AN ITALIAN IVORY-INLAID EBONY, PEAR WOOD AND MARQUETRY CENTRE TABLE

Beautifully inlaid with figural scenes, landscapes and elaborate foliate garlands inspired by the Antique, the present centre table is an exemplary example of neoclassical furniture production in Italy in the late 19th century. Its finely rendered marquetry, sophisticated design and exquisite materials distinguish it as one of the most superb works known by Francesco Grandi (1841-1934), a talented artisan who specialized both in woodwork and marquetry, and who was active in the final decades of the 19th century. Grandi showed at the great international exhibitions of the era including the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, collaborated with the leading artisans of his époque and, in Sorrento, directed an important woodworking school, Scuola d’Arte d’Intarsio di Sorrento, which trained artisans of the next generation in the domain. Many of Grandi’s works incorporate finely rendered figural panels with Antique scenes or ivory inlay into ebony of extraordinary refinement, both of which are visible in the present work.

Owing perhaps to his geographic proximity to the archaeological site at Herculaneum, Grandi was heavily inspired by Pompeiian works of art in the creation of the present lot. A nearly identical table by Francesco Grandi sold Sotheby’s, London, 27 April 2010, lot 152. A further splendid table top of similar antique-inspired decoration, as well as a table created in collaboration with the artisan Arturo Guidi, are illustrated in E. Colle, Il mobile dell’Ottocento in Italia, Milan, 2007, p. 104.