Italian, Florence, late 19th century/ early 20th century

Overall the condition of the marble is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are restorations to both hands and to the fan handle; the fingers and thumb of the proper left hand are reattached, three of the fingers of the proper right hand are reattached, and the fan handle is reconstructed with probably original pieces. These restorations are well executed and there is a white wash over them. There are a few naturally occurring inclusions to the marble, including to the abdomen. There is some very minor veining consistent with material. There are a few very small chips and losses to the drapery and to the base, including one or two near the abdomen. There are one or two drips of white paint, dirt to the crevices and a few minor dark marks between the buttocks.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This sensuous dancer is reminiscent of the marbles carved by late 19th-century Tuscan sculptors associated with Pietro Bazzanti (1841-1881). Bazzanti was a central figure in the production of Florentine sculpture during the 19th century. He ran a successful gallery, which had been opened by his father Niccolo in 1822 and still exists today. The gallery sold works by prominent sculptors such as Cesare Lapini (1848-after 1893) and Ferdinano Vichi (1875-1945), who excelled in carving exotic or historical figures with elaborate multi-textured costumes, as well as genre subjects, such as fisherboys, and allegorical figures in elegant poses.

The present marble compares particularly closely with a number of compositions by Ferdinando Vichi. His Danzatrice esotica has an analagous facial type and is clothed in similarly revealing drapes. Intending to highlight his abilities as a carver, Vichi has placed the focus of attention on the scarf delicately suspended between the dancer's fingers and swelling above her head. The sculptor of the present marble similarly places emphasis on the fan held by the dancer and the virtuoso drapery billowing away from her body. Vichi produced a number of figures in similarly expressive poses, see also his Sea Nymph from A Private West Coast Collection, sold at Sotheby's, New York, lot 25.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori Italiani dell'ottocento e del primo novecento, Turin, 2003, vols. i and ii, pp. 78, 135, 513, 530, 953, 971