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Lot Essay
A native of Bastia, Assisi, Federico Lancetti (d. 1892) studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Perugia, before moving to Rome, where he apprenticed for four years with the German furniture-maker Luigi Frantz. Returning to Perugia, Lancetti established his own workshop and soon, with it, a reputation for producing inlaid furniture of the finest quality. The inspiration for much of Lancetti's earlier oeuvre derives from the work of the Dutch artist, Leonardo Van der Vinne (d. 1713). The latter settled in Florence in 1659 and was employed in the Grand Ducal workshops from 1664, becoming chief ebenista in 1667. Best known for its floral designs in intricate ivory marquetry, Van der Vinne's work was experiencing a popular revival in the mid-19th century. Lancetti's work brought him no less than seventeen medals from International Exhibitions such as those held in Perugia (1855), Florence (1851), London (1862), Dublin (1865), Paris (1867) and Vienna (1873). In correspondence regarding the participants and their merits in the latter, the Italian critic, Count Demetrio Carlo Finocchetti, commented of Lancetti, "...a few of the members of the Jury, who shared with me the honour of having been on the London and Paris committees, are already familiar with his work. The majority of my colleagues, however, are new to it and, thus, are greatly impressed by its elegance, fine taste and exquisite workmanship".
Like Van der Vinne, Lancetti also benefited from royal patronage and a number of his pieces were bought by Vittorio Emmanuele II, by whom he was appointed a Royal ebenista. The most important of these was a magnificent circular centre-table, subsequently exhibited in the Universal Exhibition in London in 1862 and now in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence.
A table-cabinet by Lancetti of virtually identical form to the present lot, but with religious iconography and dedication to Pope Leo XIII, was sold Christie's East, New York, 5 November 1992, lot 304 ($9,900); a further table-cabinet by Lancetti, of similar form, but fashioned in ivory and more elaborately inlaid with woods, metals and shell, was sold Christie's East, New York, 31 October 2000, lot 473 ($72,850).
Like Van der Vinne, Lancetti also benefited from royal patronage and a number of his pieces were bought by Vittorio Emmanuele II, by whom he was appointed a Royal ebenista. The most important of these was a magnificent circular centre-table, subsequently exhibited in the Universal Exhibition in London in 1862 and now in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence.
A table-cabinet by Lancetti of virtually identical form to the present lot, but with religious iconography and dedication to Pope Leo XIII, was sold Christie's East, New York, 5 November 1992, lot 304 ($9,900); a further table-cabinet by Lancetti, of similar form, but fashioned in ivory and more elaborately inlaid with woods, metals and shell, was sold Christie's East, New York, 31 October 2000, lot 473 ($72,850).