Probably French, first half 18th century

perhaps originally a lid for a cup

Private collection, France;
Honourable Silver Objects, Antwerp

Overall the condition of the ivory is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is stable splitting to the ivory consistent with the material, including a split running vertically through the moulded ivory section above the barley twist shaped section. Further minor splitting to the baluster shaped section towards the bottom. There are a few minor chips to the underside at the centre.
"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."

Complex tour de force ivory objects, without any plausible utilitarian function, were intended purely as expressions of the turner's skill. As the treaties on turning which emerged in the 17th century elucidate, the turner did not endeavor to imitate nature but rather to surpass it - ars naturam superat - and in doing so, expressed his control of the universe through reason.

Similar forms to this elegant example of the turner's skill can be seen in the 1719 catalogue of Nicolas de Grollier de Servière's turning cabinet (Maurice, op. cit., p. 112, fig. 123) and fig. 1.

RELATED LITERATURE
C. Plumier, L'art de Tourneur, Lyon, 1701 (reprinted Paris, 1749); L. E. Bergeron, Manuel du Tourneur, Paris 1796 (and second edition 1816, pl. XXI, 1991); K. Maurice, Der drechselnde Souverän, Zurich, 1985, p. 112, fig. 123; G. Laue, Gedrehte Kostbarkeiten, Munich, 2004, pp. 46, 47, 72, fig. 16