Sudpsuez Piqué: Gold, Tortoiseshell and Mother-of-Pearl at the Court of Naples by Alexis Kugel
$90.00
Description
Words by Alexis Kugel
The first volume dedicated to the most complete and outstanding collection of Piqué objects ever assembled, a number of which have never been published before.
The volume is dedicated to the art of “Piqué,” created in Naples during the first half of the eighteenth century, a technique that combines remarkable inventiveness, virtuoso skill, and astonishing opulence. These extraordinary objects are made of three precious materials: tortoiseshell, gold, and mother-of-pearl. These pieces were made between 1720 and 1760 for the public and the court, especially for Charles de Bourbon, King of Naples. The authors of these creations were known as tartarugari. Among the most famous tartarugari was Giuseppe Sarao, whose studio was next to the walls of the Royal Palace and who created some of the pieces presented in this book. Also included is an extraordinary table from the Hermitage Museum, considered to be the greatest masterpiece created using the Piqué technique, and still retaining its original legs.
The catalogue will allow readers to discover both the incredible inventiveness of the artists and the extraordinarily keen interest this art sparked among nineteenth-century collectors, including several members of the Rothschild family. The volume presents more than fifty objects, representing the masterpieces of this technique. The objects are introduced by a study of the subject and a text explaining the historical context.
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Sudpsuez A Mechanical Bestiary: Automaton Clocks from the Renaissance by Alexis Kugel
Words by Alexis Kugel
This exhibition, Galerie Kugel’s tenth, continues the tradition of seeking out little-known but fascinating fields in the art world. Renaissance automaton clocks have never been the subject of scientific study, authors of horological reference works devoting at best merely a chapter to them.
These automaton clocks date from 1580 to 1630 and were for the most part created in Augsburg, the main German artistic centre of the time. These wonderful objects combine the arts of sculpture and horology. Rivalling in fantasy and ingenuity, they fascinated the European courts. Today, they can be found in museums holding great princely collections in Vienna, Dresden, Munich. Automaton clocks were also used as diplomatic presents.
The thirty-one automaton clocks presented in this exhibition and book are the largest group ever displayed. While studying them we have made surprising discoveries. For example, the troubling similarities between some of the most extraordinary anonymous clocks displayed here: the Elephant (cat. 3), the large Pacing Lion and his Tamer (cat. 7), the large Seated Lion (cat. 9), and the Chariot of Bacchus (cat. 11), which strongly argue for their having been produced in the same workshop. Among all the clocks published in this book, only one comes from Nuremberg (cat. 21). The chronological presentation that we chose also led us to rethink the conventional dating of certain pieces.
The title “Mechanical Bestiary” is somewhat restrictive, for among the clocks presented here, a quarter represent human figures without animals, and certain pieces possess no mechanical movements. Yet the thirty-one pieces assembled here clearly form a homogeneous and coherent whole. All were created for the same reason: to amuse and delight the collectors of their time.
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With its joyful splatter pattern of blue, green, red, and yellow, our Arlecchino dinner plate brings a burst of cheerful chic to any tabletop. Crafted exclusively in Italy, the Arlecchino’s charm fits perfectly alongside an eclectic assortment of characterful tableware and glasses. We especially love serving them atop our “Rinascimento” tablecloths.
Sudpsuez D’Ascoli Timur Napkins (Set of 4)
Trompe L'Oeil Collection
Our Timur Napkin is luxuriously simple with its 100% hand spun, hand woven cotton left natural except for a delicate four-sided border printed and embroidered in jewel colors. Add them to your dinner table to create an elegant setting, whether it be a formal dinner or weekend luncheon.
The D'Ascoli x Trompe L’Oeil collection is inspired by Renzo Mongiardino and the home he created in Milan for the mother of founder Martina Mondadori. The Master adored “trompe l’oeil,” the visual technique of fooling the eye with decorative painting that creates the illusion of different materials. Two themes Mongiardino returned to again and again were Marquetry - inlaid wood veneers, and Pietra Dura - inlaid stones. For Cabana, D’Ascoli has created a sumptuous layering of faux bois marquetry and faux marbre pietra dura effects printed on linen and on hand-spun, hand-woven cotton with hand embroidery.
Lead Time
3-4 Weeks
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