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Rugs and fabrics > 1700 > Floral damask panel, ruby red silk on satin ground, Genes (?), Italy, early 18th century.
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| Floral damask panel, ruby red silk on satin ground, Genes (?), Italy, early 18th century. | Description: This textile is composed of large, usually floral, stylised designs, with the background made up of satin weave and with motifs in the same satin weave on the opposite side.
The decorative effect comes from the contrast of the shiny satin design on the right side of the fabric as opposed to the other satin motif seen from the back side.
The fabric does not really have a back side, even though the side in which the design is created by the weft is usually chosen as the right side.
This type of fabric was produced in ancient times in China, which was the first country to introduce ornamental designs in materials, but takes its name from the city of Damascus, in Syria, where its production and exportation to Europe was intensified in the 12th century.
Later the Italian damasks produced in Venice and Genoa (the two sea-going cities that were most in contact with Damascus) became famous followed by those from Lucca, Vicenza, Parma, Catanzaro, Palermo and Caserta.
In Baroque times it was enriched with gold and silver effects with decorative motifs in light relief.
These textiles were in great demand for religious vestments, upholstery and furniture covers, but also for gala finery.
Condition report: perfect.
Provenance: Adolph Loewi, Venice, stock number 8482; Alessandro Morandotti, Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, Rome.
During the winter of 1937-1938 a major exhibition entitled 'L'antico tessuto d'arte italiana' was shown in Rome.
Only three private collections were represented in the exhibition. One of these private collections was Adolph Loewi's from Venice. He presented eighteen pieces.
Adolph Loewi (Munich, Germany 1888 - 1977 Hawaii, U.S.A.), honorary German consul in Venice in 1923, was a dealer of paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts. He was the leading dealer of textiles and costumes, selling to major collectors and museums in the U.S.A and Europe.
Much of LACMA’s (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) rich textile collection and its extensive archive of documentation related to the field came from Loewi.
A German Jew, he established his business in Venice in 1911 and a branch in New York in 1933-34.
In early 1939 he left Italy with his family; they brought with them personal possessions and much of their stock.
Settling first in New York, they moved to Beverly Hills in the Summer of 1939. In Los Angeles the firm of Adolph Loewi, Inc., was divided; the textile business became known as Loewi-Robertson and was directed by his daughter and son-in-law.
Adolph Loewi probably acquired the fabric here proposed before the second world war. According to Katherine Loewi Robertson, daughter of Adolph Loewi, and, with her husband, successor to his firm, works of art acquired in Venice before the second world war have stock numbers below 9300.
The director of Loewi's gallery of art, was Mr. Alessandro Morandotti (1909-1979).
According to Katherine Loewi Robertson, Morandotti resigned a position at La Scala in 1936 rather than wear the black shirt of the Fascists. Impressed by Morandotti’s integrity, Adolph Loewi hired him as the director of his antiques firm in Venice.
When Loewi, a Jew, fled Italy in early 1939, he turned the firm over to Morandotti for safekeeping.
Morandotti moved to Rome, where he established the firm as 'Antiquaria', concealing the fact that it continued to be owned by a Jew.
After the war, Morandotti returned the firm to Loewi, who sold it to Morandotti in 1950.
According to Katherine Loewi Robertson, the items of his father's gallery with the stocks number after 9300 indicates that they were acquired by Morandotti in Rome during and after the war.
| | Age: Early 18th century. | | Dimensions: 95 x 20,5 inches | | Price: € 950,00 | | Item n°: RC 81 |
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