Wooden fireplace bellows, belonging to Doge Francesco Morosini, Venice, 17th century

A walnut fireplace bellows, which belonged to Doge Francesco Morosini, a Venetian patrician, Capitano Generale da Mar (Supreme Commander of the Venetian Navy), Procurator of San Marco, and General of the Army against the Turks, datable between 1688 and 1694. The bellows, of typical 17th-century artistic design with scrolls and carved ornaments, features in the center one of the versions of his finely carved coat of arms banded with three silver lilies set in it, which is surmounted by the "Corno Ducale" or "Cappello del Doge", an office that Francesco Morosini held from 1688 to 1694.

Two caryatids are symbolically placed for "protection" and decoration on either side of the coat of arms; the image of a half-length figure standing on a column, sculpted on the handle, provides a firm grip. A masterfully carved lion's head supports a carved and chiseled bronze "Chimera," from whose mouth protrudes a nozzle that directs the air generated by the bellows. The back is dominated by an extraordinary bas-relief image depicting a lion's mask, reminiscent of the "Bocche di Leone" (Lion's Mouths), or Boche de Leon in dialect. These were located throughout the city of Venice, particularly near and inside the Doge's Palace, and were used to collect secret reports from the people for the magistrates.

Excellent condition.

We are only aware of one other example of a Doge's Bellows, which belonged to Doge Alvise Contarini (1601-1684), preserved and displayed in one of the rooms of the Doge's Palace in Venice.

References:

Palazzo Ducale (Venezia) - Soffietto Appartenuto a Doge Alvise Contarini (1601-1684)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 4279-1857: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120202/bellows...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 7698-1861: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O117790/bellows...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 2392-1855: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140010/bellows...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 7699-1861: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O131308/bellows...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 33583: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1275724/bellow...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number W.13-1958: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O370647/bellows...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 32310: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1269109/bellow...)

Victorian & Albert Museum - Accession Number 32311: (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1269111/bellow...)

Metropolitan Museum - Object Number 64.101.1226: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/20...)

Metropolitan Museum - Object Number 41.100.380: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/19...)

Metropolitan Museum - Object Number 64.101.1225: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/20...)

Metropolitan Museum - Object Number 41.100.380: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/19...)

Metropolitan Museum - Object Number 41.100.380: (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/19...)

Philadelphia Art Museum - Accession Number 1930-1-169: (https://www.visitpham.org/objects/43992)