A Superb Plaquette by "Master IO.F.F."

Judgement of Paris

Giovanni di Fondulino Fonduli (formerly the Master IO.F.F.), (ca. 1430-1497). Round Plaquette of the Judgement of Paris.

56.4 x 57.1 mm. 57.3 grams. Bronze. Molinier 134; Bange 652-4; Kress 98, fig. 134; Bargello 129; Scaglia VI 11; Warren, Ashmolean 278-80; Warren, Wallace collection 41-43. Seated Paris hands golden apple to Venus while Juno and Athena look on, Cupid above, signed IO.F-F in exergue. Pierced at 12 o'clock. Uniface. Rims filled flat, light smoothing at central field, design elements bold and nicely detailed. Cataloged by Morton & Eden in 2019 as "an extremely fine contemporary cast with dark brown patina. Although a relatively common plaquette the present example is unusually fine and sharp." The identity of the artist formerly known as Master IO.F.F. was identified as the Bolognese goldsmith Giovanni Francesco Furnio by Jeremy Warren, but most (including the Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art) now identify him as sculptor Giovanni di Fondulino Fonduli, with IO.F.F. corresponding to the Latin form of his name, Johannes Fondulini Fondulus.

From the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals. Earlier from Morton & Eden's Auction 105, November 2019, lot 331.

Estimate: $7000.00 - $9000.00