Italian, 17th Century

This fine statuette probably once surmounted a tazza, in the style of the famous Tazze Aldobrandini - a series of twelve highly decorated silver bowls topped by finial figures of emperors. Made in Rome around 1560-1570, they are listed in the 1638 Aldobrandini inventory. They survive in different collections but the Emperor from the Tazza in the Museu Nacional in Lisbon is missing. For further information see Works of Art from the Wernher Collection, Christie’s 5 July 2000.

Our statuette, although probably made in the 17^th century, has mounting pins under the feet very similar in shape to those of the Aldobrandini Ceasars (see J. Hayward, Two Aldobrandini Tazzas, Burlington Magazine, CXII, Oct. 1970, pp.669-73).