Italian, Padua, circa 1500

Frank Partridge & Sons Ltd., London, 1939
Sir Henry Price, Wakehurst Place, London
and thence by family descent

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a number of small casting flaws, such as small lacunae, including two in the lid. There are small nicks and scratches throughout. There are two small drill holes in the left side of the casket, and a small drill hole to the underside of the lid. There appears to be some restorations - the right side panel and the bottom panel appear to have been reattached (modern soldering is visible to the interior and underside). There is a slightly open joint at the right front corner. The feet are reattached and one of the feet is slightly loose (there is a fissure running through the soldering). The hinges are replaced and grooves are visible in the lid for the original hinges. The busts in the main side panels may be reattached.
"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 is a particularly fine cast of a casket of which more than thirty versions are known including examples in the Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection. Radcliffe's entry on the version in the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection contains a comprehensive discussion of sources for the design and its old attributions (op. cit.).

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Pope-Hennessy, Renaissance bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress collection, Washington, 1965, pp. 133-134, no. 491, figs. 478-480; W. D. Wixom (ed.), Renaissance bronzes from Ohio collections, exhib. cat. Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, 1975, no. 76; A. Radcliffe et al., The Thyssen-Bornemisza collection. Renaissance and later sculpture, London, 1992, pp. 194-203, no. 31; C. Avery, La Spezia. Museo civico Amedeo Lia. Sculture. Bronzetti, placchette, medaglie, 1998, pp. 104-107, no. 60