Studio of CESARE LAPINI (French 1848-after 1890)
The Tease
Carved marble
Signed on base C. Lapini
Height 32 inches (81.3 cm)

Sculpture is accompanied by a vintage carved polished green stone columnar pedestal stand with rectangular surface and squared corners, as well as an additional (optional) circular top, not shown. Height 41 inches (104 cm).

Comparison:See Christie's New York Auction of Wednesday October 26, 2005 lot 79 for a nearly identical example signed "G. GAMBOGI Gna Flle Lapini Firenze" and where sold for $45,600.

Cesare Lapini was an Italian sculptor best known for his genre subjects and allegorical sculptures modeled in marble and based after the antique styles en vogue at the time. These pieces were extremely popular during his lifetime and led to Lapini becoming an art dealer as well, running his own gallery in Florence. This gallery became quite popular with members of the aristocracy and royalty who regularly made the trip through Florence on The Grand Tour.

Cesare Lapini's work was brought to a much wider audience in 1884 when he exhibited several sculptures at Esposizione Generale Italiana di Torino. His finely patinaed pieces, with obvious technique, coupled with their emotional qualities, led to an explosion in his popularity. He followed this with an exhibition in Rome the following year. At this point, Lapini was in high demand, and his work began selling throughout Europe and the United States. Unfortunately, Lapini would die only a decade or so later, leaving the world wanting more Lapini sculptures, and driving the demand for decades to come.

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Overall sound condition. There are a few areas that exhibit some old restoration or repairs. The wing tip of the young boy has been broken off and reglued, and the fingers of the figure on top appear to have been restored. Similarly the wing tips of the figure on top likely were once broken off and re-attached. There is a little roughness on the clothing draped over the knee of the boy, not significant and would polish out. And the toes on the left foot of the little boy show restoration under black light. The base of the pedestal has chips and the surface of the pedestal shows abrasions, and overall other scratches and nicks.