Thank you for registering for our auction! You are required to provide: 1. Deposit; 保证金待商议; 2. Copy or images of ID card (front and back) or Passport 3. Images of Credit card (front and back).
A LARGE ITALIAN SILVER EWER AND BASIN BY GIOVANNI BELLEZZA, MARK OF MILAN, CIRCA 1847 The baluster ewer on spreading gadrooned base below a band of stiff leaf foliage, the centre cast with three seated mermen, the ovoid body centred with a mythological wedding scene, depicting an altar between the bride and groom and with two putti below, each holding a coat-of-arms and surrounded by guests, musicians, dancers and a soldier, the shoulder of the ewer applied with heraldic elements alternating with animals framed by scrolling foliage, the neck with scenes of cavorting putti, the spout applied with a large mask, the winged caryatid shaped handle with bearded man lower terminal and two dolphins by the upper rim; the circular basin with border of dancing putti in scrolling foliage, the centre with allegories of industry, agriculture, the sciences, the arts and the State of Italy, a plaque below with presentation inscription, and on the raised centre the arms of Savoy; the ewer with gilt sleeve and the dish with detachable back plate, marked with standard mark and territory mark for Milan, engraved on ewer foot and centre of basin 'G. Bellazza M. F. 1847' the basin 26 ? in. (67.3 cm.) high; the ewer 27 ? in. (70 cm.) high 587 oz. 4 dwt. (18,264 gr.) The arms are those of Savoy, for Victor-Emmanuel II (1820-1878), and of Habsburg-Lorraine, for Maria Adelaide, archduchess of Austria (1822-1855). The inscription on the plaque reads ''A Te Adelaide Progenie Augusta Di Raineri Austriaco Ed Elisabetta Sabauda Le Cul Virtu Ne Fanno Cara A Lombarde E Venete Provincie 'L'Autorita' Milano Lieta Di Averti Dato La Culla Gratulando Plaudendo Al Tuo Felice Imeneo Con Vittorio Emmanuelle Pr. R. Di Sardegna uesto Lavoro Di Artefici Suoi Che Su La Dora Ti Ricordi La Patria Devotamente Offeriva A MDCCCXLII' which translates as 'For you Adelaide, august daughter of Rainer of Austria and Elisabeth of Savoie Carignan, whose virtues make her authority dear to the provinces of Lombardy and Veneto. The city of Milan is delighted to have given you a warm and welcoming home for your happy marriage to Victor Emmanuel King of Sardinia and offers this work made by its craftsmen in the hope that it reminds of your homeland while you stay on the Dora river. Year 1842.'
Presented to Victor-Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia and King of Italy and Maria Adelaide of Habsburg-Lorraine, archduchess of Austria, in 1861, then by descent.
AN ALLEGORY OF MARRIAGE
This ewer and basin were presented to the newlywed Marie Adelaide of Habsburg-Lorraine. It was commissioned from Giovanni Bellezza (1807-1876), the celebrated Italian engraver and sculptor of bronzes by the city of Milan. The central frieze of the ewer features Imeneus, the Greek god of marriage, by the groom stands an allegory of honour and power whilst the bride is flanked by an allegory of purity and fertility. The coat-of-arms are those of Milan. The centre of the basin features Italia Turrita, the personification of Italy, together with the allegory of charity with her two sons Science and Urania on one side and the Arts on the other.
THE BRIDE AND GROOM
Victor-Emmanuel II (1820 -1878) was the eldest son of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia (1798-1849), and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1817-1849). In 1842, he married his cousin, Archduchess Adelaide of Austria (1822-1855). She was born at the Royal Palace of Milan to Archduke Rainer Joseph of Austria (1783-1853) and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Savoy (1800-1856). Her father was the Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia and was a son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Luisa of Spain. Her mother was a member of the House of Savoy and a daughter of the Prince of Carignano, the head of the junior branch of the House of Savoy who ruled the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The marriage celebrated on 12 April 1842 at the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi cemented the relatio