Table
1861-90 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This table is a remarkable testimony to Italian craftsmanship and patriotism shortly after the unification of the nation in 1861. It is the only known piece of furniture to show micromosaics not only on the top, but also on the curved surfaces of the pedestal. The imagery is typical for pro-Italian art of the era, and shows the god Apollo in his chariot at the centre of the table top, surrounded by allegories of the Four Seasons and Elements. The depiction of Earth under Apollo can be read as a personification of Italy which was taken from antiquity and became a symbol of Italian unification.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
On long-term loan to Los Angeles County Museum from 2010.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
On long-term loan to Los Angeles County Museum from 2010.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Micromosaic, gilt bronze, carved wood |
| Brief description | Octagonal tabletop with a micromosaic depicting Apollo, prob. Rome, ca. 1861-1890. |
| Physical description | Octagonal tabletop with a white ground mosaic depicting Apollo in the centre within a square reserve with a convex lobe on each side. These are connected to four quatrefoil reserves with figures of putti with flowers which alternate with four bust-length allegorical figures of the Elements. The octagonal pedestal base has a spreading eight-lobed octagonal foot resting on eight gilt-bronze tortoises and is decorated with four panels of micromosaic depicting the Seasons. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Florence Goldman, New York, 1972. Nestles, New York, 1974. Chrysolite Ltd., Kent, 1986. Petochi, Rome, 1986. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This table is a remarkable testimony to Italian craftsmanship and patriotism shortly after the unification of the nation in 1861. It is the only known piece of furniture to show micromosaics not only on the top, but also on the curved surfaces of the pedestal. The imagery is typical for pro-Italian art of the era, and shows the god Apollo in his chariot at the centre of the table top, surrounded by allegories of the Four Seasons and Elements. The depiction of Earth under Apollo can be read as a personification of Italy which was taken from antiquity and became a symbol of Italian unification. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. On long-term loan to Los Angeles County Museum from 2010. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.120:1-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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