λ AN ITALIAN SICILIAN GILT COPPER, CORAL AND ENAMEL CAPEZZALE

λ AN ITALIAN SICILIAN GILT COPPER, CORAL AND ENAMEL CAPEZZALE

TRAPANI, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY

with a central group of the Madonna and Child wearing gilt crowns with pearl orbs inside a border of coral and enamel flowerheads, the octagonal frame surrounded by foliate scrolls, the reverse engraved with foliate strapwork in a glazed hardwood box frame

49.5 x 34.5cm

Catalogue Note

From the end of the Middle Ages . the city of Trapani on the west coast of Sicily became an important artistic centre due to its coral reefs. A guild of coral workers was established in Trapani in 1628. Coral was prized for both its colour and unusual texture and it was believed to have the power to word off the ‘evil eye’.  One of the most popular objects were  capezzale, a devotional plaque decorated with religious figures set in engraved copper frames with rich coral inlay but other secular items  such as jewellery, caskets and inkstands were made and found their way into grand European collections. For a similar example see Christie’s. Paris, Sculpture et Objets D’Arts Europeens, 16^th June 2015, lot 44.