Search	The Work of Impruneta, Il Tesoro di Santa Maria :: Cushion Tuscan Manifacture, 15th century, before 1477 :: The discovery of the sacred image of the Virgin Florentine Sculptor, Mid 15th century :: Altar trappings composed of four candleholders and a cross bearer with a cross Florentine Workshop, Before 1632 :: Antiphonary (previously called Vesperal 6) Antonio di Girolamo di Ugolino, 1538-1539. :: 1. Gradual (previously called Antiphonary I) Lippo di Benivieni, 1315-1320 ca. :: Basin and jug Tuscan Manifacture, Datable as 1711 :: Pyx Tuscan Manifacture, 16th century :: Processional cross Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1425 ca. :: Reliquary of St. Sixtus Simone Pignoni, Dated 1614 :: Pyx Cosimo Merlini, 1637 :: Pair of votive vases Tuscan Manifacture, Second quarter of the 17th century, datable as 1633 :: Pax Antonio di Salvi, 1515 :: Little cape - image cover in canvas Tuscan Manifacture, 1568 :: Chasuble Tuscan Manifacture, Early 18th century :: Series of two tunicles Tuscan Manifacture, 17th century	.:. works .:. artists Altar trappings composed of four candleholders and a cross bearer with a cross Before 1632 Florentine Workshop Impruneta, The Treasure of Santa Maria Rock Crystal, ebony with silver appliquè, gilded bronze and copper candleholders h. 58 and 60cm.; cross bearer and cross h. 100cm.; cross 54 x 43cm. Source: Basilica of Santa Maria at Impruneta These altar trappings, composed of four candleholders and a cross bearer with a cross, are glyptic works of notable importance, both for the rare rock crystal used to make them and the high quality of the work. The candleholders have a hexagonal ebony base that is richly decorated with silver, while the stems rise up in a spirals, created with eight elements of rock crystal that are alternatively onion or balustrade shaped.The cross stands on a rectangular ebony base and the difference in the way the rock crystal is prepared suggests they do not have the same provenance as the candleholders. The elements in the stem are more faceted and varied in shape, while the cross is carried out with small bars of crystal with polylobate endings and crested borders. The candleholders and the cross appear in the inventories of the relics that once belonged to Maria Maddalena of Austria, who commissioned numerous reliquaries in rock crystal in the first decades of the 17th century. The candleholders were carried out in the Grand Ducal workshops in this period, certainly before 1633, the year in which Christine of Lorraine donated the entire set of altar trappings to the Virgin of Impruneta. Francesco I invited craftsmen capable of preparing this material to Florence and Christine of Lorraine, Catherine dei Medici's favourite granddaughter, educated at the French Court with a taste for refined objects and precious materials greatly encouraged this production. For her wedding with Ferdinando I, she purchased several furnishings in rock crystal from the famous Milanese workshop of the Saracchi brothers and the working of this material soon intensified in Florence as well. The cross, probably 16th century, was readapted to complete the altar furnishings. It was provided with a stand identical to that of the candlesticks and mounted using other materials from elsewhere, perhaps from Milan and Venice. back print
		info@chiantimusei.it