Florentine Bronze Figures
Florence, c. 1490
Estimate
£65,000 – £90,000
View Artifact
LOT 0047
Museum Grade
The Medici Ceremonial Ewer
Florence, c. 1465 · Attributed to the Medici Court Silversmiths
Medium
Sterling Silver, 96.4%
Dimensions
34 × 18 cm
Weight
1.8 kg
Condition
Museum Grade
Provenance
✓ Fully Verified
Certificate
ORM-2024-0047
Complete Provenance Documentation
White-Glove International Delivery
Full Authenticity Certificate
The History of Ownership
Narrative of Provenance
Commissioned during the zenith of the Florentine Renaissance, this ceremonial ewer was crafted by an anonymous master silversmith within the inner circle of the Medici court. Its ornate engravings — executed with breathtaking precision — depict the allegorical triumphs of peace and civic virtue, a stark ideological contrast to the political turbulence of the era beneath the surface.
Records from the 1502 inventory of the Palazzo Medici describe "a vessel of exceptional silver bearing the lily of Florence upon its collar," almost certainly used during the nuptial feasts and state ceremonies of the ruling elite. It remained within the private chambers of the family until the dissolution of the senior branch's direct assets in the mid-18th century.
The ewer resurfaced in the documented collection of Sir Julian Goldsmid in 1891, catalogued as "Italian, XV century, of extraordinary quality," following its acquisition at a private sale of the Borghese estates. After passing through the custodianship of a private Swiss cultural trust, it reached its current state of exceptional preservation — a testament to the enduring legacy of Medici patronage and the technical brilliance of 15th-century Florentine metalwork.
Ormecia is proud to present this piece with one of the most complete ownership chains in our institutional history — spanning 559 years of documented custodianship.
Documented Ownership
559 Years of
Provenance
1465
Commission & Creation
Commissioned by Piero di Cosimo de' Medici for the private treasury of the Palazzo Medici, Florence. Crafted by an unnamed court silversmith, later identified through stylistic analysis as working within the workshop of Antonio del Pollaiolo.
1502
Nuptial Gift — Palazzo Medici Inventory
Listed in the household ledgers of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici as part of the formal inventory following the family's nuptial ceremonies. Described as "a vessel of silver, most beautifully wrought, with the lily of Florence."
1743
Roman Private Sale — Borghese Estate
Sold at an undocumented private disposal of Borghese family property in Rome. Acquired by an unnamed English Grand Tour collector, subsequently traced through the papers of the Goldsmid family archives in London.
1891
Sir Julian Goldsmid Collection, London
Formally catalogued in the estate inventory of Sir Julian Goldsmid, 1st Baronet, as "Florentine, XV century silver ewer, of extraordinary merit." Exhibited at the South Kensington Museum, London, 1892, catalogue reference 1892/471.
1989
Acquisition by Private Swiss Cultural Trust
Acquired by a private cultural foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, where it remained in climate-controlled storage and was lent to two international museum exhibitions over the subsequent three decades.
2024
Ormecia Fine Arts — Current Listing
Entrusted to Ormecia Fine Arts following a private consignment arrangement with the Swiss foundation. Full forensic authentication completed by our international panel. Now available for acquisition by a single discerning collector.
Scholarship & Conservation
Material & Technical
Analysis
- Medium & Composition
- Sterling Silver, 96.4% purity. XRF analysis confirms 15th-century Florentine alloy composition consistent with Medici-era metalwork. Minor traces of copper (3.4%) and gold gilding on the spout collar.
- Dimensions & Weight
- Height: 34 cm · Width (handle to spout): 24 cm · Diameter at base: 12 cm · Weight: 1.82 kg. Dimensions consistent with known inventory records from c. 1502.
- Surface & Decorative Programme
- Repoussé and chased relief decoration depicting the Triumph of Peace. Engraved foliate border on base and neck. The Medici palle device (six bezants) appears on the footring — a unique identifier matching described inventory references.
- Condition Assessment
- Museum Grade. Minor age-consistent patination. No significant losses or repairs. The handle, restored once c. 1880 with period-appropriate techniques, has been independently confirmed in conservation reports. Fully stable.
- Conservation History
- Light surface cleaning and stabilisation performed by the V&A Conservation Department, 2004. No structural interventions. Stored in inert-gas sealed archival condition since 1997.
- Authentication Methods
- X-Ray Fluorescence · Stylistic Audit · Archival Research (5 independent sources) · Metallurgical Cross-Section Analysis · Comparative Database Matching (Corpus Ornamentale Florentinae)
Verification & Trust
Authenticity
Certification
Every work in the Ormecia collection undergoes a rigorous 90-day, multi-stage verification process conducted by an independent panel of international scholars, curators, and forensic specialists. The certificate below represents the highest standard of authentication available in the private market.
Ormecia Authenticated
Certificate of Authenticity Issued
Independent Scholarly Review
Reviewed by 4 independent scholars
Blockchain Registered
Reference: 0x3a4f7c19…e2d4c9d2
Ormecia
Certificate of Authenticity
Object
The Medici Ceremonial Ewer
Origin
Florence, Tuscany, c. 1465
Classification
Authentic — Italian Renaissance
Certificate No.
ORM-2024-0047
Issued
14 September 2024
Blockchain Ref.
0x3a4f…c9d2
Private Acquisition
Reserve This Piece
This work may be acquired through our Private Client Service or placed under competitive bid through the current auction round. All transactions are conducted with absolute discretion, with full legal transfer facilitated by Ormecia's in-house legal counsel.
Auction Estimate
£180,000 – £240,000
Private Acquisition Price
Upon Request
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