Outstanding Genoese Carved Wooden Horse with Elaborate Fittings

Live Auction

13" (33 cm.) l. 12"h. The carved wooden horse in prancing pose is mounted upon original carved wooden base with cobbled stone detail, and has painted brown hide with black shading, brown enamel eyes and elaborate details of carved mane, ears, flowing tail, hooves, muscles, and mouth; fitted with elaborate leather harness, metal stirrups, and padded green velvet embroidered blanket and sacks, and leather shaped saddle with padded green seat and sides. Excellent condition, original fittings. Genoese, late 17th century, a 1973 exhibition at the Genoese Palazzo Rosso attributed a nearly-identical horse to Gerolamo Pittaluga noting that the sculptor was adept at translating the animals drawings of 17th century painters into sculpture.