Italian, late 16th/ early 17th century

Bust of Alexander the Great

VAT reduced rate

Auction Closed

July 4, 03:04 PM GMT

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of a German Princess

Italian, late 16th/ early 17th century

Bust of Alexander the Great

chalcedony, on a later gilt metal base with an eagle probably carved from ebony and set with a cabochon garnet

the bust inscribed: ΠΥΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ (Pyrgoteles) and the garnet inscribed: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Basileos Alexandrou);

the underside of the base inscribed in ink: n:20

bust: 6.3cm., 2½in.

14cm., 5½in. overall

Please note that the provenance for this lot has been changed. The cameo was recorded in the collection of Lothar Franz von Schönborn-Buchheim, Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, by Baron Philipp von Stosch in 1724. It thence descended within the Schönborn family to the present owner. Please refer to the online catalogue for the full provenance. Sotheby's would like to thank Dr Dorothy Lobel King for kindly providing the Stosch reference. Please note in addition that the eagle mounted on the base is probably carved from ebony and not as stated in the printed catalogue.

Lothar Franz von Schönborn-Buchheim (1655–1729) Archbishop-Elector of Mainz;

by descent to Franz-Joseph Schönborn (1708-1772);

by descent to Hugo Damian Schönborn (1738-1817);

by descent to Franz Erwein Schönborn (1776-1840);

by descent to Clemens August Schönborn (1810-1877);

by descent to Artur Schönborn (1846-1916);

by descent to Johanna Gräfin v Schönborn (1875-1957);

by descent to the present owner

Baron P. von Stosch, Gemmæ antiquæ cælatæ, 1724, pp. 76-79, no. LV