2520.Reinhold Vasters Pendant?This album covers research being done to trace whether this is a pendant made by Reinhold Vasters, as well as whether the (mostly) matching pendant from two Parke Bernet auctions is the same pendant or a "twin."
Auction listing from Parke Bernet Galleries, The Melvin Gutman Jewelry Part II, October 17, 1969, pg 19.
A Very Fine Devotional Pendant
Second Half of 16th Century
Composed of two oval carnelian plaques, the obverse carved in relief with a female figure nude from the waist standing by an altar and looking up to a sunburst, a ribbon issuing from her mouth enclosing the inscription: MAGNI SPES ALTERA REGNI and, on the other side of the altar, a winged cherub holding a heart-shaped white sapphire
engraved with bees and the inscription PLEBIS AMOR REGIS CUSTODIA ("the love of his people is the safeguard of the king."); the altar set with a table-cut ruby, to the left a diamond and to the right an emerald.
The reverse carved intaglio with the Virgin and Child and St. John the Baptist and a cartella inscribed E(cce A(gnus) D(ei).
Both plaques set in a rock crystal frame surrounded by twisted wire and pearl-threaded borders interrupted by four enamelled gold openwork clasps with pin-set pearls; with a pearl drop below and suspension ring above; the jewel attached by four chains with alternate links of enamelled and undecorated gold hanging from a cross-shaped suspension member enamelled red, white and blue with pendant pearl drop. In fitted case.
Height 7 1/4 inches
Note: Both the cameo and intaglio cutting of the plaques are of the highest quality. the long slim figure of St. John points to an Italian Mannerist source of the third quarter of the 16th century. According to the Walters Sale catalogue, this carnelian relief was related to the art of Benvenuto Cellini.
Collections:
- Marchese Strozzi Ridolfi, Florence.
-Prof Luigi Grassi (sale: American Art Association, Inc., January 20-22, 1927, no 478)
- Mrs. Henry Walters (sale: Parke-Bernet, vol two, April 30 and May 1-3, 1941, no. 1118, illus.)
Exhibitions:
- Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1948
- The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1962-1968
Literature:
- D'Otrange, 1952, p.72
