Specimen table
manner of Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 - 1836)
Category
Furniture
Date
1800 - 1825
Materials
Rosewood, pine, marble, brass castors, glass top
Measurements
82 x 120 cm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 850351
Summary
A rosewood and specimen marble and marble mosaic inlaid centre table, the table English, circa 1825, the marble top Italian, early 19th century, the micro mosaic in the manner of Giacomo Raffaelli, circa 1800 The circular top inlaid with a central circular micro mosaic panel of doves drinking from a gilt bowl, taken from 'Pliny’s Doves' or 'The Capitoline Doves'. Within four bands of specimen variegated marbles and granites. The frieze with a bead carved edge above a concave triform spreading pedestal and plinth with scrolled applied corner brackets and gadrooned carved detail, raised on scroll feet.
Full description
Giacomo Raffaelli (February 2, 1753 - October 11, 1836) was an Italian mosaicist from Rome These doves, known as the Capitoline Doves or Doves of Pliny, appear frequently as the subject of micromosaics. The image comes from a Roman floor mosaic discovered in 1737 at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, which in turn is believed to be a copy of a lost ancient Greek mosaic at Pergamon. For a very similar work by the artist see V&A - LOAN:GILBERT.194:1, 2-2008 The term 'micro mosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micro mosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. Glass micro mosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today. See NT report on the specimen marbles by R.W. Sanderson 28-08-2003 report no.0210 See also Wilson, J. 'Collecting Mosaics Piece by Piece'. Realities, 1980, no. 11. Gonzalez-Palacios, Alvar and Steffi Röttgen with essays by Steffi Röttgen, Claudia Przyborowski; essays and new catalogue material translated by Alla Theodora Hall. The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1982. 224 p., ill. Cat. no. 28. ISBN 0875871097 Fields, Mary Durland. 'The Phantom Art of Micromosaics'. Miniature Collector, October 1983, no. 39, ill. p. 47. Ravel, Emilio. 'The Traditional Art of Mosaics'. Ulisse 2000, October/November 1986, Anno VI, no. 23, p. 105. (James Weedon 2017)
Provenance
Bequest of Tom Haggard in 1998. Not indigenous to the Ickworth collection.
Makers and roles
manner of Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 - 1836), craftsman
References
Wilson, J. 'Collecting Mosaics Piece by Piece'. Realities, 1980, no.11 The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1982, 224 p., ill. Cat. no. 28