305 - CARLO PARLATI Coral sculpture depicting a horse's head, with a white gold setting, on a malachite and white marble base.

CARLO PARLATI Coral sculpture depicting a horse's head, with a white gold setting, on a malachite and white marble base. 1979 An original sculptural composition depicting a horse’s head, carved from white coral (Corallium konojoi, or Pleurocorallium konojoi), characterized by a creamy-white hue with delicate pinkish undertones. The horse, portrayed with its muzzle thrust forward, mouth slightly open, and nostrils flared, features a luxuriant mane composed of long, sinuous, undulating locks, carved with remarkable virtuosity and imbued with a strong sense of movement.The head is set within an elaborate white gold mount, crafted by the Florentine goldsmith Chilleri in 1979, consisting of numerous stylized, openwork horseshoes intertwined in a free-flowing, swirling arrangement. The metal elements, with a darkened finish accented by metallic highlights, create a striking contrast in color and texture against the pale, polished surface of the coral, lending the composition a sense of lightness and dynamic elegance.The sculpture rests on an irregular block of natural malachite, partially polished and displaying the stone’s characteristic concentric banding in varying shades of green, which is in turn mounted on a rectangular white marble base.The horse’s head bears the incised signature “PARLATI,” while a metal plaque affixed to the malachite base is inscribed “CHILLERI – FIRENZE 1979,” referring to the subsequent goldsmith’s work.The composition therefore constitutes a composite work, in which the coral sculpture is attributed to Carlo Parlati, while the white gold setting was created by the Florentine goldsmith Chilleri in 1979. Dimensions: 16.5 x 22 x 9 cm. Coral dimensions: 8 x 8 x 3 cm. Coral weight: 73.7 gr. 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 exploit 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.