A large Grand Tour Bronze of Selenus by Alessandro Nelli Foundry, Rome, 1880''s, after the Roman original bronze discovered in Pompeii in 1864 and now in Naples Museum. Modelled as the drunken Silenus wrestling a serpent. Later mounted as a table lamp, with a faux wax candle mounted on a wooden base supporting a brass tube with bulb fitting, and with hand-painted drum-shaped shade. Stamped ''NELLI ROMA'' on the base.
This model was available in two sizes and appears in the Nelli catalogue of 1889. This is the larger version,
Alessandro Nelli (1842-1905) was an Italian entrepreneur and founder of the Fonderia Nelli (Nelli Foundry), which was the leading sculpture foundry in Rome from 1880 to 1900. He participated in both national, international and universal exhibitions, winning many prizes and medals and exported more than one hundred pieces to the 1893 World''s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In 1879 he was awarded the title of Knight of the Crown of Italy by the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Trade and after completing the King Victor Emmanuel II monument in Bologna in 1888 was given the title of Knight of the Order of St. Maurice and Lazare by the King of Italy. He died in Russia in 1905 whilst working for Tsar Nicholas II.
For further information about Nelli please see http://parlantibronzefoundries.co.uk/nelli/
In excellent condition with good patination.
The figure 60cm high, 90cm high including shade.
Antique Number: SA872274
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 90cm (35.4inches)
Width is 16cm (6.3inches)
Depth is 16cm (6.3inches)
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