Doe and Hope

Description

The very fine pair of Italian carved marble faux fruits each naturalistically modelled and hand chiselled and painted, one as an apple, the other a peach, and surviving from the second quarter of the twentieth century.

Generally in good condition the fruits have expected wear, with one or two slight frits but nothing of a serious nature with the stalks remaining intact also.

Stone fruit was first made in the Victorian days, and became very popular after WWII, and is still made today but now, mostly in the far east. Much of the prized Italian fruit is is produced in the Carrara area of Italy where the famous quarries used by Michelangelo are found. Chunks of white marble are carved, chiseled and shaped into fruit and then the piece is heated in a kiln oven. After, a coating of wax is applied and pigments and dyes are then layered on the warm wax with minerals and natural dyes used as pigments. These examples are very intricate and painstakingly crafted.

Perfect on the mantelpiece, or indeed, delectable in the fruit bowl… just don’t be tempted to take a bite.