The Treasury - Fine Sculpture
BEAUTIFUL SEMI-NUDE ART DECO DANCING GIRL 8864. L. MORELLI. Italian, Florence. 1920's. 'Dancing Girl Reclining with Tambourine'. Sculpture in fine white Carrara marble, base in equally fine Portor marble. Signed 'L. Morelli - Florence, Galleria Romanelli' on back of base. The bare chested dancing girl wearing only a loincloth with tassels, her short cut hair reminiscent of the saucy flapper girls of the 20's. 15.75 inches on a 5 x 17.75 inch base of beautifully patterned black and golden grey Portor marble which offers a perfect contrast to the figure. Choice condition with no problems whatsoever and no repair or restoration.
L. Morelli, was an sculptor known for his beautifully and sensitively carved young nude girls in various poses. He used only the finest marble for the figures and bases, usually pure white Carrara marble for his figures, and Portor marble for his bases. Carrara marble is quarried only at the city of Carrara in the province of Massa and Carrara in the Lunigiana, the northernmost tip of modern-day Tuscany, Italy. Carrara marble has been used since ancient times by the Greeks and Romans for their finest statues,
Portor is a very rare marble quarried in Italy and in Corsica. It is known for its dark black color scattered with yellow veins. Sometimes these grooves are grey, the marble is then know as Portagent. The most beautiful Portor is dark black with deep yellow veins, like golden flames. Its name most likely comes from the town of Porto Venere on the Genoese coast where Louis XIV exploited quarries to decorate Versailles Palace. Much used in the 17th, 18th and up until the 20th century with the Art Deco style, for beautiful furniture, works of art and fireplace mantels. In his dictionary on business and industry, Blanqui describes Portor marble as the following, "the background of this marble is black and the veins are golden yellow, giving it its name Portor (golden door). It must be considered as one of the most elegant marbles, yet it is only really sought after once its quality leaves nothing to be desired. Portor comes from the golfe de la Spezia (Golfe de Gnes)".
$4500.