Milan Mounted Objects

A superb addition to a personal collection or a magnificent gift for a lover of antiquity, this mask reproduces in stunning detail the iconography of the Greek god Apollo...

Centerpiece In Porcelain Biscuit from the 20th century, this biscuit porcelain triumph dates from the first half of the 1900s. Biscuit porcelain is a special processing technique th...

Black marble and bronze doorstop, made in the 1950s Ø cm 12 h cm 25

Embossed and engraved silver plaque La Madonna del lago (The Madonna of the Lake) Probably Milan, post 1824 Brass frame It measures 16.14 in x 13.85 in (41 x 35.2 cm) and it weighs 10.357 pounds (4.698 g): silver 1.31 pounds (598 g) + brass 9.03 pounds (4.100 g) State of conservation: some abrasions on the bottom. The frame is old, but not original. The plaque is made up of a sheet of embossed and engraved silver, and held in a solid brass frame. It depicts the “Madonna del lago” – “Madonna of the Lake” - (the Madonna with Child and San Giovannino) by Marco d'Oggiono (Oggiono, 1474 circa - Milan, 1524 circa), while changing only the background landscape. Almost certainly the subject reproduced in the plaque was taken from a famous engraving by Giuseppe Longhi (Monza, 1766 - Milan, 1831), one of the greatest engravers of his era. The silver is unmarked, probably because originally the Madonna was due to be exposed in a church: sometimes precious metals destined for worship and liturgical use would be exempted from payment and were, therefore, not marked. It is very likely that the plaque was made in Milan because in this city in 1824 the engraving by Giuseppe Longhi was made and printed. In addition, in Milan, the alleged lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci in his Milanese period (1482-1500) would be produced; this is the painting from which Marco d'Oggiono took his version. The painting Marco d?Oggiono was one of Leonardo da Vinci's most brilliant students and collaborators (D. Sedini, Marco d’Oggiono, tradizione e rinnovamento in Lombardia tra Quattrocento e Cinquecento, Roma 1989, pp. 151-153, n. 56; p. 225, n. 124, with previous bibliography). His style reflects in every way that of the Tuscan Maestro, so much so that he was the one who executed some copies of da Vinci's paintings. The execution of the “Madonna del Lago” probably draws inspiration from a lost painting by the Maestro, created while he was living in Milan (1482-1500). There are many similarities with other works by Leonardo such as the “Vergine delle rocce” or the “Vergine con il Bambino e San Giovannino, Sant’Anna e l’Agnello”. The painting, from which the drawing and then the famous engraving were taken, is found today at the M&G Museum of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where it came to rest after the sale of the Harrington Collection in London in 1917. The work appears in the inventories of the collection of Napoleon and Joséphine Bonaparte at the castle of Malmaison, before 1809. The Malmaison building was born and developed in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 18th century it belonged to Jacques-Jean Le Coulteux du Molay, a wealthy banker. Later, during the Directory, Joséphine Bonaparte de Beauharnais bought it on April 21st, 1799, but settled at the castle definitively only after her husband separated from her in 1809. She remained there until 1814, the year of her death. When Joséphine died, the estate passed to her son Eugène de Beauharnais, who moved to Munich with his whole family in 1815, bringing with him the collection of paintings he inherited from his mother. Eugène died in 1824 and his wife Augusta of Bavaria (von Bayern), unable to keep it, in 1828 sold the Malmaison to the Swedish banker Jonas-Philip Hagerman. It is likely that in this period Augusta also sold part of the paintings inherited from her husband, including the “Madonna del Lago”. This painting then came into the possession of Leicester Stanhope, fifth Earl of Harrington (1784 - 1862) and then was passed down to his descendants. In 1917, at the death of Charles, eighth Earl of Harrington, his brother Dudley inherited the title and properties and he put up a part of his collections for sale. Among these, precisely, the painting by Marco d'Oggiono was to be found. On the occasion of that auction the painting was presented as a work by Cesare da Sesto, by virtue of a handwritten note by the Countess of Harrington on the back of the table. However, already in 1857, the German critic Gustav Waagen had identified Marco d'Oggiono as the author of the painting, then exhibited in the dining room of Harrington House in London (Treasures of Art in Great Britain, in 4 volumes, London, 1854 and 1857). The engraving Giuseppe Longhi was one of the most renowned engravers in Italy between the end of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century. In 1824 Giuseppe Longhi, based on a design by Paolo Caronni, made a famous engraving of the painting of Marco d?Oggiono. The activity of Longhi was then at the peak of his notoriety, enough to earn him very substantial commissions; it is not risky to suppose that some of his successful engravings were also reproduced using other means: in our case in silver. (A. Crespi, a cura di, Giuseppe Longhi 1766–1831 e Raffaello Morghen...

The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to embellish with uniqueness, beauty and charming any living area or bedroo...

Opulence and simplicity merge in this singular sculpture, consisting of an authentic horn raised on a minimalist and elegant base. Sustaining the horn by means of a stainless steel p...

The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to embellish with uniqueness, beauty and charming any living area or bedroo...

This apple was crafted from a whole natural raw block of aquamarine crystal. This block was ground and polished for several hours by hand until it obtained the shape of an apple and ...

2023 Colletion of decorative objects by Ghiro Studio (Italy,Milan). The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to embel...

A splendid 1980s sculpture designed and produced by the great painter Meloniski from Villacidro. The painter Meloniski was born in Villacidro in 1943. Completely self-taught, the Sar...

Pair of Mercury Gilded Bronze Plaques with profiles of Saints of Italian origin from the first half of 18th century, a pair of 18th-century gilded plaques, oval shaped composed of two overlapping elements; the cast profile and an embossed foil frame with decoration in the corners. The two parts are made integral by a screw with lock nut welded to the casting. They have beautiful mercury gilding and originally decorated a wrought-iron altar gate...

Decorative root sculpture, Italy 1960s.

This superb decorative piece rests on a metal pedestal and reproduces in bronze a detail of the marble sculptural group entitled Laocoon and His Sons...

The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to embellish with uniqueness, beauty and charming any living area or bedroo...

Doorstops, paperweights or furniture elements, Vintage Domus' FP02-PA doorstops are distinguished by their timeless elegance and unique personalization. Versatile objects with a mini...

Doorstops, paperweights or furniture elements, FP01 Doorstops from Vintage Domus stand out for their timeless elegance and exclusive customization. Versatile objects with a minimalis...

2023 Colletion of decorative objects by Ghirò Studio (Italy,Milan). This sculpture is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed ...

White glazed ceramic depicting Erminia among shepherds. Erminia is shown from the side, standing with her robe in the wind, helmet under her arm, and shield at her feet; she is stret...

Grand Tour Bronze sculture depicting Venus and Cupid, reluctant to take a bath. Placed over a cylindric pink marble and black Belgium marble plint base...

Scultura raffigurante famiglia; presente etichetta con nome dell'artista sulla base.

2023 Colletion of decorative objects by Ghirò Studio (Italy,Milan). The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to embe...

Industrial Sculpture - Modern Totem - Contemporary Mechanical Art Totem sculpture by Spinzi, with elements in marble, stone and metal. The blocks include old gears from heavy machinery, parts of columns in travertine and limestone and discs/slabs in marble and ceppo stone...

Consolle designed by Anacleto Spazzapan Materials: Hand-welded iron rods Dimensions: 100 x 56 x h 230 cm This is a sculpture/work of art. The structure is made entirely by hand with...

1950 abstract stone sculpture covered with zinc, plexiglass base, beautiful piece of great emotional force.