A Capodimonte beaker and a saucer circa 1750

the cup, painted by Giovanni Nani, with a vignette of a pigeon in front of a basket of fruit,  the saucer, painted by Giacomo Caselli, with fruit in a landscape within a gilt foliate border, fleur-de-lys marks in blue, the beaker with incised lower case n (minor chips)

Acquired in 1968

hair crack at the rim of one saucer, tiny chips to rims, chip to footrim of one saucer, wear to gilding, some imporities to glaze
"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."

This matching cup and saucer allows us to focus, by comparison, on the features and personal style of the two main painters of fruit still lifes in the Capodimonte Manufactory.

The cup is the work of Giacomo Nani and shows a dry detailled painting technique, closer to the style of an engraver compared to the freedom of the pointilism miniaturistic technique of fruit on the saucer typical of Giovanni Caselli's hand. For a full discussion on Giacomo Nani see A. Caròla-Perrotti, op. cit., Naples, 1986, p. 109, fig.a,b, nn.58,62,63 a, b.