Very Rare Italian Grand Tour Marble Sculpture of the Eros Di Centocelle

A Marble Sculpture of Flora By Ernesto Gazzeri Carved from statuary marble, the veiled maiden standing on a rocky outcrop on a circular base, her flowing dress billowing in the wind as she holds a bunch of flowers in her right arm; her eyes downcast at the single flower in her left hand. Signed to the base "E. Gazzeri / Studio O Andreoni Roma." Italian, circa 1900 Dimensions: H: 36 in / 91.5 cm W: 13.5 in / 34 cm D: 8 in / 20 cm The subject of the veiled maiden was first introduced in the mid-19th century by Raffaelle Monti for the Duke of Devonshire, also exhibiting at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The choice of a veiled figure continued a trend for sculptors like Ernesto Gazzeri to depict flowing fabrics in marble form, a revival of a practice used by ancient sculptors...

A rare grand tour table Possibly by Cesare Roccheggiani The circular platform of marmore nero, inset with fine micromosaic panels consisting of thousands of coloured glass tesserae; a central roundel depicting The Vatican from St Peter's Square within a malachite border, surrounded by a border including four cartouches in polychrome reserves of Roman views including the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, with the remnants of the Temple of Vespasian; the Temple of Vesta, and the Pantheon, all interspersed and linked by voluminous bouquets of fruit and flowers representing the 4 seasons; the outer stylised border inlaid with deep blue tesserae evocative of exotic Lapis Lazuli. Supported on a finely carved Italian giltwood base, its design incorporating baskets of fruit and floral garlands echoing the 4 seasons theme of the table. Italian, Circa 1875 Other table tops inspired by this design, although not as finely executed, can be found in several Russian collections (which house the greatest micromosaics) including Vorontsov Palace, Muranovo House, as well as the imperial State Hermitage Museum. A tabletop with profuse floral micromosaic work was commissioned by the Belgian Royal family (sold Sotheby's, 2003). The floral garlands, the magnificent quality of the inlay and the use of distinct curved tesserae support the present attribution to Cesare Roccheggiani. According to Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, the world expert on micro mosaics, curved tesserae pieces were used in foliage, grass and animal fur by only the very best mosaicists such as Roccheggiani. Evidence of curved pieces, for instance, is observed in the foreground of the Temple of Vesta cartouche, to name but one observation of the master's hand. The scion of a dynasty of mosaicists, Roccheggiani was perhaps the most successful mosaicist in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. He is doubtless related to Lorenzo Roccheggiani, a late eighteenth-century master mosaicist at the Vatican, whose work included the altarpiece, Crucifixion of St. Peter after Guido Reni. Nicolo Roccheggiani, possibly Lorenzo's son, was also a principle artist at the Vatican, involved in executing the famous tabletop Achilles Shield...

Grand Tour Sculpture of a Lion on Marble Base "can also be used as a paperweight" "nice patina" "some small chips and imperfections to base and lion"

19th century Italian Grand Tour white marble bust of Augustus Caesar. Bust sits on a round white marble pedestal base. Augustus was Julius Caesar's great-nephew, and the first Roman ...