A Fine Spanish Gold Damascened Iron Vase by Zuloaga

Description

A Fine Spanish Gold Damascened Iron Vase Attributed to Eusebio Zuloaga.

A Fine Spanish Gold Damascened Iron Vase, Attributed to Eusebio Zuloaga, Eibar, on associated square gilt-bronze mounted marble base.

The underside of the vase inscribed POR PLACIDO ZULOAGA and EN EIBARAO 1861.

This bacchic ram-handled vase bears the signature of Placido Zuloaga (d.1910), who succeeded in the late 1850’s to the management of his father Eusebio Zuloaga’s manufactory at Eibar in Guipuzcoa. Praised in his day as ‘a second Benvenuto Cellini’ he contributed to various international exhibitions such as the Paris 1855 Exhibition, and to the London 1862 Exhibition, where the ‘number of metalworks by Zuloaga of Madrid’ were noted for ‘the great care bestowed in the finish of workmanship, especially in the case of his damascened works – gold and silver forms let into dark toned steel (which) gives them a distinctive character’ (The Magazine of Art – 11 September 1879).

He was born in to a family of Spanish Royal Armourers, and became one of the greatest masters of the art of damascening. As well as being patronised by the Spanish Royal Family, he was patronised in England by the connoisseur Alfred Morrison (d. 1897) of Fonthill House, Wiltshire, where he was a guest on a number of occasions. Morrisons collections of Zuloaga’s work, assembled over a period of twenty years, was also displayed at London mansion at 16 Carlton House Terrace mansion.

Spanish, Dated 1861.