Property from an Important European Collection
Royal: an Italian Renaissance-style silver-gilt, enameled, blue agate and gem-set marriage casket, Riccardo Politi, Milan, dated 1938
Lot Closed
December 5, 03:51 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 EUR
We may charge or debit your saved payment method subject to the terms set out in our Conditions of Business for Buyers.
Read more.Lot Details
Description
The domed scaled lid dated on top A.D. XXVIII FEBRUARII MCMXXXVIII, with the enameled crest and motto of the House of Savoy and a cardinal's crest with motto at the opposite side, enclosing a glazed interior with a selection of relics of various saints on a red fabric ground, the frieze of the breakfront casket cast with text FERDINANDO A SAB GENUA DUCI ET MARIA ALOYSIA ALLIAGA EX COM RICALDONEN FAUTISSIMA QUAQUE APRECATUR M CARD FOSSATI ARCHIEPS TAURINEX, the chamfered corners mounted with standing angels, allegorical for the Virtues, all sides inset with blue agate panels, raised on a marble base, the right hand side with engraved signature Comm. R. Politi Milano.fece, inside marked with lozenge 228 Mi hallmark
18.5cm, 7¼in. high,
This casket was commissioned by Cardinal Fossati on occasion of the marriage of Prince Ferdinando of Savoy, 3rd Duke of Genoa (1884-1963) with Maria Luisa Alliaga Gandolfi dei conti di Ricaldone (1899 -1986) in Turin on 28 February 1938.
Maurilio Fossati, O.SS.G.C.N., (1876-1965) was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal who served as Archbishop of Turin from 1930 until his death and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1933. During World War II, the Cardinal was an outspoken opponent of fascism, and asked that Catholics take Jewish refugees and Gypsies into their homes. Fossati convinced the German Army in its 1945 retreat to avoid Turin, thus sparing the city from devastation.
The Milanese firm of Politi, also known under the name of ‘Laboratorio Arte Sacra Politi’, specialized in the manufactory of precious religious objects.