Writing Box, Napels, ca. 1600-1625

Contact Kollenburg Antiquairs BV

Dealer

Kollenburg Antiquairs BV

Price

Price on request

Status

Available

Period

ca. 1600-1625

Material

wood with ivory inlay

Description

A wooden writing box inlaid with ivory plaques engraved with biblical scenes. Boxes like these were mostly made in Italy in the first part of the seventeenth century. Only a few artists are known by name. This box is arguably made by Giacomo Fiammingho in Naples in the early seventeenth century. The refined engraving and minute detail, together with the choice of subjects, support the attribution to this artist. Jacopo Il Fiammingho (Giacomo Fiammingho) was one of many artists originating from the north that worked in Naples around 1600. He was a cabinetmaker and probably also ivory engraver. His name appears for the first time in a notary deed in Naples in 1596. The deed records the collaboration of scrittorista (cabinetmaker) Giacomo Fiammingho and ivory engraver Giovanni Battiste de Curtis de Napoli in the making of two cabinets. Artifacts made by Giacoma Fiammingho are extremely rare. Ancient inventories prove that Rudolph II of Prague owned a table by the master. The scarce cabinets known to be made by Giacomo Fiammingho are genuine gems of furniture making, although he never signed his work. To date only four cabinets of the master are known. They stand out from other Italian furniture with engraved ivory, because of their refined finishing and original subject matter in the engravings as well as their original construction and embellishment. Since 1904 the Philadelphia Museum of Art has a writing cabinet on a stand in ebony and ivory made by Fiammingho. The subject of the engravings are the conquests of Charles V. These engravings are based on the prints of Maarten van Heemskerk and Dirk Coornhert edited in the 16th century. One of the cabinets in Naples celebrates the heroic action of the Duke of Alva. The cabinet in Hamburg contains 148 ivory plaques with mythical characters, historic scenes and cityscapes. Because of the engravings after prints of Adriaan Collaert and Maarten de Vos, this cabinet is believed to be connected to Philips II of Spain, who ruled over Naples around 1600. This writing box is of a much smaller size than the above mentioned cabinets. It shows, however, the same elaborate detail and outstanding crafsmanship. The depictions, inspired by the Old Testament, are of superb artistic quality. On the lid we see four stories from the Book of Judges 1 Samson takes the doors of the city-gate 2 Samson defeats the Phillistines with the jawbone of a donkey 3 Samson and the lion 4 Samson and the foxes In the centre of the frontpanel we see a depiction of a woman on a throne. This is probably the prophetess Deborah.

Two of the smaller depictions show Tobias catching a fish (Tobit 6 GNT) and Tobias and Sarah burning the heart and liver of the fish.

On the back of the box, three more depictions: 1 Jona in the whale 2 Susanna and the Elders 3 The Prophet and the lion (1 Kings 13:26)

The themes of the depictions can be divided into two separate messages. One is the message to judges or priests to combat evil in a powerfull and righteous way, represented by the pictures on the cover. The pictures on the back contain the message that faith in God and fairness will lead to the good and disobedience will lead to punishment. The subject matter of the engravings suggests a specific commission of a priest or judge. Characteristic for the work of Giacomo Fiammingho is the use of Flemmish prints for the engravings in ivory. The depictions are reminiscent of prints from Antwerp of the late 16th century.