A pair of Italian bronze saluting cannons, Venice, late 16th or 17th century, one with inscription in relief "DE CHAPEL L***S"
Lot Closed
April 29, 02:12 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 10,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A pair of Italian bronze saluting cannons,
Venice, late 16th or 17th century, one with inscription in relief "DE CHAPEL L***S"
cast with decorations in relief, depicting the armed figure of Mars, Victory with palm and laurel wreath, and Peace holding aloft an olive branch and standing upon a trophy of arms; now mounted on a later cross-shaped platform white marble and patinated bases with C-scrolls, lion masks joined by drapery, formerly fitted as lamps
82cm. high, 26cm. wide; 2ft. 8¼in., 10¼in.
The present cannon featuring the figures of Mars, Victory and Peace in the manner of the French artist Jean Goujon (active c.1540-68) belongs to a group of similar examples recorded in public and private collections:
- one cannon, dated from circa 1580, is at the Wallace Collection, London (inv.no. A1243);
- an example in the Kingston-upon-Hull Museum is signed in relief, in place of the oval shield, DE / CHAPEL / LENNE;
- one cannon in the Musée de Cluny (no. 766);
- a pair complete with carriages were in the collection of the Baron de Cosson and were traditionally supposed to have been a present to Queen Elizabeth;
- one cannon was in the collection of the Earl of Londesbourgh;
- another was sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 December 1939, lot 31;
- a pair, now in an American private collection, was in the hands of the H. Ricketts in 1973;
- one, catalogued as from the 19th century, sold Thomas del Mar, 10 December 2008, lot 322;
- another example was at Hever Castle (sold Sotheby's 1983, lot 194, repr. in cat.).
RELATED LITERATURE
Mann, James G., Wallace Collection Catalogues: European Arms and Armour Volume II, London: The Wallace Collection, 1962.
Norman, A. V. B., Wallace Collection Catalogues: European Arms and Armour Supplement, London: The Trustees of the Wallace Collection, 1986.