Buccellati Engraving Sterling, Gold Turquoise Frame

[KJ]

I have a wonderful Buccellati engraving of Madonna and Child. The engraving is in what I believe to be a sterling silver frame that measures 7 cm by 8.5 cm (approximately 3 inches by 3.5 inches). There are gold rosettes and turquoise stones. The engraving is on a natural material such as bone and is signed on the back, in Italian, engraving by M. Buccellati. I have seen Forum postings of Buccellati engravings of religious pictures and locations on silver boxes but not one like this one. I have tried to load pictures of the Buccellati engraving and hope that it works. I was able to get them posted on Postimage so at least this part worked. Ken

[img]http://s20.postimg.org/mqohw8t25/image.jpg[/img]
http://s20.postimg.org/mqohw8t25/image.jpg
[url]http://s20.postimg.org/mqohw8t25/image.jpg[/url]
[img]http://s20.postimg.org/6r5ucox0d/image.jpg[/img]
http://s20.postimg.org/6r5ucox0d/image.jpg
[img]http://s20.postimg.org/9732cspp9/image.jpg[/img]
http://s20.postimg.org/9732cspp9/image.jpg
[img]http://s20.postimg.org/6bpz5xlp9/image.jpg[/img]
http://s20.postimg.org/6bpz5xlp9/image.jpg

[amena]

[AG2012]

Hi,
It was the grandfather Mario. Easily recognizable engraving pattern.
According to his grandson, it`s not uncommon for Mario Buccellati silver being without 15 MI or whatever additional mark except for silver fineness (.800 was common for boxes).
Amena`s post shows very honest French description; no dating or guessing.
(My box is from the fifties according to Mario`s grandson).
Best wishes

[KJ]

Thank you AMENA and AG2012 for the assistance to my post. Thanks to online translation services, I was able to understand the French information posted by AMENA regarding the Buccellati "bedside" frame. The size of my beautiful frame is slightly larger with the turquoise stones. It was interesting to me until I read some of your (AG2012) previous posts that Buccellati did not always mark silver properly or forgot to put the trademark on silver. The AMENA post, which I believe is from an auction catalog and indeed factual, makes no mention of a fineness mark, and I have not located a fineness mark on mine either. The pictures do not do the frame and portrait justice...the beauty of the artistry and workmanship is amazing and a testament to quality of Buccellati. With appreciation to you both, KJ.

[KJ]

Attached are the pictures of the Buccellati Engraving and Frame in silver, gold and turquoise.

[AG2012]

Hi,
Just crossed mind;being a desk (bedside) icon it was supposed to have an easel stand (missing here).
Two brackets on both sides of the inner frame.
Never mind;it`s beautiful.
Best wishes

[KJ]

You are absolutely correct and the frame indeed has the easel stand that is hinged on the back. It also has a little clasp on the top that folds up in the event one desires to hang the picture. Now that I have resolved the picture posting issue, I have added three that show the standing frame.

Thank you again for your kind assistance.

[AG2012]

Very ingenious construction as expected to have been made by Buccellati. You described it as``organic material``- bone, if I remember well.It must be ivory (legally allowed at the time). I have several miniature portraits on ivory and have always wondered what a tusk was needed to achieve 10 cm or so.
Best wishes