Italian, Doccia factory, circa 1745

of rectangular form, decorated a bassorilievo istoriato with Niobe and her children slaughtered by the arrows of Apollo and Artemis, the moulded scene brightly painted in colours and with a background landscape by Carl Anreiter, signed, beside a further indistinct scratched CA monogram

The Roberto Bondi collection, Florence;
with Lukacs Donath, Rome;
the Questa Collection, sold Sotheby's Milan, 21st March 2005, lot 290;
with Justin Raccanello, London

R. Bondi, Tre rari bassorilievi, in Faenza IV, 1961, pp. 84-88;
L. Ginori Lisci, La Porcellana di Doccia, Milan, 1963, Tav. XIII;
A. Mottola Molfino, L'Arte della Porcellana in Italia, Milan, 1976, pl. LVI;
A. Biancalana, Porcellane e maioliche a Doccia, la Fabbrica dei Marchesi Ginori, I primi 100 anni, Florence, 2009, p. 112, 121-130

A Doccia Ginori factory plaque depicting The Massacre of the Niobids painted by Carl Anreiter, circa 1745 The plaque has been fragmented into three sections and repaired.
"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 plaque is after a model by Antonio Selvi (1679-1753), after the composition by Guglielmo della Porta (active 1534-1572). Roberti Bondi suggests in his article, op. cit., that this plaque may have been the prototype for this sort of decoration on low relief plaques. The present plaque is larger than other known versions, with the addition of further figures at either side. A lead plaque depicting this scene is in the collection of the Museo Richard-Ginori della Manifattura di Doccia, Sesto Fiorentino, illustrated by Kräftner (op. cit., p. 277, no. 96).

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Biancalana, 'Carl Wendelin Anreiter von Ziernfeld and Giorgio delle Torri', and A, d'Agliano, 'Many Hands - the art of Johann Carl Wendelin Anreiter von Ziernfeld and his sons,' J. Kräftner (ed.) Baroque Luxury Porcelain, exh. catalogue, Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna, 2005, pp. 95-127; . Kräftner (ed.) Baroque Luxury Porcelain, exh. catalogue, Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna, 2005, p. 277, no. 96