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Lot 164
AN ITALIAN GILDED AND GEM-SET SCULPTURE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN CORONATION ROBES
RENATO SIGNORINI, 1953-1956
Closed15 March 2017
Price Realised
GBP 7,500
More Information
AN ITALIAN GILDED AND GEM-SET SCULPTURE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN CORONATION ROBES
RENATO SIGNORINI, 1953-1956
Modelled seated full-length, holding the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, wearing the Coronation Robes and the Order of the Garter and the Imperial State crown, set with gems including sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and lapis lazuli, signed on the skirt of the robes ‘R. Signorini’
26 1/4 in. (66.5 cm.) high
RENATO SIGNORINI, 1953-1956
Modelled seated full-length, holding the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, wearing the Coronation Robes and the Order of the Garter and the Imperial State crown, set with gems including sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and lapis lazuli, signed on the skirt of the robes ‘R. Signorini’
26 1/4 in. (66.5 cm.) high
AN ITALIAN GILDED AND GEM-SET SCULPTURE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN CORONATION ROBES
RENATO SIGNORINI, 1953-1956
Modelled seated full-length, holding the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, wearing the Coronation Robes and the Order of the Garter and the Imperial State crown, set with gems including sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and lapis lazuli, signed on the skirt of the robes ‘R. Signorini’
26 1/4 in. (66.5 cm.) high
RENATO SIGNORINI, 1953-1956
Modelled seated full-length, holding the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, wearing the Coronation Robes and the Order of the Garter and the Imperial State crown, set with gems including sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls, and lapis lazuli, signed on the skirt of the robes ‘R. Signorini’
26 1/4 in. (66.5 cm.) high
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 26 October 2012, lot 81.
The Times, ‘Renato Signorini’, 10 April 1956, p. 3.
This monumental sculpture was created by the Roman sculptor and medallist Renato Signorini (1902-1966) for his inaugural exhibition in London in 1956. He was noted for working almost exclusively in precious metals, often casting pieces using the lost wax process in silver, which he then gilded or gold, many of these he gem-set. His sculpted portraits included Pope Pius XII, Audrey Hepburn and Princess of Grace of Monaco. The sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II later toured the United States with many of the pieces from the London exhibition. A contemporary British Pathé newsreel from May 1956 described the sculpture as being ‘cast in silver a quarter of an inch thick, with a layer of gold an eight of an inch thick…inlaid with one hundred and three emeralds, sapphires, pearls, rubies and lapis-lazuli.’ The commentary suggests its bullion value would exceed £6,000. A newspaper report from 1959 records that on his way to his first American exhibition he was commissioned to create a 14 inch high jewelled sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II by the Women of Canada for presentation to the Queen. His work as a medallist included the medallion for the 1960 Rome Olympics. His able to mount his first American exhibition through the patronage of his friend the American ambassador to Italy, Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987).
This monumental sculpture was created by the Roman sculptor and medallist Renato Signorini (1902-1966) for his inaugural exhibition in London in 1956. He was noted for working almost exclusively in precious metals, often casting pieces using the lost wax process in silver, which he then gilded or gold, many of these he gem-set. His sculpted portraits included Pope Pius XII, Audrey Hepburn and Princess of Grace of Monaco. The sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II later toured the United States with many of the pieces from the London exhibition. A contemporary British Pathé newsreel from May 1956 described the sculpture as being ‘cast in silver a quarter of an inch thick, with a layer of gold an eight of an inch thick…inlaid with one hundred and three emeralds, sapphires, pearls, rubies and lapis-lazuli.’ The commentary suggests its bullion value would exceed £6,000. A newspaper report from 1959 records that on his way to his first American exhibition he was commissioned to create a 14 inch high jewelled sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II by the Women of Canada for presentation to the Queen. His work as a medallist included the medallion for the 1960 Rome Olympics. His able to mount his first American exhibition through the patronage of his friend the American ambassador to Italy, Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987).
London, The O’Hana Gallery, Priceless, March-April 1956.
New York, Tiffany & Co., October 1957.
Los Angeles, Beverley Hills Hotel, October 1958.
Pasadena, Pasadena Art Museum, April 1959.
New York, Tiffany & Co., October 1957.
Los Angeles, Beverley Hills Hotel, October 1958.
Pasadena, Pasadena Art Museum, April 1959.
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