Lot 820
820
The Earl and Countess of Rosebery's Wedding Present A PAIR OF DRESDEN CARVED IVORY FIGURES REPRESENTING SPRING AND AUTUMN
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The Earl and Countess of Rosebery's Wedding Present A PAIR OF DRESDEN CARVED IVORY FIGURES REPRESENTING SPRING AND AUTUMN

18TH CENTURY

Details
The Earl and Countess of Rosebery's Wedding Present
A PAIR OF DRESDEN CARVED IVORY FIGURES REPRESENTING SPRING AND AUTUMN
18TH CENTURY
Each on integrally carved rectangular plinth and a contemporary square-based amber veneered moulded pedestal; a repair to Spring's left hand and minor loss to Autumn's left hand; each figure embellished with later multi-coloured glass pastes, some of which are now lacking; minor losses to the bases; general minor repairs.
4 in. (10.2 cm.) high; 6¾ in. (17.1 cm.) high, overall (2)
Provenance
Given to to H.R.H. The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon on the occasion of her marriage to Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon on 6 May 1960 by The Earl and Countess of Rosebery, Mentmore, Leighton-Buzzard, Beds.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The two ivory figures were recorded in the Amber Room at Mentmore, Buckinghamshire in 1934 and listed in Mentmore, Volume II, page 84, number 30 and 32, attributed to Dinglinger.
Number 31 was sold at Mentmore, Sotheby's house sale, 18th - 23rd May 1977, lot 1892.

The statuettes of flower-wreathed Flora and a vine-wreathed bacchante personifying the Seasons of Spring and Autumn, which are richly jewelled in Eastern fashion, formed part of the famed objets d'art collection displayed in the 'Amber' room created by Baron Mayer Amschel de Rothschild (d.1870) at Mentmore, Buckinghamshire. Together with the companion Summer figure of Ceres, they were prized as the work of Augustus the Strong's Dresden-based goldsmith Johann Melchior Dinglinger (d.1731) (Mentmore Catalogue, 1934, Vol. II, p.84, nos. 30-32). Related Seasons by the Dieppe sculptor Jean-Antoine Belleteste (d.1811) are illustrated F. St. Aubyn (ed), vory, London, 1987 (p.117).

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