Pommel of Jester 'Bâton' (Flanders, ca 1500)

Flemish or Burgundian, late 15th/early 16th century: A rare ivory bead with three heads, from a pommel of a Jester 'bâton'.

These ‘Marottes’ (Jester ‘Bâtons’, ironically also called ‘Jester Scepters’) appeared in France during the 15th century, then spread to neighbouring countries and were usual objects of court jesters, musicians and itinerant comedians. These sticks were frequently decorated with carved heads. Excellent quality of the carving (they remind us of faces on Brueghel paintings). Wear, cracks …
Very rare and very charming. The perfect acquisition for your 'Wunderkammer' or other collection of curiosities.
This object is accompanied by its CITES passport.
Ivory on an ebonised wooden plinth.
Height: 4 cm, 1½ in.

Provenance:
Collection Lady Catherine Ashburnham
Acquired at Sotheby’s in the ‘70s / Acquis chez Sotheby’s, dans les années 1970
Edric van Vredenburgh Collection

Related Literature:
P. Malgouyres, Ivoires de la Renaissance et des Temps modernes. La collection du Musée du Louvre, Paris, Musée du Louvre, 2010, cat. 233, p. 271.

References:
Musée du Louvre, Marotte provenant d’Allemagne (inventaire no. OA 102).
Museo Bargello, dated around 1550, inv. 162 Carrand.

Please note that this lot contains elephant ivory the export of which outside the EU is now prohibited pursuant to European regulation 2021/2280 of 16 December 2021. Seghers & Pang Fine Arts will be able to provide the buyer with the intra-community certificate attached to this item.