A RENAISSANCE BRONZE PLAQUETTE OF THE TRIUMPH OF A HERO

A RENAISSANCE BRONZE PLAQUETTE OF THE TRIUMPH OF A HERO, WORKSHOP OF ANDREA BRIOSCO, CALLED RICCIO, PADUA, C1510-1525 MOUNTED ON THE LID OF A 15CT GOLD BOX BY SEAMAN SCHEPPS 5.5cm h; 9 x 11.5cm, box by William Comyns & Sons, London 1899, stamped SEAMAN SCHEPPSProvenance: Acquired by the late mother of the present vendor in New York, circa 1940.Several other examples of the plaquette are in institutional collections, including that in the Salting Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum (A414. 1910)'America's Court Jeweller' and its eponymous founder Seaman Schepps (1881-1972) soon established a reputation for exclusivity, bold, adventurous designs and contrasting colours and textures, in the present example combining bronze and high carat gold. During the 1930s and after World War Two many of the firm's clients came from the world of stage and screen or were themselves patrons of the arts.The gold box, probably originally from a dressing set or perhaps a cigarette box was selected by Schepps or his customer as an object of appropriate value for the setting of a fully authentic renaissance bronze from the workshops of so important a sculptor. In doing so, Schepps has probably removed the sides of the box, replacing them with a striking Art Deco openwork cloud design. The base has been removed and instead a heavier gold plated replacement counterbalances the raised lid. The resulting American 'Art Moderne' objet de luxe exemplifies the taste of Schepps' wealthy New York clientele.