An Italian Pietre Dure and carved Walnut Center Table, The Base by Angiolo Barbetti, The Top Attributed to Gaetano Bianchini, Florence, Mid 19th Century

Lot Closed

October 17, 06:27 PM GMT

Estimate

70,000 - 100,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

An Italian Pietre Dure and carved Walnut Center Table, The Base by Angiolo Barbetti, The Top Attributed to Gaetano Bianchini, Florence, Mid 19th Century

The rectangular top inset to the center with oblong panels of rare alabastro marino, framed within a porfido-bordered slate surround profusely inlaid with specimen flowers in a variety of marble, alabaster and hardstone, with molded giallo antico edge, the base with guilloche frieze, on winged caryatid supports terminating in acanthus-sheathed ram's-hoof monopodia and anthemion, resting on scrolled and foliate-carved rectangular bases, joined by a shaped stretcher centered by a fruit garland enclosing a double-sided shield raised with the arms of the Ballati Nerli family, the inside of the frieze with the maker's label printed ANGIOLO BARBETTI/INTAGLIATORE/IN LEGNO/FIRENZE and with partial remains of a retailer's label printed and inscribed Bett[er Company]/FURNITU[RE UPHOLSTERED,] REPAIRED/REMOD[ELED & RE]FINISHED/1510-12 LINN S[TREET] CINCINNATI, OHIO/55.

height 35 in.; width 53 in.; depth 37 in.

89 cm.; 134,5 cm.; 94 cm.

Commissioned by the Marchese Girolamo Ballati Nerli (d.1859), Siena

With Jacab Better Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1930-40

Purchased from the above by Mr Peter G. Thomson Jr., of Laurel Court, College Hill, Ohio.

Anonymous sale, Christie's, New York, 31 October 2000, lot 474

Christie's London, March 19, 2008, lot 118

Angiolo Barbetti (d. 1873) is widely credited as being one of the leading contributors to the major mid-nineteenth century revival of wood-carving, not only in his native Tuscany, but throughout the whole of Italy. Born in Siena in 1805, Barbetti apprenticed with Giovacchino Guidi (d. 1842), considered another of the city's finest ebenisti. In 1826-7, he established a workshop on the piazza San Giovanni, Siena, employing as his apprentice Giovanni Dupré, later to become one of mid-nineteenth century Italy's most celebrated sculptors. The following year he took a further course in wood-carving and in 1830 exhibited his first works at the Istituto delle Belle Arti, Siena.