12 inch figure, featuring a woman holding a basket of fruit Signed on base Giuseppe Armani (born 1935 Italian). Inscribed by artist on base. H: 30 cm, 845 grams. Giuseppe Armani was born in Calci, Italy, in 1935. From the moment young 'Bebe' could pick up a pencil, he drew. He drew everything he saw. He drew everyone he knew. He drew all day long. Armani's parents were amazed at Giuseppe's prodigious output and they recognized that their little boy's sketches were more than just the whimsical drawings of most children. Uncanny realism and attention to detail revealed Giuseppe's true talent. He had The Gift. Giuseppe's teachers decided that Armani should attend the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. Unfortunately, as the arrangements were being made, his father died unexpectedly. The family needed Giuseppe now. Art school was forgotten. But the Art was not. Giuseppe Armani's natural talent was finally recognized when a local priest organized an exhibition of young artists; Giuseppe entered a sculpture of a classically inspired male torso. The work was greatly admired for its extraordinary anatomical precision. When the torso was taken to the Art Gallery in Pisa -- located across the street from the famous Leaning Tower -- Giuseppe Armani's talent was rewarded with the offer of a permanent job there. In Pisa, Armani's dream of studying art was finally realized. He immersed himself in the great masterpieces of the Renaissance that he had only read about in books. He travelled to Siena and Florence and began to hone his personal style; Giuseppe drew heavily on the style of 16th Century Florentine Renaissance. Sculpture, Armani realized, allowed him to work in three dimensions. He infused life, character and even soul into his works. Giuseppe experimented in wood, clay, alabaster and marble and his reputation grew with each breathtaking creation. Art admirers soon started flocking to the gallery to see Armani's latest efforts. In 1975, the Florence Sculture d'Arte, recognizing Armani's genius, offered him the opportunity to work exclusively for them. He would be encouraged to give free rein to his artistic muse. Giuseppe Armani accepted. For more than 20 years Armani has created masterpieces ranging from traditional Capodimonte style to more daring, contemporary, sometimes whimsical sculptures. Always, Giuseppe infused his figurines with breathtaking realism -- with a spark of life. This continues to amaze even his many admirers the world over. Giuseppe Armani describes his credo this way: "Although I consider myself a direct descendant of the Renaissance heritage, I believe that an artist has to follow his own evolution and not solely be a ruminant of the past, as glorious as it may have been. An artist conducts a search that may lead him far out in exploring new areas of interest. I continually search to discover new and better means of expression.

All lots that do not carry established documented provenance nor any past record of auction history record are described in the catalog as attributed .

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

Signed [Artist Name] : In cases in which the signature is legible in the lot, this work is described as-is with no attributions given.

By [Artist Name] : The work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : The work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : A work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: A work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century : This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).