The autumn auction of Antique Furniture and Objets de Vertu, scheduled from 28 to 31 October 2025, brings together an extraordinary ensemble of works that evoke the splendour of collecting traditions which, from European courts, reached the grand residences of the twentieth century.
At the heart of the sale is an exceptional group of Objets de Vertu: astonishing miniature masterpieces representing the perfect fusion of artisanal virtuosity and aristocratic luxury. Of particular note is the section devoted to 18th-century snuff boxes, objects as opulent as they are functional, originally conceived as diplomatic gifts and marks of distinction within European courts.
Among these stands out the snuff box “à cage” in yellow gold and polychrome enamel by Gabriel-Raoul Morel, featuring finely painted chinoiserie panels and chiselled columns enhancing its structure (lot 44, estimate € 20,000 - 24,000), as well as the octagonal three-colour gold snuff box by Jean-François Delanoy, decorated with floral scrolls and miniatures depicting the Prince of Asturias and Maria Luisa of Parma (lot 72, estimate € 20,000 - 24,000). Equally refined is the porphyry box with micromosaic attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli, adorned with the celebrated Pliny’s doves, a perfect synthesis of ancient iconography and Grand Tour culture (lot 70, estimate € 4,000 - 5,000).
Lot 44
Gabriel-Raoul Morel (1764-1832). Marked with the Third Standard and Excise Marks for Gold, Paris, 1819-1838. "à cage" snuff box in chiseled yellow gold with polychrome enamel panels decorated with chinoiserie.
Estimate € 20.000 - 24.000
Lot 72
Jean-Francois Delanoy, Paris, 1785. Octagonal "à cage" snuff box in embossed three-color gold and chiseled with floral spirals on a sand background with mosaic reserves of murrine to imitate a marble arm.
Estimate € 20.000 - 24.000
Lot 70
Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836), Rome, late 18th century (attr). Circular porphyry snuff box with lid centered by micromosaic depicting Pliny's Doves, on a dark blue background inside a frame of red and white tiles with frame and rings in gold (d. cm 8; h. cm 3).
Estimate € 4.000 - 5.000
The charm of classical antiquity also shines through in the cameos and engraved gems, where a few centimetres of stone encapsulate symbolic strength and scholarly expression. A striking portrait of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, adorns a refined sardonyx cameo mounted in an octagonal gilt-bronze frame (lot 76, estimate € 8,000 - 10,000), while the austere figure of Caracalla, engraved on a 16th-century agate, reflects a form of collecting devoted to cultural elevation, enhanced by a setting in gold and gilt bronze (lot 81, estimate € 8,000 - 10,000).
Lot 76
Art of the 18th century. Oval carved sardonic cameo depicting the bust of a bearded warrior, probably Pyrrhus, king of Epirus (318 - 272 BC).
Estimate € 8.000 - 10.000
Lot 81
16th century oval engraved agata cameo depicting the bust of Caracalla. The face turned forward, with the head tilted slightly to the right.
Estimate € 8.000 - 10.000
The Baroque elegance and decorative flair of Italian workshops between the 17th and 18th centuries are reflected in objects made of coral and tortoiseshell. Among them, a Trapani mirror frame set with coral and enamel combines material preciousness with the grace of carving (lot 82, estimate € 10,000 - 12,000), while a Neapolitan tortoiseshell mirror inlaid with pierced gold and foliate scrolls stands as a symbol of theatricality and opulence (lot 49, estimate € 6,000 - 8,000). It resonates with a large carved wood and ivory dish produced in 19th-century Germany, where a Bacchic scene celebrates the dynamism and spectacle of sculpture (lot 48, estimate € 2,000 - 3,000).
Lot 82
Sicilian art, Trapani, second half of the 17th century. Octagonal mirror in gilded copper with coral frame and enamels.
Estimate € 10.000 - 12.000
Lot 49
Gennaro Sarao's workshop, Naples, circa 1730-1770. Small wavy-shaped mirror in threaded piquè tortoise inlaid with gold, perforated decoration with foliated scrolls, flowers and cartouches (22x18 cm).
Estimate € 6.000 - 8.000
Lot 48
A large wood and ivory dish with bronze inserts. Carved profile with bacchic scene, satyrs, classical figures, pitchers and grape bunches, the center with Venus and Cupid. Germany, 19th century (d. cm 52).
Estimate € 2.000 - 3.000
In the clock section, a remarkable 17th-century nocturnal clock stands out—created to surprise and fascinate through the allure of darkness. Its aedicule-shaped ebony case highlights the gilded bronze figure of the god of Time, Chronos, and a cardinal’s coat of arms. The crank-driven movement with time displayed through pierced hour plaques completes this authentic masterpiece of mechanical engineering and theatrical ingenuity (lot 67, estimate € 9,000 - 10,000).
Lot 67
Night clock with wooden aedicule case and ebonized profiles, on the top stands a gilded bronze all-round figure of Chronos and a cardinal's coat of arms is applied in relief. Italy, second half of the 17th century (h. cm 96)..
Estimate € 9.000 - 10.000
The evolution of Objets de Vertu continues into the 20th century, when Italian goldsmiths and artists embraced and reinterpreted their legacy. Notable pieces include the gold and polychrome enamel sculpture by Romolo Grassi, transforming precious metal into a figurative narrative (lot 95, estimate € 25,000 - 30,000); the coral and gold inlay “Le quattro stagioni” by Carlo Parlati, emblematic of the Torre del Greco school (lot 37, estimate € 6,500 - 7,000); and the elegant agate bowl attributed to Alfredo Ravasco (lot 9, estimate € 1,500 - 1,600).
Lot 95
Romolo Grassi, gold sculpture of a man and a woman on a rock crystal base and branches of fruits, leaves and flowers in polychrome enamelled gold and diamonds.
Estimate € 25.000 - 30.000
Lot 37
Manufacture of Torre del Greco, workshop of Carlo Parlati (1934-2003), mid 20th century. " The four seasons" branch of finely sculpted white coral, mounted on a silver base with gold ring 18Kt (cm tot 33x33x15; only coral h. cm 26).
Estimate € 6.500 - 7.000
Lot 9
Alfredo Ravasco (attr.). Agate bowl decorated with faux sapphire handles and beaded decorating chains (d. cm 10,5).
Estimate € 1.500 - 1.600
Completing this Wunderkammer of antiquities is a section devoted to carpets and textiles, featuring a rare early tapestry fragment based on a cartoon by Raphael, depicting the “Morte di Anania” (lot 94, estimate € 4,000 - 4,500).
Lot 94
16th century manufacturing. Tapestry fragment depicting the Death of Ananias, taken from a cartoon by Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520) (cm 348x282).
Estimate € 4.000 - 4.500