Alice Nordin
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a patinated bronze table lamp, Fonderia Artistica Gusmano Vignali, Florence, ca 1903-04.
Mythological sculptural motif of female and male figures with a pan flute on a sweeping base, signed Alice Nordin and foundry marked Fond. G. Vignali. Firenze. Height 40 cm including parchment shade (base height ca 20 cm).
Minor wear, shade with damages, not function tested.
More information
At the turn of the year 1903-1904, Swedish sculptor Alice Nordin resided and worked in Florence, from where she sent travel letters back to the magazine Idun. In the January issue of 1904, she writes about her life in Florence:
"When I go to my bronze caster out at Bellosguardo's barrier, I have plenty of time to make observations. I pass through Porta San Frediano, after leaving the elegant Lungarno districts behind me, pushing through among peasants, donkey drivers, coachmen, and people of all sorts, who generally swarm in and out through the gate. [...] From Porta San Frediano, a road leads to Porta Romana, bordered on one side by the city wall and on the other by a row of houses. [...] But the hill of Bellosguardo burns in the light of the setting sun and the blue mountains stand at the horizon like eternal sentinels around the beauty and melancholy of the Renaissance city."
The foundry Gusmano Vignali was located on Viale Francesco Petrarca leading up to the aforementioned Porta Romana, Florence's city gate from the 13th century. Castings signed by Alice Nordin and executed in Italy are exceedingly rare, which makes the present table lamp particularly noteworthy from an art historical perspective.