This carved coral and copper-gilt urn and cover cautiously catalogued as ‘possibly Italian’ but more probably a product of Tripani, Sicily, sold for £1850 at Batemans on June 1.
It was cautiously catalogued as ‘possibly Italian’ but more probably a product of Tripani, Sicily. This was the home from the 16th century until the end of the 18th century of a specialised workshop producing gilt-metal works of art profusely decorated with red coral. Most were sold into the local market or for export to southern Italy or Spain.
At the June 1 sale, against a £200-300 estimate, this urn – probably made for the secular rather than the liturgical market – sold to an Italian buyer at £1850.
