treasures unveiled at sotheby's london - 3 july 2013

7/28/2019 Treasures Unveiled At Sotheby's London - 3 July 2013

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For Immediate ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseFor Immediate ReleasePress Release Geneva

LondonLondonLondonLondon | +44 20 7293 6000 | Sarah Rustin | [email protected] |Marie-Batrice Morin | [email protected]

Sothebys London to Present on 3 July 2013

TREASURESPRINCELY TASTE

MASTERPIECES OF FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS,DRAWN FROM THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ARISTOCRATIC COLLECTIONS

Associated with European Great Rulers and Dynasties,including the Medici Family and Napoleon, these Treasures of the rarest

Craftsmanship constitute the Pinnacle of their Collecting Category,while also Shedding Light on the Life and Passions of their eminent owners

From a prestigious aristocratic EnglishFrom a prestigious aristocratic EnglishFrom a prestigious aristocratic EnglishFrom a prestigious aristocratic English stately homestately homestately homestately home ---- A magnA magnA magnA magnificent lateificent lateificent lateificent late----RenaRenaRenaRenaissanceissanceissanceissance antique marble inlaidantique marble inlaidantique marble inlaidantique marble inlaidtable top, Roman last quarter 16table top, Roman last quarter 16table top, Roman last quarter 16table top, Roman last quarter 16

ththththcentury (est. 800,000century (est. 800,000century (est. 800,000century (est. 800,000----1,200,000)1,200,000)1,200,000)1,200,000)

On 3rd July 2013, Sothebys fourth successive sale of Treasures, Princely Taste in London, will present 49furniture and decorative arts masterpieces, many of which have been commissioned by or made for great

European rulers and dynasties such as the Medici family, Catherine the Great and Napoleon. Ranging in datefrom the 16th to the 20th centuries, these treasures emanate from the most prestigious aristocratic collections inEurope from Italy to France, England to Russia. Combining exceptional provenance with extraordinarycraftsmanship and the finest materials of their time, they constitute the pinnacle of their collecting category,while also shedding light on the life, passions and tastes of their eminent owners.


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Among highlights, most of which come to the market for the first time, are a magnificent latea magnificent latea magnificent latea magnificent late----RenaissanceRenaissanceRenaissanceRenaissancetable toptable toptable toptable top in-laid with rare antique marbles excavated from Roman Imperial ruins (est. 800,000 - 1,200,000); aaaapair of ivory vases with giltpair of ivory vases with giltpair of ivory vases with giltpair of ivory vases with gilt----bronze mountsbronze mountsbronze mountsbronze mounts, Louis XVI an avid collector (est. 600,000 - 1,000,000); ananananiconic medal cabineticonic medal cabineticonic medal cabineticonic medal cabinet most probably made for Napoleon (est. 300,000 - 500,000) and a superb rock crystala superb rock crystala superb rock crystala superb rock crystalvessel from the first half of the 16vessel from the first half of the 16vessel from the first half of the 16vessel from the first half of the 16 thththth centurycenturycenturycentury with portraits of Pope Clement VII and his believed to beillegitimate son, Alessandro de Medici, Duke of Florence (est. 150,000 - 300,000).

Commenting on the forthcoming sale, Mario Tavella, Deputy ChairmMario Tavella, Deputy ChairmMario Tavella, Deputy ChairmMario Tavella, Deputy Chairman,an,an,an, SothebysSothebysSothebysSothebys EuropeEuropeEuropeEurope,,,, Chairman,Chairman,Chairman,Chairman,Furniture and Decorative ArtsFurniture and Decorative ArtsFurniture and Decorative ArtsFurniture and Decorative Arts said: Each of the magnificent pieces in this sale meets the definition of atreasure. In addition to their desirability relating to the sumptuous materials of which they are composed and thecraftsmanship of the greatest artists of their time, these treasures - formerly the preserve of kings, princes and

popes each carry with them a fascinating story. The very few similar examples known today are preserved in theworlds most important museums. Many of the lots presented in July have been in the same collections forcenturies and the sale represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire them.

A Magnificent Renaissance AntiqueA Magnificent Renaissance AntiqueA Magnificent Renaissance AntiqueA Magnificent Renaissance Antique Marble Table Top, lMarble Table Top, lMarble Table Top, lMarble Table Top, lastastastast qqqquarter of the 16uarter of the 16uarter of the 16uarter of the 16thththth ccccenturyenturyenturyentury

The magnificent late-Renaissance table top leading the sale was previouslyunknown and studied here for the first time. Coming from one ofEngland's most prestigious stately homes, the truly outstanding work of art wasbrought to England from Florence by the Rev. Mr Sanford in 1840 with areputed Medici provenance. The presence of four acorns in its design seems toindicate that the Della Rovere family who ruled the Dukedom of Urbino at thetime, was the patron who commissioned the table. Estimated at 800,000 -1,200,000, this table top is certainly one of the largest and most beautifulgeometrically designed Roman antique marble inlaid commessiever conceived.Table tops of this magnitude were commissioned and collected by the Italianprincely dynasties of the 16th century (Gonzaga, Farnese, Medici etc.), andalmost every European Renaissance court possessed one or more examples ofcommessi table tops produced either in Rome or Florence. The exceptionalquality of the present work echoes in many aspects the beauty of the celebrated Farnese table top, now in theMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the great Roman antique marble inlaid table top, formerly in thecollection of Cardinal Richelieu and today in the Muse du Louvre, Paris (illustrated p.1 and right).

AAAAn Extremely Rn Extremely Rn Extremely Rn Extremely Rareareareare Pair of GiltPair of GiltPair of GiltPair of Gilt----BronzeBronzeBronzeBronze----Mounted Ivory Vases,Mounted Ivory Vases,Mounted Ivory Vases,Mounted Ivory Vases,Louis XVI,Louis XVI,Louis XVI,Louis XVI, circacircacircacirca 1785178517851785

The sale will also be distinguished with a pair of Louis XVI ivory vases

with gilt-bronze mounts made circa 1785, probably for the French royalfamily and possibly with the collaboration of a family member. The craftof ivory-turning was one of the favourite pastimes of the French Royalfamily in the second half of the 18th century. Under the directions ofFranois Voisin to whom this pair of vases is attributed - Louis XVIcommissioned a number of extraordinary objects in turned ivory.Reflecting the supreme perfection attained by the decorative arts in thefinal years of the Ancien Rgime, three of the seven pairs of Louis XVIGilt-Bronze-Mounted Ivory Vases known today are in important publiccollections, including the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg and the

Metropolitan Museum, New York. The other four remain in privatehands, and have all passed through the Rothschild Collections,

including the present two vases which adorned the Rothschild familys Parisian mansion, Htel Lambert forover 150 years (est. 600,000 - 1,000,000, illustrated p.2).


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An Iconic Mdaillier probably commissioned byAn Iconic Mdaillier probably commissioned byAn Iconic Mdaillier probably commissioned byAn Iconic Mdaillier probably commissioned by NapoleNapoleNapoleNapoleon onon onon onon onBaron Dominique Vivant Denons instructions,Baron Dominique Vivant Denons instructions,Baron Dominique Vivant Denons instructions,Baron Dominique Vivant Denons instructions, circacircacircacirca 1810181018101810

Testament to Emperor Napoleon Bonapartes passion for medalsand Egypt, this magnificent and extremely rare medal cabinetrepresents the zenith of the gotdEgypte style in France in the earlyyears of the 19th century. It was probably commissioned directly by

Napoleon or via Dominique Vivant Denon who accompaniedGeneral Bonaparte on his Egyptian campaign in 1798-99 andthereafter became one of the originators of the gotdEgypte style.Known as the Monson cabinet, after Frederick John Monson, 5 thLord Monson who acquired it around 1830, this silver-mounted andinlaid amboyna and mahogany mdaillier by the bniste Jacob-Desmalter and goldsmith Martin Guillaume Biennais is exceptionalin terms of both its conception and execution. Estimated at300,000 - 500,000, it is the only other outstanding example of amedal cabinet in the got dEgypte style, apart from the example

today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, which hasresurfaced after nearly two hundred years (illustrated right).

A Superb RockA Superb RockA Superb RockA Superb Rock Crystal VesselCrystal VesselCrystal VesselCrystal Vessel with Portraits of Pope Clement VII andwith Portraits of Pope Clement VII andwith Portraits of Pope Clement VII andwith Portraits of Pope Clement VII andAlessandro De' Medici, Duke of Florence,Alessandro De' Medici, Duke of Florence,Alessandro De' Medici, Duke of Florence,Alessandro De' Medici, Duke of Florence, circacircacircacirca 1530153015301530----1550155015501550

A lost treasure of the Italian Renaissance, this superb rock crystal vesselcompares with some of the finest hardstone carvings of the first half of the16th century. The presence of the portraits of Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici,Pope Clement VII (1478-1534) and Alessandro De' Medici, Duke ofFlorence (1511-1537) together with their coat of arms indicates that it was animportant commission, celebrating the close relationship between twopowerful members of the Medici dynasty. It is indeed believed that PopeClement VII - who held the papacy in the beginnings of Reformation wasthe real father of Alessandro De' Medici, officially known as the illegitimateson of Lorenzo II de Medici (est. 150,000-355,000, illustrated left).

Other highlights in the sale include aaaa magnificentmagnificentmagnificentmagnificent George III pier tableGeorge III pier tableGeorge III pier tableGeorge III pier table,,,,circacircacircacirca 1772177217721772 almost certainly commissioned by Sir Edwin Lascelles foralmost certainly commissioned by Sir Edwin Lascelles foralmost certainly commissioned by Sir Edwin Lascelles foralmost certainly commissioned by Sir Edwin Lascelles for

Harewood House, YorkshireHarewood House, YorkshireHarewood House, YorkshireHarewood House, Yorkshire fromfromfromfrom Thomas ChippendaleThomas ChippendaleThomas ChippendaleThomas Chippendale (est.300,000 - 500,000, illustrated right) and a pair of Russian glass anda pair of Russian glass anda pair of Russian glass anda pair of Russian glass andhardstonehardstonehardstonehardstone panelspanelspanelspanels,,,, circacircacircacirca 1765176517651765----1770,1770,1770,1770, attributed to the Lomonosovattributed to the Lomonosovattributed to the Lomonosovattributed to the Lomonosovssssglass workshopsglass workshopsglass workshopsglass workshops in Ustin Ustin Ustin Ust----RuditsaRuditsaRuditsaRuditsa which produced coloured glass andmosaic decorations for Catherine the Greats palaces (est. 250,000 -500,000).

The sale will also celebrate the art of clock- and watchmaking with piecesrepresenting the quintessence of the discipline from the early 16th to the20th century. AAAAn extraordinary jewelled gold andn extraordinary jewelled gold andn extraordinary jewelled gold andn extraordinary jewelled gold and enamel automatonenamel automatonenamel automatonenamel automaton

silkworm, also known as the 'Ethiopian Csilkworm, also known as the 'Ethiopian Csilkworm, also known as the 'Ethiopian Csilkworm, also known as the 'Ethiopian Caterpillar'aterpillar'aterpillar'aterpillar',,,, made in Genevamade in Genevamade in Genevamade in Genevacircacircacircacirca 1810181018101810, very probably for the Imperial Court of China. Of the six orseven recorded surviving caterpillars, the present example with itsnaturalistic colouring and spotting is the closest to a live silkworm (est. 150,000 - 200,000, illustrated below).


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Testament to the extraordinary connoisseurship of George DanielsGeorge DanielsGeorge DanielsGeorge Daniels (1926-2011) - considered by many to bethe greatest watchmaker since Abraham Louis Breguet, the sale will present an 18 carat yellow gold pocketan 18 carat yellow gold pocketan 18 carat yellow gold pocketan 18 carat yellow gold pocketchronometerchronometerchronometerchronometer mademademademade by Danielsby Danielsby Danielsby Daniels in 1986.in 1986.in 1986.in 1986. Dr Daniels produced only 25 unique mechanical watches in his lifetime, making almost every component by hand. Reflecting these watches superb craftsmanship andcomplications, this watch was the first to include Daniels revolutionary invention of the Co-Axial escapement the main advance in escapement technology since Thomas Mudges lever escapement of 1754 (est. 300,000 -400,000).

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*Estimates do not include buyers premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyers premium.

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treasures unveiled at sotheby's london - 3 july 2013

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