Antique walnut library table by Angiolo Barbetti

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and extremely important finely carved walnut library table, fully stamped, by Angiolo Barbetti of Florence. This table is the work of one of the greatest Italian sculptors of all time, dating from around 1860. Barbetti's works sell for several hundred thousand euros, are highly collectible, and when offered for sale, they usually end up in museum collections. This is a walnut library or centre table, sculpted, with a cartouche-shaped top bordered by a scalloped moulding and a leather inset, a carved and pierced frieze incorporating a central shell motif flanked by volute motifs and floral garlands, each cabriole leg reproducing similar motifs and connected by an X-stretcher centred by a seated cherub, on sculpted volute feet, the underside marked with the stamp 'BARBETTI, FIRENZE'. The condition is consistent with the period and very good, the table has been cleaned, waxed, and polished from top to bottom, ready for a gallery.