An Italian gold, mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell piqué casket, attributed to Gennaro Sarao, Naples, circa 1730-40
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
of rectangular form with canted corners, the top decorated with a seated figure with a spear and two hounds flanked by chinoiserie figures, with a female figure and drapery amongst clouds with a building in the background, the sides decorated with Cupid within a scrollwork cartouche, the back with Diana amongst cherubs and clouds the whole decorated with scrolls, rocaille, scallopshells and foliage
13cm. high, 24cm wide, 13cm deep; 6in., 9½in., 6in.
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Sotheby’s, London, 6 December 2011, lot 13.
This casket, with its delicately-engraved scrolling foliate decoration in mother-of-pearl on a tortoiseshell ground, is typical of the work produced in Naples. This charming example is a testament to piqué work, a technique which probably originated in Naples at the end of the 16th century, and consists of softening tortoiseshell in boiling water and olive oil and then impressing designs in mother-of-pearl or precious metal. Designs for Neapolitan pieces were often inspired by prints circulated at the time.
Gennaro Sarao (active until 1772), formed one of the small group of Neapolitan craftsmen working in tortoiseshell piqué such as della Torre (Turis) and Straca, who were patronised by Carlo III and his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony, and who either signed their works or are recorded in the Dipendenza della Sommaria accounts. Sarao's name appears three times in the Royal accounts between 1769 and 1770. Sarao is known to have been active at least between 1731 and 1770.
His name appears on a number of similarly inlaid works such as an inkstand at the Wallace Collection (inv.no.W207) and the box sold by Replica Shoes 's New York, Kennedy Onassis collection, 23-26 April 1996, lot 307. A larger unsigned box of similar shape, decoration and dating from the same period was sold by Christie's Milan, 20 November 2002 as lot 546 (116,600 EUR).
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