Two Florentine Trinket Boxes featuring 'Madonna della Seggiola' and 'Madonna with Child'
Decorative art; Florentine gilt-wood trinket/jewelry boxes • Mass-produced artisan craft from Florence, Italy; imagery after Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) and other High Renaissance masters.
Style & Movement
Florentine Renaissance Revival (Neo-Renaissance) decorative style.
Medium & Technique
Gessoed and gilded wood (gold paint/leaf) with applied decoupage paper prints onto a wooden base.
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (approximately 1950s–1970s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 3 x 3 x 2 inches each; square box format with hinged lids.
Subject Description
The left box depicts Raphael's 'Madonna della Seggiola' (Madonna of the Chair), showing the Virgin Mary embracing the Christ Child with a young John the Baptist. The right box depicts a traditional Madonna and Child composition in typical Renaissance iconography.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows signs of age-related wear, abrasions to the paper prints, and oxidation of the gilt finish.
Estimated Market Value
$30 - $60 USD for the pair
Auction Estimate
$20 - $40 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired as Grand Tour souvenirs or imported Italian giftware during the mid-to-late 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
These items represent the mid-century peak of the Italian souvenir industry, commodifying High Renaissance masterpieces for the middle-class tourist market and domestic decoration.
Notable Features
Hand-applied gold leaf/paint with hand-punched or molded 'pastiglia' (raised gesso) border decoration characteristic of Florentine workshops.
Condition Issues
Significant scuffing and loss of imagery on the paper prints; chipping to the gesso/gilt edges; possible minor wood shrinkage or hinge looseness.
Conservation Recommendations
Dust with a soft dry brush; avoid damp cleaning which can lift the paper; keep out of direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the ink prints.