Featured Can anyone identify this egyptian revival deco lamp?

I left a comment on one of Eugene's (the owner's) box.com images, inviting him to join us over here. Maybe he'll see it and respond!?

 

Why would a commissioned piece of art say "Made in Italy"

 

From the question posed:
'Lamp is marked Made in Italy and appears to be unsigned.'
'There is also a Sotheby's document from 80s stating that the lamp should bring $20,000+ at auction.'
'They' are the owner & the friend doing the asking. Not impossible, of course, but seems highly unlikely the piece is unsigned. So I am surprised that info given to JustAsk did not already include that it was signed & by whom.

 

Because it was? Fair point, though. It sounds like family lore. Surprised Mother didn't model for the sculpture.

Once had to let down someone who consulted me about an inherited cameo family tradition said had been bought by a forebear, Daniel Boone, to placate his wife Rebecca. It was one of those ubiquitous Italian village scenes that are constantly being misidentified as 'Rebecca at the Well'.

 

Appraiser suspected, not hard to do now with Internet access:

This particular piece is almost certainly by an Italian sculptor known only as Sarchi, or "Prof.[essor] Sachi [sic]"

Eugene: commissioned as a gift for her mother, who was an actress.
Appraiser: The Hollywood actress provenance should also give it a puff

Nothing was said about Hollywood in the question.

 

He made no issue about lack of a mark, but also was clear there was little to know about Sarchi.

I was so hoping there'd be a scan of that document. It may have given some provenance - even if was US or Europe??

 

If what was? Wonder if any representative of Sotheby's examined it directly? Sounds as though family submitted for appraisal but were not committed to selling.

What I know about auction houses:

• For most things, most of the time, they accept whatever the consignor tells them about an item without verifying or doing any additional research. Sale terms are full of fine print that adds up to caveat emptor.
• When they do examine an item and give it some attention, they go to any relevant reference books they have on hand but especially to past auction catalogs. Once an error gets started, it is perpetuated, just as on eBay. They do not do original, fundamental, scholarly research.
• When it comes to provenance, other than information such as lamp says Made in Italy on the side, they are at the mercy of the consignor, who may or may not be able to document any of it.

We have no doubt done more work on this than the JustAsk appraiser. Think the site charges around $35 for an expert opinion.

And one more thing I know, having Sotheby's do an appraisal for you is an expensive proposition.

 

I would have liked to know if it was anywhere near Hollywood.

Way.

 

Why would something made in Italy say 'Made in Italy', instead of just 'Italia' or 'Firenze'?

I'm collecting them.
Aristide Petrilli: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristide_Petrilli
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/19th-20th-century-sculpture-l18230/lot.37.html



Eugenio Battiglia: https://www.antiquariato-in-francia.it/item/117305/scultura-marmo-firmata-e-battiglia



Umberto Stiaccini:
https://lapada.org/art-and-antiques/an-italian-carved-alabaster-lamp-by-umberto-stiaccini/



And our beloved Sarchi, who needs no links to works, but: