with the arms of the Del Gallo of Florence.

Tajan, Paris, November 29, 1999, lot 141

Chipping, some losses and restorations throughout, including the lobes of the top of the armorial device. Interior relief and frame joined with plaster and the whole reinforced with plaster on reverse. Metal band for mounting around lower edge of fruited wreath.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The della Robbia family was renowned for creating glazed terracotta sculpture for churches and for private devotion as well as a variety of decorative elements to adorn the facades of Florentine palazzi. This particular tondo design, with the copious wreath combined with classical egg-and-dart inner border and concave shell-form central section, was employed by several members of the della Robbia dynasty. However, particular details, such as the inclusion of frogs and lizards within the wreath is seen in tondi from the workshop of Giovanni della Robbia. See for example, a tondo with the Medici stemma made in 1525 for the Ceppo Hospital, Pistoia (Marquand, op. cit., p. 269, no. 348) and a very similar tondo centered by a Tuscan shield and a rampant lion and with a shell-form background, also from Giovanni's workshop and dated 1514 in Domestici (op. cit., cat. no. 39, p. 296).

The present tondo bears the arms of the medieval Tuscan family, Del Gallo, who probably owned the Torre del Gallo located in the hills of Arcetri, upon a ridge overlooking Florence. The torre or tower belonged to the original Del Gallo fortress  and according to legend, when it was passed by travellers headed to Florence, the family demanded a toll. The fortress was partially demolished in 1280 due to the conflict between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines and in 1464, the tower was sold to the Lanfredini family. The pres🥃ent appearance of the tower, with neo-medieval restorations, was carried out by the famous Florentine antique dealer Stefano Bardini who purchased it in 1902.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Marquand, Robbia Heraldry, Princeton, 1919, no. 284, p. 223 and no. 348, p. 269
J.B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, vol. I, Lyon, 1950, p. 737
F. Domestici, I Della Robbia a Pistoia, Florence, 1995, pl. CXVIII, cat. no. 39, pp. ꧋255 a﷽nd 296

This tondo is sold with a copy of a Thermoluminescence certificate, ref. no. 363B, from Arcadia Technologie per I Beni Culturali in Milan, stating that the proposed date of the terracotta, 15th century/16th century, corresponds with the laboratory results.