A 17th century terracotta fountain bozzetto modelled as Silenus and two Satyrs
Northern Italian or possibly Netherlandish
the naked drunken figure of Silenus supported by the two satyrs and seated on an upturned wine jar, an owl at his feet, his mouth and groin pierced to take water spouts, on a fragmented base, losses to the base, 22.5cm high
Footnotes:
Property of a Gentleman

Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art, 8 July 2011, lot 78.

A copy of the thermoluminescence analysis report, dated 29 September 2011, can be supplied with the lot. The report from the Oxford Authentification Ltd, shows that using standard techniques, it was estimated that the date of the last firing was between 100 to 300 years ago.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: *
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.

In good decorative condition, commensurate with age, the piece with old fragmented breaks to the base as per the photograph and with old firing cracks and small chips to the lower extremities, the two torsos/satyrs lacking heads, and also legs and feet as per the photograph, and arms, all damage is old with old dirt and dust and wear to those break lines, the fragmented base has some small losses which appear to be newer (but not modern) where they clay is lighter, this is more to the right hand side and rear corner, the surface with some scratches, old dulling and fine cracks and with dust and dirt to the crevices.