Lot 89: Attributed to Antonio Abondio (Italian, 1538 -1591): A rare 16th century wax portrait relief mounted within an oval gilt bronze case

Attributed to Antonio Abondio (Italian, 1538 -1591): A rare 16th century wax portrait relief mounted within an oval gilt bronze case
depicting a noblewoman in profile, her elaborate hair coiffure with beaded ornament and ringlets above her forehead, wearing a pointed lace collar with blue bow above a gold chain and pendant and dressed in purple in typical Italian renaissance attire, the gilt bronze case depicting Daphne and Apollo in a bucolic landscape with a prancing deer and inscribed ET CHEGGIO AITA 9cms x 7cms (including case)

Provenance:Sotheby's, Monaco, 23 June 1976, lot 316.Acquired by a private UK collector, Sotheby's, London, 4 July 1996, lot 57.Exhibited:Victoria and Albert Museum, 1976-1996.Literature:E.J. Pyke, A Biographical Dictionary of Wax Modellers, 1973, Oxford U.P.Prag um 1600, Kulturstiftung Ruhr Essen Exhibition Catalogue, 1988, No. 493.Antonio Abondio was born in Riva da Trento and trained as a medallist in Milan. He spent the majority of his career working for the Imperial court in Prague and Vienna where he was appointed medallist to the Emperor Maximilian II and Rudolph II thereafter.