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LONDON GENTLEMAN
About the Item
This fascinating wooden sculpture, 87 cm high, is a work attributed to the celebrated 19th-century Venetian cabinetmaker Francesco Toso, known for his extraordinary woodworking skills and creations in the Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque styles. Toso, probably born into a family of glassmakers, distinguished himself early on for his talent, making fine furniture-including mirrors, cabinets and chairs-some of which is now preserved in the Borgogna Museum in Vercelli (Il Mobile dell'Ottocento in Italia, E. Colle, 2007, pp. 210-211, 333).
His figurative sculptures, inspired by theatrical and literary characters such as Marguerite and Mephistopheles from Faust, as well as guitar players, gondoliers and polichinelles, embody a taste for the grotesque and playful (The Book of the Fair, H. Bancroft, 1893, p. 215). His works are highly sought after by collectors: a pair of figures that belonged to Elsa Schiaparelli sold at Christie's Paris on December 14, 2018 (lot 138, EUR 181,250), while a figure of "Mr. Schiaparelli" was sold at Christie's Paris on December 14, 2018 (lot 138, EUR 181,250). Devil" is currently in the Powerhouse Collection (no. A5121). Other sculptures by Toso have achieved significant figures at international auctions, such as a pair sold by Wooley & Wallis in 2020 (GBP 87,500) and a comparative model sold by Christie's Paris in 2003 (EUR 37,600).
Toso participated in many prestigious exhibitions, including the National Exhibition in Turin (1880, 1884), the International Art Exhibition in Rome (1883) and the National Exhibition in Venice (1887). His career culminated with his participation in the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, where he unfortunately died suddenly while working to best represent Italian art and craftsmanship (op. cit., H. Bancroft, p. 215).
A work of exceptional historical and artistic value, perfect for sculpture collectors and lovers of nineteenth-century design.
- Attributed to:Francesco Toso (Italian)
- Dimensions:Height: 34.26 in (87 cm)Width: 13.78 in (35 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Milano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2802215739552
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