19. Red Coral & Gold Cane
Ca. 1850 Single piece Mediterranean coral grown at an angle and carved in the Roman taste with a lion head and the bearded face of a male deity, possibly Hercules or Bacchus. Wide yellow gold collar with twist wire borders studded with individually set round cabochons and scattered filigree embell- ishments, bone washer with red dot inlay, an ebony shaft, and a bone ferrule. The coral displays a dense structure and a uniform, meaty-red color from the desirable material of the deepest Mediterranean waters, and its excessively precise carving detail hints at a Trappani or Torre Del Greco origin. The creator, who could design and build this handle in accordance with Southern Italian aesthetic principles, created enduring beauty. Better than the best, this cane is one of those anticipated and precious Grand Tour trophies. Despite its reduced size, or better due to its reduced size, it surely puts quality in a whole new category, and, endorsed by an antique note and surface wear to the coral, it survived miraculously intact. H. 3 ¼” x 1 ¾”, O.L. 38 ½”
$3000-$4,000
Coral is an organic gemstone like pearl and amber. It is composed of the external skeletal remains of the coral polyp, a tiny tube-shaped sea creature. The premier coral on the market is Mediterranean red coral, harvested in the deep waters of the Mediterranean and long associated with Italian craftsmanship. Often called the tree of the sea, coral was also revered in ancient times as a magical stone united within its three reigns: animal, vegetal, and mineral. Naturalists thought it was a sea plant that petrified when removed from the water, but its marine animal nature was proven only around 1700. Corals were the most sought- after organic materials, following ivory, bone, and amber. Although the manufacture of tortoiseshell items began in Naples, Italy, and later moved to Paris, France, the art of craftsmanship with Mediterranean red coral remained the stronghold of Trapani and Torre Del Greco in Italy, where coral reefs provided abundant raw material. Coral has an ancient history. Legend identifies it as the blood of the Medusa, and Christianity uses it as a symbol of Christ’s blood. If you had been a nobleman in the 18th and 19th centuries, you would have completed your education with a period of European travel. This so-called Grand Tour could last from a few months to many years. Thus, only the wealthy could participate because they had the time and means to travel. By undertaking the Tour, young men learned about the politics, culture, and art of neighboring lands. The primary destination of the Grand Tour was Italy, and, since the 18th and 19th centuries, its heritage of ancient Roman monuments has been revered for its art and culture. The art produced in Italy during the age of the Grand Tour shows close observation of the natural landscape and ancient artifacts, celebrates modern Italian customs, and commemorates the visits of wealthy patrons.
Continental Cane Collection Auction - 43
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