Famous Cellini Sculpture Stolen

摘要

A well-known and recognized 16th Century gold and enamel sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini, entitled 'Saliera' (salt cellar), was taken from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, on May 11, 2003. The work is a depiction of Neptune, God of the Sea, and Tellus, Earth Goddess, reclining on a rocky shore. The piece was created by Cellini in the 1540s, and is the only substantial surviving gold sculpture by an artist considered to be one of the great masters of the field. This sculpture, considered priceless by some, is estimated to be worth up to 57 million dollars, and has been called the 'Mona Lisa' of sculpture. 'Saliera', a fragile piece of hand-hammered gold, enamel, and ivory wood, is approximately 10-1/4" tall and 13-1/4" long, and is Cellini's only remaining authenticated work in gold. The two figures are hammered gold forms; Neptune with an enameled band around his head, Tellus wearing a tiara with enameled accents. They rest upon a rocky shore, between an enameled ship form which holds salts, and an arch which holds pepper. The ship rests above a bluish-green transparent enamel sea, full of creatures such as dolphins, rays, and Cellini's version of seahorses. Below is a carved ivory wood base, with enameled gold reclining figures accented in various colors, and nautical and earth-themed insets. Inside the base are six hidden balls, which allows the piece to be rolled along a table.