doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Fracassi Engraving

I marvel at the engraving work of Firmo Fracassi. With a few inches of steel for a canvas and a hand held bulino (graver) he creates millions of dots that become scenes beyond comprehension. Gazing at a cape buffalo he created, Ruark's words come to life. "He looks like you owe him money." My favorites are his setters and I see that one of these, on a 20ga Rizzini, is in the August 26-28 Rock Island auction.

I have Stephen and Elena Lamboy's book on Fracassi. Each of us can decide for ourselves how he is able to create these intricate and near microscopic masterpieces. For me, I don't know how to understand it apart from the imago dei.

Even though he is in his 80's and still working a gun can take a year or more to complete so there can't be that many of them out there and the availability of this one is a rare happening.




This article from a 2011 Sporting Classics gives a brief introduction into his life and his and his daughter's art.

https://sportingclassicsdaily.com/firmo-fracassi/

The Rizzini (my apologies for the picture of a picture)



BTW not my gun. If it was, it wouldn't be for sale.

to me that style of engraving looks like a etched copy of a photograph. Almost too much detail. I agree it is a work of art.

Never hear banknote style anymore.

That level of portrait detail might be complimented by banknote style bordering and scroll. I guess it might be art deco style scroll work, but seems to come off as a harsh, imbalanced contrast, but still nice work.

It is, without a doubt, beautiful work, but I have always liked deep chiseled engraving better.

Just my personal choice.

The estimate on this Fracassi Rizzini was $100,000 - $150,000. Anyone see what it went for?

Well, finally figured out how to query their site.

And the answer is?

$246,750.

I could never afford it. Even if I could, while an incredible work of the engraver’s art, bank note engraving is not my cup of tea as I am unclear as to it’s functional durability in the field.

Concur with Roman on liking deeply chiseled engraving better. Also tend toward the classic rose and scroll

If they only would have had a pair, then I might have been a player