Lot 28
A very rare Cozzi topographical saucer, circa 1765-70
Amended
7 December 2011, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £3,750 inc. premium
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A very rare Cozzi topographical saucer, circa 1765-70
Depicting an Allegorical figure of the Venetian Republic seated on a rockwork base, her feet resting on a large shell before a birds eye view of the Piazza San Marco in Venice from the Molo della Piazetta her right arm raised, holding a palm twig, a white dove reaching for the twig, over her left shoulder the Campanile and the Palazzo Ducale, with on the western column the figure of Saint Theodore, and on the eastern column the Lion of St Mark, three traditional gondolas in the water, over her right shoulder a fleet of large trade ships, all surrounded by a gilt band under a scrollwork cartouche with floral wreathes held by allegorical figures on left and right, above a small putto seated on a cloud, The whole scene supported by a gold shell with the initials 'G.M.', the rim edged in gold, 11.7cm, anchor mark in red and incised II to the back of the saucer (two small related chips to the footrim)
Footnotes
A pair of Cozzi Vases with allegorical figures of Neptune and the Republic of Venice, now in the Getty Museum, Los Angeles (88.DE.9), is inscribed and dated 1769. The scenes on these vases, as on this saucer, celebrate the wealth and sovereignty of the Venetian Republic. One vase also displays the allegorical figure of Venice with a recumbent lion. The decoration of the saucer is highly reminiscent of the decoration found on a saucer illustrated by Arthur Lane 1954, cat.no. 22a. This piece, from the collection of Simon and Enid Goldblatt, is now in the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.
Saleroom notices
Please note that the correct provenance for this piece should read: Simon Goldblatt Collection, sold at Sotheby's, May 1-2nd 1956, lot 47. Bonhams would like to thank Howard Coutts for his kind assistance in identifying this provenance.