Pair Of Terracotta Basins Signed Antoinetti Siena, Italy 19th Century

An outstanding pair of large molded terra cotta basins, of Tuscan origin, attributed to the Antoinetti workshop in Siena, and dating from the 19th century.
These large basins adopt an elegant Medici form, resting on a circular pedestal extended by a quadrangular base. Their balanced, architectural lines are fully in keeping with the neoclassical taste that was very much in vogue in 19th-century Italian gardens.
The decoration, finely molded in light relief, consists of:
a frieze of Greciques running below the upper rim,a central motif depicting an eagle with outstretched wings resting on a lictern beam, directly inspired by the ancient repertoire and imperial iconography.

• This decorative vocabulary, both sober and powerful, lends the whole a particularly assertive sculptural presence.
  The terracotta, dense and of fine quality, today shows a remarkable old patina, resulting from long exposure outdoors. The brown, blackened and slightly oxidized nuances contribute fully to the aesthetics and authenticity of these pieces.
  Both basins bear a legible recessed mark "...NETTI SIENA", which can reasonably be traced back to the Antoinetti workshop, active in Siena in the 19th century in the production of garden ornaments and architectural elements.
• Usage wear