Big Sky Fine Art has dated this Sienese Biccherna Book Cover to the 1900s.
Italian ( b.1866 - d.1946 ).
Painted Gesso, Gilt & Wood Tavolette Book Cover Binding In The Sienese Biccherna Aesthetic.
Book Cover size 11 inches x 8.1 inches ( 28cm x 20.5cm ).
Frame size 16 inches x 13 inches ( 40.5cm x 33cm ).
The book cover is mounted and supplied in a contemporary black Tulip Wood frame (which is shown in these photographs) which is glazed with non-reflective Tru Vue UltraVue® UV70 glass. The wooden book cover is curved and float mounted giving a wonderful 3D depth to its presentation.
The gesso and painted surfaces have benefitted from professional restoration which was performed on our instruction, supervision and approval.
This antique book cover is in very good condition, commensurate with its age.
The frame presentation is new and in excellent condition. Combined, it wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.
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From 24 July 2026 the original works of art we sell are classified under the US Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapter 97 as exempt from the additional Section 301 import tariffs introduced in February 2026. This means that this original work of art can be imported into the United States without these additional tariffs. This allows American customers to buy from us with confidence, knowing that they are not going to be penalised by this global tariff.
Please note that normal U.S. Customs procedures and any applicable US State sales or use taxes remain unchanged.
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Icilio Federcio Joni was one of a group of artists living and working in Sienna around the turn of the 19th to 20th century who specialised in reproducing works by past Italian masters. He became acknowledged as the “Prince of Forgers” and specialised in creating reproductions of the book bindings known as Tavolette di Biccherna. These had been used to decorate the city’s taxation and banking records in the 13th to 17th centuries.
Joni himself was a flamboyant character, knew many important people and was friends with leading historians of his day, such as Bernard Berenson. He was an undeniably talented painter, gilder and restorer and possessed extraordinary mimetic qualities. He also had several mistresses, produced pageants, played the mandolin and used his studio, where he kept falcons, as a gymnasium! He published an autobiography of his life in 1932, which translated as “Memories of an Antique Picture Painter” and caused quite a stir among those art dealers who had traded in his works as originals.
These reproductions of much older works, now acknowledged as such, are today valued in their own right and have become collector’s pieces.
This artwork we are now offering for sale is a wooden panel, originally forming the binding cover of a book and was produced by the most famous Italian ‘forger’ Icilio Federico Joni. The panel is created in the image of those produced in Siena in the 13th to 17th centuries and known as Tavolette di Biccherna.
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For a full biography of this artist please see his listing on www.bigskyfineart.com .
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Contact us by phone on +44 (0) 1305 581426 or email art@bigskyfineart.com .
Big Sky Fine Art has dated this Sienese Biccherna Book Cover to the 1900s.
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Icilio Federico Joni 1866 - 1946. Painted Wood Tavolette Book Cover Binding. The Sienese Biccherna Aesthetic. Framed.
