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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1073904
FOR SALE
£1,750
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Antique 65cm Bronze "The Water Carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century
Regent Antiques
for sale €2,048     $2,223
£1,750
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

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Antique 65cm Bronze "The Water Carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century

19th century
For Sale by Regent Antiques
Description

This is a striking large antique gilt bronze figural sculpture titled "The Water Carrier" (L'acquaiolo) by Vincenzo Gemito, (Italian 1852-1929), dating from Circa 1880.

The bronze is modelled as a nude boy holding a water pot and cup, mounted on a decorative rectangular grey marble base in the form of a fountain with a Neptune mask and spout with a trough below.

This high quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional 'lost wax' process.

The attention to detail is absolutely fantastic and the sculpture is extremely life-like.

Condition:

In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 65 cm x Width 25 cm x Depth 28 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 2 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 11 inches

Vincenzo Gemito (Italian 1852-1929)

exhibited a sculpture of a young fisherboy at the Salon in Paris in 1877 ('Il Pescatore', the bronze now in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence). The success of this work encouraged him to continue in this genre, giving his models more expressive poses. He created this statuette in Naples, gaining inspiration from the cheeky children on the street, nicknamed ‘scugnizzo’. Gemito was one of the sculptors in the second half of the 19th century known as the ‘Neo-Florentines’ who took their inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, particularly from the sculptures of Verrocchio, Donatello and Giambologna. This work follows in the tradition of the ‘Fisherman dancing the Tarantella’ by Francisque Duret (Louvre) and of the ‘Young Neapolitan Fisherboy' by Rude (Louvre). However, it also draws on ancient Roman statuary, such as the numerous bronze fauns with slender bodies discovered in the ruins of the luxury villas of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Our reference: A3941

Physical Dimensions
Height
65cm (25.59")
Width
25cm (9.84")
Depth
28cm (11.02")
Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Bronze Water Carrier Sculpture to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1073904
Dealers Internal Reference
A3941
Description
This is a striking large antique gilt bronze figural sculpture titled "The Water Carrier" (L'acquaiolo) by Vincenzo Gemito, (Italian 1852-1929), dating from Circa 1880.
“
The bronze is modelled as a nude boy holding a water pot and cup, mounted on a decorative rectangular grey marble base in the form of a fountain with a Neptune mask and spout with a trough below.
Regent Antiques
fig 1. A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.
fig 1. Antique 65cm Bronze "The Water Carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century

This high quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional 'lost wax' process.

The attention to detail is absolutely fantastic and the sculpture is extremely life-like.

Condition:

In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.
fig 2. Antique 65cm Bronze "The Water Carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century

Dimensions in cm:

Height 65 cm x Width 25 cm x Depth 28 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 2 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 11 inches

Vincenzo Gemito (Italian 1852-1929)

exhibited a sculpture of a young fisherboy at the Salon in Paris in 1877 ('Il Pescatore', the bronze now in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence). The success of this work encouraged him to continue in this genre, giving his models more expressive poses. He created this statuette in Naples, gaining inspiration from the cheeky children on the street, nicknamed ‘scugnizzo’. Gemito was one of the sculptors in the second half of the 19th century known as the ‘Neo-Florentines’ who took their inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, particularly from the sculptures of Verrocchio, Donatello and Giambologna. This work follows in the tradition of the ‘Fisherman dancing the Tarantella’ by Francisque Duret (Louvre) and of the ‘Young Neapolitan Fisherboy' by Rude (Louvre). However, it also draws on ancient Roman statuary, such as the numerous bronze fauns with slender bodies discovered in the ruins of the luxury villas of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Our reference: A3941

Height
65cm (25.59")
Width
25cm (9.84")
Depth
28cm (11.02")
Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this Bronze Water Carrier Sculpture to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1073904
Dealers Internal Ref
A3941
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

Relevant Links
PDF SHARE
SAVE
A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.
1 / 13
Archive I A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.

Antique 65cm Bronze "The water carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century

Archive II A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View II
Archive III A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View XII
Archive XIII A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques
Telephone 020 8809 9605 or 020 8802 3900
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 659
Items Sold 2,608
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
659
Sold
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A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.
Antique 65cm Bronze "The water carrier" Vincenzo Gemito 19th Century
Ref: SA1073904
A 19th-century bronze sculpture depicting a standing youth holding water vessels, mounted on a carved white marble fountain-style base.
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FAQs

19th-century Italian bronze sculptures are noted for their realism, fine hand-chasing detail, and thematic inspiration drawn from classicism, mythology, and everyday Neapolitan life.

These sculptures were generally cast using the lost-wax (cire perdue) method, allowing for intricate surface detail before being hand-finished and mounted onto marble or stone plinths.

Authentic pieces feature sharp cold-tooling detail, natural surface patination or gilt wear, founders marks or signatures cast directly into the metal, and hand-cut threads on mounting bolts.

A bronze figure adds historical contrast when displayed on a minimalist sideboard, console table, or within an illuminated alcove alongside contemporary artwork.

Dust regularly with a soft, dry microfibre cloth and apply a thin layer of neutral microcrystalline wax once a year to protect the surface finish from moisture and oxidisation.
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