An Italian Chinoiserie Lacquered And Parcel-Gilt Bureau Cabinet by Luigi Zampini and dated 1861, Florentine. Photo Sotheby's

the upper section with the pierced fretwork cresting above a pair of doors with recessed panels, one with a male muscian, the other with a female dancer, opening to reveal a fitted interior with five pigeon holes above a mirrored door enclosing a drawer flanked by folio compartments above three drawers, the inside of the drawers with blossom, the lower section with a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with five pigeon holes and five drawers above a further pair of panelled doors enclosing a sliding pull-out shelf on square-cut cabriole legs, the whole decorated with chinoiserie figures, pagodas, landscapes and stylised foliage, signed on the reverse Luigi Zampini Fece nell anno 1861; 272cm high., 124cm wide., 68cm deep; 8ft. 11in., 4ft. ¾in., 2ft. 2¾in. Estimation 30,000 — 50,000 GBP 

Comparative Literature: D. C. Finocchietti, Delle arti e delle industrie applicate ai mobili, Milano,1863;
E. Colle, “Eclettismo sabaudo: le decorazioni e gli arredi nelle residenze di Vittorio Emanuele Il a Torino e Firenze”, in Antichita Viva, 1988,1, pp.44-51;
E. Colle, Il mobile dell’Ottocento in Italia. Arredi e decorazioni d’interni dal 1815-1900. Milano, 2007, pp109-133;
S. Chiarugi, Botteghe di Mobilieri in Toscana, Firenze, 1994, vol. II, p. 565, ad vocem.

Luigi Zampini was the founder of the first workshop in the Granducato di Toscana area to revive the Art of Lacca. This attracted both the attention of the public and patrons, to such an extent that it was given a brilliant review in ‘L’Arte’ Magazine. The article emphasised that there were many Tuscan manufacturers who, having tried to imitate Oriental lacquer, were unable to attain or even surpass the quality of Zampini’s work.

Zampini was awarded on several occasions the silver medal for his craftsmanship at the Florence Exhibition of Industrial Products in the years 1847, 1850 and 1854. Furthermore in 1853, he was awarded the Mention of Honour at the International Exhibition of America held in New York. 

The 19th century critics showered his work with much praise which they felt attained an unbelievable perfection in imitating Chinese paintings and stressed that his pieces were easily comparable to original Chinese lacca.

All the technical and stylistic virtuoso features of Chinese lacquer are embodied in the decoration of Zampini’s pieces. His work soon reached by word of mouth, King Vittorio Emanuele II, as well as the Savoy family, who offered their patronage and purchased a group of his lacquer furniture from the 1861 Florence Exhibition. These pieces can be found today in Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

The charming Chinese scenes and floral decoration of Zampini’s work are a notable example of the choice of ornamental style which was characteristic of some mid nineteenth century interiors. The most typical example of these furnishings can be found in Palazzo Pitti’s ‘Il Salotto Cinese’ decorated in 1842 for the widowed Grand Duchess Maria Fernanda of Hapsburg. This interior is a fine example which rivals the best English interiors of the period such as those in Brighton’s Royal Pavilion. 

We would like to thank Prof. Enrico Colle for his assistance in providing this footnote.

Sotheby's. Arts of Europe, London | 15 mai 2014 - http://www.sothebys.com/