The Grand History of a Small Collection. American Objects from the Farnese and Borgia collections at the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte (Naples, Italy)

The chapter explores the collection history of a small group of American objects, both of pre-Hispanic and colonial date, held in the collection of the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte (Naples, Italy). The artifacts discussed herein proceed from two outstanding early modern Italian collections, assembled by the Farnese family and by Cardinal Stefano Borgia. Besides synthetizing information on the history of these collections and on how some of their American artifacts ended up in Naples, details on the typology, dating and provenience of the artifacts are provided.