A PROPERTY IN VENICE STENO (Michael, c. 1331-1413, from 1400 Doge of Venice)

Confirmation of title, in Latin with translation, to Antonio de Rigo, (of the district of San Felice), who has brought two documents to court, the first is a sale to him for 17 lire by his wife Agnesina of property in the 'Sancti Hermaci' district, the quotations describe in great and interesting detail the bounds on four sides and accompanying rights of entry and exit "to the common way leading to the canal" or else "to the lagoon", and the conduits carrying rain water to the well in the courtyard, mentioning a door "which ought to be shut and walled up at the expense" of Marino Blanco, who holds part of the property, and the right to light in the courtyard, at the rear is a garden and latrine, the Doge's examining Judges had valued the property and caused it to be offered for sale by the public crier, only Antonio came forward with his 10% deposit, so Agnesina's sale to him took place, the second document quoted is Antonio's 'investiture without proof' which is made absolute following a year's quiet possession, presumably Agnesina had been unable to provide her own proof of title, hence the present level of detail, in an attractive hand, vellum, 10¼" x 11¾", Venice, 24th May trimmed at foot following the text, lacks seal

Michael STENO saw active service in the Venetian navy. Under him Venice gained the Veneto (including Vicenza and Verona) from the Carrara family, and important towns and islands in the Levant and the Adriatic, including Lepanto (1407). The Carraras had helped Genoa blockade Venice in 1380, and now through the Veneto the republic could land her wares without tax.
The Rio (canal) di S. Felice runs from the Grand Canal near the Ca D'Oro, north-east to the Lagoon. Blanco's name is given once as Marco, and De Rigo's as De Ferigo.
Venice was famous till modern times for its wells, which collected rain water. The wells were sealed at the bottom with a stone slab over impermeable clay. Between the permeable brick sides and a square stone casing was a jacket of purified sand. Rain water was fed into the latter's four corners through perforated stones, filtered through the jacket, and drawn up in copper buckets.

Item Date:  1403

Stock No:  17809      £375

             Add to Wish List     Order/Enquire