Hand Bell with Armorial Shields and Griffins

first half 16th century

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Italian 16th Century

Sculptor

The sculpture is a bell with intricate relief decorations, including floral motifs and mythical creatures like griffins surrounding a central shield. It is made of metal, displaying a dark bronze color with areas of patina. The bell stands upright with a solid, slightly elongated handle that has a bulbous shape on top. The detailed engravings and its overall design showcase the craftsmanship, giving it a historical and decorative look.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Medium brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 14.9 x 10.5 cm (5 7/8 x 4 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.111

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Georges Leclanché [1839-1882]; (sale, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 23-25 May 1892, no. 158); Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London and New York); purchased 1945 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Bronzes. Oxford, 1931: 120, no. 108, pl. 61.

1951

  • Renaissance Bronzes: Statuettes, Reliefs and Plaquettes, Medals and Coins from the Kress Collection. Introduction by Perry B. Cott. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1951: 139, as by North Italian 16th Century.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: no. 538.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 123, no. 3.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 118, repro.

Inscriptions

below gryphons on shield: SVRTEP (reversed) / MASSARO / TVS / ISINA (reversed)

Wikidata ID

Q63809708

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