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Lombardy, 14th century, Formelle with Sormani family coat of arms and portraits

$5,080.25per set

£3,807.96per set

€4,300per set

CA$6,979.39per set

A$7,791.84per set

CHF 4,082.81per set

MX$95,379.74per set

NOK 51,851.67per set

SEK 48,889.55per set

DKK 32,733.17per set

About the Item

Lombardy, 14th century Tiles with Sormani family coat of arms and portraits (3)Tempera on panel, 17 x 38 cm Between the 15th and 16th centuries, especially in Lombardy and Piedmont, in aristocratic mansions and public buildings it became fashionable to decorate ceilings with painted wooden panels: the 'ceiling panels' or 'formelle.' The birth and spread of the use of painted tablets in architecture can be traced back as early as the Middle Ages in Europe and in Italy in South Tyrol and Trentino, essentially in castles and stately homes. The ceilings of the great halls were made of wood, made with long beams running across them in the direction of width, driven into the wall with a load-bearing function and fitted with corbels to take the weight off. Small wooden joists at regular spacing between rafters completed the structure of the ceilings, resulting in square or rectangular geometric squares. The space created by the meeting between the main beam and the joists perpendicular to it will be used to insert the planks, as a decorative element. The painted tablets, made mainly in tempera with a vivid color palette, represent a fundamental testimony to the artistic and cultural expressions that flourished in northern Italy, particularly in Lombardy and Piedmont, between the 14th and 15th centuries. This period, straddling the Gothic and Humanist eras, was characterized by a marked predilection for color, which extended to the decoration of every domestic surface, transforming interiors into true narrative spaces. The tiles, then, were not mere decorative elements, but true "repertories of civilization," capable of immortalizing celebrations and scenes of daily life. Unlike other coeval pictorial productions, local tablet painting, with rare exceptions, is distinguished by its predominantly secular character. Iconographic analysis reveals certain dominant subjects and ideas that permeated the culture of the time. Family prestige emerges as a central theme, expressed through the depiction of coats of arms of families united by complex marital and political alliances. Literary culture, both ancient and contemporary, found space in the depictions, as did the dreams and visions of the collective imagination.Frequently, figures of ladies and gentlemen appear, immersed in contexts that enhance their social status. Dancing, musical, and playful putti wind through festoons, flanked by a diverse bestiary, including both real animals and fantastic creatures. The widespread presence of heraldic coats of arms is another distinguishing feature of these works. Noble families were immortalized on these valuable wooden pages, leaving an indelible trace of their presence and power. And indeed, the coat of arms of one of Milan's oldest and richest families makes an appearance in the tablets under review: the Sormani family, as is well illustrated by the figure of the rampant lion holding a turreted castle in its hands. Ancient Milanese patrician family, originally from Sormano, an alpine village in the mountains of Vallassina. The earliest historical records go back to Ottone De Solmanno, of Anselmo, a partisan of Frederick Barbarossa in the fight against Milan. The Sormani family held important public offices, such as decurion, and became linked to other noble Milanese families, contributing significantly to the city's history and culture.Their name is particularly linked to the figure of Giacomo Sormani, who in the 18th century commissioned the renovation of Palazzo Sormani in Milan, now home to the Biblioteca Comunale Centrale, one of the most important examples of neoclassical architecture in Lombardy. Over the centuries, the family boasted jurists, men of letters and men-at-arms among its members, consolidating its prestige. Even today, their names are still remembered in various places and institutions, evidence of their lasting impact on the city of Milan and Lombardy. The remaining two formals present two portraits of a woman and young man, according to the fashion of the time treated in profile, influenced by numismatics and classical portraiture.

Dimensions:

Height: 6.7 in (17 cm)Width: 14.97 in (38 cm)Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 3

Style:

Other (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Wood,Oiled

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

18th Century and Earlier

Date of Manufacture:

14th century

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Milan, IT

Materials

Canvas

Located in Vicenza, IT

Fine Florentine shelf dating from the mid-19th century, entirely hand-carved in solid wood and finely gilded with gold leaf. The work features very rich sculptural work, with phytomo...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Louis Philippe Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Gold Leaf

Carved shelf in gilded wood - Florence, mid-19th century

$827 / set

Lombardy, 14th century, Formelle with Sormani family coat of arms and portraits

About the Item

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