300 - Coral Cerasuolo sculpture depicting a female bust.

Coral Cerasuolo sculpture depicting a female bust. Torre del Greco, second half of the 20th century Dimensions: 5.5 x 4 x 2 cm. Weight: 44.9 g. Carved from a single piece of Cerasuolo coral (Corallium elatius), featuring delicate shades of ivory, cream, and salmon pink, with deeper orange hues in the recessed areas, depicting the bust of a young woman with idealized features, her head slightly tilted and turned to the right, framed by flowing hair and crowned by an elegant hat with an undulating brim.The face bears a gentle, contemplative expression, emphasized by half-closed eyes, delicately arched eyebrows, a slender nose, and slightly parted lips suggesting a faint smile. The hair, arranged in long, sinuous locks, flows sideways in a fluid and dynamic movement, forming soft volutes that frame the face and cascade over the shoulders.Particularly refined is the rendering of the hat, characterized by a broad, irregularly shaped brim and a band decorated with a succession of fine diagonal incisions. The flowing contours of the brim harmoniously complement the movement of the hair, lending the entire composition a sense of lightness and natural grace.The work belongs to the artistic tradition of coral carving associated with Torre del Greco, an important center for the crafting of this precious organic material, where, during the twentieth century, sculptural production gradually shifted away from traditional iconographic models toward a freer and more contemporary figurative language.The female figure, characterized by idealized elegance and a pronounced stylization of her features, reflects the decorative taste of the second half of the 20th century, with particular emphasis on the fluidity of forms and the pursuit of a balance between naturalism and ornamental interpretation.The quality of the carving, the meticulous polishing of the surfaces, and the skillful enhancement of the coral’s natural shape demonstrate a high standard of craftsmanship, consistent with the work of workshops specializing in coral sculpture active in Torre del Greco. Item condition rating: ***** excellent. No obvious fractures, restorations, or visible repairs are apparent. The coral retains its original lustrous polish and displays excellent color consistency throughout.