Vase

Decorative vase Marble monumental vase made by an unknown sculptor in Italy. Its shape and decoration refer to ancient vase patterns. Its semi-circular body rests on a round, fluted shaft passing into a square base. The shaft is decorated with acanthus leaves alternating with laurel leaves, at the top it is framed by a ring covered with an ornament imitating the wolf’s eyes. The top is decorated with acanthus leaves and laurel leaves, the top is hammered. The neck is smooth, tapered. The spout turned outwards is surrounded by an ornamental belt of bull’s eyes, under the handles it is decorated with a relief of Medusa’s head. The handles are shaped to look like intertwined snakes. The vase is set on a cuboid pedestal with four antabas in the shape of a lion’s head. The vase was purchased by Princess Izabela Lubomirska (1753–1816), owner of the Łańcut castle, in Rome in the years 1785-1786. It should be dated before 1785. Initially exhibited at the Princess’ palace in Wilanów, it was transferred to the castle in Łańcut before 1802 and stood there in the Turkish Apartment (listed in the 1802 and 1805 inventories of the castle), and later in the Sculpture Gallery (inventory of 1862), and then in the Ballroom, where it is kept up to this day. Barbara Trojnar