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Description

Rare polychrome spun-glass crib depicting the Holy Family surrounded by shepherds and the Magi who came to prostrate themselves at the birth of Baby Jesus. France. In the center, on either side of the Holy Family, the donkey that carried Mary to the stable and the ox whose breath offers warmth to the newborn. On the left, Balthazar with his retinue, bringing myrrh as an offering "a sign of future suffering" and, on the right, Melchior offering gold "a symbol of royalty" and Gaspard holding a censer "incense being a symbol of divinity". Nevers. Early 18th century. H_32 cm L_46 cm Figurines, or "Figulines", in Nevers glass and enamel The technique, known as Nevers spun glass, seems to have been developed in ancient times around the Mediterranean basin. In practice, glass rods are heated "with a lamp". The softened glass becomes malleable and can be stretched into strands, hence the name "spun glass". It was in Italy, and particularly in Venice from the 15th century onwards, that the great glassmaking centers developed the technique of blown and spun glass to produce fine glassware, beads and glass rods for export throughout Europe. It was in Nevers, under the impetus of Louis IV de Gonzague (1539 - 1595), Prince of Mantua, that a center for spun glass was created, hence the name "verre filé de Nevers". The Prince was, in fact, the husband of Henriette de Clèves, Duchess of Nevers, and he set up his court here, followed by numerous artisans from Italy. Other centers were established in Paris, Orléans, Saumur and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, but the name remained in Nevers, which supplied the raw materials for the secondary centers. From a structure of copper and iron wire, softened glass rods are shaped with tongs to produce human figures: religious figures (saints, scenes from the life of Christ or the Virgin), secular figures from mythology or everyday life. They also include characters from the Commedia dell'arte. Finally, there are sets called "paradise", combining secular and religious subjects in elaborate compositions in boxes. Spun glass production in Nevers was very popular until the end of the 18th century, generating royal or princely orders as well as more modest productions, depending on the skills of the master glassmakers. Source : Verre d'usage et de prestige France 1500 - 1800. Jacqueline Bellanger. Les Éditions de l'Amateur - 1988

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Rare polychrome spun-glass crib depicting the Holy Family surrounded by shepherds and the Magi who came to prostrate themselves at the birth of Baby Jesus. France. In the center, on either side of the Holy Family, the donkey that carried Mary to the stable and the ox whose breath offers warmth to the newborn. On the left, Balthazar with his retinue, bringing myrrh as an offering "a sign of future suffering" and, on the right, Melchior offering gold "a symbol of royalty" and Gaspard holding a censer "incense being a symbol of divinity". Nevers. Early 18th century. H_32 cm L_46 cm Figurines, or "Figulines", in Nevers glass and enamel The technique, known as Nevers spun glass, seems to have been developed in ancient times around the Mediterranean basin. In practice, glass rods are heated "with a lamp". The softened glass becomes malleable and can be stretched into strands, hence the name "spun glass". It was in Italy, and particularly in Venice from the 15th century onwards, that the great glassmaking centers developed the technique of blown and spun glass to produce fine glassware, beads and glass rods for export throughout Europe. It was in Nevers, under the impetus of Louis IV de Gonzague (1539 - 1595), Prince of Mantua, that a center for spun glass was created, hence the name "verre filé de Nevers". The Prince was, in fact, the husband of Henriette de Clèves, Duchess of Nevers, and he set up his court here, followed by numerous artisans from Italy. Other centers were established in Paris, Orléans, Saumur and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, but the name remained in Nevers, which supplied the raw materials for the secondary centers. From a structure of copper and iron wire, softened glass rods are shaped with tongs to produce human figures: religious figures (saints, scenes from the life of Christ or the Virgin), secular figures from mythology or everyday life. They also include characters from the Commedia dell'arte. Finally, there are sets called "paradise", combining secular and religious subjects in elaborate compositions in boxes. Spun glass production in Nevers was very popular until the end of the 18th century, generating royal or princely orders as well as more modest productions, depending on the skills of the master glassmakers. Source : Verre d'usage et de prestige France 1500 - 1800. Jacqueline Bellanger. Les Éditions de l'Amateur - 1988

Estimate 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

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For sale on Friday 28 Jun : 14:00 (CEST)
beaune, France
Pierre Bergé & Associés
+33149499000
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