A pair of 16th-century Renaissance ceramics has emerged from a Dorset home after being overlooked for decades. These Francesco Xanto Avelli tiles, part of a 1536 series, are now heading to auction.
The £120,000 Florentine treasures missed by burglars
The discovery of these two Renaissance maiolica plaques in Shaftesbury, Dorset,highlights a remarkable stroke of luck for art historians. As Woolley & Wallis reported, the homeowners were unaware of the significance of the tiles,which had been sitting in a hallway for years.. Even more striking is the detail that the pieces were effectively ignored during a burglary at the property, remaining unnoticed by thieves who likely sought more obvious valuables.
These ceramics are part of a prestigious 39-piece set painted by Francesco Xanto Avelli in 1536. The series depicts the life of the Persian king Cyrus, a subject that fascinated Renaissance artists. while some examples of Xanto's work reside in the Louvre, these specific pieces have been out of the public eye for over 140 years.
From the Medici collection to a Dorset hallway
The provenance of these Xanto plaques is as storied as the art itself. Historical records suggest the tiles were acquired by Sir Andrew Fountaine during a Grand Tour between 1714 and 1715, potentially sourced from the collection of Cosimo III de' Medici. Scholars have confirmed the historical links between the artist and the Medici court, adding a layer of prestige that collectors prize.
Following their time at Narford Hall in Norfolk, the plaques were sold in 1884 to General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers. As the report notes, the Pitt Rivers family held the items for several generations before they were gifted to the current vendor's parents in the late 20th century, according to Woolley & Wallis.
The stories of Baby Cyrus and the people of Persepolis
Each plaque offers a distinct window into the 16th-century fascination with Eastern history. The first piece, numbered four in the series, illustrates "The Baby Cyrus exchanged for the Shepherd's son." The second, numbered ten, depicts "Cyrus encouraging the people of Persepolis to fight Astyages."
Both ceramics bear the artist's signature, the initials F.X.R. The 'R' specifically denotes Rovigo, Italy, the birthplace of Francesco Xanto Avelli. These signatures serve as vital authentication for the upcoming auction, where each plaque is estimated to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.
Will the October 22 auction meet the £120,000 estimate?
As the auction date of October 22 approaches, several questions remain regarding the ultimate fate of these Renaissance treasures. While experts at Woolley & Wallis suggest the plaques could reach as much as £120,000 each, the final hammer price will depend heavily on the presence of institutional bidders.
It remains unclear whether these two pieces are the only surviving fragments of the 39-plaque series currently in private hands, or if other pieces of the Cyrus narrative are still hidden in domestic settings. Furthermore, while the provenance is strong, the market's appetite for specific Persian iconography in the current economic climate remains an unverified variable for the auctioneers.
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