Lot 104: Collection of 79 Grand Tour Intaglio Cameos; Paoletti, Liberotti, Bemi

Seventy-nine (79) white plaster intaglio/cameo molds depicting scenes from classical Greek or Roman mythology or biblical scenes. Items 1-72: Intaglios in the manner of Pietro Paoletti (1801-1847), 66 of which are bordered with pale yellow paper around perimeter, highlighted in gilt, with index numbers written in ink. Seventeen of these remain fixed to their original wooden display box, titled "Monumenti in Vari Luoghi" on handwritten label. An additional six (6) are without their paper mounting perimeter. Items 73-75: Three (3) large intaglios in the manner of Giovanni Liberotti each with a black surround, depicting religious scenes including the Madonna and child and the Archangel Michael. Items 76-79: Four (4) cameos of men and women in profile with the impressed mark "P. BEMI" on the reverse. Ranging in size from 7/8" L to 2 3/4" L. Ca. 1820-40.

PROVENANCE: Estate of Judge John Nixon, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: All with varying degrees of accumulated dust and grime. 2 smaller cameos with cracked fronts, 4 Bemi portraits with chips to edges and rubbing to features. Box in poor condition.