#32

Neapolitan Melchior, King of Persia, in Royal Robes on Horse
4 Watching
Live Auction

an*****se
$9,500
sold
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Estimate
$9,000 / $12,000
Description
23" (58 cm.) seated. 20"w. horse. Polychromed terra cotta shoulderhead portraying young slender-faced man with deeply-sculpted brown hair and trimmed brown chin beard, enamel eyes, tow-wrapped posable armature body, carved wooden arms and legs, carved and painted brown open-toed boots, wearing original royal costume comprising silk striped harem pants, green silk fitted tunic, paper-lined burgundy silk jacket, lined golden silk cape with tasseled collar, padded draped turban with pearl beading, sash, "jeweled" necklace, and seated on black painted terra cotta horse with enamel eyes, deeply-sculpted brown mane and tail, with red velvet saddle over fringed and metallic-thread embroidered saddle blanket, cast metal stirrups and harness trim, on wooden base. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Neapolitan, mid-1700s, portraying Melchior, King of Persia, bearer of gifts in the traditional Magi scene. Value Points: the wonderfully-detailed and rare figure with exceptional detail of modeling, costume and decorated horse. Ex-collection Hanne Buktas.