Over 900 lots to constitute an unprecedented panorama of four centuries of refined Italian taste are distributed over the four-days sales of Furniture and Old Master Paintings organized by Il Ponte Casa d'Aste on the 11, 12, 13 and 14 October 2022 at Palazzo Crivelli.
It is the prestigious Modenese collection that acts like an "entrè" to an intense week of aution. A set that represents just a part of a catalogue structured around a thicky proposal of furniture, art objects and furnishings from other important private collections: a secrétaire by Giuseppe Maggiolini, richly inlaid in walnut and fir (lot 423, estimate € 52,000 - 54,000), an ancient wooden coin cabinet with tortoiseshell profiles and painted glass inserts (lot 398, estimate € 4,200 - 4,400), a carved high-relief by a Spanish sculptor from the circle of Juan Martínez Montañés representing Saint John the Baptist in prison visited by two disciples (lot 418, estimate € 22,000 - 25,000).
Lot 423 Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738 - 1814)
A various woods veneered, threaded and inlaid secretaire (cm 145x100x41)
Estimate € 52,000 - 54,000
Lot 418 Spanish sculptor, Seville (?)
in the circle of Juan Martínez Montañés (Alcalá la Real 1568 - Seville 1649),
late 16th-early 17th century "St. John the Baptist in prison visited by two disciples"
high relief consisting of two carved, painted and gilded wooden panels, from a retable (cm 200x200 ca.)
Estimate € 22,000 - 25,000
Still in the sculpture's context a marble replica of the Roman "Fontana della Navicella" stands out, executed in the manner of Andrea Sansovino (lot 404, estimate € 3,500 - 4,000), together with a couple of philosophers in terracotta by an Emilian artist from the circle of Giuseppe Maria Mazza (lot 382, estimate € 1,000 - 1,200).
In the porcelain and ceramic section are notable various apothecary albarelli, bowls, and bottles produced in Venice in the famous 16th-century furnace of Mastro Domenico (lot 349, estimate € 2,000 - 2,200) and an 18th-century Ginori coffee maker with architectural whims (lot 346, estimate € 800 - 900).
Lot 404 Central Italian sculptor, probably Rome, in the manner of Andrea Sansovino, mid-16th century (?)
Marble basin in the shape of a Roman galley with the ventures of Pope Leo X (cm 122x30x36) on a non-coeval base (cm 80x100x40)
Reproduction of the "Fountain of the Navicella" at Santa Maria in Domnica in Rome,
commissioned by Pope Leo X Medici in 1518 from Andrea Sansovino
Estimate € 3,500 - 4,000
Lot 349 Venice manufacture, 1560 ca.
Mastro Domenico workshop. Polychrome majolica jug with female profile (h. cm 23)
Estimate € 2,000 - 2,200
In the silver section there is no lack of sumptuous tableware and exceptional pieces such as the double-handled tureen with London hallmarks by the silversmith Benjamin Smith II (lot 371, € 4,500 - 5,000), a peculiar Japonisme style's silver centerpiece of the Milanese silversmith Ilario Pradella (lot 351, estimate € 1,200 - 1,400) and a conspicuous presence of Russian icons from the 19th century, among which the table with silver Riza and enamels dedicated to the blessing Saint Nicholas attributed to Pavel Ovchinnikov (lot 410, estimate € 6,000 - 7,000).
The nucleus based on table clocks presents a range of sophisticated specimens, including a rare 17th-century automaton by the famous Augusta builder Johann Ott Halleicher inspired by the winged Lion of St. Mark (lot 420, estimate € 6,000 - 7,000).
Lot 371 A silver double-handled tureen decorated with leaf motifs and shell valves.
Engraved noble coat of arms with motto "Sans peur et sans reproche".
London, 1821. Silversmith Benjamin Smith II (L. cm 36) (g 4200)
Estimate € 4,500 - 5,000
Lot 410 Pavel Ovchinnikov (1830-1888) (attr) Oil-on-board icon depicting
St. Nicholas blessing, with silver and silver-gilt riza decorated with polychrome enamels (cm 30x36)
Provenance: Mazzoleni antichità, Milan. Label at the back with attribution to Sikacev.
Estimate € 6,000 - 7,000
Lot 420 Johann Ott Halleicher (Augusta 1612 - 1689)
Important gilt brass table clock consisting of a base surmounted by an automaton in the form of a winged lion.
Three-train movement with hour and quarters chime on bells (missing)
and rod escapement. Germany (Augsburg), mid-17th century (cm 20x23x11 cm)
Estimate € 6,000 - 7,000
Curiosity and peculiarity are the main features of the Islamic art offered in historica: a Yatagan ceremonial dagger (lot 563, estimate € 900 - 1,000) and a warrior belt (lot 547, estimate € 1,000 - 1,200) stands out, both from the Ottoman period.
In this review also the carpets have a prominent space with a French Aubusson example from the mid-19th century (lot 734, estimate 3,300 - 3,500) and a beautiful Indian Amritzar (lot 342, estimate € 900 - 1,000).
In the catalogue is a must-see repertoire of stringed instruments and keyboards with a table fortepiano by Johann Fritz from the second decade of the 19th century (lot 772, estimate € 4,000 - 5,000), a guitar by Vicenza Giacinto Santagiuliana from 1837 (lot 774, estimate € 1,700 - 2,000) and a viola by Gabriele Natali from 1987 (lot 776, estimate € 4,500 - 5,500).
Lot 547 Important silver belt of the Ottoman Empire, last quarter of the 18th century (g 1100) (cm 57x12)
Estimate € 1,000 - 1,200
Lot 734 Aubusson carpet, France, mid-19th century (cm 305x282)
Estimate € 3,300 - 3,500
Lotto 772 Johann Fritz Wien, Fortepiano a tavolo (carré)
costruito nel secondo decennio del XIX Secolo con cassa impiallacciata in noce di forma rettangolare e smussata agli angoli,
sorretta da gambe a tronco di piramide rovesciata.
Stima € 4.000 - 5.000
Lot 776 A viola by Gabriele Natali, Pistoia 1987
One-piece maple back with soft curl descending towards right,
varnish of gilt-orange colour, in excellent condition,
label " GABRIELE NATALI /FECE A PISTOIA / L’ANNO 1987
Estimate € 4,500 - 5,500
Turning to ancient paintings we find the names of artists who enjoy the appreciation of collectors from all over the world. Genoese works of the 17th century - an area in which the department has particularly distinguished itself at the national level, always offering high pictorial quality and multiple publications - such as that one by Bartolomeo Guidobono Sacra Famiglia and San Giovannino (lot 425, estimate € 16,000 - 17,000), Vincent Malò Stoning of Santo Stefano (lot 417, estimate € 12,000 - 15,000) and Simone Barabino Martirio di San Lorenzo (lot 419, estimate € 8,500 - 9,000).
From the Lombard 17th century is the magnificent canvas depicting Christ and the adulteress by Giuseppe Nuvolone (lot 413, estimate € 15,000 - 18,000), while for the landscape two certain masterpieces by Domenico Pecchio (lot 403, estimate € 7,000 - 8,000).
Emblematic of typically international portraiture are both a Virile portrait by a prodigious 16th-century Northern European Master (lot 424, estimate € 18,000 - 20,000) and the Portrait of Giuseppe Cristiano Gabaleone, Count of Salmour, signed and dated 1791 by Jacques Sablet (lot 426, estimate € 10,000 - 12,000).
To end this vast tribute on ancient arts it’s a session entirely dedicated to a collection of over 150 lots inspired by the animal and naturalistic world, which includes books, paintings, sculptures, table sets, and various objects (from lot 778 to 933).
Lot 425 Bartolomeo Guidobono
Holy Family with Saint John
Oil on copper, 27x21.5 cm.
Estimate € 16,000 - 17,000
Lot 417 Vincent Malò
Stoning of Saint Stephen
Oil on canvas, 143x115 cm
Estimate € 12,000 - 15,000
Lot 413 Giuseppe Nuvolone
Christ and the Adulteress
Oil on canvas, 125x108 cm
Estimate € 15,000 - 18,000
Lot 424 "North European master,
16th century Portrait of a man
Oil on panel, 40.5x28 cm.
Estimate € 18,000 - 20,000