Marco; Naples, late 17th century.

Frame; Naples, late seventeenth century.
Ebonized wood and tortoiseshell simile.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 38 x 44 x 5 cm; 23 x 29,5 cm.
Seventeenth century Neapolitan frame carved in ebonized wood. The piece has a deep black tone that enhances its sober appearance. It has a design based on moldings that vary in thickness. The tortoiseshell simile, applied in sections of the molding, adds contrast, evoking the use of exotic materials that were highly prized at the time. This imitation tortoiseshell, achieved through painting or veneering techniques, gives the frame a translucent sheen and rich tonal variation.
This type of frame, with its combination of ebonized wood and tortoiseshell details, was highly valued for framing portraits or religious paintings, highlighting the work with an imposing and majestic structure, typical of 18th century Neapolitan decorative taste.