- 76
English, 19th century
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Intaglio with a Bacchanal (called 'the Seal of Michelangelo')
- gold set carnelian, mounted as a brooch
- English, 19th century
Condition
Overall the condition of the cameo is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surfaces consistent with age. There is a scratch to the bottom of the carving near the fisherman. There are a few very minor scratches including one towards the upper edge. The gold is in good condition with a little warping to the outer border and minor wear generally.
"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."
"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
This charming intaglio is carved after the famous cachet de Michel Ange or 'seal of Michelangelo', a 16th-century carnelian intaglio depicting a bacchanale which was reputedly owned by Michelangelo Buonarroti and was acquired by Louis XIV of France in the 1680's. The cachet de Michel Ange is today housed in the Cabinet des Médailles of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (inv. no. 2337). Its subject matter was a matter of heated debate in the 18th century, with identifications ranging from the birth and education of Alexander to the Panathanaic Games, and with many commentators arguing that the gem was ancient. The intaglio has subsequently been identified as the work of the 16th-century lapidary Pietro Maria di Pescia.
RELATED LITERATURE
P. Rosenberg and L. Barthélémy-Labeeuw in Les dessins de la collection Mariette: Ecole française, Paris, 2011, vol. 1, p. 153, no. F456