Pair of important carved, gilded, and polychrome wooden planters, Naples, late 18th century

Extraordinary pair of Neapolitan guéridons or jardinières, made at the end of the 18th century, a testament to the very high artistic quality achieved by Neapolitan workshops in the neoclassical era. Entirely carved in wood, finely gilded and polychrome, these works stand out for their formal elegance and the symbolic richness of their decorative elements. The tripod stems are carved with oak leaf motifs arranged in relief along the legs, which curve gracefully and end in spectacular caprine hooves, according to a decorative lexicon inspired by classical antiquity and Pompeian influences, widely reworked in Naples during the reign of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon. The base rests on gilded scroll feet that imitate the movement of horns, elements that give momentum and movement to the whole. The upper band, also richly carved, features floral and foliate decorations in relief, painted in soft pastel tones, on an ivory background, according to a chromatic palette typical of late eighteenth-century taste. The circular top, probably in marble or painted stone, completes the composition with sober elegance. Works of this refinement can be compared to the creations of artists active at the Neapolitan court, such as the carvers of the circle of Domenico Orsi or the Fischetti brothers, and reflect the French decorative influence reinterpreted with Mediterranean flair and vivacity. Rare pieces, of great scenographic effect, ideal for enriching historical environments or museum collections. Diameter cm. 54 height cm. 110