Thomas Moore
Head of Department
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Lot 107TP
A large Italian late 17th/early 18th century carved giltwood and gilt gesso picture frame or mirror possibly made for or commissioned by the Medici family
18 December 2020, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£8,000 - £12,000
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A large Italian late 17th/early 18th century carved giltwood and gilt gesso picture frame or mirror
possibly made for or commissioned by the Medici family
Probably Florentine, the rectangular bevelled plate encompassed by a high-relief ribbon-wrapped husk trail frame, within an open foliate scrolled, floral pendant and acanthus carved surround, with a shaped cartouche enclosing the Medici family coat of arms, surmounted by a standing putto and acanthus spray cresting, the apron below carved with two addorsed imbricated sear creatures flanking a central fluted and gadrooned urn of flowers, 227cm high x 178cm wide.
Probably Florentine, the rectangular bevelled plate encompassed by a high-relief ribbon-wrapped husk trail frame, within an open foliate scrolled, floral pendant and acanthus carved surround, with a shaped cartouche enclosing the Medici family coat of arms, surmounted by a standing putto and acanthus spray cresting, the apron below carved with two addorsed imbricated sear creatures flanking a central fluted and gadrooned urn of flowers, 227cm high x 178cm wide.
Footnotes
The coat of arms on the offered lot is closely comparable to the distinctive arms of the historically important, immensely wealthy and powerful Medici family. The Medicis alternately ruled Florence themselves, held sway over the actual political leaders or indirectly presided over the Florentine Republic from the early 15th century until the mid-18th century.
The notable difference between these coats of arms is that the present picture frame incorporates only five balls and one fleur-du-lys into its historic badge. Whereas on the vast majority of genuine examples from this period, most likely between 1690 and 1710, the Medici family are signified by a total of six balls with the central one depicting three fleur du lys, as found on the French Royal arms.
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