no. 6.76). Another rock crystal marten's head, thought to be French, circa 1560-70, is in the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection (Somers Cocks and Truman, op. cit., no. 3).

RELATED LITERATURE
R. Distelberger, 'Die Sarachi-Werkstatt und Annibale Fontana, Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen, LXXI, 1975, p. 162; A. Somers Cocks and C. Truman, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. Renaissance jewels, gold boxes and objets de vertu, London, 1984, pp. 70-71, no. 3; A. Massinelli and F. Tuena, Treasures of the Medici, London, 1992, pp. 80, 88-89, 94-102; S. Cassani (ed.), La Collezione Farnese. Le arti decorative, cat. Museo e Gallerie Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, 1996, pp. 179-180, no. 6.76; M. Mosco and O. Casazza, The Museo degli Argenti Collections and Collectors, Florence, 2004, pp. 64-80