Ivory statue of a wine merchant or young winemaker - Lot 207

Lot 207
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Estimation :
3000 - 6000 EUR
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Ivory statue of a wine merchant or young winemaker - Lot 207
Ivory statue of a wine merchant or young winemaker Very fine carving of the figure, particularly the face and costume, with inlays of old-cut red and blue semi-precious stones. The hood is enameled inside and out, as is the lid, which features pearls imitating vines and chasing around the rim The merchant's basket and staff are also crafted in metal with gems (notably pearl, carnelian and lapis) to imitate grapes and fruit. The character's hat is in green-enameled metal. Finally, the base is in chased and enameled metal decorated with fruit, flowers and interlacing on a square lapis lazuli base inlaid with stones. Austrian work from Vienna - circa 1870-1890 H. 24 cm Weight : 609 g Object containing ivory, CIC obtained on XXXXXX. A re-export document is required for all items leaving the EU, at the buyer's expense. Historical note: From the 18th century onwards, southern Germany, northern Austria and eastern Switzerland saw the development of a particular ivory craft: the creation of figures. The majority of these creations are of great finesse, depicting traditional characters or folklore. Production was extremely successful throughout Europe, supplying the cabinets of curiosity, display cases and tables of wealthy families. Over time, craftsmen sought to differentiate themselves from one another. Often, the base or type of sculpture was used to differentiate sculptors. From the 1870s onwards, figures inlaid with jewels began to appear, in the taste of Renaissance or Indian ivories. This innovation was the work of an as yet unknown artist who produced a variety of merchant and market figures in Vienna between 1870 and 1890. At present, we can find around twenty figures depicting wine merchants, watchmakers, burgomasters, music players, shopkeepers, night watchmen, etc. The particularity of this production is the inlaying of fine stones in the ivory, giving the sculpture an air close to the Pierrot character, very fashionable at the end of the 19th century. There are three winegrower models by the same artist, and one in Lisbon's Medeiros Museum.
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