Italian 19th-Century Carved Marble Wellhead

View Similar Items

19th Century Italian Carved Marble Column Capital

19th Century Italian Marble Well Head

French 18/19th Century, Carved White Marble Neoclassical Capital

Venetian 16th Century Wellhead

Early 19th Century Italian Marble Fountain

Antique White Carrara Marble Fireplace, Carved Caryatids, 19th Century Italy

19th Century Italian Carved Marble Architectural Frieze Sculpture of Caesar

Mantle Fireplace in White Carrara Marble, Richly Carved, 19th Century Italy

Pair of Early 19th Century Carved Marble Columns

Late 19th Century French Hand Carved Marble Element

Antique Fireplace Mantle White Carrara Marble, Richly Carved, 19th Century Italy

White marble fireplace, richly carved shells and flowers, 19th century Italy

About the Item

A carved marble puteal (wellhead) with relief frieze depicting a Dionysian (or, in Roman terminology, Bacchic) procession, the taller, more narrow form of the piece reminiscent of Roman wellheads of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, the procession showing Hermes identified by his winged helmet and winged sandals, delivering the baby Dionysus the god of wine, festivity, and fertility, to one of the nymphs of Nysa, who raised him, the nymph displaying a panther pelt on her lap, an animal often associated with the god, the frieze further depicting Dionysus at two later stages of life--one as a youth with canine companion, the young god with head thrown back in revelry and holding a thyrsus, the pinecone-topped staff (a Dionysian attribute), and the last depiction of Dionysus being a bearded older man, also holding a thyrsus and leaning on a boulder for balance, being in a drunken state represented by the discarded wine amphora at his feet--with the procession completed by a flute-blowing celebrant and a woman tapping on the elder Dionysus’ shoulder, perhaps representing his wife, Ariadne. The Dionysian processional frieze shown here is a replica of one seen on an Antique Greek wellhead in the Vatican Museum collection. The present wellhead, though dating to the mid-19th century, is unusual in that it displays pointed chisel marks on the interior and drill holes in the hair and beards of the figures-- both features associated with period Roman wellheads. The fragments of lead seen in holes on the rim of the piece indicates that it once held a metal overthrow, and the more-recent iron liner points to it’s having been used as a planter previously.

Dimensions:
Height: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)Diameter: 34 in (86.36 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Carved
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1850
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Weathered and sugared surface overall. 12-in.stable hairline crack over top edge and down outside. Old loss on top outside edge and on bottom edge. Cleaned.
Seller Location:
Katonah, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: 065811stDibs: LU864441072292

More From This Seller

View All

19th Century French Cast-iron Fountain

Located in Katonah, NY

A two-tier cast-iron fountain with two fountain bowls, the lower bowl larger, each bowl with scalloped edge and cherub masks on the underside, the smaller bowl surmounted by a founta...

Category

Antique 1870s French Neoclassical Revival Fountains

Materials

Iron

19th Century French Cast-iron Fountain

$32,000

Pair of 19th-century cast-iron twig seats marked by maker

By Janes Beebe & Co

Located in Katonah, NY

A rare pair of cast-iron seats in the “Twig” pattern, marked “JANES, BEEBE & CO.”, cast between 1847-1859. 33.5 ins. high, 34.5 ins. wide, 20 ins. deep. Janes, Beebe & Co. was one o...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Rustic Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Iron

Pair of 19th-century cast-iron twig seats marked by maker

$13,500 / set

Carved Marble Figure of a Faun, Inspired by the Antique Original

Located in Katonah, NY

A carved marble figure of a faun playing the flute, the figure’s head is tilted to meet the flute in playing position, with left leg crossed in front of the right leg, and with left ...

Category

Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Statues

Materials

Marble

Carved Marble Figure of a Faun, Inspired by the Antique Original

$39,500

Pair of White Marble Urns on Tall White Marble Pedestals

Located in Katonah, NY

A pair of carved marble urns, each with double-looped handles, the urn body with portrait busts and grapevines, the motifs and overall shape of the urns inspired by the Warwick Vase,...

Category

20th Century Chinese Neoclassical Urns

Materials

Marble

Pair of White Marble Urns on Tall White Marble Pedestals

$18,500 / set

A Decorative Plaque of a Gardener in 17th-century Dress

Located in Katonah, NY

A composition stone wall plaque with arched top depicting the botanist and gardener, John Tradescant the Younger, standing in 17th-century dress with...

Category

Early 2000s English Tudor Garden Ornaments

Materials

Cast Stone

A Decorative Plaque of a Gardener in 17th-century Dress

$750

Pair of Carved Brownstone Folk Art Lions from Connecticut

Located in Katonah, NY

A rare pair of carved brownstone American Folk Art lions, in recumbent pose with full manes and tails curled to opposing sides, their expressive...

Category

Antique 1890s American Folk Art Statues

Materials

Stone

Pair of Carved Brownstone Folk Art Lions from Connecticut

$63,600 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Carved Marble Column Capital

$4,550

19th Century Italian Marble Well Head

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Very rare 19th c. Italian Marble Well Head signed by Professor Polizi, Firenze, Italy

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Marble Well Head

$135,000

French 18/19th Century, Carved White Marble Neoclassical Capital

Located in Buisson, FR

Beautiful hand-carved white marble capital . Beautiful weathered white marble . France circa 1780- 1820 Weathered H:17cm W:18cm D:18cm

Category

Antique 18th Century French Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble

French 18/19th Century, Carved White Marble Neoclassical Capital

$800 Sale Price

47% Off

Venetian 16th Century Wellhead

Located in Zedelgem, BE

16th century wellhead from Venice, rare find, museum quality that needs a bit of restoration, done by us. The stone it's made out is Italian Pietra Serena.

Category

Antique 17th Century Italian Renaissance Architectural Elements

Materials

Limestone

Venetian 16th Century Wellhead

$48,255

Early 19th Century Italian Marble Fountain

Located in Water Mill, NY

Early 19th century Italian hand-carved marble fountain in a form of a putto.

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Fountains

Early 19th Century Italian Marble Fountain

$2,200

Antique White Carrara Marble Fireplace, Carved Caryatids, 19th Century Italy

Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)

Ancient fireplace, in precious white Carrara marble, built in the 19th century, richly carved with Caryatids and floral motifs, from Piedmont (Italy)...

Category