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Set of Plaster Casts of Carved Gems and Medals

Antonio Odelli (Italian, 1785 - 1872) (Artist)
Italian (Artist)
1850-1870
plaster casts mounted in paper frames and affixed to wood trays lined with blue paper

This set of plaster casts was created in Rome by Antonio Odelli sometime in the 1850s or 1860s. A leading carver of gems and other hardstones, Odelli is perhaps best known today for working closely with the Castellani family, the celebrated Roman jewelers, during the mid-19th century. In addition to his work in carved gems, Odelli was also frequently cited in period guidebooks to Rome as a chief source for casts in sulphur and plaster of antique and contemporary carved gems, medals, and small relief carvings. This set consists of 10 wooden stacking trays (labeled I-X) that have been lined with blue paper against which the plaster casts have been carefully arranged and mounted. The 224 casts are after medals and small relief carvings with Christian religious themes. Odelli’s label is affixed to the underside of the lid for the top tray and notes his address as “Rome, 145, Via Rasella,” where he maintained a studio and shop from around 1853 until 1867.

Inscription

[Maker's Label] rectangular paper label affixed to the interior of cover, printed in black: Antoine Odelli / Artiste Graveur / Grave sur toutes sortes de Pierres Précieuses, / les Armoiries, Sujets, Emblèmes, / Chiffres, Noms, et Lettres en Camée, / Grande collection de Médailles antiques en Souffre. / Rome, 145, Via Rasella. 2e étage. [Translation: Antoine Odelli / Artist Engraver / Engraves on all sorts of Precious Stones, / Coats of Arms, Figures, Emblems / Monograms, Names, and Letters in Cameo, / Large collection of antique Medals in Sulphur. / Rome, 145, Via Rasella. 2nd floor.]

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Collection of Richard Carmichael Tilghman and Mary Donnell Singer Tilghman, Baltimore, by 1983 [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; given to the Walters Art Museum, 1983.

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Measurements

Overall: H. 8 1/2 x W. 12 1/8 x D. 7 7/8 in. (21.5 x 30.7 x 21 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr.and Mrs.Carmichael Tilghman, 1983

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

42.1475

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