Originally this piece would have been elaborately painted. It was recovered from a sunken ship after approximately 200 years on the sea floor. The result is this wonderful carving with only hints of the original paint having been washed and softened by the sea; overall even wear; some chipping; small areas of pigment; now on a later stand
with arching openwork top above a square-form body tapering to a foliate pendant knob; decorated overall with later porcelain flower heads which can be easily removed; good antique condition; rewired with 4 standard sockets; later solid brass bobeches
signed on bottom 'Giovanni Mollica'; in 1842, Giovanni founded his ceramic workshop in Naples, Italy. His sons Ciro, Achille and Alexander took over the family business, continuing it until the end of the 19th century; excellent condition with only minor overall wear to surface; a truly spectacular piece
The exuberantly carved Corinthian capital with faux marble top; would make a great side table with a piece of glass or as is; good solid condition with overall wear; remnants of label from Tony Duquette Collections sale, Christie's Auction House, Los Angeles, 2001, image can be seen in the book "Tony Duquette" by Wendy Goodman and Hutton Wilkinson, pg. 216
each urn with egg-and-dart rim above a waisted neck over a lobed body raised on a splayed base; the urn resting on a separate graduated square plinth; good condition with nice weathered patina
each large scaled triangular element of scrolling anthemions composed of a well-patinated verdigris copper; some repaired seams and indentations; with later shelves to top.
each depicting an etruscan urn with detail images and inscriptions written below; from the book 'Picturae Etruscorum in Vasculis' by Giovanni Battista Passeri; later French mattes and giltwood frames; excellent condition.
