 |
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
 |
|
|
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
|
|
A wonderful and unusually large set of four late nineteenth century north Italian Baroque style porcelain figures representing the Four Seasons. Each figure wearing diaphanous drapery standing on a shaped base supported on its original square stepped pedestal with inset panels centred by each of the Season’s attributes, Spring with a floral garland in her hair, holding a bowl of flowers in her right hand, a posy in her left and a bouquet of flowers on the base; Summer wearing a corn sheath headdress, holding a scythe in her right hand, a sheaf of corn in her left with a sheaf of corn on the base; Autumn wearing a grape and vine leaf headdress and holding a bowl of grapes in both hands with a bunch of grapes on the base; Winter wrapped up in a tasselled cloak with a fruiting garland on the base North Italian, date circa 1880 Height of figure: 150 cm; height of pedestal: 60 cm. each. Width and depth of pedestal: 54 cm. each. From Antiquity onward the representation of the Four Seasons maintained a remarkable degree of continuity. Thus here as in Pompeian and Roman frescoes and mosaics as well as later paintings and sculptures Spring was represented as a young woman holding flowers, Summer had a sickle and ears or sheaf of corn, Autumn had grapes and vine leaves while Winter was thickly clad against the cold. Complete sets of paintings or sculptures are unfortunately often split up. Thus it is pleasing to find that the present set are not only complete but also of exceptional quality and also retain their original pedestals, on which is featured each the season’s appropriate attributes. The set were made in northern Italy and though the maker is not known, identical figures have also been made in maiolica. Very similar sets were also carved from Vicenza limestone. |