VENICE, CIRCA 1500

The distinct style of Venetian enamels in the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries reflects possible influences from metalwork, Murano cups, Valencian lustre ceramics and blown glass from Southwest Asia. Thin copper was painted with milky white enamel with colors, typically blue, green and red enamel added over the top; gold decoration was added after the firing process. Comparable decoration to the present vessel, such as the large gilded band with flames and fleur-de-lis, foliage patterns and notably- the while scale pattern on the foot, is found on three known examples at the Bargello Museum, Florence (inv. 1183 and 1184 Carrand, and inv. 2 G). Other examples with similar decoration, though without white scales on the foot, are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Musée de Cluny, Paris (formerly collection of Baron and Baroness Salomon de Rothschild); Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg; Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Milan; Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), Vienna; Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin; Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and two known examples in private private collections including lot 1209 sold from Christie’s, Paris from the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé from 23-25 February 2009.