304 - CARLO PARLATI Sculpture depicting a female face with windblown hair, carved from pink coral.

CARLO PARLATI Sculpture depicting a female face with windblown hair, carved from pink coral. 1980s Dimensions: 4.5 x 3 x 1.5 cm. Weight: 19.8 g. A sculpture carved from a single piece of pink coral, displaying delicate peach and salmon hues, depicting an elegant female face with idealized features; the head is slightly turned and framed by abundant, flowing hair arranged in an elaborate succession of undulating locks.The composition is distinguished by the refined balance between the modeling of the face—characterized by smooth, perfectly polished surfaces—and the highly sculptural treatment of the hair, whose locks curl into broad volutes, creating deep undercuts and small openwork passages. Particularly striking is the large lock extending sideways and curling back behind the neck, lending the entire composition a sense of movement and lightness.The face, characterized by slightly half-closed eyes, a slender nose, and delicately parted lips suggesting a faint smile, conveys a serene elegance, enhanced by the contrast between the composure of the facial features and the almost swirling dynamism of the hair.The work represents a significant example of Carlo Parlati’s sculptural oeuvre, in which the female figure often takes on an idealized and poetic character through a personal reinterpretation of the classical tradition and the refined art of coral carving associated with Torre del Greco.Particularly noteworthy is the artist’s ability to work in harmony with the natural shape of the material, transforming it into a defining element of the sculptural conception. The interplay between meticulously polished surfaces and deeply carved grooves enhances the translucency and delicate chromatic nuances of the coral, lending the sculpture remarkable expressive intensity.Parlati’s characteristic engraved signature appears on the reverse. Antonio Uliano, Carlo Parlati. On the Coral Sculptures of Carlo Parlati, Ars Magistra Arts, Naples-Rome, 1983. Carlo Parlati is widely regarded as the most innovative figure in modern Italian coral sculpture. Trained in the centuries-old carving tradition of Torre del Greco, he transformed the ancient craft of coral carving into a truly contemporary sculptural language, elevating it beyond the realm of decorative arts to that of autonomous works of art. His body of work is distinguished by his ability to harness the natural forms of coral as the generative element of each composition, skillfully integrating them with gold, silver, and hardstones to create highly original sculptural works. Among the most celebrated subjects in his body of work are Adam and Eve, Bacchus, Ecce Homo, Venus, allegorical figures, and numerous interpretations of Medusa—a theme particularly well-suited to highlighting the material’s extraordinary plasticity, expressive power, and dynamic qualities. 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.