An Italian gilt-bronze surtout de table with the coat-of arms of the Pallavincino family by Antonio Pandiani (1838 -1928), Milanese late 19th century

of oval form, with four scrolled bosses surmounted by the coronet of a Marchese with the arms of the Pallavincino family flanked on the right by a recumbent lion and on the left by an eagle with a fruiting swag amongst a pierced  border of scrolling foliage with winged helmeted female terms amongst scrolling foliage flanking an eagle with a mirrored base within a lapetted border on scrolled feet cast with a mask, signed  A. Padiani, Milano; one eagle missing

Probably commissioned by the Marchese Pallavincino in the late 19th century

In overall good condition. It is slightly dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. One section is a little loose on the frieze and would benefit from some minor attention. Good quality casting.
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Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle et al., Bronzi Decorativi in Italia, Milan, 2001, pp. 410-413 inc.
Alfonso Panzetta, Nuovo Dizionario degli scultori italiani dell’ottocento e del primo novecento. Torino 1994, p. 678.

The fine quality of the casting on this surtout de table is typical of the work of the Antonio Pandiani, the Milanese bronze worker. Colle et. al., op. cit., p. 411, illustrates an altar candlestick  in gilt-bronze and lapis lazuli, made for the chiesa di Sant’Alessandro by Antonio Pandiani in 1887. He also illustrates op. cit., p. 410, a lantern by the same maker for the aforementioned Church together with an illustration of Pandiani's bronze works depicted in a black and white photograph from, `L’Italia Periodico artistico illustrato’, 1886. The candelabra together with the lantern were commissioned from Pandiani  in 1887 for the main altar in the Church. All the objects including twelve candesticks and the crucifix have a triangular base applied with lapis lazuli inserted into a neo baroque structure. The first official notification of the Pandiani manufactory was in around 1828, when on the occasion of the Exhibition of Industrial Products in the Palazzo di Brera, Giuseppe and Agostino (father and son) were awarded  a silver medal for their work which was reviewed in the Exhibition catalogue as follows: "Giuseppe e Agostino Pandiani have been dealing for some years in the production of friezes and cornices in skilfully crafted brass and other beautiful art works with relief figures in both thin sheets and thick bronze, enhanced by a layer which perfectly matches the shade and brightness of gold." Colle also illustrates, op. cit., p. 413, a bronze tazze by the same maker dated end of the 19th century.

Following their success at the Milan Exhibitions in 1832 and 1839, the Pandiani brothers participated in the Exhibition in Florence in 1861. The Pandiani bronzes were also acclaimed at the Italian Exhibition in London 1886 (p. 246), where the bronze sculptor presented different types of furniture such as lamps and chandeliers.

Antonio Pandiani, Milan, 25th June 1838- 3rd April 1928:
Antonio Pandiani was born in Milan to a family of industrial foundry owners known as Casa Pandiani (his relatives include Constantino Pandiani, Giovanni Pandiani, Giuseppe Pandiani and Innocente Pandiani). Antonio Pandiani took over the foundry’s production in 1886. The Gallery of Modern Art in Milan has a bronze bust by Antonio made in 1905, along with a similar piece in the ‘Sala del Consiglio Comunale di Milano’. The Quirinale collection also has a bronze depicting ‘The Victorious King Emanuele II in a hunter’s costume’ made by the foundry in Milan in 1881.