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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 Buckle Collection
14th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Including mainly double-loop and D-framed types; many of these objects are published in the Detector Finds book series. 506 grams total, 17-77 mm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Medieval and Later Lead Artefact Collection
Circa 14th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
Including bag seals, janiform figure's head, palm guard and other items; many of these objects are published in the Detector Finds book series. 503 grams total, 20-81 mm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Framed Medieval Lead Seal Matrix of Sare Daughter of Sare
13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Vesica-shaped and fitted with attachment loop, legend in Latin script around a stylised bird, reading 'S. SARE FIL.SARE' i.e. 'SEAL OF SARE DAUGHTER OF SARE', a stylised flower to the reverse. 136 grams, 17 x 13 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
The lady of a wealthy family of merchants would have had her own small seal used for sealing her private letters, and the design of the matrix would have reflected this. On the vesica seals the legend around the border usually started at 12 o'clock position with a cross or a star (like here) and the word sigillum (seal) often indicated only by the letter S. Then, normally, the name of the owner and the one of the parent, after the letter F. (FILIUS or FILIA = son or daughter).
