Papal States silver lucerna depicting Mercurio - Rome 19th century after 1815The iconography recalls one of Giambologna's best-known statues, Mercurio Volante (1580, bronze, h. 180 cm) on display at the Bargello Museum in Florence, intended to crown the fountain of Cardinal Ferdinando dei Medici's villa. In this lantern in the round, Mercury rests his left foot on the wind generated by Zephyrus' mouth. The messenger of the gods is depicted in the moment before he takes flight, thanks to the wings grafted to his ankles and the helmet on his head. The right leg, on the other hand, is flexed backwards, as is the left arm intended to hold the caduceus, unfortunately missing here in part. The right arm is pointing upwards to hold the four-spout oil tank finely decorated with plant motifs; the stepped lid is decorated with palmettes and topped by a dog with a cupid, on whose back is the fan decorated with palmette motifs. From the reservoir are suspended tools for maintaining and extinguishing the lamp supported by chains. The plinth support with applied decoration of faun and floral motifs, on a stepped circular base, decorated with palmette motifs and laurel trunks. Fully hallmarked Rome after 1815, 10 ounce and 16 denari silver standard (889/1000) and with the silversmith's mark "S25S".Base diameter 15 cm, height without fan 47.5 cm. Weight 1264 g.Item condition grading: **** good (slight faults).