A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant - image-1
A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant - image-2
A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant - image-1A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant - image-2

Lot 16 Dα

A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant

Auction 1066 - overview Cologne
19.05.2016, 17:00 - Jewellery and Watches
Estimate: 2.500 € - 3.500 €
Result: 5.952 € (incl. premium)
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A Renaissance gold enamel and pearl dolphin pendant

Designed as an enamelled scroll motif suspending a hollow pendant formed as a putto seated on a dolphin. The scales are picked out in fragmentary green champlevé enamel and the scroll, hat and tail fin in relief enamel. With four baroque-form pearl droplets. Losses to the enamel. Total H 6.4 cm. Weight 16.6 g.
Probably German, 2nd half 16th C.

Sea creatures, and especially dolphins, were a popular motif in 16th century goldsmiths' works in Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

Literature

Cf. Hackenbroich, Renaissance Jewellery, 1979, p. 136 - 143, p. 226/227. P. 123/124 shows a design for a pendant by Hans Holbein with a putto riding a dolphin (no. 307) and two designs by Hans Brosamer (no. 305 A). On dolphin pendants in general cf.: Muller, Jewels in Spain 1500 - 1800, 2012, p. 92 ff.