A RARE VENETIAN PARADE SHIELD MADE FOR THE BODYGUARD OF WOLF DIETRICH VON RAITENAU, PRINCE ARCHBISHOP OF SALZBURG, LATE 16TH CENTURY of convex near-circular form, constructed of two-ply wood covered with leather, decorated on its front face within an outer border of foliage with a pattern of foliate interlace and flowerheads all tooled and previously lacquered gold over silver the ground of the main field (the lacquering almost entirely missing, very small traces of gold and silver remaining, the leather with small losses, the body with minor cracks), the rear retaining much original red and black paint, fitted with a leather arm-pad inscribed 'Claudio Ajanludo' (the second name unclear), a forward enarme and the remains of a rear enarme buckle and strap, 55.5cm; 21 7/8in wide This shield is one of a series made in the time of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince Archbishop of Salzburg (ruled 1587-1612). An inventory of 1669, now in the archives of the Städtisches Museum Salzburg, mentions 398 gilded and painted shields. Some seventy of these shields are still to be found in the Carolina-Augusteum Museum Salzburg. When Salzburg was occupied by the Bavarian troops in 1809 a number of these shields were transferred to the main Zeughaus at Munich and sold from there after the First World War. Other examples of this distinctive group of shields are to be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (Acc. No. 29.158.586) the Philadelphia Museum of Art the Art Institute of Chicago the Wallace Collection London the Historisches Museum Dresden (Inv. No. N1) and Schloss Vaduz Liechtenstein (cat. no. 871 & 881). Another was in the collection of Lord Astor of Hever (sold Sotheby s London 5 May 1983 Lot 29). Two examples have been sold in these rooms, 8th December 2010, lot 126 and 27th June 2012, lot 403. The fashion for Turkish-style arms is recorded in Europe as early as the middle years of the 16th Century. King Philip II had a Turkish bodyguard for his entry into Milan in 1548. The influence of Turkish taste is evident in both the style and technique of decoration of the Salzburg shields which has its origins in Turkish bookbindings of the period. During the 16th century Venice had its own leatherworkers guild and many bookbindings as well as helmets shields and quivers were made in this manner. For a contemporary discussion on the Venetian technique of varnishing and gilding see Leonardo Fioravanti Compendio de Secreti Nationali Venice 1562 and Tommaso Garzoni La Piazza universale di tutte le professioni del mondo Nuovamente ristampata posta in luce da Thomaso Garzoni da Bagnacauallo con l aggiunta d alcune bellissime annotationi a discorso per discorso Venice 1589. See E.J. Grube 2007 pp. 231-251. Related shields of this type but not part of the Salzburg contract are preserved in the armoury of the Palazzo Ducale Venice. See U. Franzoi 1990 pp. 82-3.
A RARE VENETIAN PARADE SHIELD MADE FOR THE BODYGUARD OF WOLF DIETRICH VON RAITENAU, PRINCE ARCHBISHOP OF SALZBURG, LATE 16TH CENTURY of convex near-circular form, constructed of two-ply wood covered with leather, decorated on its front face within an outer border of foliage with a pattern of foliate interlace and flowerheads all tooled and previously lacquered gold over silver the ground of the main field (the lacquering almost entirely missing, very small traces of gold and silver remaining, the leather with small losses, the body with minor cracks), the rear retaining much original red and black paint, fitted with a leather arm-pad inscribed 'Claudio Ajanludo' (the second name unclear), a forward enarme and the remains of a rear enarme buckle and strap, 55.5cm; 21 7/8in wide This shield is one of a series made in the time of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince Archbishop of Salzburg (ruled 1587-1612). An inventory of 1669, now in the archives of the Städtisches Museum Salzburg, mentions 398 gilded and painted shields. Some seventy of these shields are still to be found in the Carolina-Augusteum Museum Salzburg. When Salzburg was occupied by the Bavarian troops in 1809 a number of these shields were transferred to the main Zeughaus at Munich and sold from there after the First World War. Other examples of this distinctive group of shields are to be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (Acc. No. 29.158.586) the Philadelphia Museum of Art the Art Institute of Chicago the Wallace Collection London the Historisches Museum Dresden (Inv. No. N1) and Schloss Vaduz Liechtenstein (cat. no. 871 & 881). Another was in the collection of Lord Astor of Hever (sold Sotheby s London 5 May 1983 Lot 29). Two examples have been sold in these rooms, 8th December 2010, lot 126 and 27th June 2012, lot 403. The fashion for Turkish-style arms is recorded in Europe as early as the middle years of the 16th Century. King Philip II had a Turkish bodyguard for his entry into Milan in 1548. The influence of Turkish taste is evident in both the style and technique of decoration of the Salzburg shields which has its origins in Turkish bookbindings of the period. During the 16th century Venice had its own leatherworkers guild and many bookbindings as well as helmets shields and quivers were made in this manner. For a contemporary discussion on the Venetian technique of varnishing and gilding see Leonardo Fioravanti Compendio de Secreti Nationali Venice 1562 and Tommaso Garzoni La Piazza universale di tutte le professioni del mondo Nuovamente ristampata posta in luce da Thomaso Garzoni da Bagnacauallo con l aggiunta d alcune bellissime annotationi a discorso per discorso Venice 1589. See E.J. Grube 2007 pp. 231-251. Related shields of this type but not part of the Salzburg contract are preserved in the armoury of the Palazzo Ducale Venice. See U. Franzoi 1990 pp. 82-3.
.jpg?height=400 "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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