Fine C19th Italian Bronze 'Grand Tour' Souvenir Type Inkwell , Attributed to Benedetto Boschetti, Rome.

Fine C19th Italian bronze 'Grand Tour' souvenir type inkwell, attributed to Benedetto Boschetti, Rome.

Circular cast bronze lidded inkwell mounted on a Rosso Antico and Nero Belgio base. The body of fluted circular urn form with three lions mask mounts , raised on lion's paw feet . The top edge cast with ovolo or 'egg-and-dart' detail .

The removable domed lid with a detailed cast figure surmount of a pensively-posed winged Cupid with a quiver of arrows .

The interior lacking it's glass ink container.

The quality of the casting and subject matter , together with the use of the red and black marble base , lead us to the probable attribution to the workshops of Benedetto Boschetti (1820-70) 74 Via Condotti Rome . Boschetti supplied high quality works of art to satisfy the academic and sophisticated tastes of Grand Tourists . His work was widely praised and he was awarded a medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London . The figure of Cupid as portrayed here , echoes one of his most celebrated works of a mosaic table in the Gilbert Collection, depicting the 'Triumph of Cupid' .

Excellent consistent golden patination and colour .

H 7"

W 5"

D 5"

Italy c.1860

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