Artifacts Gallery

Italian Renaissance works in precious metals and enamel, (1898). Creator: Unknown

Italian Renaissance works in precious metals and enamel, (1898). Fig 1: Crowning of a little altar in the Galerie d'Apollon of the Louvre at Paris. Fig 2: From a vase of lapis lazuli in the Galleria degli Uffizi at Florence. Fig 3: Cover of a crystal cup in enamelled gold, ibid. Figs 4 and 5: Pendants by Benvenuto Cellini. Figs 6-8: Pendants by an unknown master. Figs 9 and 10: Handles on vessels in the Galerie d'Apollon of the Louvre at Paris. Figs 11 and 12: Masks on a shield, ibid. Figs 13 and 14: Foot and upper portion of a water-jug, ibid. Figs 15-19: Borders on vessels in the same collection'. (All Italian work apart from Figs 6-8 which are French). The works in precious metals comprise two kinds: on the one side those objects, which, being made of precious metals, were still decorated in a particular manner with precious stones, pearls and enamel (for instance jewelry); on the other those by which any rare mineral, such as lapis lazuli, onyx, etc., or a beautifully formed glass were made into a vessel or utensil of luxury, by the application of a handle, foot, cover etc. For both kinds, Benvenuto Cellini was the leading master about the middle of the 16th century'. Plate 58 from "The Historic Styles of Ornament" translated from the German of H. Dolmetsch. [B.T. Batford, London, 1898]

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