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Lot Essay
The celebrated carver Luigi Frullini (d.1897) was active during the latter half of the 19th century, producing, to critical acclaim, Renaissance revival furniture and objects from his Florentine workshop at 8 via Santa Caterina. He exhibited at the 1862 London International Exhibition and at the Paris Expositions Universelles of 1867 and 1878. Already known locally, his travels to London and Paris, beyond furthering his artistic growth, were undoubtedly important in increasing his client base. Indeed, in the years following the exhibitions, he obtained important commissions for the daughter of Queen Victoria, and for the daughter of the Grand duchess of Russia (S. Chiarugi, Botteghe di Mobilieri in Toscana 1780-1900, Florence, 1994, pp.312-315, 474-477).
Frullini's illustrious private English patrons included Sir William Drake, for whom he produced an entire drawing room, commissioned through William Blundel Spence. Included in this suite was a folio, very similar to the present lot, although lacking the present lot's cresting. The Drake folio stand now resides at the Victoria & Albert Museum (ibid, p.314, pl.429).
In America, Frullini produced an entire dining room and library for tycoon William S. Wetmore's Newport residence Château-Sur-Mer. The Philadelphia Museum of Art retains a suite of library and dining room furniture by Frullini.
Frullini's illustrious private English patrons included Sir William Drake, for whom he produced an entire drawing room, commissioned through William Blundel Spence. Included in this suite was a folio, very similar to the present lot, although lacking the present lot's cresting. The Drake folio stand now resides at the Victoria & Albert Museum (ibid, p.314, pl.429).
In America, Frullini produced an entire dining room and library for tycoon William S. Wetmore's Newport residence Château-Sur-Mer. The Philadelphia Museum of Art retains a suite of library and dining room furniture by Frullini.