An Italian fruitwood, mother-of-pearl and ivory inlaid ebony and floral marquetry bureau plat, the top by Luigi and Angelo Falcini, Florentine, the top and base circa 1840

the rectangular top inlaid with a cartouche depicting a parrot on a branch within a floral wreath flanked by a flower-filled cornucopia at each corner within a carved giltwood edge, the frieze with an alternating band of flowerheads and acanthus leaves, on spirally fluted legs with foliate capitals joined by a shaped stretcher centred by a stylised acorn finial on bun feet

In overall good conserved condition and can be placed immediately. Colour slightly darker overall more natural and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. Old very minor marks, chips and scratches commensurate with age and normal usage. Very attractive detail to the inlay with some very minor restorations. There are some hairline cracks and other cracks to the top, some of which have been filled in the past and are opening up again but these are hardly noticeable and can be left. There are some very minor restorations to the top with two screw-size areas of infill which are hardly noticeable. The gilding on the border is nicely worn. There are some minor chips to the giltwood capitals which can easily be touched up and evidence of old very minor worm, which no longer appears to be active. The spirally-turned legs also show evidence of old minor restorations. The stretcher appears to be ebonised as opposed to ebony.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Simone Chiarugi, Botteghe di Mobilieri in Toscana 1780-1900, Firenze,1994, p. 194, figs. 241-242.
Alvar González-Palacios, Il Tempio del Gusto, La Toscana e l Italie Settentrional, Vol. II, Milan, 1986, p. 206, fig. 387 and fig. 388.
Claudio Paolini, Alessandra Ponte, Ornella Selvafolta, Il bello `ritrovato, Novara, 1990, p. 228.

This table top  is a fine representation of the detailed naturalistic marquetry popularised by the Florentine Falcini brothers Luigi and Angiolo (fl. 1836-69) in the second quarter of the 19th century and is almost certainly by them. A.G.P. op. cit., p. 206, fig. 388, illustrates a very similar top dated ante 1841, with identical flower-filled cornucopiae at the angles and bird on a branch within a floral wreath in the Galleria d' Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti Museum, Florence, reproduced here in fig. 1. An almost identical table top by the Falcini brothers dated ante 1841, with the stylised floral cornucopia at the angles and floral spay in a `c’ scroll cartouche in the centre is also in the galleria d'Arte Moderna, Firenze, illustrated by A.G.P. op. cit., p. 206, fig. 387, and Paolini et al, op. cit., p. 230 (formerly in the Demidoff Collection). The base was probably commissioned directly by the Falcini brothers from another Florentine ebanista and is contemporary to the top.The table top incorporates many features of their work such as scrolling foliage, wreaths inlaid in mother-of-pearl and ivory in rich colours with contrasting light and dark woods.

The Falcini brothers were active in Florence and celebrated restorers of Renaissance and baroque marquetry aswell as executing their own pieces in marquetry. Whilst Lombardy enjoyed the success in the late 18th century of makers such as Maggiolini and Maffezzoli, the Florentine output of inlaid furniture had almost certainly ceased since the flourishing output of Leonardo van der Vinne in the early 17th century.The Falcini brothers in the second quarter of the19th century revitalised this technique. They were known for their elegant designs inspired by the Renaissance and their superbly executed inlaid work and they supplied the octagonal table to Leopold II, Granduke of Tuscany in 1839. Their inlay reflected the work of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure with its flowers, foliage and birds and they also exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 to great acclaim. There are several tables by the Falcini brothers in Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

Related tables by the brothers sold at auction include:
-a rectangular table sold in these Rooms, as lot 311, 4th November 1988.
-an octagonal table sold in these Rooms, as lot 16, 2^nd April 1993.
-a rectangular table sold in these Rooms, as lot 296, 3rd October 1997.
-a pair of tables, sold in these Rooms, from a Private European Residence, as lot 255, 3^rd March 2006.
-a table sold in these Rooms, 6th December 2006,  lot 137 (£24,000).