Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

Fountain of the Turtles in Sterling Silver and Travertine Base 'Rome, 1581'

About the Item

In Rione XI - Sant'Angelo, a few steps from the Old Jewish Quarter, surrounded by the palaces that once belonged to the noble Mattei family who gave the square its name, stands one of the most beautiful fountains in Rome. The Fountain of the Turtles was built between 1581 and 1588 on a project by Giacomo della Porta (1533-1602). The history of the fountain comes from a romantic fable. According to legend, Duke Mattei, a gambler, lost his entire family fortune in one fell swoop. The future father-in-law, therefore, refused to give him his daughter in marriage. In response, the duke had this magnificent artwork built in a single night. The following day he invited his betrothed and her father to the palace to show them the fountain. He exclaimed: "This is what a penniless Mattei can accomplish in a few hours!". In memory of the episode, he had the window from which they looked out to admire the fountain walled up. Among rich decorations in polychrome marble, four bronze children ride dolphins on shell-shaped tanks sculpted by Florentine Taddeo Landini (1550-1596). From 1658, they "play" with the turtles, added to the fountain by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
  • Creator:
    SERRA
  • Metal:
  • Weight:
    1350 g
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.89 in (175 mm)Width: 5.12 in (130 mm)
  • Style:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1970
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Roma, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1922213703562

More From This Seller

View All
Sterling Silver Stirrup Cup 'Deer’
Located in Roma, IT
This deer is one of 12 exclusive Serra's sterling silver "stirrup glasses", (weight 360 gr circa ) models date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed on the table to serve wine. Te Our 12 glasses are now used to be added to other crystal glasses, maybe to serve a special wine! In this difficult historical period for our health, drinking from silver glasses is really a great help: silver is rich in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that eradicate the bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It can be used as a natural disinfectant of any liquid. Silver is a natural immunity booster . Its nanoparticles create an immunomodulatory activity that gives you a healthy immune system. Popular since the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...
Category

2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures

Sterling Silver Stirrup Cup 'Deer’
$2,753 / item
Free Shipping
Silver Statue with Rock Crystal Obelisk Reproducing Bernini's "Minerva Chick"
Located in Roma, IT
This sterling silver and rock crystal statue was made by our talented Roman artisans, and reproduces a famous monument in Rome. Adjacent to the Pantheon...
Category

2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Rock Crystal, Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Wine Glass 'Fox, Part of a Set of 12 Different Animals'
Located in Roma, IT
This fox glass is one of 12 exclusive Serra's sterling silver "stirrup glasses", (weight 360 gr ) models, date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed on the table to serve wine. Our 12 glasses are now used to be added to other crystal glasses, maybe to serve a special wine! In this difficult historical period for our health, drinking from silver glasses is really a great help: silver is rich in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that eradicate the bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It can be used as a natural disinfectant of any liquid. Silver is a natural immunity booster . Its nanoparticles create an immunomodulatory activity that gives you a healthy immune system. Popular since the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...
Category

2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Wine Glass Elephant, One of a Set of 12 Different Animals
Located in Roma, IT
This elephant is one of 12 exclusive Serra's sterling silver "stirrup glasses", (weight 360 gr ) models date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed on the table to serve wine. Our 12 glasses are now used to be added to other crystal glasses, maybe to serve a special wine! In this difficult historical period for our health, drinking from silver glasses is really a great help: silver is rich in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that eradicate the bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It can be used as a natural disinfectant of any liquid. Silver is a natural immunity booster . Its nanoparticles create an immunomodulatory activity that gives you a healthy immune system. Popular since the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...
Category

2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Vermeil, Sterling Silver

Antique Italian Pink Coral and Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Located in Roma, IT
This silver and antique coral letter opener was handmade by our talented goldsmiths, who used a coral branch from Sciacca, the Sicilian town famous for its corals. The Sciacca Coral has unique origins in the world: it is closely tied to the exceptional history of the Ferdinandea Island, which is a submerged volcanic island in the Strait of Sicily, between Pantelleria and Sciacca. As of today the summit of the Ferdinandea Island remains between about 6 and 8 meters below the Mediterranean Sea level. Its most recent appearance as an island was in July 1831. In the late 1831, in a shoal (called later ”Bummolo” by the fishermen of Sciacca) located around 30 miles from Sciacca, a new island emerged in a fiery hell from the depths of the Strait of Sicily. However, one year later, the island sank back beneath the waters and definitely disappeared in the Strait of Sicily. Over time, thanks to the exceptional microclimate determined by the frequent volcanic phenomena along the slopes of the submerged volcano, huge coral...
Category

Vintage 1970s Desk Accessories

Materials

Coral, Sterling Silver

Authentic Roman Marble 'Serpentino' Sterling Silver Place-Holder Obelisk
Located in Roma, IT
This obelisk in "Lapis lacedaemonius", called in ancient Rome "Serpentino", was made by our talented artisans: the one who cut the precious ancient marble and the one who made the st...
Category

2010s Italian Classical Roman Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Sterling Silver

You May Also Like

Rosior Pair of "Laughing Boys" in Sterling Silver and Wood
By Rosior
Located in Porto, PT
A pair of "laughing boy and girl" manufactured in Sterling Silver, each figure depicted seated and each holding a different silver "basket". Hands manufac...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Figurines and Scul...

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique 18th Century Button Cameo of a Young Man Shell Carving Silver
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This rare button features a shell cameo of a young man carved in antique manner. The cameo is mounted in a silver button.
Category

Antique 1780s European George III Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Silver

Solid Silver Turtle Figurine Vintage 1970s Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Solid silver turtle very good vintage condition. Dimensions: Height 14 mm / 0.511 inches - Length 29 mm / 1.141inches - Weight 10 grams. It is stamped with the Silver Italian Mark 8...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Silver

An Elegant Mario Buccellati Sterling Silver Duck Perched on an Amethyst Base
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
An Elegant Mario Buccellati Sterling Silver Duck Perched on an Amethyst Base, Milan, 20th Century This exquisite creation epitomizes the craftsmanship and luxury for which Mario Buc...
Category

20th Century Italian Figurines and Sculptures

Materials

Amethyst, Sterling Silver

Antique Sterling Silver and Mother-of-Pearl Baby Set
Located in New York, NY
A charming trio of early 20th-century nursery items that embody the artistry and craftsmanship of a bygone era. Featuring a mother-of-pearl rattle with sterling embellishments, a sterling food push (circa 1904), and a baby brush with a sterling floral top, this set captures both historical appeal and timeless design. 1. Mother-of-Pearl Baby Rattle with Sterling Floral Design Elegant Mother-of-Pearl Handle The handle’s thick, lustrous mother-of-pearl adds a luxurious sheen, contrasting beautifully with the sterling silver accents. Floral Sterling Ornamentation & Three Bells A delicately detailed sterling silver top showcases intricate floral motifs, complete with three small bells that jingle softly, reflecting traditional baby-rattle styling. 2. Sterling Silver Food Push (Circa 1904) Floral Motif Measuring approximately 3 3/4 inches in length, the push features an ornate sterling silver handle adorned with a floral pattern typical of early 20th-century silverwork. Functional Design Designed to help guide food onto a baby’s spoon or fork, this once-essential nursery tool now serves as both a collectible piece and a whimsical addition to baby’s mealtime tradition. 3. Baby Brush with Sterling Floral Top Sterling Floral Top Measuring around 4 1/4 inches long, the brush’s top is crafted in sterling silver with an elegant floral relief, mirroring the style and quality found in the rattle and food push. Nylon Bristles The brush’s new nylon bristles blend practicality with an antique setting, ensuring a gentle and hygienic grooming experience for baby while maintaining the set’s vintage charm. Why Choose This Antique Baby Set? Historic Craftsmanship Each piece reflects the fine artistry of sterling silver from the early 1900s, featuring distinctive floral motifs and refined attention to detail. Collectible Appeal Antique baby items...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Vanity Items

Materials

Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique Sterling Silver and Mother-of-Pearl Baby Set
$744 Sale Price
20% Off
Free Shipping
"The Kiss" Klimt Bracelet, Sterling Silver, Handmade, Italy
By K-OVER
Located in Firenze, IT
The “Kiss by Klimt” bracelet is a true work of art in all its form. This Jewel is handcrafted completely by Workmaster Fabergé Stefano Vigni, who cr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Recently Viewed

View All