A north Italian large carved and painted wood portrait of the Duke of Chablais and micro-carving frame by Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo, late 18th century

signed to the back in black ink: .onzanigo fecit / duca Chablais; the frame decorated with micro carvings of foliage, vases, bows and arrows, the sun and butterflies

Overall the condition of the wood is good. There is wear and some minor dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is some particular wear to the paint in the highs of the portrait. There are several losses to the micro carving, particularly to the foliage in both left corners, the butterfly in the bottom right corner, the right side of the border of red beading and the border next to it. Other elements have slight partial losses, including a missing ray and some minor restorations to the sun, the left handle of the right vase, and small sections of foliage.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The micro-carvings of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries are certainly among the most marvellous creations ever to have sprung from human hands. While peering through a loupe the artists carving these microscopic works of art wielded their fine tools with absolute mastery, often cutting the wood or ivory as close as a hundredth of a millimetre.

Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo and his large workshop received particularly great acclaim for their miniatures and counted Napoleon and the House of Savoy among its many patrons. The present lot must have been an exceedingly important commission and is a rarity on the art market. The stern sitter in this signed woodcarving is probably Benedetto Maria Maurizio of Savoy, Duke of Chablais (1741-1808), strikingly well-captured in his official regalia. The size of the relief stands out from the precious portraits normally associated with the workshop (see lot 59 and the lots in the back of the catalogue). The likeness is nevertheless mounted in a frame decorated with micro-carvings of the highest quality, completely in keeping with the fanciful vases, flowers and foliage seen in Bonzanigo's other work (lots 60-62).

The most gifted artist among Bonzanigo's many assistants was Francesco Tanadei, a Swiss ivory specialist. Some of the intricate works from his hand in the Monero collection illustrate the originality with which the workshop treated allegorical and religious subjects (lots 55 and 58).

RELATED LITERATURE
C. Bertolotto and V. Villani (eds.), Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo. Intaglio minuto e grande decorazione, exh. cat. Pinacoteca Civica Torino, Venaria, 1989; P.W. Hartmann, Elfenbeinkunst, Vienna, 1999, pp. 91-3 and 132-4; P.W. Hartmann, Mikrobilder. Wunder der Bildhauerkunst, Vienna, 2000