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Ivory sculptures depicting the four seasons, Germany (?), 17th - 18th century

Antique group of four elephant ivory carvings (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797) finely carved in the round to depict the four seasons.

The women are depicted semi-nude, with light drapery covering part of their bodies and attributes that indicate their allegorical identity as personifications of the seasons. Spring carries a bouquet of roses and brings one close to her nose, Summer holds ripe fruit and brings a piece to her mouth, Autumn clutches a goblet and bunches of grapes, and Winter is wrapped in drapery. The bodies are soft and elongated, the drapery falls in fine folds, the faces are small and smooth with gathered hairstyles, in keeping with the elegant taste of a study object.

In terms of style and subject matter, these figures appear to belong to the tradition of small ivory sculptures made between the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in Germany and Austria, where Augsburg and Nuremberg were renowned centres for carving, but Italian production cannot be ruled out.

The choice of ivory, a precious and sought-after material, together with the theme of the Four Seasons, testifies to the erudite and symbolic taste of the Wunderkammern and aristocratic collections of the time.

Height x x width x depth basis: 4.5 x 5.5 x 5.3 cm

Height x width figure I: 11 x 2.6 cm

Height x width figure II: 10.2 x 2.9 cm

Height x width figure III: 11 x 3 cm

Height x width figure IV: 10,4 x 3 cm

Weight basis: approx. 45 g each

Estimated ivory weight figure I: 35 g

Estimated ivory weight figure II: 37.5 g

Estimated ivory weight figure III: 43.5 g

Estimated ivory weight figure IV: 29 g

This lot, accompanied by a CITES certificate and expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union. (expertise Ce.S.Ar. 2025-212)

Provenance:
Count Luigi Rigi Luperti collection.