Beschreibung:

A LARGE ITALIAN SILVER EWER AND BASIN BY GIOVANNI BELLEZZA, MARK OF MILAN, CIRCA 1847 The baluster ewer on spreading gadrooned base below a band of stiff leaf foliage, the centre cast with three seated mermen, the ovoid body centred with a mythological wedding scene, depicting an altar between the bride and groom and with two putti below, each holding a coat-of-arms and surrounded by guests, musicians, dancers and a soldier, the shoulder of the ewer applied with heraldic elements alternating with animals framed by scrolling foliage, the neck with scenes of cavorting putti , the spout applied with a large mask, the winged caryatid shaped handle with bearded man lower terminal and two dolphins by the upper rim; the circular basin with border of dancing putti in scrolling foliage, the centre with allegories of industry, agriculture, the sciences, the arts and the State of Italy, a plaque below with presentation inscription, and on the raised centre the arms of Savoy; the ewer with gilt sleeve and the dish with detachable back plate, marked with standard mark and territory mark for Milan, engraved on ewer foot and centre of basin 'G. Bellazza M. F. 1847' the basin 26 ½ in. (67.3 cm.) high; the ewer 27 ½ in. (70 cm.) high 587 oz. 4 dwt. (18,264 gr.) The arms are those of Savoy, for Victor-Emmanuel II (1820-1878), and of Habsburg-Lorraine, for Maria Adelaide, archduchess of Austria (1822-1855). The inscription on the plaque reads '' A Te Adelaide Progenie Augusta Di Raineri Austriaco Ed Elisabetta Sabauda Le Cul Virtu Ne Fanno Cara A Lombarde E Venete Provincie 'L'Autorita' Milano Lieta Di Averti Dato La Culla Gratulando Plaudendo Al Tuo Felice Imeneo Con Vittorio Emmanuelle Pr. R. Di Sardegna uesto Lavoro Di Artefici Suoi Che Su La Dora Ti Ricordi La Patria Devotamente Offeriva A MDCCCXLII ' which translates as ' For you Adelaide, august daughter of Rainer of Austria and Elisabeth of Savoie Carignan, whose virtues make her authority dear to the provinces of Lombardy and Veneto. The city of Milan is delighted to have given you a warm and welcoming home for your happy marriage to Victor Emmanuel King of Sardinia and offers this work made by its craftsmen in the hope that it reminds of your homeland while you stay on the Dora river. Year 1842 .' Provenance Presented to Victor-Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia and King of Italy and Maria Adelaide of Habsburg-Lorraine, archduchess of Austria, in 1861, then by descent.