A pair of Italian carved giltwood blue, green and grey lacquered faux marble pedestals, Genoese circa 1785

each with an inset circular rouge griotte marble top within a pierced giltwood undulating border supported on the back of an eagle with a ribbon-tied floral swag in its beak on a fluted column with an egg and dart border above scrolling foliage on a stepped octagonal base, decorated to simulate lapis lazuli and verde antico marble

In overall good conserved condition. A very rare model.There are some very miniscule areas of infill to both marble tops but these have been well executed and are hardly noticeable. The carving is a very good quality especially to the eagle and floral garlands in their beaks. There are some very minor hairline cracks generally in the carving which are hardly noticeable and commensurate with age and normal usage and it appears that the pierced border around the top has some old very minor restorations which have been very well executed. There are some old very minor chips to the gilding on the eagle and generally these can be left or touched up. The underside of each wooden support of the top appears to have been later ebonised and the iron rod attaching the top to the base has been touched up with gilt paint. There are some very old woodworm holes in the eagles claws of one but this would appear to be no longer active.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle, Il Mobile neoclassico in Italia, Arredi e Decorazioi d'interni dal 1775 al 1800, Milan, 2005, pp 388-389, no. 91.

This very rare pair of pedestals are interesting both in terms of their design which is very neo-classical and architectural in the form of a fluted column and the superb quality of the carving especially of the eagles and floral garlands. The decoration also simulates lapis lazuli and verde antico marble.The pedestals are related to a pair of tripods in giltwood draped with similarly carved foliate garlands, egg-and-dart border at the top and laurel leaves and painted to simulate porphyry and marble on the central stem and base respectively, in the Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Spinola di Pellecceria, Genova, illustrated by Colle op. cit., p. 389.The illustrated tripod was made around 1785, when Paolo Francesco Spinola decided to renovate the Palazzo di Pellicceria. Paolo was the last owner in the branch of the San Luca family and died in 1824. These pedestals are inspired by a French prototype for example, a design for pedestals, by Jean-Charles Delafosse (1734-1789), circa 1768, Paris.