Strauss & co - 17 March 2014, Cape Town

131 354 A pair of monumental Venetian parcel-gilt ebonised and carved wood blackamoors, in the manner of Valentino Besarel, second half 19th century each supporting an urn on his head carved with winged dragons and lion- masks, wearing a turban, tunic top and pantaloons, standing barefooted on a hexagonal base carved with swags of flowers and lion-masks, with gilt highlights, 234cm high (2) R250 000–300 000 NOTES Valentino Panciera Besarel (1829 1902) was born in Zoldo, in the province of Bellune, Veneto, Italy, the son of the wood carver Giovanni Batista Besarel. He established himself in the 1860’s with an atelier located in Venice. His trade card listed private patrons and royality including Edward, Prince of Wales. He exhibited at the 1878 Paris Universelle Exposition , where he was awarded the Grande Medaille d’Or . He was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur . The churches of Este and Conselve, near Padua possess many groups of saints executed by him. detail