Table Ornament thumbnail 1
Table Ornament thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 69, The Whiteley Galleries

Table Ornament

1680-1699 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This sculptural salt cellar is derived partly from the design of a celebrated monument in Messina, Sicily: the fountain of Orion by the Italian sculptor and architect Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli (about 1507–63). It may have formed part of a magnificent group of table pieces. Sebastian Juvarra was one of the leading silversmiths of Messina. He was the father of the famous 18th-century Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, cast and chased
Brief description
Table ornament or salt cellar in the form of Messina's fountain of Orion by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, made by Sebastian Juvarra, Messina (province), 1680-1699
Physical description
Cast and chased, the cup supported by tritons and nereids(?) on a hexagonal base resting on three sea-horses, the cover formed by three dolphins upholding an amorino.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28cm
  • Circa diameter: 15cm
Marks and inscriptions
Mark: 'seba ivari' with crowned shield of arms, for Sebastian Juvarra of Messina
Gallery label
  • Silver Gallery: The salt cellar is derived partly from the design of Messina's celebrated monument, the fountain of Orion by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli, and might originally have formed part of a magnificent table garniture. Sebastiano Juvarra was father of the famous 18th century baroque architect, Filippo Juvarra, and one of the leading silversmiths of Messina in Sicily.(26/11/2002)
  • 1. TABLE ORNAMENT ITALIAN (messina); late 17th century Silver Mark of Sebastiano Juvara (1609-1705) An important piece of Baroque silver by the father of the celebrated architect Filippo Juvaro.(1970-1980)
Object history
Check object file. An important piece of Baroque silver by the father of the celebrated architect Filippo Juvaro.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This sculptural salt cellar is derived partly from the design of a celebrated monument in Messina, Sicily: the fountain of Orion by the Italian sculptor and architect Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli (about 1507–63). It may have formed part of a magnificent group of table pieces. Sebastian Juvarra was one of the leading silversmiths of Messina. He was the father of the famous 18th-century Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra.
Bibliographic references
  • Hernmarck, Carl. 2 vols., The Art of the European Silversmith 1430-1830, Sotheby Parke Bernet, London and New York, 1977, vol. 2, plate 453.
  • Griseri, Angela. Oreficeria Barocca. Novara: Istituto Geografico de Agostino, 1985, pp. 32-3.
  • Check Christie's, NYC, April 17, 1996 lot 53, and April 19, 1990 lot 108.
Collection
Accession number
161-1879

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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