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LOT 0368
Medieval Archangels and Other Carved Bone Plaques by the Embriachi Workshop
ITALY, FLORENCE, CIRCA 1400 A.D.
19 1/8 in. (1.08 kg total, 48.5 cm wide including stand).
Group of nine carved bone panels from a casket, most with a tapering upper third and openwork vegetation at the top; comprising: young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking right; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe reaching upwards towards a three-horned crown; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a naked sword in her right hand and scales in her left; winged nimbate figure in floor-length robe holding a serpent in each hand, with three faces conjoined; winged angel in floor-length robe sitting on a dais, holding a discoid object with a bifid handle (perhaps a lute); winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a chalice in her right hand and cross in her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe holding a flaming torch in her right hand and grasping the raised hands of a child with her left; winged nimbate angel in floor-length robe with two ewers, pouring liquid from one to the other; young man resting his hands on a teardrop shield, beside a fir-tree, looking left; mounted on a wooden display stand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired Delchar, London, 2011.
Private collection, Suffolk, UK.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12291-221716.
See Tomasi, M., La Bottega degli Embriachi, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, 2001.
FootnotesThe Bottega degli Embriachi was an important producer of artworks carved in bone (and occasionally ivory) in a framework of inlaid wood. It was active in Northern Italy from circa 1375 A.D. until circa 1433. It relocated from Florence to Venice about 1395. The Bottega was especially known for 'marriage caskets' with tall columnar lids, with carved bone figural panels.
Some of the panels here are evidently Christian (the figure with the cross and chalice) while others are perhaps purely symbolic (Justice with sword and scales) and some are simply puzzling (e.g. the three-faced figure with serpents).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0368
Medieval Archangels and Other Carved Bone Plaques by the Embriachi Workshop
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
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Medieval and Later Bronze Artefact Group
Circa 13th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Including buttons, casket key, dress pin, finger rings, buckle frames and other items. 363 grams total, 8-76 mm
Found on various UK sites since 1974. Property of an Essex collector. -
Medieval Iron Spoon with Barley Twist Handle
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A spoon with broad bowl and barley twist handle and face to the finial, mounted on a fabric-covered display board with titling panel. 228 grams total, spoon: 15.7 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Medieval Lead Seal Matrix for Eustace of Of'far
12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Discoid in shape with central eight-petalled flower within a roundel, surrounding '+ S’ EVSTACII DE OF’FAR' seal of Eustace of Of'far legend; accompanied by an impression. 18 grams, 36 mm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
During the medieval period the use of seals on documents, letters and packages became widespread. Lead was cheap to use and easy to engrave, and from the late 12th until the end of 13th century seals of this type, with very conventional central designs, were important possessions amongst the lower classes.
