“Let us just close our eyes for a moment…” And so starts our cover story written by Anna Orlando which is dedicated to one of the masterpieces of Genoese painting from the Seventeenth century – in our May auction – and which is extraordinary in terms of quality, provenance and, indeed, dimensions. An utterly sublime pictorial work of jubilation – quoting our title here! – and such a perfect sythesis of two different artistic cultures, Flemish and Italian. Indeed, it was in Genoa, in the Superba, that these two cultures were able to blend and give rise to a new artistic genre.
And again, by closing our eyes once more let us look back to seven years ago when we imagined this magazine as an instrument with which we would be able to converse and compare with those around us. Indeed, in the current issue we “converse” and “compare” on a wide range of artistic areas, from the Istantanee dedicated to Manet, Bill Viola and Balenciaga to Roberta Olcese’s Carnet de Voyage. Whilst Alessandro Secciani claims that the euphoria that has returned to the financial and share markets will soon be reflected onto the art market, Barnaba Fornasetti will be telling us about the philosophy that lies at the very basis of a company that you either “like or hate”. Lastly, Tommaso Montanari is launching a harsh j’accuse not only in the direction of the political class in Italy but also towards all those citizens who have left by the wayside an increasingly significant part of our cultural heritage.
Our previews are more than worth a highly attentive glance in this current issue since they look at a selection of works ranging from precious silverware by Paul Storr, a particularly refined group of creamware from Faenza to the design world of Augusto Bozzi. The list continues with a rare Aubusson Feuilles de Choux, a drawing by Modigliani once exhibited at Milan’s Royal Palace, the iconic Cartier panthère brooch, old masters from the Nineteenth century and, last but not least, a small bronze jug from the Shang Dynasty. Particular mention should go to the collection of paintings, furniture and furnishings and objets d’art that were collected by Fiero Gandolfi, a successful entrepreneur, sportsman and never-forgotten president of the club Virtus Bologna.
I am very pleased to be welcoming – from these very pages, too! – Teresa Scarlata who will be in charge of our Jewellery and Watches Department along with Benedetta Romanini, and to Daniele Ricci who is in charge of the first auction at Wannenes dedicated to Numismatics.
Let us just close our eyes once more and imagine a new international dimension for our company. I will tell you all about that though, in the next issue!
Fausto Melotti Poesia, 1962
Sold € 347.200
TOP LOTS 2016
Collana a due fili di perle naturali, oro bianco, smeraldo e diamanti
Estimate € 100.000 – 120.000
Sold € 1.054.000
Neri da Bicci Tobia e San Raffaele Arcangelo e Santi
Estimate € 400.000 – 600.000
Sold € 806.000
Fausto Melotti Poesia, 1962
Estimate € 180.000 – 240.000
Sold € 347.200
Piano in marmi diversi 1775 circa
Estimate € 10.000 – 15.000
Sold € 235.600
Coppa in porcellana Cina, dinastia Qing, periodo Yongzheng (1723-1735)
Estimate € 20.000 – 25.000
Sold € 210.800