Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Victorian, Castellani, Brass Paper Knife, Onyx Decoration, Lux Desk Accessories

About the Item

Immerse yourself in the divinity of this late 19th-century Italian letter opener, attributed to the masterful Michelangelo Caetani for Castellani, Italy. Crafted with meticulous artistry, the piece transcends its utilitarian roots, seamlessly blending form and function. The design, deeply rooted in Italian Gothic influences, is a poetic homage to Dante, manifesting in a divine brass angel gracing a pedestal of heavenly white onyx. The angel, with arms gracefully crossed and a gown billowing in delicate movement, stands atop a finely engraved brass overlay, evoking ethereal beauty. The upturned wings, a soft oval of precise sculptural lines, impart a celestial aura. The juxtaposition of the Gothic-style metal overlay and the simplicity of brass supports emerging from the onyx base creates a harmonious visual dialogue. The letter opener, utilising the wings' curvatures, transforms the act of opening letters into a refined art. Display as an objet d'art or employ its intended purpose on a discerning individual's desk. Its beauty and function make it a treasure for collectors, while interior designers seeking an exquisite addition to enrich spaces will find its allure irresistible. A distinctive gift for the aesthete, this artefact seamlessly marries history, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty.
  • Attributed to:
    Castellani (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 2.76 in (7 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 2.37 in (6 cm)
  • Style:
    Renaissance Revival (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Brass,Onyx,Cast,Engraved,Polished
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Patination to metal. Silk velvet pad on the base has come away due to age-related glue deterioration. Some small edge indents on the wings. Scraping below the feet of the angel on the onyx sphere. Polishing build up in detailing.
  • Seller Location:
    Glasgow, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6391237505922
More From This SellerView All
  • Vintage Murano Glass Apple Shaped Paperweight
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    This vintage Murano glass paperweight, shaped in the form of an apple, showcases handcrafted skill and excellence with its intricate internal details and technical creativity. It exe...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

    Materials

    Murano Glass

  • Liskeard Glass, Large ‘Bullicante’ Egg Shaped Paperweigh Circa 1970s
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    This large vintage paperweight, crafted in the 1970s by the renowned English glassmakers Liskeard Glass, showcases the exquisite 'bullicante' tech...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

    Materials

    Art Glass

  • Chinese 'Qing Style' Brass Cloisonné Vase - White with Floral decoration
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    Vintage Chinese Cloisonné Vase A brass-crafted, baluster-shaped cloisonné vase featuring vibrant floral and butterfly motifs on a crisp white enamel background, complete with a hand...
    Category

    Vintage 1980s Chinese Qing Vases

    Materials

    Brass

  • Vintage Gold Rococo Style Putti Lamp on Onyx Base
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    Crafted in Italy’s post-war design renaissance, this gilded table lamp marries the playful charm of putti—cherubic figures drawn from the artistic wells of Renaissance and Rococo—wit...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Table Lamps

    Materials

    Onyx, Bronze

  • Japanese, Egyptian Revival Vase in Brass and Champleve - Circa 1920
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    Large Art Deco era champlevé vase. Brass urn-shaped vase from the 1920s, adorned with Egyptian motifs and scenes using the champlevé technique, featuring stylised dragon handles and...
    Category

    Vintage 1920s Japanese Egyptian Revival Vases

    Materials

    Brass

  • Victorian, Torchere Style 'Ebonized Oak' Floor Lamp - England
    Located in Glasgow, GB
    Victorian 'Torchere Style' Floor Lamp This Victorian floor lamp, dating back to the early 20th century, was meticulously crafted from English oak. Originally designed for use inside...
    Category

    Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Floor Lamps

    Materials

    Oak

You May Also Like
  • Vintage Solid Brass Propeller Paper Weight / Desk Accessory
    Located in West Palm Beach, FL
    Vintage solid brass boat propeller mounted on a wood base. This nautical piece makes a perfect desk accessory / paperweight.
    Category

    20th Century American Paperweights

    Materials

    Brass

  • Carolina Onyx Bathroom Accessory Set and Paper Bucket
    By AIREDELSUR
    Located in Buenos Aires, AR
    This set is comprised of a soap holder, toothbrush holder, tray with raised edges, tissue holder and paper bucket. The onyx quarries of the Carolina vill...
    Category

    2010s Argentine Organic Modern Bathroom Fixtures

    Materials

    Onyx, Stone, Metal

  • Vintage onyx cardholder desk accessory, 20th century
    Located in View Park, CA
    A vintage onyx card holder, 1960s. Most likely from Italy, Mexico, or Pakistan. Tones of pistachio, rust, and toffee. Pick up in central west Los Angeles or we ship worldwide. 4” W ...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets

    Materials

    Onyx

  • Tiffany American Victorian Classical Sterling Silver Paper Knife
    By Tiffany & Co.
    Located in New York, NY
    Victorian Classical sterling silver paper knife. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1885. Serpentine and integral with hollow handle tapering into flat blade. Handle has allover f...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Letter Openers

    Materials

    Sterling Silver

  • Vintage Brass Dachshund Dog Letter Opener Desk Accessory
    Located in North Miami, FL
    This mid century modern brass letter opener is of a dachshund dog in repose as the top part. It is from the 50's and has some weight. This is for all the dog lovers of this breed. It...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Letter Openers

    Materials

    Brass

  • Hermès Vintage Silver Plate Equestrian Paper Holder or Desk Accessory
    By Hermès
    Located in North Miami, FL
    This wonderful vintage Hermès paper holder or letter clip is on the rare side. It is signed Hermès Paris and is polished silver plate. It was desig...
    Category

    Vintage 1970s French Modern Sheffield and Silverplate

    Materials

    Silver Plate

Recently Viewed

View All