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Important Historic Americana | September 28, 2024

Sat, Sep 28, 2024 10:00AM EDT
  2024-09-28 10:00:00 2024-09-28 10:00:00 America/New_York Brunk Auctions Brunk Auctions : Important Historic Americana | September 28, 2024 https://live.brunkauctions.com/auctions/brunk/important-historic-americana-september-28-2024-16246
Features a remarkable selection of historic Americana, including important 18th-century American furniture and Delft from the collection of Constance & Dudley Godfrey; an exceptionally rare North Carolina survey map; New England & Philadelphia furniture, including an exceptional Philadelphia easy chair & a rare Connecticut Chippendale carved cherry chest in undisturbed surface; from a Revolutionary & patriotic-focused New England collection are rare prints & documents, early brass, ceramics, furniture, & accessories; a group of early portraits features Sully, Stuart, & Sharples; & much more
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Lot 1076

Benjamin Franklin Terracotta Portrait Medallion by Nini

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500
Current Bid
$750

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$100 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

Giovanni Battista Nini (1717-1786)

cast terracotta, portrait of Franklin in fur cap, legend reading "B. FRANKLIN AMERICAIN", signed at shoulder "NINI F(ecit) 1777" and coat of arms, 4-1/2 in. diameter 

Provenance: Private Collection, New York, NY; Private Collection

Note: Born in Urbino, Italy, Jean-Baptiste Nini (1717-1786) was a medalist and engraver.
Interested only in portraits, Nini executed likenesses of his friends, who included many of the most significant figures of the period, including Benjamin Franklin, Louis XV, Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, and Voltaire, among others. Working only in terracotta from a carved wax mold, Nini modeled about one hundred portraits, but was able to retain the model and produce a large number of medallions. 

A similar medallion resides in The Museum of Fine Arts at Houston's collection, through a gift of Miss Ima Hogg.

https://emuseum.mfah.org/objects/46548/portrait-medallion-of-benjamin-franklin

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Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.

Private Collection, New York, NY; Private Collection

excellent overall, hole going from back through top edge for hanging (as made), deaccession number on verso "GS67 " and smaller "NE "