The sole biographical source for the Early Years of the Maggiolini Bros.

Mezzanzanica, Giacomo Antonio.

[ART & ILLUSTRATION]. Genio e lavoro. Biografia e breve istoria delle principali opera dei celebri intarsiatori Giuseppe e Carlo Francesco Maggiolini di Parabiago

Milano: Tipografia e Librereia Arciv. Ditta Ciacomo Agnelli, 1878. Item #1370

8vo.  190 x 125 mm. [7 ½ x 5 inches].2, 112 pp.  Illustrated with one folding plate of flower drawings.  Bound in original buff printed wrappers, a bit soiled with dust, a small hole at the bottom right corner of the upper wrapper.  (See photo for An Example of Maggiolini’s Furniture Style.

Extremely rare biography of a pair of the most famous 18^th century Italian cabinet makers, Giuseppe and Carlo Francesco Maggiolini of Parabiago, a small town outside of Milan .  The text was written by the parish priest from Parabiago, who also the son of a cabinet maker and the biography is based on unpublished documents and news received from direct witnesses.  Interesting is the information recorded from some of the major Milanese artists of the period, including Appiani, Albertolli, Piermarini, and Mantelli, artisans who designed the cartoons for the inlays created by the Maggiolini brothers.  The biographical work is a good example of the popular didactic literature typical of those years.

Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814) was trained at the mills of Parabiago and by the age of 20 opened his own shop in the town.  Ten years later his reputation for high quality decorative furniture was recognized and he moved to Milan with a team of nearly one dozen artisans.  He work was introduced to the noble class of Milan and he became cabinet maker to many of the local families.  In 1758 his son Carlo Francesco was born and he followed in his father’s footsteps and maintained the business after his father’s death in 1814.  He died twenty years later.  Giacomo Antonio Mezzanzanica father was an apprentice of Carlo Francesco and became the source for this fundamental book on the early years of Maggiolini.

Dizionario Biografica degli Italiani, V. 67, article by Ilaria Scarbozza.  OCLC cites copies at the Newberry Library and the University of Illinois, only.  OCLC cites copies at the Newberry Library and University of Illinois.

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Price: $900.00