Description
This tea and coffee service, salver, and table, together with some now missing cups, were all designed by Carlo Bugatti as an ensemble and presented at the 1902 exposition devoted to decorative arts in Turin, Italy. The set was probably acquired from Bugatti's 1907 exhibition at the Galerie Hébrard in Paris by a wealthy South African widow, Anna Blake, who was living there at the time. Some of the animal and insect motifs suggest mythical beasts or the fossils of prehistoric animals. When Mrs. Blake returned to Cape Town, she took these and other pieces designed by Bugatti with her, and they remained in South Africa throughout her lifetime.
Provenance
Carlo Bugatti [1856-1940], sold to Mrs. Anna Blake (c. 1907); Mrs. Anna Blake, Cape Town, South Africa. [d. 1956], by descent to her son Robert da Costa Blake (c. 1907-c. 1956); Robert da Costa Blake, Cape Town, South Africa, sold (Kirkcaldzs, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May 1965, lot 34) (c. 1956-1965); Private collection, South Africa, sold (Martin-Forest, London); (Martin-Forest, London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (1980); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1980-)
Accession Number
1980.74.5
Medium
Gilt silver and ivory
Dimensions
Overall: 18.5 x 15.4 x 9.9 cm (7 5/16 x 6 1/16 x 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
Silver
Credit Line
The Thomas L. Fawick Memorial Collection
