Beschreibung:

An impressive and extensive collection of marble and hardstone specimens housed in an Italian 19th century ebony collector's cabinet by Eugenio Argnani (fl. 1870-1890)the one hundred and forty-four different marble and hardstone specimens undoubtedly of an earlier date to the cabinet, with some possibly dating to the ancient Roman era The moulded cornice above a hinged fall front with an applied reed-moulded border comprised of six moulded panels, each panel encompassing eight specimen tablets with conforming moulded surrounds, the fall with a quarter veneered thuyawood underside inlaid with the central brass monogram: 'A.C.' within an ebony roundel, enclosing an interior of conforming arrangement with six short mahogany lined drawers, each end with an applied reed moulded border comprised of three moulded panels, each panel encompassing eight specimen tablets with conforming moulded surrounds, on a stand comprising square tapering front legs, a twin-panelled back and two platform undertiers, the carcass interior with a printed paper label which reads: 'EUGENIO ARGNANI, INTARSIATORE, ROMA, VIA SISTINA 47', another label to the reverse typed: 'Personal Property of E.C. Sosnow' and a further label to the underside inscribed: 'Mr Sosnow', 74.5cm wide x 39.5cm deep x 147cm high, (29in wide x 15 1/2in deep x 58 1/2in high) the cabinet: 72cm wide x 39.5cm deep x 65cm high.FootnotesProvenance: Based upon the 'A.C.' monogram that it bears, there is a distinct possibility that the offered lot was originally made for Prince Agostino Chigi (1858-1896), Eric Charles Sosnow, 20th Century (Polish journalist and businessman, evidently it was sufficiently prized to warrant being labelled twice whilst in the care of the Sosnows). Purchased by the present owner, 2019 from a relative of Eric Charles Sosnow Amongst the remarkable total of one hundred and forty-four different specimens inset into the present lot there are numerous well known marble and hardstone types including porphyry, lapis lazuli, Spanish brocatello, Sicilian jasper, verde antico, griotte and malachite, but it is significant to note that the majority overall appear to date to the late 18th century or earlier. The rarest include examples sourced from quarries which were active during the ancient Roman era, and in countries as varied as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Israel and Greece, as well as Italy. A selection of arguably the most unusual samples therein are: breccia quintilina and porporina di villa Adriana, both from Tivoli; porfido rosso and granito rosso, both from Egypt; giallo antico brecciato and bigio lumachellato, of Tunisian origin; occhio di pavone rosso, marmo di Iscehisar and marmo di Asracane, all found in Turkey; giallo brecciato di numidia from Algeria; granito bigio grafico of Israel; and the Greek breccia di Aleppo. Specimens from an Italian source are also in abundance and these include: breccia policroma capitolina, Nero di trapani, diaspro rosso di Sicilia and granito della Colonna. Many of these are illustrated in R. Gnoli's tome, Marmora Romana, Rome, 1971, in which the location of the main ancient Roman quarries, along with the marble produced at each one, are charted upon a superb map of the Roman Empire. This map appears with the title: "Cartina delle principali cave di marmo di eta romana near the back of the book. Further interesting and beautiful examples forming part of this extraordinary collection, in our opinion, include: albarese, agate, semesanto, fior di pesco, campan, porfido verde antico, breccia degli appennini, granito del foro and giallo tigrato, (M.T. Price, Decorative Stone, The Complete Sourcebook, 2007, London). The Chigi Family It is undoubtedly the case that the 'A.C.' monogram inlaid to the reverse of the hinged fall are the initials of the individual who commissioned the offered 19th century cabinet. And, given the nature of the considerable range of older marble and hardstone specimens inset therein, it seems highly likely