Lot Details
Description
Shaped body with a sinuous outline, entirely carved in relief with a rich ornamental program in a late Renaissance / early Baroque taste: opposing volutes, phytomorphic elements, cartouches, and grotesque motifs. At the center stand nude anthropomorphic figures, likely allegorical or mythological, set within a complex symmetrical composition; above is an additional fully modeled figure in the round. At the sides, hybrid creatures and stylized zoomorphic motifs unfold. On the reverse, the relief decoration is centered on a highly expressive grotesque mask with exaggerated features: a frontal face with gaping mouth, hollowed eyes, and pronounced brow ridges. The face is framed by broad foliate volutes and strapwork motifs that extend symmetrically to either side, clearly recalling the Mannerist decorative repertoire. A similar pair of Tuscan bellows is preserved in the Museo Camillo Leone (inv. no. 4314). Another example, described as French with an Italian nozzle, is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 64.101.1226). A third related example, carved in fruitwood, was sold at Bonhams, London, 23 September - 7 October 2025, lot 113). Finally, a comparable bellows is held in the Musei Civici, Castello Sforzesco, Milan (see E. Colle, no. 824).
Dimensions
HxLxD 30,12in x 12,99in x 3,94in
Provenience
Sotheby's Milan, From the Collections of a Roman Lady. Important Old Master Paintings, Furniture and Works of Art, 18 October 2006, lot. 20.
Private collection
Condition
Signs of use, surface oxidation, and minor losses.
Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers must understand that any statement made by Coradi Rare Finds is merely a subjective opinion.
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