Kayser Sohn, Renaissance Figures – Pair of Decorative Inlaid Mother of Pearl and Tortoiseshell Corviniello Chargers 11 3/8", Dated 1884

Details

Description

An extraordinarily rare, investment-grade pair of 1885 historicist masterpieces.

Perfect for a high-end salon gallery wall, fine library mantelpiece, or … Read more An extraordinarily rare, investment-grade pair of 1885 historicist masterpieces.

Perfect for a high-end salon gallery wall, fine library mantelpiece, or executive office, this matching pair of Kayser Sohn decorative chargers showcases the pinnacle of 19th-century German industrial virtuosity and metalwork art.

Utilizing the legendary, patented "Corviniello" technique perfected by Otto von Corvin, these pieces feature breathtakingly intricate central busts of a Renaissance nobleman and noblewoman. Each profile portrait is painstakingly inlaid with shimmering mother-of-pearl, authentic tortoiseshell, copper, and brass over a richly patinated metal ground. The flawless execution of the fabrics, geometric patterns, and facial realism underscores the hand-crafted mastery achieved by the manufactory during its peak.

DESIGN DETAILS & ARTISTRY

* The Portraits: One charger depicts a Renaissance male figure, and the other a female figure. They are dressed in ultra-detailed period garments with complex fabric folds, ornate jewelry, and classic headdresses rendered via natural material inlays. The identical treatment of the eyes and structural styling strongly indicates that both figures were designed as an intentional pair by the same master artist.

* The Borders: The wide, dramatic rims are elaborately engraved and chiseled with stylized foliage and sweeping arabesques. The surface utilizes contrasting gilt flourishes against deep patinated copper to frame the central portraits with striking architectural weight.

* Historical Significance: The reverse of each charger features the distinct raised maker's mark reading "CORVINIELLO PATENT 85". This stamp definitively benchmarks the 1885 production era, celebrating the rare electroplating and mechanical inlay processes that defined high-end late-Victorian German historicism.


SPECIFICATIONS
* Maker: J.P. Kayser Sohn (Crefeld / Krefeld, Germany)
* Date of Manufacture: 1885 (Stamped "Patent 85" on reverse) on one plaque, the other has similar mark on the rim.
* Diameter: 11 3/8 inches (approx. 29 cm) each
* Materials: Gilt bronze/brass base, copper, mother-of-pearl inlay, natural tortoiseshell inlay
* Display Style: Ready for vertical wall display, plate stands, or easel presentation.


CONDITION REPORT
* Overall Condition: Excellent antique condition given the 140+ year age.
* Inlay: The fine mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell sections remain beautifully stable and flush within the metal cells, retaining their brilliant natural iridescence and deep patterning.
* Patina: Beautiful, undisturbed original oxidation and gilding across the borders. No aggressive polishing has been conducted, preserving the historic value. See less