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76
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Giuseppe SARAO (active 1730–1772), attributed to
See original version (French)
76
-
Giuseppe SARAO (active 1730–1772), attributed to
See original version (French)
Estimate €8,000 - €12,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Giuseppe SARAO (active 1730–1772), attributed to
Small, intricately shaped casket in tortoiseshell inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl, richly decorated with stylised seashells, latticework and an antique-style scene depicting the abduction of a woman, a chariot and putti, revealing two compartments for vials.
18th-century Italian work
Height: 8.7; Width: 15 cm
Note. Originating in Naples in the early 18th century, the art of ‘piqué’ is characterised by boundless imagination and remarkable technical virtuosity. These exceptional creations combine three precious materials: tortoiseshell, gold and mother-of-pearl. Produced between 1720 and 1760, they were intended for discerning connoisseurs and princely courts, notably Charles of Bourbon, who became King of Naples in 1734 and transformed his kingdom into one of the most sumptuous and cosmopolitan courts in Europe. The craftsmen behind these works, known as ‘Tartarugari’, included the most illustrious of them all, Giuseppe Sarao, whose workshop was situated near the royal palace. These master craftsmen excelled both in the art of softening, shaping and assembling tortoiseshell using boiling water and olive oil, and in the delicate inlaying of gold and mother-of-pearl whilst the material remained pliable.
Bibliography.
Antigone Clarke and Joseph O’Kelly, Antique Boxes, Tea Caddies and Society, 1700–1880, 2nd edition, p. 133, fig. 182
Alexis Kugel, *Completement Piqué: The Mad Art of Tortoiseshell at the Court of Naples*, Éditions Monelle Hyot/Galerie J. Kugel, 2018, fig. 10
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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