Other - Antiqon Marketplace

PLAYING WITH CATS. ALEXANDER RIZZONI (1836 - 1902) RUSSIA - ITALY, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

PLAYING WITH CATS. ALEXANDER RIZZONI (1836 - 1902) RUSSIA - ITALY, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

An intimate genre composition defined by a subtle interplay of light and shadow, characteristic of Alexander Rizzoni’s artistic circle. Within the dim interior of what appears to be a vegetable cellar, a young boy is depicted playing with several cats. Concealing a bundle of turnips behind his back, he teases a cat perched upon a worn barrel. A narrow shaft of light penetrates through a small window, illuminating the child’s gesture and animated expression, while the warm ochre and brown tonalities enhance the atmosphere of humble domesticity.Despite its apparent simplicity, the scene carries a nuanced layer of social observation consistent with Russian Realism of the second half of the nineteenth century. The artist avoids overt dramatization, instead focusing on the quiet dignity of childhood. The modest amusements of impoverished youth become a reflection on resilience and innate vitality. Compassion and contemplative distance coexist within the composition, revealing the dual influence of the Russian academic tradition and Italian genre painting.Signed lower right.The work is attributed to Alexander Rizzoni (Alessandro Rizzoni, 1836 - 1902) on the basis of stylistic analysis, compositional structure, and painterly execution consistent with his genre works of the 1870s and 1880s.Dimensions: 41 x 33 cmMaterial: Oil on canvasCondition: Good. The paint surface is stable. Minor age-related wear consistent with the period.Provenance: Private European collection

Pair of Japanese Satsuma floor vases.

Pair of Japanese Satsuma floor vases.

Table set in the style of Napoleon III.

Table set in the style of Napoleon III.

Fireplace in Art Nouveau style. Latvia. Early 20th century.

Fireplace in Art Nouveau style. Latvia. Early 20th century.

Clock with console in Boulle style

Clock with console in Boulle style

Rococo mirror.

Janis Pauluks. Lielupe. 1953

Janis Pauluks. Lielupe. 1953

Medal For Diligence, with a portrait of Emperor Alexander III. Russia.

Medal For Diligence, with a portrait of Emperor Alexander III. Russia.

French, bronzed metal figure on a marble base. Happy holiday.

French, bronzed metal figure on a marble base. Happy holiday.

Silver plated set for cleaning crumbs from the table

Silver plated set for cleaning crumbs from the table

Large porcelain Easter egg.

Large porcelain Easter egg.

Large porcelain Easter egg in the colors of the Sevres manufactory. Decorated with vignettes with cupids on a blue background. Large vignettes symmetrically show cupids leaning on a shield with a crown and monograms AM, crowning with wreaths of roses. In small vignettes - the love joys of a cupid kissing a dove and a putti, in a pink scarf, playing with a wand. At the top, the motif of two intertwined wreaths - denoting the merging of ecstasies. Painting, decal with painting, gilding. Height: 18 cm. Seversk brand with the letter S. 20th century.

Art Deco cocktail ring with emerald and diamonds.

Art Deco cocktail ring with emerald and diamonds.

Medallion Alexander III. Kasli iron foundry.

Medallion Alexander III. Kasli iron foundry.

Silver French tortoiseshell lorgnette.

Silver French tortoiseshell lorgnette.

Pair of Cobalt, Art Nouveau Porcelain Vases.

Pair of Cobalt, Art Nouveau Porcelain Vases.

Revel. The old tavern in Yekaterinental. Alexander Yakovlevich Kramarev (1886-1975)

Revel. The old tavern in Yekaterinental. Alexander Yakovlevich Kramarev (1886-1975)

French porcelain teacup and saucer.

French porcelain teacup and saucer.

Panel Africa in Art Deco style

Panel Africa in Art Deco style

DESK JEWELRY CASKET WITH SÈVRES PORCELAIN PLAQUES FRANCE, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, CIRCA 1830

DESK JEWELRY CASKET WITH SÈVRES PORCELAIN PLAQUES FRANCE, FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, CIRCA 1830

An impressive desk jewelry casket executed in the opulent palatial manner of French decorative art of the Restoration period. The complex curvilinear body is crafted from finely selected rosewood, veneered in a striking diagonal pattern that enhances the sculptural volume and highlights the richness of the wood grain. The structure rests on four substantial sculptural feet in gilt bronze, modeled with pronounced Baroque scrolls and acanthus leaves.The surfaces are lavishly enriched with finely cast and chased gilt bronze mounts of high quality. Central to the decorative program are porcelain plaques from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, set within ornate gilt bronze frames. The polychrome paintings, executed on a blue ground, are devoted to themes of amorous lyricism: lush floral bouquets and playful putti, evoking the refined gallant imagery of the 18th century reinterpreted through the lens of early 19th-century taste.Particular attention is drawn to the porcelain plaque adorning the lid, featuring an exceptionally delicate floral composition. The painting is signed “BARRE SÈVRES,” allowing attribution to the Sèvres painter Barre, active during the first third of the 19th century. Signed plaques of this kind were reserved for objects of high representational status and were frequently commissioned for prestigious pieces of furniture and decorative works intended for aristocratic interiors.The interior of the casket is designed for the storage of jewelry and precious objects. A hinged front panel provides convenient access while preserving the monumentality and coherence of the exterior form. The casket stands as a refined example of the synthesis of cabinetmaking, gilt bronze work, and porcelain painting characteristic of leading French workshops of the period.Marks: Signed porcelain plaque: “BARRE SÈVRES”.Dimensions: Height 32 cm; width 58 cm; depth 36 cm.Condition: Good. Overall well preserved. Minor signs of age and use. Gilt bronze with even period patina. Porcelain plaques without chips or cracks.Provenance: France. Likely produced for an aristocratic interior or a formal salon in the first half of the 19th century.

MAJOLICA JARDINIÈRE IN THE FORM OF A BOAT WITH GRIFFINS

MAJOLICA JARDINIÈRE IN THE FORM OF A BOAT WITH GRIFFINS

Novgorod Icon of the Mother of God The Sign in a Silver Frame. Russia. 19th Century

Novgorod Icon of the Mother of God The Sign in a Silver Frame. Russia. 19th Century

In the sun

Collection of poems by Olga Dolmatova (Schmidt). Black grapes. Riga. 1925

Collection of poems by Olga Dolmatova (Schmidt). Black grapes. Riga. 1925

Before the rain View of the country road and the Ukrainian hut.

Before the rain View of the country road and the Ukrainian hut.

Gold ring with sapphire and diamonds.

Gold ring with sapphire and diamonds.

Painting Grandmother with granddaughter. Tvorozhnikov

Painting Grandmother with granddaughter. Tvorozhnikov

Girl with a lute. 19th century.

Girl with a lute. 19th century.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Never miss new auctions

Subscribe