C19th Italian 'Grand Tour' Souvenir Carved Serpentine Marble Ink-stand Set with Carved Lava Cameos.

C19th Italian 'Grand Tour' souvenir carved serpentine marble ink-stand set with carved lava cameos. A South Italian , Neapolitan, two-piece carved 'Prato verde' or Serpentina Moschinata , marble ink-stand with gadrooned body and sectioned lid set with oval carved coloured lava profile cameos of classical and Renaissance Italian philosophers and poets framed in brass mounts. The central raised knop handle also inset with a brass-framed carved circular cameo . The inside of the top contains a glazed and brass-framed period gouache/body watercolour study depicting the Bay of Naples and the erupting volcanic Mount Vesuvius. The outer ring retains the original hand- scripted paper labels identifying 6 of the cameo profiles such as "Aristotle", "Petrarch", "Dante" etc.

The base section fitted with 2 glass ink-wells with brass rims and 2 pen/quill-holders (1 brass ferrule missing).

The different lava rock cameos having obtained their individual colours from the oxidisation and crytallised nature of the various cooled minerals from the volcanic eruption and lava flow.

This type of ink-stand was produced in the Naples area of Italy during the mid C19th as souvenirs for tourists visiting the historic sites and sights of the European 'Grand Tour'.

In good original condition , with one historic repaired crack to the lid.

(For a similar example see Christies Sale 7889 /Lot 272 9/12/2010 £3375)

H 5"

W 6"

D 6"

Italy , Naples c.1870

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