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Lot Essay
The Falcini brothers, restorers and creators of Renaissance and Baroque marquetry, were sons of a cabinet maker from Campi, near Florence. In the 1820s they established workshops in the via delle Fosse and via Rosa, Florence. Renowned for their superb execution and elaborate use of inlaid woods in the Renaissance-style in a city famous for its intarsia workshops since the 16th century, their repertoire, which in the early days concentrated on neoclassical and monochromatic decoration, developed to incorporate richer polychromatic inlays and ornate, animated designs, as seen in the marquetry of the present lot.
The practice of incorporating multiple coloured woods in their marquetry in addition to other exotic materials like mother-of-pearl, ivory, bone and on occasion metal reflects the Falcini brothers inherent interest in baroque art at the last court of the Medicis. Beginning in 1834 the Falcini brothers exhibited a medal-winning works of the exhibitions at the Accademia delle Belle Arti, Florence, in addition to the 1854 and 1861 Florence exhibitions, the 1851 Great Exhibition, London, and the 1855 Paris Exposition. Their high quality work was in demand from many significant Italian and international collectors, and they were engaged in important commissions for a number of prominent patrons. The latter included Prince Demidoff for the Villa San Donato, Florence, the Duchess of Casigliano and Countess Borghesi. Luigi Falcini was also entrusted with the prestigious work of restoring the Renaissance doors of the Palazzo Vecchio.
The practice of incorporating multiple coloured woods in their marquetry in addition to other exotic materials like mother-of-pearl, ivory, bone and on occasion metal reflects the Falcini brothers inherent interest in baroque art at the last court of the Medicis. Beginning in 1834 the Falcini brothers exhibited a medal-winning works of the exhibitions at the Accademia delle Belle Arti, Florence, in addition to the 1854 and 1861 Florence exhibitions, the 1851 Great Exhibition, London, and the 1855 Paris Exposition. Their high quality work was in demand from many significant Italian and international collectors, and they were engaged in important commissions for a number of prominent patrons. The latter included Prince Demidoff for the Villa San Donato, Florence, the Duchess of Casigliano and Countess Borghesi. Luigi Falcini was also entrusted with the prestigious work of restoring the Renaissance doors of the Palazzo Vecchio.