Antique 19th Century Silver Plated Copper Shield In 16th Century Renaissance Style

Good quality antique, 19th century, from the Victorian period, electrotype plated silver on copper, large shield in the style of the Italian Renaissance parade armor from the 16th century.

Very decorative example of the Victorian representation of the early Renaissance royal shield, profusely embossed in high relief and chiseled with battle scenes in front of the castle, with Renaissance-era soldiers and knights in armor, armed with falchion's swords, rondel daggers, axes, arrow bows, and spears; all showing lovely details.

The border is adorned at the top and bottom with Roman mythological masks with captured warriors with muscular necks on the sides.

The sides of the shield are decorated with cannons, classical Roman armor (lorica musculata), helmets, and fruit bundles, typical ornaments in Renaissance art.

The back of the shield is equipped with suspension mounts for hanging on a wall.

In the 19th century, during the Victorian era, arms and armor were one of the most important elements of the interior design of upper-class mansions. These residences were decorated with 16th-century armor, and some were custom-made in the 19th century for wealthy customers in the 16th-century style.

The electrotype process was invented in 1838 and was used in museums to produce study pieces until the 1860s.

REFERENCES:

1. Related shield from the collection of the Museo Stibbert, Firenze, Italy. Inv. no. armi1405 you can see in the link:

https://www.artandobject.com/press-release/knights...

2. Two identical shields, but with two candlesticks added later, were sold by Christie's London, England, at the Interiors - Style & Spirit auction on May 17, 2011, for GBP 4,750 = US$7.695.

To view it, please see the link below:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5434017

3. Another almost identical shield made of brass and not silver plated was sold on Aug 29, 2020, at Sofe Design Auctions (Richardson, TX, USA Lot 0468) for $2600 +25% Buyer's Premium = $3250 plus sale tax.

We will provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.

CONDITION: Showing age and usage, with old dark patina. Slight wear to silver plating.

DIMENSIONS: 62 cm x 44 cm (24.41 inches x 17.32 inches).

WEIGHT approximately: 2.232 kg (4.92 pounds)