Neal Auction 2012

W denotes the lot is illustrated at www.nealauction.com 13 30. An American Classical Carved Mahogany Sofa , early 19th c., New York, tubular crest rail with acanthus scroll terminals, scrolled arms, paneled seat rail with paterae, paw feet with fruiting brackets, casters, height 33 1/4 in., length 87 in., depth 22 in. $1500/2500 32. Attributed to Luigi Valadier I or a Follower (Italian, 1726-1785) , “Design for a Reliquary or Monstrance”, c. 1775/1800, layout in geometric strokes of very light graphite, execution in ink and ink wash, on cream-colored paper with highly elaborate watermark of a shield (with letters V & K / W in superimposed X’s), as well as a countermark (of letters B v K & A I W), positioned on the vertical axis at 90º to the design; unsigned, 16 7/8 in. x 9 1/16 in., in a modern mount, numbered 29046. $1000/1500 Provenance: James R. Lamantia Jr., New Orleans and New York. Note: Andrea Valadier (1695- 1759), his sons Luigi I and Giovanni Valadier (1732- 1805), and their respective sons (of Luigi I) Giuseppe Valadier (1762-1839), and— of Giovanni—Filippo (b. 1770), Tommaso (b. 1772), and Luigi II Valadier (b. 1781) were seven goldsmiths in three generations, who ran Rome’s most prominent orificio under their own names from 1714 to 1817, and which has continued under other directors till the present day. This very beautiful drawing, though unsigned, is documented by its watermark to the late 18th c.; its rich combination of Rococo curves and massive Classical ornament is highly characteristic of the Valadier shop in that best period of its personal supervision. Luigi I, for example, made a silver and lapis lazuli chalice which Pope Pius VI presented to Prince Stanisław Poniatowski (now in the Louvre, Paris), as well as a spectacular gold- and silver-plated bronze altar for the Cathedral at Monreale in Sicily (made at Rome, 1770-73). The present design, in which the flatly-shaded apertures were intended to be filled with plaques of rock crystal, epitomizes the gilded bronze table - and altar - fittings, inset with hardstones, that most successfully characterized Luigi’s style. His expertise was particularly embodied in the final member of the family dynasty, Luigi II (b. 1781), whose technical mastery of an eclectic and original manner assimilated many historicizing styles into the mainstream of the Neo-Classical movement. Reference: Angela Catello, “Valadier,” Grove Dictionary of Art, Jane Turner, ed., London, 1996, 34 vols., vol. 31, p. 799. 31. An American Classical Mahogany Mixing Table , early 19th c., Philadelphia, marble top above a cove-molded frieze, distinctively scrolled drawer, Gothic arch paneled door, pylon case, beveled plinth base on half-round feet, height 38 in., width 31 7/8 in., depth 18 in. $2000/3000 Note: This mixing table form was used and modified by a number of noted Philadelphia and Baltimore cabinet makers, including Anthony Quervelle. The use of the trapezoidal “Egyptian” case of this cabinet shows the influence of Regency designs. A cabinet attributed to Anthony Quervelle also using an “Egyptian” trapezoidal panel and demilune feet in the manner to that seen here was sold in these rooms as lot 49, December 1, 2007, for $8,225. Reference: See Robert Smith, “The Furniture of Anthony Quervelle, Part IV, Some Case Pieces”, The Magazine Antiques, page 189, pl. 11. For a sideboard design using “Egyptian” panels, see Ackerman’s Regency and Interiors reprinted by Agius (1984) p. 142, pl. 197. 31 30 32