Rock crystal and gilt bronze casket attributed to the workshop of Giovanni Battista Metelli

An engraved rock crystal and gilt bronze casket attributed to the workshop of Giovanni Battista Metellino.

Milan, late 17th century.

Measures 16.2 x 13 x 8.9cm.

The casket is composed of four remarkably clear rock crystal panels engraved with scrolling foliage and set within gilt bronze mounts. The domed lid, also engraved has at some point been damaged and restored with a jewelled silver gilt mount from the 18th century and a gilt metal handle dating to the early 19th century. The interior of the casket can be viewed through the windows of rock crystal, the base is set with a chased gilt bronze plate pierced and displaying specimens of moss agate and sardonyx. The four feet of the casket are in the form of leaves in the baroque style. The underside of the casket is set with a piece of wood with the collection numbers ’St.E. 1500’.

Provenance: The Princely Collection of Thurn und Taxis, Sotheby’s, Regensburg, October 12–15, 1993.

The casket draws strong parallels with the work of the Milanese hardstone engraver Giovanni Battista Metellino (died c.1724). Metellino’s works are distinguished by a simplified reinterpretation of Renaissance forms and motifs, tailored to suit the preferences of his era. His pieces emphasise the material’s colourless quality and transparency, occasionally interrupted by small decorative elements such as plant motifs, figures, birds, and insects, often cleverly used to conceal imperfections in the crystal.

A similar casket with an attribution to Metellino was offered by Aguttes Neuilly, CLASSICAL ARTS: 50 YEARS OF PASSION, COLLECTION D. - 12/10/2022 - Lot 30.

https://www.aguttes.com/en/lot/130371/19209458?

The Museo del Prado (Madrid, Spain) has in their collection a rock crystal tray with similarly engraved rock crystal, gilded bronze mounts and feet, catalogued as by the workshop of Giovanni Battista Metellino - Inventory number O000107.

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/octagonal-rock-crystal-tray-with-four-engraved/9502ac4f-8567-415f-8a9d-0d53210d951e?searchid=4f5b3d91-56c3-6acf-f09e-1069a646a1f1

Two further rock crystal trays with similar crystal, mounts and feet can be found in the collection of the Louvre Museum (Paris, France), Inventory number OA 62 B and MR 476.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010103478
https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010111839

For examples of rock crystal vessels with close parallels in engraved decoration, with a particular focus on the mantling scrolls and pastilles by Giovanni Battista Metellino see:

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/rock-crystal-ewer-with-a-large-scroll-shaped/04488085-182d-4aaa-9e02-cb525d5b993b?searchMeta=metellino

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/rock-crystal-ewer-with-a-handle-in-the-form-of-a/ce76ac4b-ee99-49cc-895f-34f88e7864b7?searchid=cc2deebf-44e8-f120-1ebc-3dd18e85cabb

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/drinking-vessel-with-six-lobes-and-scroll-shaped/1c8bee12-bcd2-4e7a-aaa1-8afad86b1bfb?searchid=cc2deebf-44e8-f120-1ebc-3dd18e85cabb

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/tall-rock-crystal-vase-with-handles-in-the-form/33f25592-b5d7-46d1-97e6-deffb5848d96?searchid=cc2deebf-44e8-f120-1ebc-3dd18e85cabb

https://api.art.rmngp.fr/v1/images/17/175156/l?t=xES4rqf9YSlMgjZ-eZCr0w

https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010114448

https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010117404

https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010108074

https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010108073

https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010104286

https://skd-online-collection.skd.museum/Details/Index/117619