A pair of Italian carved alabaster double-handled vases and covers, Tuscany, 17th-18th century

The ambitious composition, scale and the quality of the carving of these vases clearly suggests a skilled sculptor with a bold sense of design. These spectacular vases carved from alabaster find a closely related example in the Sala del Palchetto at the Royal Castle of Racconigi in Piedmont, although missing their finials, which are present in the current lot. The room also known as the entrance hall, served as an antechamber leading to the spectacular private apartments of Carlo Alberto and Maria Teresa and to those of the first King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II and Maria Adelaide.

Another pair, equally missing finials, was sold Replica Shoes ’s London, STONE IV, 17^th January 2023, lot 22. These three pairs all share similar profiles and the idea of protruding handles that are visibly attached to the bodies, almost as independent elements, as well as an open carving visible in acanthus motifs on them all. The present pair is the most interesting of the group, with carved bodies and extent finials. Alvar Gonzàlez-Palacios in Arredi e Ornamenti alla Corte di Roma, 2004, pp.110-111 discusses a few vases in this material, where he underlines their rarity compared to vases in harder stones of the same period. 

The scene on one side of a vase is similar to a print by Georg Pencz circa 1546 depicting Joseph being sold to the merchants, from the Story of Joseph. A scene on the other vase is similar to a print also by Georg Pencz showing Joseph lowered into a well by his brothers.

Related Literature

C. Pedrazzini, La farmacia storica ed artistica italiana, Milano, 1935.